[EcoRider]

One of the things that I dislike most, is leaning forward on a bike when going at low speeds.
Once you surpass 80mph, the wind pulls you back, and forward lean is necessary to stay balanced.

I've noticed that the R3 has a seating position equal to a riding position for speeds of 80mph or higher.

Having the handlebars more up, and backwards, creates a more upright seating position, which is much better for riding at city and suburban speeds of below 55mph.
It is much easier to have a straight seating position, and lean forward when going fast, than to lean forward when going slow, and only feeling comfy at higher speeds.

To be honest, it's a major factor for taller guys such as myself, to not go for this bike.
I want to know if any of the current owners experience this forward leaning position, and what their thoughts on it is?

With the seating position, and non-adjustable handlebars, I'm more thinking of a Honda CB500X, or Suzuki S40 right now...

 

[Xyzzy]

To be honest, it's a major factor for taller guys such as myself, to not go for this bike.
I want to know if any of the current owners experience this forward leaning position, and what their thoughts on it is?

The forward lean is very mild. I am 6' tall. I do train my core muscles specifically to support my body. It has been my experience that these are very specific muscles that are used when riding so most people do not have them strengthened even if they are very fit. For me rowing an ergometer provides the necessary training.

 

[Ravaloft]

I have to agree with Xyzzy. The pic is very accurate. I am 6' as well.

Speeds around 40 to 45mph weren't bad. Going over 60 produced tons of wind coming at my chest so I felt myself leaning forward a bit.

The ride is comfortable to me, personally. Sometimes I find myself putting weight on hands and will need to adjust. As also mentioned core strength will help

 

[FangShui]

I have to agree with Xyzzy. The pic is very accurate. Personally, I am 6' as well.

Speeds around 40 to 45mph weren't bad. Going over 60 produced tons of wind coming at my chest so I felt myself leaning forward a bit.

The ride is comfortable to me, personally. Sometimes I find myself putting weight on hands and will need to adjust. As also mentioned core strength will help

If you don't mind the look, you can try one of these:

http://www.ascycles.com/detail.aspx?ID=2205

I haven't put mine on the R3 yet but will report on how effective it is once I do. I know it worked well on the BMW R1150R I used to own.

Also, there might be a Laminar Lip available for the R3 sometime in the future

 

[RobertNL]

I've picked up my R3 Saturday. I did the first 250 kilometers right away, one day just to get the slickness of the tires and for the engine not to rev it up to much. Including some stops, i've been riding untill dinner. I've got to say, you're right. For cruising this motorcycle is amazing. It looks like a supersport, it does behave like one once you throw in your weight. For taller people (i'm 1.85 meters long) i can imagine that if you want to go with a supersport, you'd choose something like a RC390 (A2) or even go with a higher classed superbike. Or if you really want to go with the R3, try to lower the handlebars

 

[EcoRider]

From the website, it looks like I have a 14' forward lean. That's a lot for me.
I'm 6'4", or 193cm, and the forward lean is as much as my stock Suzuki GS500F, or my Honda Shadow VT750.

Both of them where terrible to ride in the city.
On the highway, the vt750 without windshield felt ok at 60mph, but with windshield 80mph was needed to push me back enough.
My GS500F in a way is a heavier, but very similar bike to the R3. Also on that one I need to be going 80 before I feel the wind pulling me back.

It seems peculiar to me that a 5'7" person needs 60mph to feel balanced, but a 6'4" needs 80mph. Must have to do with the taller one is, the more he leans forward.

There's a reason why BMW has a zero lean forward. It's one of the few bikes made by tall people, for tall people.

Currently I don't think that the R3 would fit my needs, based on the forward lean.
In many ways, it's a spectacular machine, but I think I have a better chance getting a bike with a naturally more upright seating position, or a bike witha bar-type handlebars, which are easier to increase the height with.

It was fun for a while, hoping to get an R3, but I might end up getting a Suzuki Salvage (boulevard S40), or a Honda CB500X.
If Yamaha had their V-star 250 as a 300cc bike, I might have considered it as well.
The salvages (s40) are cheap to find second hand.

 

[Mike-the-Bike]

I'm 5'10'', and my R3 feels a bit cramped front-to-back, mainly due to the convex plastic panel behind the main seat--my tailbone pushes directly on the high spot. As for the upright/forward lean position, I always squeeze the tank with my knees for some support while using my lower back and abdominal muscles to support my upper body. I almost never have my back straight with elbows locked (where wrists are the support for the upper body). Compared to my '04 GSX-R750 with racing rearsets, the R3 feels positively "standard" in seating position. I may actually move the clip-ons under the triple clamp to give me more room.

