I went to a local bike shop yesterday to pick up some BelRay chain lube and I decided to sit on some new bikes. I noticed that seat height is not as big of a factor as the shape of the seat/frame itself.

What I'm trying to say is.. most sport bikes are very similar in seat height. But they're totally different is shape. Some are wide and some are slim.

I got on an R6 and in typical R6 fashion, my heels were barely hovering over the floor.
Next I got on an R1 and not only did my feet sit flat on the floor, my knees were slightly bent. I quickly noticed that the seat and frame were very slender and it was much more comfortable.
Then I got on a 600RR. This was more of a traditional, wide sport bike seat and in it's shape, it spread my thighs apart and my heels were off the ground a bit more than the R6.
When I got on the 636, I noticed that it made my stance very similar to the R6.
Finally, I saw the new Gixxer 1K so I had to let my *** caress it's seat. OMG, was it so very comfortable. If I gave the R1 a 9/10 (it was extremely comfortable), the Gixxer gets a 10/10. My feet were not only planted at least as firm as when I was on the R1 but, the seat itself was the thinnest, most ergonomically shaped piece of foam this side of a Tempur Pedic mattress.

I was very surprised with my findings. I never thought that the 1K's would actually be more comfy and lower standing than the 6's. So, I got home and looked up the specs to see for myself.

R1 - 32.8"
R6 - 32.3"
600RR - 32.3"
ZX-6R - 32.3"
Gixxer - 31.9"

So.. I guess the 31.9" on the Gixxer would prove it, it is actually lower, but for a fact, that's not all. The seat design is awesome.
And the R1 is actually 0.5" taller than the 6's but since the shape of the seat and frame is narrower, your stance is more verticle, letting you plant your feet down firmly. I think a lot of it has to do with Yamaha slanting the engine forward more for this model, letting them run the frame at a straight angle over the motor, making the bike very narrow. Good job.

BTW, the new Gixxer feels smaller than all the others. Badass.

 

yep, i own an 05 r6 and i can barely bend my knees, my friend has an 05 r1 and my knees are bent, my other friend has the 05 gixxxer 1000 and the seat is so slim near the tank, that my knees are almost to my chest. my friend's 05 zx6rr has a very wide seat and im on my toes on that bike

 

Buncha shorties. I sit on an R6 and my knees are in my face hehe.

I can flat foot my '04 636 and have an inch or two to spare between my *** and the seat.

 

yeah i noticed that too when i was at the bike show and thought it was bizarre that i could totally flat foot the R1 and could ALMOST flat foot the R6. i was also surprised by how comfy the R1 felt. i thought maybe it had to do with the suspension settings since the R1 seat height is higher, but i guess you're correct.

 

well its good to know i wasn't crazy when i swore my 600 sat up higher than my 929

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ScareyH22A &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BTW, the new Gixxer feels smaller than all the others. Badass. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm glad I'm not nuts, as well.

The CBR600/GSX-R600 have very wide seats compared with the R6. The two litres you described are even slimmer. It's awesome.

 

What's scary to me is I've never sat on a bike (in recent memory) that was anything other than an SV. Maybe it's just me but I have this huge fear of pulling a Pee Wee Herman and knocking over one bike and the rest going tumbling like dominoes. ****, for all I know there are a ton more comfortable bikes out there. Maybe I should nut up and sit on a few to have some basis for comparison.

 

Yeah, you should.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 2.2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Buncha shorties. I sit on an R6 and my knees are in my face hehe.

I can flat foot my '04 636 and have an inch or two to spare between my *** and the seat.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I can flat foot my 900RR and have like 5 inches maybe more so i feel ya man, everyone else is short.