Seat Height

[CosmoGT]

After riding A Vulcan Classic with a Mustang seat for over ten years getting used to the seat height my 96 R1100RT is taking some getting used to. I have a Russell seat and the seat adjustment seems to be at it's lowest setting. I am about 5ft 9in tall (30 inch inseam) and still feel uncomfortable coming to a stop. Any way to lower the seat any further or is there some riding technique to use to gain more confidence? Since I cannot put both feet down flat like I am used to the bike feels a little top heavy. I don't want to drop the bike but after about 2000 miles of riding I seem slow to feeling secure. Any help?...Thanks, Bob

[terese]

Having been there and done that with an R65 and a K75s.... options are: lower profile tires, carving out the seat, drop the front forks and shorten the shock(s) and the cheapest of all - THICK-SOLED BOOTS

[CosmoGT]

Thick soled boots? Could it be that simple? Worth a try. Certainly the cheapest by far...Thanks

[terese]

If you can't find any that'll do try going to a cobbler and have them add a vibrim sole and mayber a little extra to build up the boot. That extra inch+ works wonders.

[JSparks]

Built up boots

Had me a set made back when I was a 5'9'' city policemen to help ward off the inevitable resisting arrest incidents. Didn't work, but they are a little help when tippy toeing on my R1150R. I had a pair of Rocky Wonder lites resoled with the vibram sole (they look like Herman Munster's). One problem that I have that you might address if you get some made is that the thick sole causes me to have to bend my foot way down to get under the shifter ( I was able to change it a little by adjusting the shifter). I think if they could form a little cut out for the pegs in the arch area this would be helpful. My soles are completely flat.

Jeff Sparks

[terese]

I had a pair of Rocky Wonder lites resoled with the vibram sole (they look like Herman Munster's).

That's exactly what I called my boots - Herman Munsters!

[dixieoutlaw]

Not sure about the RT, but my wife had the same problem with her 850R. in addtion to boots with higher heels I shaved down the rubber grommet that seat sits on and gained about an inch for her (that's on the motorcycle - nothing to do with me). Also got her a lowered seat, but in time as she got more comfortable with tip toeing, she went back to the stock seat for more comfort and has since added a sheep skin on top of it. In fact, you really only need to get one foot down and always be aware of where you are stopping so you get the foot down on the up hill slope. Maybe Gail Thorne will chime in here on her techniques. She is really short and in my opinion the best rider inch for inch I know and she goes dual sporting with us on a KLR650 that she can barely touch the ground on. When she grows up I don't want to ride with her, because whe will show all of us boys up.
Gary

[CosmoGT]

Watching for the up hill slope is very good advice. I spent about four hundred miles in the last week re-learning self confidence. My riding technique needs polishing. I got sloppy over the years. I am going to watch my safe riding video again. I may take the mirrors off in an empty parking lot and if I drop the bike, better there than in the middle of the highway. Thanks for your suggestions...Bob

[dixieoutlaw]

CosmosGT,
If you haven't been to the ERC course lately, I recommend you take it as a refresher. I was away from riding for over 35 years and a year after returning to riding (on a GS), I took the ERC experienced riders course. Highly recommend it, probably has sved my dumb butt sevral times. Saying that, I also took a slow course and it probably is the best training I have had. Most drops are at parking lot speeds or while starting and stopping. Short of taking any of these courses, David Hough has two books on safe riding, I have one called "Street Strategies." I think the other is version 2. They are full on one page pointers on riding techniques and things to look for such as change in color of surface or crossing channels such as rail tracks. Get your hands on a copy of these, White Horse Press is a good source.
Don't want to be preachy, but always wear good gear (my observations are that most cruiser types don't wear good gear, nor do the Gold Wingers). I can testify that my gear saved my hide when I went through the windshield at 50+ MPH.
Look for the places you stop, loose sand will get you and so will oily spots at service stations.
Do I still drop my GS? Shucks yes, that why I have a GS, they are designed to drop without breaking much other than the darn turn signals.
Outlaw

[CosmoGT]

It was in a parking lot that I dropped my RT a few weeks ago. A GS may have been a smarter choice but no one accuses me of being smart. I like my RT so I will have to live with it. As far as equipment you are right on. I wore my full face helmet today for the first time since the warm weather started. I have issues with heat and peripheral vision. The same heat problem with gloves and riding suit. Anything above 90 and I can't take the heat. I do not ride in shorts and at least wear good boots. Breaking bad habits is sometimes hard to do...Bob

[dixieoutlaw]

Good parking lot technique - get your feet on the pegs as soon as the wheel rolls, otherwise you are trying to balance with your butt which is at a lot higher CG. Stay off the front brake in the parking lot, it will dump you in a heart beat. Remember parking lots (slow speeds) are really the only time you should be actively steering the bike by turning the handle bars (other times use countersteering.) Keep your RPM up (around 2000 or slightly higher is a good base), learn where the friction zone is on your clutch, feather the clutch and feather the rear brake to control speed. Practice and then practice some more, keep getting your circles (turns) tighter and keep your head on a swivel - look where you want to go not at the front tire.
Practice some emergency braking using only the front, the back, and then combined. If you have ABS, grab a handful of brake and engage the ABS system. Know where it engages and build confidence in it.
You will get to where you can turn your bike around in a very tight circle with your feet remaining on the pegs. If you duck walk your bike, you are subject to running over your own foot and breaking an ankle and the duck walking gives you away as a newby whether you are or not.
Trust me I am no pro and I have learned most of these lessons the hard way and through several schools. Never pass up the opportunity for a free or cheap instruction session - you owe it to yourself and your loved ones.

Why the hell am I giving all this good advice? I'm suppose to be the Outlaw - must have had a weak moment. Why don't you loan me your bike and let me train it to be a GS, then you could buy 10 books of raffle tickets and get Ron to clean it up for you. It will need it if I keep it for a couple of days. Look forward to meeting you, maybe at Little River if I am back from my out West trip I'm planning.

BE SAFE!

[jeanne z]

The Russell seat is probably a fair bit taller than a stock seat for that bike. If you have or can find one, try that. I am 5' 6" with a 29" inseam and loved and really miss my 96 R1100RT. And you can't move the forks on the RT.