Sport tourer - how? (Full Version)

CBR >> Past CBR Models >> CBR 1000F "Hurricane"

Sport tourer - how?

  

chesthing -> Sport tourer - how? (7/8/2006 10:57:31 PM)

This bike is considered a sport-tourer - the guy I bought it from rode it from Denver to NY and back in a week - HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? I am 40 years old, 5'10 185 lbs with a good back and no physical problems. I want to be comfortable on this bike because it's so awesome, but my neck, hands, lower back and legs hurt after just 20 miles or so and it becomes a bit of a chore to ride over an hour. I have a Corbin seat and installed Genmar risers (which helped) - should I do stretches and pop Advil before riding? What is the secret to 3-4 hour rides on a bike like this?

  
DRam -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/9/2006 12:04:53 AM)

Last year I acquired a 1000F and took a four-hundred mile ride. The last two hundred miles were torture. This spring I began working my abdomen, back and upper body using curls, leg lifts, light dumbells, our couch doubled as a roman chair. Push ups, lunges, stretches, etc. filled out a half hour workout every morning. I particularly worked on stretching knees and hips, developing flexibility in those areas. After six weeks of that I took a 1000 mile weekend trip (500 miles/day) with very little discomfort.

I stopped every couple hours to gas up and walked for five to ten minutes each time, stayed hydrated and varied my position, using my back and abs to support me, then my arms, then a combination. While I was tired and somewhat uncomfortable when arriving home it was no problem to get off the bike and walk into the house. Last year I could barely get off the bike.

It also helps to take several short trips and gradually extend your range.

One last thought: if you can find a Pilates exercise book or tape you'll find a bunch of exercises that will strengthen your core and make supporting yourself on the bike easier and more comfortable.

Illushun -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/9/2006 12:42:38 AM)

We toured 4 states back in the end of May. Completed 1,000 miles in 3 days. I took a couple of motrin every 3-4 hours. We made frequent stops, about every 130 miles (only because the two guys I was with didn't get as good of gas mileage). I had only put about 400 miles on it (since owned by me) before we did this. I also have a throttle rocker that goes on the throttle for when we were highway riding.

DRam has good ideas. Plenty of fluids will hydrate the muscles in your lower legs and will prevent muscle fatigue and lactic acid build up. Why this might happen is because you would be squeezing with your knees and upper legs and using your abdominal muscles to take the pressure off your arms, wrists, when riding. I would also let my legs dangle with my ankles on the edge of the pegs for a little while.

The motrin or alieve helped the numbing sensation I would get between the shoulder blades and neck area. Ear plugs also work great so your head isn't fatigued by the wind noise. My helmet has air foils on the back to help stabilize my head while riding as the stock windscreens are were they should be.

After putting 4,000 miles on it in about 2 months, it's quite comfortable when I go out for a 200 mile ride.

R1000 -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/9/2006 4:45:42 AM)

It's could perhaps be that your body and mind has not adjusted to this type of bike yet, it will take some time but it will sure come. The CBR is VERY comfy compared to a sport bike and you should be able to run it as long as you want without problems. The key is to be totally relaxed and to to take support by knees and lower back and stommac muscles at braking and if the road is bumpy. Any tension, especially in arms and shoulders will wear you down in no-time and does not benefit riding. I let a friend trie my Suzuki a couple of years ago, he was so tired by tension that he needed to rest about every 5 miles. I drove it from Germany a couple of weeks ago over a distance of more than 1000 km's and only stopped for gas and food without any problems at all. So, you can be quite sure that the CBR will take you anywhere without pain if giving yourself time to get used.

Noe -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/9/2006 6:36:30 AM)

Illushun: What is mortrin and alieve ?

chesthing -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/9/2006 8:14:30 AM)

Thanks for all the great info, I've been wanting to try Pilates anyway.

Illushun -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/9/2006 8:33:55 AM)

Noe,

Motrin and Alieve are over the counter headache medicines like Ibuprofen or Tylenol. They have an anti-inflammatory ingredient which helps to reduce pain in muscles and joints. Sorry.

geoffv -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/10/2006 8:19:20 AM)

Chesting you should be able to 400 plus mile days on your CBRF if you have no physical conditions/problems. I've got a corbin and genmar's and have done serveral 600 plus mile rides in one day (one being a 7 state one day ride in New England). A lot of it is form on your back, I ridew with a kidney belt on long rides which gives my lower back support, we stop every 100-130 miles for gas and strechting. Form is key on the bike other wise you'll get fatigue on your writs, shoulder and back.

chesthing -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/10/2006 8:44:45 AM)

