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How tall a rider will the Vulcan S comfortably accommodate? - FOR REAL-

50K views 31 replies 17 participants last post by  lukasz79  
#1 · (Edited)
I will soon be doing a video on the KVS Ergo-Fit system and I need to collect some information and was hoping you all could help.

When I see the poster on the dealer wall regarding Ergo-Fit, it shows the KVS will accommodate riders up to 6' 4". I find this very hard to believe.

I am 5-11, (maybe closer to 5-10 as I have shrunk a bit over the years), and I fit perfect on the extended reach seat with the pegs in the mid-reach position. When I added the Corbin seat I had to move the pegs to the extended reach position as it pushes me a little forward, and I feel the same leg comfort as I did with the earlier set up.

Being somewhere between 5-10 and 5-11, and fitting best with the extended reach seat and mid reach pegs, I am betting that with the pegs moved to the extended reach position, I could be no taller than 6-0 or 6-1 maximum and still feel comfortable.

So my question is - for those of you taller riders, how tall are you, what ergo-fit configuration do you have your seat/pegs/bars in, and what do you think the maximum height a rider could be and still feel comfortable on the bike? (Please, just for the sake of simplicity, let's leave inseam out of this discussion).

Basically, with your help, I'm trying to figure out what is the tallest rider a KVS can comfortably accommodate. I know what Kawasaki says, and I don't think I believe it.

Thanks much for your help!
 
#3 · (Edited)
6’0” I have a Corbin seat with R&G adjustable foot controls which push the extended reach pegs 2 inches further forward.

I feel extended reach config accommodates 6 feet and anything beyond that will be uncomfortable. On the stock extended reach seat I felt that I was leaning forward to the handlebars, ie I felt like I had t-Rex arms :)
 
#11 ·
I am thinking of getting the R&G extension bracket. Did you move it up one or two inches from the stock extended reach position? I know it comes with two longer shift rods. I am 6'1" with a 32 inseam and I feel pretty damn crowded with the Corbin and the stock extended reach controls. I don't have any issued with the handlebar reach since I do have fairly long arms. You may want to try the reduced reach handlebars that may make things more comfortable for you.

That said, I think that if you get the Corbin Seat and if you are 6 foot and taller the bike feels cramped in the Extended Reach OEM position since the Corbin does push you forward.

I don't think the Vulcan S can be comfortable for anyone much over 6'1"
 
#5 · (Edited)
I’m 6’ and have extended reach seat with pegs in reduced reach position. My inseam is about 32”. I like it! Comfortable for most riding situations I encounter. Enough for me to be satisfied.
It’s hard to predict a person’s “comfort zone”. I’ve seen big people on small bikes who’ve said they feel comfortable on them. But looking at them riding the bike, you can tell that thing is way too small for the person riding it. But if they say they’re comfortable, who am I to argue?
 
#9 ·
6’3” 36” Inseam Extended Reach was a requirement(I started out with mid reach footpegs though); the Corbin seat pushed me too far forward, felt like my knees were above my chest. The Extended reach seat only lasted me 4,00 miles before the foam started deteriorating and the Extended reach seat was like sitting on a thin plastic plate.


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#12 ·
The two reasons I tried the reduced reach peg position was the midreach put my knees somewhat against those plastic pieces on the sides of the lower portion of the tank. And that didn’t feel good to me at all. The other reason is when I rode the KVS and then got back on my 800C, I found myself searching for the pegs with my feet, only to find I was reaching too far for them. So, the 800C pegs must be around that reduced reach area. It felt more natural for me. Luckily we can move all this stuff around on the KVS, to find our comfort zone. Unlike the 800C which is not adjustable from the factory. However, that bike is way more comfortable than the KVS to begin with. I agree with Indytom, I can’t see the KVS being comfortable for anyone much taller that 6’.
 
#14 ·
I'm probably a tad just under six foot tall (with a 32" inseam) and was perfectly happy with the mid-reach seat and extended reach foot pegs (and mid-reach handlebars). Honestly I think it's all very subjective as to what fits a particular person so I don't think it's going to be very cut and dried trying to put it into a video.
 
