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why do hondas seat so high?

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Old 11-28-2006, 09:03 PM
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Default why do hondas seat so high?

out of all the bikes i've ridden on, why are hondas so much higher? the 600rr's seat is about an inch higher than a zx-6r, about an inch and a half higher than a GSXR. i just like to stay flat footed, especially if im on gravel or a slippery surface.
Old 11-28-2006, 10:01 PM
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Default Re: why do hondas seat so high? (myhondasux)

honestly, i like how my RR is. im about 5'8 and my feet are firmly on the ground. the GSXR is a lil longer and built differently, and i as well have noticed that the GSXR sits a lot lower.
Old 11-28-2006, 10:14 PM
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Default Re: why do hondas seat so high? (myhondasux)

because honda hates short people, but i could care less. i'm 5'6" by the way and i have to do the one cheek sneak technique.
Old 11-28-2006, 10:33 PM
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lol you obviously have not sat on the 06-07 yamaha r6

then youll be asking why yamahas sit so high
Old 11-28-2006, 11:39 PM
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Default Re: (AdeJong 03)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by AdeJong 03 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">lol you obviously have not sat on the 06-07 yamaha r6

then youll be asking why yamahas sit so high</TD></TR></TABLE>acutally yes i have. the dealership i bought my 600rr from is also a yamaha dealership.
Old 11-29-2006, 12:27 AM
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Default Re: (myhondasux)

After a quick search online i was able to find the seat height listing of all 2004 models. This is what i got:
32.3 for the 600rr
31.7 for the F4i
32.5 for the zx-6r
32.5 for the GSXR 600
and 32.3 for the R6
Old 11-29-2006, 12:47 AM
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Default Re: (slvrblckrdRC51)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slvrblckrdRC51 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">After a quick search online i was able to find the seat height listing of all 2004 models. This is what i got:
32.3 for the 600rr
31.7 for the F4i
32.5 for the zx-6r
32.5 for the GSXR 600
and 32.3 for the R6</TD></TR></TABLE>

Interesting, although the height certainly doesn't tell the whole story.

Out of all those bikes, the only one I can flat-foot is the Gixxer, because its seat is so dang skinny. Even though it may have the highest seat height, that bike is easily the best choice for smaller guys like me.
Old 11-29-2006, 12:53 AM
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Default Re: (Ross)

i was just thinking that seat height isn't the main factor too. Honda seats are a little wide in the croth, which means your knees are more bent when sitting on it. My RC51 seat is like a friggin dining table. My f4i and my friend's RR were pretty similar too. Wide and flat.
My friend's mille was pretty slim.
Old 11-29-2006, 11:19 AM
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Hondas used to be more fitting for short people for sure. My f2 I was able to flat foot in my boots and I'm 5'5".

Yami's and Honduhs have wider tanks and Gixxer's narrow when it gets to the crotch but theyre almost the same height. Its a strange thing. Not gonna stop me from gettin a bike though. Its all about learning to overcome and adapt. :D

Being short teaches ya things.
Old 11-29-2006, 11:47 AM
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Default Re: (Psychochik)

you guys... it has to do with seating position and purpose of the bike... lower/closer to the bars is more comfortable and geared towards longer period, the height that these manu's have chosen for there sport bikes if geared towards proper body position and ideal performance riding geometry. there's more to it than simple seat to ground clearance... seat to peg position and seat to bar position
Old 11-29-2006, 02:07 PM
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Default Re: why do hondas seat so high? (myhondasux)

It's because all the tall people work in honda r&d
Old 11-29-2006, 03:20 PM
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Default Re: why do hondas seat so high? (myhondasux)

I added height to my RC when I installed the Penske shock

So much so that now I need a longer kick stand
Old 11-29-2006, 03:51 PM
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Default Re: why do hondas seat so high? (Jasper_db1)

tell me about it. I am 6ft. and I cannot flatfoot my bike, I get close but not quite. Short legs FTL.
Old 11-30-2006, 04:04 PM
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Default Re: why do hondas seat so high? (Rednas)

Its not just that they sit high, their seats are very wide so you can't put your leg straight down.
Old 11-30-2006, 08:42 PM
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Default Re: (slvrblckrdRC51)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slvrblckrdRC51 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">After a quick search online i was able to find the seat height listing of all 2004 models. This is what i got:
32.3 for the 600rr
31.7 for the F4i
32.5 for the zx-6r
32.5 for the GSXR 600
and 32.3 for the R6</TD></TR></TABLE>


i surprised that the zx6r and gsxr are the same. my best friend hase a 06 gsxr and i have a 06 zxr6. my bike feels a lot taller.
Old 11-30-2006, 11:21 PM
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Default Re: why do hondas seat so high? (Jasper_db1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Jasper_db1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I added height to my RC when I installed the Penske shock

