Too Tall to Stand??

[Texas Gasser]

I'm roughly 6'4" and do most of my riding on flat to fairly hilly open and wooded trails... I haven't been riding long (maybe 2 yrs.)... I would consider myself a mostly sit-down rider but I am trying to learn the stand-up technique... My biggest obstacle seems to be my height... Because I am so tall, I find myself having to bend way over at the waist placing me too far over the handlbars without enough weight on the pegs...

Do any of you have experience with "handlebar risers?"... I know they are available but am wondering if they really work well... Are they strong enough to withstand the pressures of enduro/trail riding?... Do they create any problems with bike handling or steering?

Thanks!!

 

[juzzasmith]

I'm 6'3'' and have similar problems, used to use some Renthal Dakar High bars which were certainly higher than stock and helped with standing up, but I found that they made it hard to get to get enough weight over the front when sitting down and cornering hard.

Another problem is that if you raise the bars you will probably have to run a longer throttle cable, especially on a Gasser.

Personally I went back to standard height bars as I felt the benefit of easier standing was outweighed by the loss of feel and control that I had whilst cornering.

 

[JoshP]

They work just fine and I use them myself. I'm only 6'0 but I ride with 2 cats that are even taller than the both of you and they have no issues with them.
Although when learning to stand people make the mistake of standing straight up and not in the "attack" position. Your knees should be bent aggresively basically keep your butt just about 5 inches from the seat and your arms should be bent at the elbow almost a 45 degree angle. Otherwise just standing makes you very top heavy and gives you little room to move with the bike when things go wrong. Try the rises on the bar and get that attack stance down, the rest is butter. Good luck with it! - Josh

 

[PEB]

I really like the tall seat foam on my bike. If you are going to raise the bars get an under the bar damper mount and kill several fowl with one rock.

Paul B

 

[tprnottp]

I'm 6'1" and weigh more than I would like to post. The best thing I've done so far is to open up the cockpit by using TAG mini highs and BRP top triple clamps with an elevated rubber-mounted bar mount centered over the forks.

This combination has really helped me heft my large butt with a lot more ease.

As well, I'm running Jim Cook's world-famous tall seat foam. The total effect of the combination above on my bike's ergos has been extremely favorable.

TP
'03 EC 300

 

[blitz11]

I'm 6' 4", and run tall seat foam and Jimmy Button bend Renthal bars. Works great for me, and eliminates the need for bar risers. It might work for you.

blitz

 

[matt4wheels]

6'6" using BRP tall bar clamps, ProTaper KX High bars and a tall firm seat.

 

[KicksonR66]

We may need a section for taller riders, I'm 6'4 and have trouble getting my right leg up high enough to kick mine over comfortably. If it's cold or I'm on unlevel ground it's easier to get off and kick with my left. Anyone else have the same problem?

 

[Bearman]

i found this on the Aussie GasGas site and thought it might help you

Cutting the foot peg spring lugs and placing them on the top side of each peg and swapping the springs from right to left will lower the pegs about 15mm for taller riders that need extra leg room.

 

[Metalefty]

i found this on the Aussie GasGas site and thought it might help you

I've done that and kept it that way but my feet drag more often.

 

[offroadfreak]

Not to tall or to big

Hi guys , I'm 6'4 and over 130Kgs (280lbs roughly) I haven't changed anything on the bike at all . I ride on fire trails and in tight single track stuff , I find the bike perfect as I am very rarely on the seat but in a permenant crouching position

 

[stay_upright]

I'm 6' (maybe 6'1) and got some custom clamps made which move the bars 1.5-2" forward and 1.5-2" up as well. I run standard height bars with little sweepback (a lot of sweepback effectively moves the handlebar position backwards) When stood up my position feels perfect my hands are higher and further forward so uphill it's easier to get over the front of the bike - sat down it's easier to get over the front of the bike and downhill the higher bars seem to help again as you are not so low over the front on steep descents.
The only compromise is if I am mostly sat down my shoulders ache after an hour or so as teh bars are too high so i should adjust the height down if mostly sitting.

 

[mountain thumper]

Hi guys , I'm 6'4 and over 130Kgs (280lbs roughly) I haven't changed anything on the bike at all . I ride on fire trails and in tight single track stuff , I find the bike perfect as I am very rarely on the seat but in a permenant crouching position

ditoo im 6'5 200lbs my ec fits like it was built for me the only ergo i changed was the seat height.
the only gripe i have about her is at the end of the day the seat makes your arse feel like you wiped it with a moving steamboat paddle. ive had monkey butt, but not like this!

whats this i hear about legendary seat foam, i think that warrants a pm

 

[jlk_250]

I'm barely 6' 0" and have bar risers, modified triple clamp so the bars are forward of stock, minimal sweep bars (Trailtech woods bars), and fastway pegs in the low position. Makes a huge improvement compared to how my '01 was stock. Obviously it's user preference but I wasted a lot of time learning to stand before I figured out that I'd be better of with some cockpit changes. If I were 6' 4" I'd probably want the bars even higher. (The footpegs are maybe too low. Definitely scrape the trail more often.)

 

[Jim Cook]

We may need a section for taller riders, I'm 6'4 and have trouble getting my right leg up high enough to kick mine over comfortably. If it's cold or I'm on unlevel ground it's easier to get off and kick with my left. Anyone else have the same problem?

You need to kick the start lever backwards and down, instead of just down.

Try it. It really works.

When I originally had the aftermarket seat foams made. I sent Guts Racing a OEM GasGas seat foam for an '01 and had them make a tall foam, as well as an OEM profile seat foam for us, using their medium density foam. It is much better than the OEM GasGas seat foam, which will let you feel the seat base after a 45 minute ride. Guts also made new covers to match the foam, both in the competition cover (which GoFasters sells as their "GasGas" cover) and a plain black gripper cover.

GoFasters is selling the seat foams, and I have special ordered a plain black cover, since I like them better than the competition covers.

You ought to be able to order the foam and cover directly from Guts, if GoFasters doesn't get you what you want.

I'm only 6' tall, but the foam really helps me get off my butt easier, and gives my knees something to grip when I am standing.
You can always lower the pegs by running Fastway Yamaha pegs, which let you move the barrel above or below the pivot in the mount, but I hate to expose my feet to rocks and stumps by lowering them.

I am running a Pro-Tect under the bars steering damper mount, with Hawkins High Bend Pro-Taper bars. http://www.ptenduro.com/
This finally allowed me to stand and ride comfortably.
I will try to attach a photo of them on my '06 DE300. I am still using the oem GasGas throttle cable. No problems, as long as the cable is routed cleanly.

 

[Jim Cook]

I am going to try to add a photo or two of my Pro-Tect bar mounts and my seat profile.

When I had Guts make the seat foams for us, I told them to remove the dip, and add about 2" to the part that would be under my butt.

On older bikes ('99 and earlier) a Ceet KX high foam for a '99 KX250 will work with just a small bit of trimming.


Good Riding!

Jim