go for it!
I'm 51, 5'8", 180. Love the fizzer.
I'm 51, 5'8", 180. Love the fizzer.
To the not-so-young riders
- Thread starter ngengs
- Start date
I'm 44. I've run the gamut of motorcycles since the mid eighties. My job keeps me pretty limber. I'm always crouching, stretching, etc. I also get a lot of leg time. I feel like I could count it in miles, on a long shift.
I'm pretty darn healthy. 5'10" 140lbs when wet. I still nearly always get a leg cramp when I get on the bike, on the way to work. I pulled a muscle at work a few weeks ago. My neck still aches.
I would expect some aches and pains, if you choose to ride. The 6R has a pretty darn good riding position. I've ridden far more comfortable bikes. My Dad's Honda cruiser comes to mind. That was a truly amazingly comfortable, and spirited machine.
After riding so many different bikes, I chose the 6R as a compromise between performance and comfort. I have yet to be disappointed in my decision.
Here's the however: I like to carve corners. I like to lay the bike down and cruise that 25mph warning sign at 50+. If that's not you, then the compromise I've accepted in the 6R may not be the one you need.
If you just want to be on two wheels, and cruise with power and comfort, I'd suggest a Honda cruiser. If you just want some comfort, performance that will surprise you, and the ability to lay the bike low on a turn, as well as a slew of other benefits it'd take all night to write, then the 6R is your ride.
I'm pretty darn healthy. 5'10" 140lbs when wet. I still nearly always get a leg cramp when I get on the bike, on the way to work. I pulled a muscle at work a few weeks ago. My neck still aches.
I would expect some aches and pains, if you choose to ride. The 6R has a pretty darn good riding position. I've ridden far more comfortable bikes. My Dad's Honda cruiser comes to mind. That was a truly amazingly comfortable, and spirited machine.
After riding so many different bikes, I chose the 6R as a compromise between performance and comfort. I have yet to be disappointed in my decision.
Here's the however: I like to carve corners. I like to lay the bike down and cruise that 25mph warning sign at 50+. If that's not you, then the compromise I've accepted in the 6R may not be the one you need.
If you just want to be on two wheels, and cruise with power and comfort, I'd suggest a Honda cruiser. If you just want some comfort, performance that will surprise you, and the ability to lay the bike low on a turn, as well as a slew of other benefits it'd take all night to write, then the 6R is your ride.
Well I'm 59 and intend to ride as long as I feel my riding skills hold out. I started riding when I was 14 so I'm as comfortble riding as driving. I don't drag my knees but I'm not shy about leaning a bike over in a corner. I ride about 5,000 miles a year (+/-).
Of all the bikes I've owned and ridden over the years the FZ6R is, on balance, one of best in terms of the whole package (power, handling, stopping, ergonomics, etc). I ride mine stock and find it perfect. I appreciate that it's easy to maintain and you can't beat the price.
If you enjoy riding I would say go for it while you still can. My take on the whole age thing is that you don't want to be sitting around when your 70 years old wishing you had.
BTW, my other bike is a BMW touring bike. It's a real road tractor and does what it does very well but the FZ6R is what I ride when I ride for the sheer fun of it. Lots of good bikes out there but you can't go wrong with the FZ6R IMO.
Good luck and ride safe
Of all the bikes I've owned and ridden over the years the FZ6R is, on balance, one of best in terms of the whole package (power, handling, stopping, ergonomics, etc). I ride mine stock and find it perfect. I appreciate that it's easy to maintain and you can't beat the price.
If you enjoy riding I would say go for it while you still can. My take on the whole age thing is that you don't want to be sitting around when your 70 years old wishing you had.
BTW, my other bike is a BMW touring bike. It's a real road tractor and does what it does very well but the FZ6R is what I ride when I ride for the sheer fun of it. Lots of good bikes out there but you can't go wrong with the FZ6R IMO.
Good luck and ride safe
I turned 51 this month & have ridden motorcycles all my life. I'm 5' 9" and weigh 180 and have always been in good physical shape, with that said.
My Fz6r will be 25 months old in two weeks & I'm a couple hundred miles away from having 25,000 miles on her. I do ride more than most, and that riding includes many 300+ mile riding days. I plan to ride the FZ6R until I retire and then i will get a touring bike.
My Fz6r will be 25 months old in two weeks & I'm a couple hundred miles away from having 25,000 miles on her. I do ride more than most, and that riding includes many 300+ mile riding days. I plan to ride the FZ6R until I retire and then i will get a touring bike.
S
SkyOrDie
I'm glad to see my fellow geezers out playing! I've been riding the streets for over 40 years now and had a cruiser before the 6R. Three years ago I got my first dirt bike, a DRZ400S dual sport, to do hang gliding retrieves. I got used to the nimbleness and (after modding) power. Every time I got on the cruiser, it felt like I was trying to wrestle a wallowing cow. I hated it. Booted the cruiser to the curb, shopped around and ended up with an FZ6R.
The 6R has a great bang to buck ratio and is known to be reliable with minimal maintenance. At 5'10" and 195 lbs, the ergos fit me well. I haven't gone on a long trip, but I've done up to 3 hour rides with minimal discomfort. The easy and predictable handling should be confidence-inspiring for a newer rider. The more linear power will help keep you out of trouble. Power is good and mods are available to make it better. I'm very happy with my choice.
-Stan
The 6R has a great bang to buck ratio and is known to be reliable with minimal maintenance. At 5'10" and 195 lbs, the ergos fit me well. I haven't gone on a long trip, but I've done up to 3 hour rides with minimal discomfort. The easy and predictable handling should be confidence-inspiring for a newer rider. The more linear power will help keep you out of trouble. Power is good and mods are available to make it better. I'm very happy with my choice.
-Stan
+1 to everything said here . . and I'm 65. Just do the mods that Marthy mentioned earlier and you'll have a bike you'll be happy with for a wide range of riding applications. Only if you're 33" inseam or longer should you start to feel cramped (probably, don't really know as I'm only 30").