SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> S40/LS650 for a taller rider
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1373203295

Message started by NormH3 on 07/07/13 at 06:21:32

Title: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by NormH3 on 07/07/13 at 06:21:32

I'm currently looking at 3 different bikes as a beginner. S40/LS650, Rebel and Shadow 600 VLX. All seem are light cruisers and fairly easy to control..as far as I read. I have a 34" inseam and was wondering if the Suzuki is a comfortable ride for someone with longer legs. I have yet to sit on one, but am more curious how it might feel on a 100 mile ride. I know there are extensions available, but curious about a stock situation. I'm 56 years old and am not planning on buying something new every couple years. Whatever I get now, could be it!

(yes..I am signed up for the MSF course). I know this is a Savage forum, but appreciate any incite.

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by Greg on 07/07/13 at 06:52:08

I don't know anything about the Shadow, but I thought I wanted the Rebel until I sat on one. I have a 30" inseam and those pegs were way too close. I was cramped just sitting in the parking lot. I can't imagine a trip anywhere.

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by arteacher on 07/07/13 at 07:00:09

http://cycle-ergo.com/
Try this site.
I have a 32" inseam and the stock pedal positioning was fine, except my arthritis made it difficult to get my feet on the pegs, so I put forward controls on it.

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by NormH3 on 07/07/13 at 07:13:27

616A6A636F60617B7A0E0 wrote:

http://cycle-ergo.com/
Try this site.
I have a 32" inseam and the stock pedal positioning was fine, except my arthritis made it difficult to get my feet on the pegs, so I put forward controls on it.

Interesting website. I wonder how accurate it is. I guess nothing replaces sitting on the real thing.

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by ZAR on 07/07/13 at 07:26:56

Norm I'm 58, weigh around 160# with a 32" inseam and after 2 years with the Savage I've been fine for rides 100 miles or less. That works out good because the fuel tank is ready for a gas stop at that point!

I did do the seat modification,raising the front seat mount 1" and that helped a lot. I'm thinking about raising it another 1/2 inch for a skosh more legroom.

Unless you are planning on nothing but "in-town" riding,I'd pass on the Rebel. It's just too small and underpowered for highway runs and not that much lighter than the savage. The VLX600 would be ok but the Savage is more nimble and will leave the VLX eating dust.

Just my $0.02 worth........that and $1.00 gets you a small coffee at McD's ;)

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by Blinky-FSO on 07/07/13 at 07:35:20

Norm,
Welcome to the forum and good luck in the msf course and selecting a bike. I might suggest you complete the course before buying a bike. You might decide riding is not for you. Also, most msf facilities will have both 125cc and 250cc bikes. I believe the Rebel is a 250 so that may give you a feel for the power and performance of the smaller displacement ride.

I started last year at 62 and the S40 was my first bike. I am 6'2" and found Routy's forward controls a necessary addition. I actually took the bike on a 2,000 mile road trip last fall and was grateful for the forward controls. I do not have any experience with the Shadow but if I may, I might suggest you stay away from the Rebel. You will quickly learn to love the torque of the S40.

Good hunting and keep us posted

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by old_rider on 07/07/13 at 07:58:40

^^^ What they said.... NO to the rebel for sure, my wife had me get one for her to learn on. If you think you are going to buy for keeps, don't get the rebel, it is to LEARN on for a taller person.
I'm 54 and have a 30 inch inseam and am considering getting forward controls for the savage i'm going to get for me, i'm riding the wifes now and can ride it for distances not too uncomfortably. However when I get one for me I am goin to have forward controls on it, also a different seat!

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by WD on 07/07/13 at 09:32:31

Short answer... it will work but you will end up making a bunch of changes. 6'2" 235# with a 34" inseam.

Comfort mods: floorboards, different seat (have a cut down solo and a raised 2 up Kawasaki VN800A seat), 15" rise handlebars that need to be pushed forwards a bit more, taller rear shocks off an 800 Intruder, front fork firmed up...

I've had mine for 15 years, the bike grows on you... kind of like athlete's foot... ;)

Still need to cut and extend the shifter and brake pedal arms to work with my floorboards, HD half moons welded to the stock peg bases and shoved all the way forward. And need to shim them so they stay square to the lower frame rails.

The VLX 600 is on my short list, I'd love to cut one up as a backroad scorcher, doing the same with an old (1963) Honda 250 Scrambler. I live on a tiny little backroad, my Savage has always had issues with the local roads since the stock suspension is a farce.

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by paulmarshall on 07/07/13 at 12:47:50

5F54545D515E5F4544300 wrote:

http://cycle-ergo.com/
Try this site.
I have a 32" inseam and the stock pedal positioning was fine, except my arthritis made it difficult to get my feet on the pegs, so I put forward controls on it.

