Triumphrat

daytellona · 05-01-2009, 02:38 PM

Yea I know yall probably heard this before here goes another tall guy.......
But Iam seriously looking to buy a Triumph. Mainly because of the power, style, and ofcourse my size. I have done allot of research on what kind of sportbike to get. As much as I would love to buy a typical Japanese crotch rocket but I think it would feel uncomfortable and look ridiculous. So I started looking at the Daytona 955i (2002-2006) I have read quite a few reviews and most say good things on comfortability for tall guys, some electronic issues and reliability issues. I want to know if yall have any other recomendations on a different bike to get. also if all this is true about the daytona, is it reliable, bigger etc.. Iam going to be using the bike for commuting and to have just enough fun to enjoy the GA countryside not to mention the power to keep up with my buddies on their crotch rockets.
I appreciate anyones opinion!! thanks

banda · 05-01-2009, 06:15 PM

Tall guys and heavy guys are often convinced they need a really powerful bike to keep up. That's horse puckey. With the exception of pure drag racing, power does not equal keeping up. Riding well = keeping up.

However, there are two considerations tall or heavy guys should be aware of when acquiring a bike:

Tall guys' first actual problem with a bike that's too small is with their knees. If the distance between the seat and pegs is too short, and you ride too far, you'll hurt your knees something fierce. This actually is a problem with sport bikes. The Daytona is no exception. It's better than many other sport bikes, but it's far from ideal.

Heavy guys' first actual problem is with suspensions and "sag". The factory springs on a bike's forks and shock(s) are usually designed for a average or light weight rider. For a 230 pound man, stock springs will leave the bike sitting too deep in its suspension travel, increasing the harshness of the ride, and making handling sub optimal. In that case, it doesn't matter how much power your motor has, you won't keep up if there's a bend or a bump in the road.

So if you're looking for real motorcycle buying advice for a tall heavy man, here it is: Don't get a sport bike. Get a standard or dual sport or a sport tourer. Once you have it, get it re-sprung for your weight.

If you're looking for someone to validate the theory that a 200 pound man NEEDS a minimum of 130 hp to go fast, then you should wait for someone else to reply besides me.

62rag · 05-04-2009, 04:31 PM

The Triumph dealer near me also sells BMW and Ducati, so I've sat on alot of bikes recently. The Ducati Hypermotard is noticeably taller than my Bonneville and I think that it would be very comfortable, although not in my budget at this time. The Monsters I think would be cramped for me. Taller also were the BMW's I looked at: R1200R, R1200GS, F800GS. I'm 6'3" 225# and find the Bonneville pretty good, although the leg position is a little cramped. Rear sets might help lessen the angle a little but I don't have those yet. Some of my friends ask why I bought a little bike as I'm a decent sized guy, but I wouldn't give up my Bonneville for anything. Unless I had money for a Hypermotard......maybe.

TallGuy · 05-04-2009, 04:33 PM

6'6" 240 in gear. I have been riding Triumphs since 1998. They fit a "tallguy" pretty darn well.
I am currently riding a Daytona 955, Speed Triple 955 and Trophy 1200. They are just a nice fit. If you go with a daytona, trust me you will want a set of risers for your clipons.
Go for it... you know you want to.

daytellona · 05-05-2009, 02:19 PM

Good looking out guys Iam def getting me one very soon!