Best bikes for height ?

Noobie

Noobie

Elite Member
Subscriber
Aware this undoubtedlty will see many height jokes, the main reason for the thread is the difficulty of matching a bike to your height.

This is not just a Ducati thing but being a Ducati forum, I wonder if you can share which Ducati bikes you tried, which bikes you rejected and why, and which if any Ducati you decided on and why? Lastly, if you did decide on a Ducati, how has it been over the months/years ?
 
Harley for really tall people :)(y)


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Jeez Noobs, as a 6' 14 year old my first intro to Ducati was my dad's best mate who in 1976 purchased a new 900ss, as I already had a DT175 field bike, me 'uncle' John actually let me ride it up and down his drive, I was immediately smitten. Fast forward 10 years I was then 6' 2" and a lean 15st rugby player, my dream brand, none of them fitted me, fast forward again, the 916, mate got one, I tried to ride it, I couldn't bend my legs enough to get my size 12's on the pegs. So I thought my affair with Ducati would never materialise.
Ducati released the 1200 mutley, I fitted just, so now at almost 59, still 6'2" but now around 120kg, according to my mates, I still look like a gorilla riding a greyhound but I dont give a flying fuck as I have now consummated my relationship with Ducati after 40 odd years.:love:
 
I get what you mean on the gorilla on a greyhound, on many sports bikes it looked I had stolen a mini moto. Given I'm 6ft 3 however, my inside leg is at 32 inches so most of my height is upper body. I only mention that because even on most adventure bikes, I still often couldn't put both feet on the floor at the same time and the art of the leg over to get on it, often became a footpeg assist.
 
At 6'2" and 32 or 33" inside leg (hard to accurately measure with big Jim and the twins in the mix 🤣) I used to get cramp on my M900 after a few hours (my wife said I looked ridiculous on it 🤔), my current ST4 has been absolutely spot on even with bad back and nerve damage.

I still want a 916 even if it is horrendously uncomfortable 😁
 
5’5” 29 inside leg.

748/9**. All fine
899/959 ok
V2. Ok. Bit tall. Hard to get foot over seat hump. Gotta concentrate.
Pani 1299 ok
Pani V4s gen 1 ok, j u s t
Pani V4s gen 2 no chance

What’s a Scrambler?
 
I am 5'9' and have a DVT Multi. I recently fitted an aftermarket Touratech seat which has bumped the height up by about half an inch or so... I can still manage it OK, BUT, I did have a moment on a left hand junction with an obscenely steep camber down to the kerb recently and almost, almost got caught out. It is local to me so I will be aware next time i use it and get my right leg down instead, but its indicative I need to be careful and the bike is at the limit of what I can manage on uneven roads. Flat roads - still no problems :)

I never had any issues with any other bikes..and I have had lots of different models.
 
I'm 6'1" and haven't had a problem with any Ducatis, maybe a little ache after a full day, is all. I do look massive on a sports bike when I get snapped by one of these road side snapper people, but I guess I'm just used to my height so know no difference on bike comfort.

The only bike I struggle with historically was my MV Agusta F4. Bejesus, that was an uncomfortable bike for the legs, knees, neck, back et al.

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The Cagiva Elefant is pleasantly spacious in comparison with early Monsters.

(I know it says ‘Cagiva‘ on the tank, but it says ‘Ducati’ on the crankcases). 😎
 
I remember when my boss bought his first z1000 in 2006, it was late on delivery and he was going away for two weeks and asked me to run it in for him whilst he was away, to be honest I hated it. I felt that I was sitting ontop of it rather than sitting in it, a very weird feeling for a tall chap

Kawasaki Z1000 (2003-2009): Review & Buying Guide
 
I've had two of these over a period of about 15 years - the first one I had from new and wore it out, and the second was pretty much the same..

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Long travel front suspension (with racetech gold valves to make it a bit more suited to spirited road riding), and a wilbers rear shock with an additional +1" height on the rear, which gave it a seat height taller than a GSA.

Fabulous fun (y)
 
First bike I ever road that I couldn't touch the ground on was a Z1300, mind you the seat was the width of two builders planks.

Doing a bit off road on tall bikes helped with confidence of not being able to plant both feet.

I'm fine now with being on tip toes so long as the bike is fairly light and well balanced :)

I find the newer monsters the reach forward o_O to the bars more of an issue

Core strength and doing Pilates although sounds girly really helps with holding the bike upright !

char.webp
 
BobTheBounder said:
Jeez Noobs, as a 6' 14 year old my first intro to Ducati was my dad's best mate who in 1976 purchased a new 900ss, as I already had a DT175 field bike, me 'uncle' John actually let me ride it up and down his drive, I was immediately smitten. Fast forward 10 years I was then 6' 2" and a lean 15st rugby player, my dream brand, none of them fitted me, fast forward again, the 916, mate got one, I tried to ride it, I couldn't bend my legs enough to get my size 12's on the pegs. So I thought my affair with Ducati would never materialise.
Ducati released the 1200 mutley, I fitted just, so now at almost 59, still 6'2" but now around 120kg, according to my mates, I still look like a gorilla riding a greyhound but I dont give a flying fuck as I have now consummated my relationship with Ducati after 40 odd years.:love:
Click to expand...
Ditto....Except 5'9" - Think CUBED/Draymen Build (similar to the statue below... but not actually carrying the barrel ,,,, BUT with same shadow).
Five Mutleys later (but still got two).

to be fair I've known taller people who say the Mutley is too tall.... but not with my weight on it.....:unsure::whistle::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:
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