I guess I'm just not used to clip-ons. I've been riding my Valkyrie with drag bars for a few years and didn't think it would be that different, it is. The reason I bought this bike is that I've been riding with some guys on sport tourers on Sunday mornings through Colorado mountain roads, they ride FAST. I can keep up suprisingly well on the Valk, but I feel I've been through a workout when I'm done - keeping up with guys on a Fjr1300 and RT1200's on a 750 lb cruiser is a challenge. We ride between 200-300 miles, I just want to be able to do that without agony - I havent met up with them with the CBR yet, as I'm working up to it - I don't want to end up needing a stretcher lol.
After ordering the Genmars, someone posted a link for the LSL bars -I KNOW I'd be fine with these, but I'm not giving up just yet.

stinky93071 -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/10/2006 9:48:21 AM)

I just think you are not use to the bike yet. You might not be as relaxed as your should/could be. We do 300-400 miles as a day trip 2 times a month. Hell I have done a few 700 mile day trips on the bike. A few weeks ago we did 1500 in three days. My bike is all stock and I am 5’8’ 220lbs (so you can tell I do not work out what so ever)

The key is you have to drink a lot. One power aid or Gatorade per stop and if you can one when you are on the road. (Camel pack or something like it)

If I am going to be doing more then 300 that day I will take 2 Aleve in the AM before heading out then 1 at lunch and one mid afternoon. (Works better then anything I have found but you have to take it before you start to hurt)

try that you should be fine.

Bassman -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/10/2006 12:54:52 PM)

At 80+mph the wind presure will take the weight off your arms and back. I've ridden from CT to the Mid-Ohio race track in about 8 hrs. stopping only for gas and lunch.

Noe -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/10/2006 12:57:21 PM)

Thanx !
Same pills, different names in different languages [sm=smiley14.gif]

quote:

ORIGINAL: Illushun

Noe,

Motrin and Alieve are over the counter headache medicines like Ibuprofen or Tylenol. They have an anti-inflammatory ingredient which helps to reduce pain in muscles and joints. Sorry.


Noe -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/10/2006 1:14:39 PM)

Is there anyone who know's if you can lower the pegs on the CBR?

Being 6'3 my knee angle is rather narrow on the bike, and after 1½ hour my knee's are killing me! I have tried stretching while on the move and it helps for 10-15 minuts, then I have to do it again. So I thought that I might lower the pegs, to put lesser stress on the knee's.

Anyone knows if this is possible ???

dad -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/10/2006 1:26:02 PM)

Sitting it properly is the first thing. Then, take sufficient number of very brief breaks, at least every hundred miles. Get off and stretch anytime you start feeling the need, but at least every hundred miles.

I've done Pittsburgh to LA on two sleeps. 1500 miles, 23 hours, then 7 hours sleep. Then 600 miles, 14 hours, of twisties through Colorado, then 7 hours sleep. Then about 500 miles of twisties through Colorado and Utah, and then the balance of 700 miles into LA, about 22 hours total. The worst part was being physically tired from being awake too long, not physically sore. We routinely do 550 mile twisty day rides.

That's on a stock '90. No bar risers or anything special. Regular shifting of position on the interstate is mandatory but primary position doesn't carry your weight on your arms. Balls of the feet on the pegs and legs slightly loaded. The moving around on twisties is easier by default because you don't get a chance to sit like a lump in one position all day. Oh, and regular riding to condition the muscles that come into play.

Leather pants for all of the right reasons but also, they deal with the sweat and are ultimately more comfortable. Hard to believe but it's my finding and was a surprise when I started using them. I thought they'd be hotter but worked better. If you're going to stay in jeans or such, an animal skin laying on your seat helps a TON! Just make sure you can get it off if it rains. They take forever to dry and are miserable to sit on wet. In addition to the 100 mile stretch, 200 mile gas stop should include a quick washing of the face and arms as well as a drink. Goes a long way to keeping you fresh.

chesthing -> RE: Sport tourer - how? (7/10/2006 2:33:34 PM)

Great info, thanks everyone. So the primary position is balls of feet on pegs with your legs taking the weight off my hands - no wonder this last week was difficult, I just let my hands and arms do all the work! I actually just went for a hundred mile ride this morning, and took some advice - from the start of the ride I altered the weight between my arms and lower back, and it helped a lot - next ride I will try to let my legs take the weight for most of the time - thanks again, I feel I'm going to make it work without having to get the LSL bars.

  

Page: [1] 2 3 4 5   next >   >>

Return to CBR Forum home page or view the Full Version of this page.