You could always go with heli bars for an even more upright riding position, but at 6'4", you could still feel a bit cramped on the R3. Have you considered the FZ6R?

 

[FangShui]

From the website, it looks like I have a 14' forward lean. That's a lot for me.
I'm 6'4", or 193cm, and the forward lean is as much as my stock Suzuki GS500F, or my Honda Shadow VT750.

Both of them where terrible to ride in the city.
On the highway, the vt750 without windshield felt ok at 60mph, but with windshield 80mph was needed to push me back enough.
My GS500F in a way is a heavier, but very similar bike to the R3. Also on that one I need to be going 80 before I feel the wind pulling me back.

It seems peculiar to me that a 5'7" person needs 60mph to feel balanced, but a 6'4" needs 80mph. Must have to do with the taller one is, the more he leans forward.

There's a reason why BMW has a zero lean forward. It's one of the few bikes made by tall people, for tall people.

Currently I don't think that the R3 would fit my needs, based on the forward lean.
In many ways, it's a spectacular machine, but I think I have a better chance getting a bike with a naturally more upright seating position, or a bike witha bar-type handlebars, which are easier to increase the height with.

It was fun for a while, hoping to get an R3, but I might end up getting a Suzuki Salvage (boulevard S40), or a Honda CB500X.
If Yamaha had their V-star 250 as a 300cc bike, I might have considered it as well.
The salvages (s40) are cheap to find second hand.

You'd probably fit well on the CB500X. It has a very upright seating position. I can do a 250 mile ride on mine and not have any problems, comfort wise. At 6'4" you might want bar risers, though

 

[AJ Nin]

I'm just under 5'7" and I think the bike was built with me in mind. The riding position feels right at all speeds. Now I do scoot back in the seat to the edge of the pillion at 80mph or so, but the flyscreen directs the wind over my helmet and the bike is very well-planted at 95 mph which is the fastest I've been. I don't really tuck. Don't need to. The foot pegs seem a little tall and far back, but I don't think that gets better with height. The bike seems pretty upright to me...a little less upright than my CB300F for sure, but way more upright than a supersport. At my height, all I have to do to change my posture for high and low speeds is scoot backward or forward a little. Wouldn't really even need to do that.

 

[FangShui]

I'm just under 5'7" and I think the bike was built with me in mind. The riding position feels right at all speeds. Now I do scoot back in the seat to the edge of the pillion at 80mph or so, but the flyscreen directs the wind over my helmet and the bike is very well-planted at 95 mph which is the fastest I've been. I don't really tuck. Don't need to. The foot pegs seem a little tall and far back, but I don't think that gets better with height. The bike seems pretty upright to me...a little less upright than my CB300F for sure, but way more upright than a supersport. At my height, all I have to do to change my posture for high and low speeds is scoot backward or forward a little. Wouldn't really even need to do that.

See my post under "Sato Rearsets installed" for photos of rearsets that will let you move the pegs forward and down....

 

[AJ Nin]

Thanks FangShui.

 

[Eli_rx_oli]

I am 6'0 and was feeling a bit cramped when I want to tuck into the tank and was a little to upright for me so I lowered the clip ons underneath the triple clamp, there Is plenty clearance and it was able to bring the bars in a little for a more aggressive feel . Surprised how much for responsive it also made it feel . I have to say it did help a good amount I'd say if I got adjustable rear sets it would be great but I'm being picky. I also enjoy a more aggressive stance and it is more comfortable for me . For some reason

 

[EcoRider]

Most of my riding is 1.5 hours or more, and upto 6 hours a day, and upto 24 hours a week; so seating comfort is most important to me!

I understand that for a 30min ride or less it won't matter much.
I guess the taller you are, the more wind hits you above the screen.
even on my GS500F, most of the wind hits my helmet, and after 1 to 2 hours I start to feel that.

To tell you the truth, I read the reviews about the cb300f, and how it did only 85mph, which makes no sense to me, but I saw a youtube vid of a guy hitting the rev limiter at 100mph.
Seeing that the cb300f is about 50cc larger than my Rebel250, and more streamlined, and has a higher rev limit, it would only make sense that it's faster than my Rebel.

I'm considering the CB300F, because of its seating position, and the fact that I hope it can get me to 95mph when I need it.
It's also a bit cheaper, than the R3.
also better reported fuel economy.
Probably all I need.

The S40 unfortunately rumbles too much as a thumper engine, and has a belt drive instead of a chain drive, which costs more to convert, and esthetically looks off with a chain.

