Have superbikes become to focused?

Good lord who decided that all sportbike riders are 5 feet tall and have the hands of a small girl? When I first came on the sportbike scene it was the early 80s and it took a real man to wrestle the likes of a Suzuki GS 1100 or a Kawasaki KZ series around, it was big, comfortable and powerful. The new sportbikes lack no power but could someone please alert the manufacturers that we arent 13 year old female gymnasts.

One of the few current sportbike makers who seems to understand this is BMW, their bikes are sized for us full grown men. The HP2, the K1300 and the SS1000RR all have larger seats, easier reaches to the grips and better riding positions. As such they win most shootouts when it comes to comfort and increasingly they are winning shootouts based on power as well. As wonderful as BMW is it currently isnt a MAJOR player in the sport bike world but this will change I guarantee it.

The Ducatis, Suzukis, Kawasakis, Hondas etc etc that would be classified as superbikes are frankly UNCOMFORTABLE….I’m not talking a little bit here, I’m talking unbearable for more that 50 miles or so. The new Suzuki GSXR 1ooo is a bit better in this respect and to hand it to Suzuki they might be figuring this out. You can make a superbike and it can be sporty but I shouldnt need to be contortionists to fit on it. As an example of a good sportsbike that fit big guys see the early GSXRs, Im questing for one right now but when I sit on it I fit it.

And this is exactly what is driving people to the new GT bikes, the naked bikes and the “tourers”. My wrists shouldnt ache after 5o miles, believe me I would LOVE a Ducati 1198S but Im 6 foot 4 and built like a lineman, My wrists would snap. So what could the makers do? well how about offering different, optional handlebars for people on their bikes. They could be taller, and slightly pulled back so that I dont have to smash my foreheads on the tank to grab the handlebars. Raise the seats, why has their been a mad rush to see who’s seat can be at 20 inches above the ground? finally lower the freaking pegs, My knees shouldnt smack my wrists.

But please please guys quit building bikes for midgets, the world is getting bigger, people arent jockeys any more.