So much so that now I need a longer kick stand </TD></TR></TABLE>

How bad did that penske shock empty your wallet? valved to your spring rate and weight? Worth the cost/trouble of install, increased rear ride height? I'm 5'9" and can flat foot easily, guess I'm kangaroo armed and legged.
Old 11-30-2006, 11:23 PM
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Default Re: (arjusmc)

Hondas m/c seats are high because of mass centralazation..and because of the riding position that they wanted to acheive.

.most sport bikes are designed ergonomically for people between the heights of..if i remember right.. 5'4''-5'7'' ..and yes most people between that range can barely reach the ground with their feet lol

on a sport bike your feet should always be up on the pegs unless your at a complete stop where you can use 1foot and the other on the rear brake..thats how most professionals view it...(no im not a professional im just very into motorcycles.)
Old 12-01-2006, 05:51 AM
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Default Re: (XooMZ)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by XooMZ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Hondas m/c seats are high because of mass centralazation..</TD></TR></TABLE>

Dude, there's not even a correlation there. Mass centralization is a relocation of items towards the low center of the bike. Seat height, or location more accurately described, is a functional use feature. The former is designed to help the bike best work with the forces acting on it; the latter is designed for a rider to best act against the motorcycle.

I'm not sure what the big deal about seat height is, anyways. To forego the design characteristics that accompany a machine with a high seat height is to place the primary use concern of the motorcycle, performance, second to some arbitrary other factor. When you talk about a modern supersport you talk about a race bike with light gear. If you want to compromise the design then why are you riding a plastic fantastic repliracer? Not that I'm one to dictate tastes, but something like this is indicative of riding the wrong bike. If your concern is daily stop and go use then a supersport isn't your best buy - there are umpteen bikes designed for that - Monsters, FZ's, factory branded street fighters, sport tourers for guys with penchants for long trips in the saddle, and so on down the line. If you can deal with the comfort costs of riding a race bike for more uses than it was really designed for then more power to you... but if you're just going to hack up a wonderful bike to make it more of what it's not, well, that's silly if you ask me.
Old 12-01-2006, 08:17 AM
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Default Re: why do hondas seat so high? (evil vapor)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by evil vapor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">How bad did that penske shock empty your wallet? valved to your spring rate and weight? Worth the cost/trouble of install, increased rear ride height? I'm 5'9" and can flat foot easily, guess I'm kangaroo armed and legged.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I found the shock on fleabay so it wasn't THAT expensive for a 3-way shock. The previous owner was slightly heavier so swapped out the 600# spring for a 550# which is a bit heavy for street use so I'll get a 500#.

The installation is easy. The increased ride height is worth the cost, time, effort.

I'm 5'8, 140# and tip-toe if I try to put both feet down (I usually don't).
Old 12-01-2006, 09:21 AM
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Default Re: why do hondas seat so high? (Jasper_db1)

[QUOTE=ASteele2]

Dude, there's not even a correlation there. Mass centralization is a relocation of items towards the low center of the bike. Seat height, or location more accurately described, is a functional use feature. The former is designed to help the bike best work with the forces acting on it; the latter is designed for a rider to best act against the motorcycle.


i only mentioned mass centralazation because of how the design makes the need of components to be stacked..it was NOT meant to be the only contributing factor...much of the height has to do in fact to do with ergos and how the bike was meant to be designed . the factory makes these positions of how you will sit.. with factoring in the distance from seat to rear sets..and seat to clip-ons..that slight up sweep of the rear seat keeps you more in a race ready position hence the reason your on a RACE BIKE..
Old 12-02-2006, 12:57 PM
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Think GROUND CLEARANCE....as we all know, these are essentially street versions of the factory team race bikes. Higher pegs for clearance results in a higher seat. Same reason they put 180's and 190 tires in the rear.
I do agree that the R6 and 600RR definitely have some pretty damn high seats. I'm 6'1" and was suprised that my feet barely sit flat when stradling either bike.
Old 12-07-2006, 10:10 PM
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Default Re: (miketegra)

anyone ever take into account that the GSXR seat is really narrow and allows u to have both feet firmly on the ground?? i kno the RR seats are rather wide and probably make the reach a little tricky.....
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