By MIKE Phillips |
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COMFORT enjoy a ride , we must relax
TO on the bike . One of the best ways to stay relaxed is to have a bike that fits us and is comfortable . Nearly everything on a bike can be adjusted or replaced to keep the rider comfortable . The position of hands , seat , and feet are the most important comfort points on a bike . The height and weight of the bike is also important . A bike that is too tall , too heavy , or too small is not comfortable . A bike should be chosen for the type of riding we will be doing , how well it fits us , and how comfortable it will be . I recently changed from a Harley Ultra Limited full dresser to a Street Glide with only faring and solid saddle bags . The new bike is lower to the ground and weighs less than the old one . This makes it more comfortable and easier to handle . Those points are important to me , especially as I grow older . After I changed bikes , I went to the parts department at my local dealership to help make the bike fit me better and be even more comfortable . They helped me pick a new seat made for two riders and lowered my seat height by two inches . They also showed me a passenger backrest and floorboards my wife likes . Comfort for a passenger is just as important as comfort for the rider if you want them to keep riding with you .
I rolled the handlebars forward a little , which let my arms keep a straighter , more level position that was more comfortable . I rolled the clutch and front brake levers forward
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on the handlebars , so my wrists were flat when I used those controls . I added a heel toe shifter because that was what I was accustomed to using . These were minor changes to the bike , but they made major changes to its comfort and handling .
Check your own bike for comfort . Seat height should let you touch the ground with both feet at the same time . Both feet flat on the ground helps with stability and weight distribution when starting and stopping . Some people prefer a taller bike , which makes it more difficult to put both feet flat on the ground . When I ride a tall bike , I prepare for a stop in advance . I shift my body slightly to the left on the seat . Keep your handlebars straight and lean slightly to the left as you stop . Put your left foot on the ground , and with your right foot , ride the rear brake all the way through the stop . Hold the weight on your left leg while you are stopped . You may be able to touch your right tiptoe on the ground to help with stability after the stop . If your feet do not touch the ground , you will have a hard time walking the bike forward when you start riding . Before moving , put your right foot on the foot peg and cover the rear brake . Push off with your left foot as you stand the bike up . Use the friction zone to stabilize the bike at a slow speed .
Handlebars should let you keep your arms slightly bent and your hands about shoulder width apart . When your hands are wide apart or very close together , it will affect
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the bike ' s handling . Some people are comfortable with tall ape hanger handlebars . I had a bike with 17- inch-tall bars that was surprisingly comfortable , but I prefer traditional bars . The tall bars had my hands above my shoulders . After about two hours of riding , my hands felt numb due to a lack of blood flow reaching them . My arms were not long enough to reach the bars when I made a tight or full lock turn in either direction . I could overcome this by sliding my body forward on the seat and leaning forward over the gas tank . This position would allow me to make full lock turns but did not feel as stable as regular height bars . Riding with nontraditional handlebars is fine as long as you know how they affect the handling of the bike .
The clutch and front brake levers need to be easy to reach while your wrists stay flat . The fingers should be able to get straight out to use the controls . The tension on the clutch can be adjusted on most bikes so the friction zone is closer or farther away from the hand grip . The strength of the pull on the clutch can also be adjusted on most bikes . Foot controls can be forward , mid , or rear , depending on the bike . Suspension can be adjusted for more control and comfort , especially with a passenger or luggage added to the bike .
The setup on a bike should be tailored to the individual rider . I have seen small , short people ride tall , heavy bikes , and tall , heavy people ride little bikes because they feel comfortable on them . One of
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