What a great site thanks. 8-)

Title: Re: S40/LS650 [ch1076][ch1083][ch1103] [ch1074][ch1099][ch1096][ch1077] [ch1074][ch1089][ch1072][ch1076][ch1085][ch1080][ch1082][ch1072]
Post by wambr on 07/08/13 at 01:28:25

I can't say how easy ride on the Rebel, but I tried to take a ride on Steed VLX (it is called a Shadow VLX).
http://www.samaramoto.ru/phorum/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=22521
accommodation and comfort drive still Savage seemed to me a little better. about myself : my height is 6"and weighs about 200 pounds, length of legs-33"(so I buy jeans)

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by Pine on 07/08/13 at 06:14:14

Welcome to the site!

The Rebel, while a cool little bike, simply cant hang with .... well with anything.

I am a mere 5'7", but most of that is torso, not leg. The savage is fine for 20 minute commutes, but even at my short inseam, I generally sit all the way back on the seat, cusp of the rear sear, just to stretch out. I have not considered the forward controls, but I can see where they would work well. The Savage, is hard to beat for what it does, low speed commuter bike. On the interstate, I do not find it big enough, as our crappy roads bounce it around like a dingy in the ocean. I added a 2" riser to the handle bars, this proved a very useful mod, as I no longer had to slump over, and by angling them back I was still in a good position to them even while sitting further back on the seat (and thus further from the foot pegs).

Having owned and ridden my bike for over 5000 miles, I can say that I am sure I don't want "too" heavy of a bike. They just would not suit the bulk of my riding (commuting). Another bike I am looking at is the Triumph America, 800. Its a sub 600lb bike (while the Savage is sub 400), but even at 550lbs, its lighter than many more common bikes.

Good luck with your search.

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by apache snow on 07/08/13 at 06:19:28

I sat on a Honda Shadow Spirit the other day. I liked it real well. Its a little bigger and heavier than the Suzuki. :)

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by NormH3 on 07/08/13 at 09:28:30

1F26212A3B203D4F0 wrote:

I like the America as well.

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by Paladin. on 07/08/13 at 12:21:18

43627F60453E0D0 wrote:

... I have a 34" inseam and was wondering if the Suzuki is a comfortable ride for someone with longer legs....

What can be done:
http://www.savageriders.com/paladin/images/springer1-Wendy.jpg
My wife is 6'2" with a 36" inseam -- you can see that she looks comfortable on my Savage. This was my first fit on my new springer seat:
http://www.savageriders.com/paladin/images/springer13.jpg http://www.savageriders.com/paladin/images/springer32.jpg
As you can see, the seat was up and back from the stock position. A rework put the seat to where my 5'8" 30" inseam fit.

Bottom line -- you can make the LS650 to fit. If you want the quickness of the light weight, you are just about forced to get a Thumper.

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by paulmarshall on 07/08/13 at 12:26:05

73424F42474A4D230 wrote:

[quote author=43627F60453E0D0 link=1373203295/0#0 date=1373203292]... I have a 34" inseam and was wondering if the Suzuki is a comfortable ride for someone with longer legs....

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by sesamestreet on 07/08/13 at 21:02:13

i'm 6'4" and it's a little snug, but nothing changing up the handlebar won't fix. and maybe forward controls, but not ATM. I'm thinking of turning the handlebar risers backwards to free up a tiny bit more room.

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by Paladin. on 07/09/13 at 12:57:21

6D7C6871707C6F6E757C71711D0 wrote:

... Is that a blue VW in the background ?

Yeah, the wife's first brand new car, a base 2003 New Beetle. My blog (http://www.dslretorts.com/Paladin/archives/000422.html) -- Her blog (http://www.andruschak.net/breyer/blog/archives/001925.html) -- Her Cars. (I don't have any cars :-[ , just the bike ;D )

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by paulmarshall on 07/09/13 at 13:03:59

3A2C3A28242C3A3D3B2C2C3D490 wrote:

I did that with 9' risers and worked a charm. ;)

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by paulmarshall on 07/09/13 at 13:05:12

06373A37323F38560 wrote:

[quote author=6D7C6871707C6F6E757C71711D0 link=1373203295/0#14 date=1373311565] ... Is that a blue VW in the background ?

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by nickeynicknick on 08/05/13 at 09:20:49

paul, did you have to replace any cables when you installed the 9" risers? im looking for some taller bars or risers but am afraid of the cables being too short.

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by verslagen1 on 08/05/13 at 09:26:47

If you originally had the buckhorn bars, you could probably change to 10" mini apes w/out changing the cables. may require some rerouting though.

cables for drags are a little shorter, so you might be ok with 8" mini's.

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by paulmarshall on 08/05/13 at 12:28:43

36313B333D2136313B3336313B33580 wrote:

paul, did you have to replace any cables when you installed the 9" risers? im looking for some taller bars or risers but am afraid of the cables being too short.

No I used the original cables. ;)

Title: Re: S40/LS650 for a taller rider
Post by Digger on 08/17/13 at 20:59:30

6D4C514E6B10230 wrote:

I'm currently looking at 3 different bikes as a beginner. S40/LS650, Rebel and Shadow 600 VLX......

Add me to the list of folks saying to scratch to Rebel straight away....

I'm 5' 10" with a 32" inseam. My daughter had a 250 Rebel a few years ago. Whenever I did slow speed turns on it, my knees banged into the handlebars!

That was a showstopper.......