#19 ·
I'm 6'4'' with mid rech seat and ext. footpegs.
After riding for 30-40 mins sometimes my spin hurts :( Then I try to move back to sease it.
I think ext. reach seat would be OK for my but it's too damnd expensive. I also got passenger seat for mid rach seat and its hard to throw both of them away.

By the way where's your ext. reach seat? Maybe u willing to sell it :D
 
#20 ·
WOW, at your height 1,93m or 6'4" I could never sit on the Mid Reach seat. I was sitting on that hump with my measly 6'1" 1,85m and couldn't stand it. You must have very short legs for your height :grin2: I would try and find an extended Reach Seat on E-Bay in your area. Even if someone would sell you an Extended Reach Seat in the US it would cost a Fortune to send it to Eastern Europe. I just sent a small package to my aunt in Germany and it was almost 100 dollars in postage. I can't even imagine what shipping a seat would cost. Probably more than the price of the seat itself.
 
#26 ·
I guess KVS is part of the model number for the Vulcan S? I guess I forgot that, it mixed me up for a second. :)

The Kawasaki site says suggested ranges for Ergo-Fit are EXTENDED reach is 6'1" and over, MID REACH is for 5'7" to 6'0" and REDUCED REACH is for those 5'6" and under.

At 4'11" barefoot, about 5'0" with shoes, I am at very bottom of Reduced Reach by about 6-7", the same distance that you are curious about at the top end of Extended Reach. I'm submitting this in the interest of learning about both ends of the spectrum.....

For the record, my inseam is about 27.5" and my boots have a standard heel, about 3/4".

  • Windshield - I have the lower one, works well for me.
  • Handlebars - reduced reach bars
  • Seating - stock reduced reach seat was changed out for custom Corbin with narrowed nose, so my foot reach remained the same, and with both, I can flat foot the same. On both, I still have a bit of reserve bending in my leg so I can duck walk pretty easily. I customized the Corbin so it is about 1" thicker at the back and pushes me more forward than the stock reduced reach seat, making it much better for me. The stock position was still a bit far back for my comfortable position and reach.
  • Foot controls - Reduced reach position still leaves them more forward than mid-position for me, but it is a comfortable forward. I'd still prefer to have them back even further, and I think if I changed the pegs to a floorboard, I could keep my feet back a bit more. I think the angle of the shift pedal could be better. I have to point my toe a bit into position. I'd prefer it always be just above my toe so my toe could stay in one place. Again, I think floor board might help with this.
    I am able to extend my legs and rest my foot on the pegs, right at the ankle, but it's not a comfy position, and I don't ride like this, just pointing out that's my leg stretch.


Gerry
 
#28 · (Edited)
I guess KVS is part of the model number for the Vulcan S? I guess I forgot that, it mixed me up for a second. /forums/images/smilies/smile.gif


[*]Foot controls - Reduced reach position still leaves them more forward than mid-position for me, but it is a comfortable forward. I'd still prefer to have them back even further, and I think if I changed the pegs to a floorboard, I could keep my feet back a bit more. I think the angle of the shift pedal could be better. I have to point my toe a bit into position. I'd prefer it always be just above my toe so my toe could stay in one place. Again, I think floor board might help with this.
Gerry
I type KVS so I don’t have to type out Kawasaki Vulcan S all the time. Model number is actually EN650AF/BF.
Did you try adjusting your shifter up a bit? When I first got mine, it was so low I had to point my toe also, just to get it under the shifter. Very annoying. A little adjustment on the shift rod fixed it for me.
 
#27 ·
Great info Gerry, I really appreciate it. Great to hear you fit on the bike. Kurakyn floorboards are available for the KVS but getting the right adapters to mount them is tricky. Let me know if need ever know the part number and I'll send you the information - the floorboards are in my storage unit, waiting to be mounted. :)