 

[Mike-the-Bike]

I am 6'0 and was feeling a bit cramped when I want to tuck into the tank and was a little to upright for me so I lowered the clip ons underneath the triple clamp, there Is plenty clearance and it was able to bring the bars in a little for a more aggressive feel . Surprised how much for responsive it also made it feel . I have to say it did help a good amount I'd say if I got adjustable rear sets it would be great but I'm being picky. I also enjoy a more aggressive stance and it is more comfortable for me . For some reason

I also moved my clip-ons under the triple clamp, and it really made a difference in the ride! Surprisingly, the position is still kind of upright even with lowering the bars. I think the low seat height makes you feel more upright.

 

[BJAS1961]

I am very interested in this discussion. I am currently trying to decide between an R3 and CBR500R. As I have grown older and more conservative as a rider, I really don't push limits anymore, and I prefer a lighter bike and an upright seating position. I am 185 cm tall (6'1"). Below is a comparative on the ergonomics of both bikes. The ergos on the R3 are more aggressive, the CBR more relaxed but it is heavier. I am really unsure what to do. On just about everything bar the ergos I am favouring the R3, but I would appreciate any views from owners about my height.

 

[Xyzzy]

One thing is the CBR500 weighs a lot more. Does that matter to you?

Edit: I have seen last-year CBR500s selling for around the same price as this-year R3s.

 

[BJAS1961]

One thing is the CBR500 weighs a lot more. Does that matter to you?

Edit: I have seen last-year CBR500s selling for around the same price as this-year R3s.

I just prefer a lighter bike. The CBR500R is 194 kilograms and the R3 is 169, so the difference is 25 kilograms. The weight isn't a deal breaker, and ergonomics are ultimately more important to me.

I am just trying to weigh up the pros and cons of each.

 

[FangShui]

HeliBars will most likely make riser bars for the R3 at some point. They generally have models from 1" up to 3" rise.

The higher ones sometimes require longer control cables and may interfere with the windshield or fairing. Usually the ones up to 1 1/2" and 2" require no other mods.

 

[Xyzzy]

The listed weight difference doesn't sound like much but it is very noticeable. The CBR500 is still very light, but 55 pounds extra is not trivial.

I would actually prefer a little more weight because it would allow more stability at highway speeds.

But when I am pushing bikes around the garage or going really slow the lighter bikes are a lot nicer!

I have a Gold Wing that weighs over 900 pounds. Fortunately it has a reverse function. (I kinda wish now I hadn't bought it. I had hoped my wife would want to tour with me but she is not interested at all.)

I spent a lot of time trying to decide between the CBR500 and the R3. I have owned 14 Hondas in the last four years and I am very comfortable with them. The CBR500 is a very nice design. I would be very happy to have one. For me, the Yamaha was something a little different and it looks really awesome. I bought it as an experiment. I really like trying new things out.

My R3 replaces my GL1800C Valkyrie. I am not sure yet if it is going to be a fantastic long-distance bike like my Valkyrie was. If it isn't I'll pick something up that is. The R3 is fantastic (so far) for ordinary commutes and fun riding. I got 49MPG over 8,000 miles on the Valkyrie and that is an 1800CC engine! So far I am averaging 65MPG with my R3.

Ideally I think I (eventually) want an adventure-styled bike. I wish the VFR800 adventure bike was sold in the US.

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/motorcycles/2015/2015-Honda-VFR800X-Crossrunner.htm

An NC700X might be fun but once you get up there in price you might as well go all the way. I had the engine that is in this bike and it was wonderful. I expect the 800 to be around $12,500 and the 1200 to be around $16,000 if they sold it here.

Hondas in the last four years: 2009 CBR1000RR, 2011 Fury, 2012 Gold Wing, 2013 XL650R, 2008 VTX1800N, 2012 Gold Wing, 2008 VTX1800N, 2014 Gold Wing Valkyrie, 2014 Grom, 2013 CBR250R, 2014 CBR1000RR, 2012 XR50, 2013 XR100, 2010 VFR1200F. All new! (Quite a few real cheap - NOS!) In some cases I bought multiples of a particular model.

 

[BJAS1961]

The listed weight difference doesn't sound like much but it is very noticeable. The CBR500 is still very light, but 55 pounds extra is not trivial.

I would actually prefer a little more weight because it would allow more stability at highway speeds.

But when I am pushing bikes around the garage or going really slow the lighter bikes are a lot nicer!

You are right; it is a significant weight difference, and a real consideration against the Honda. That said, I just don't want to be cramped on the bike, and if the more aggressive ergonomics on the R3 mean that I will be cramped, then I think I'd rather take the heavier bike.