Goldwing riding position...how different is it?

Coasty · May 20, 2008

Hello to all. This being a first post let me say I have been a lurker for a while consuming a wealth of information on Goldwings which this forum has to offer. I have been riding motorcycles for better than 30 years and the time has come to finally purchase the bike I have always dreamed of...a Goldwing. I have always felt the wing was the bike of choice but having never ridden one I was greatly suprised when I took my first ride on a buddy's bike (2001) and felt "cramped" on the seat. There just did not seem to be the leg room that I was acustomed too. I'm not a big guy (5'10 190lbs) but it just felt like I had no room. I could not believe how different the seating position is compared to my previous bikes. (All other bikes have been cruisers...last one was a Yamaha Royal Star with Mustang seat.) My question to all...is it just me or has there been others out there that have felt the same thing when changing to a wing from their previous motorcycle? Do you get use to it?
I am hoping to buy a Goldwing in the not to distant future but I want to settle this seat issue in my mind first. Any input is welcome.
SCOTT

srinehart · May 20, 2008

Hi scott, I came from a cruiser also with mustang seat [which i still have] to the GW and it was a little different and took me a little bit to adjust, but adjust I did and love the GW. I am in the process of adding a couple of things to correct the riding postion for me by adding the floorboards with heal toe shifter and highway pegs. I love the floorboards, they give me room to move my feet around and the highway pegs will give me room to stretch out. You already made your first mistake by riding one, now you want be able to get it out of your system. By the way welcome. Stanley

Harper · May 20, 2008

Hi Scott,
I previously had a Harley Ultra Classic and a BMW K1200LT and I find the Wing to be more comfortable than the BMW but a little less comfortable than the Harley although all are easy to ride all day long. I am 6-0, 190 with a 32 inseam and have to say I don't feel cramped. I do have highway pegs to stretch out a little on long rides.
I am sure you will enjoy the wing and the ride once you adapt to it. Good luck.

Bluesjammer · May 20, 2008

Hey Scott, I've owned my Wing a whole 10 days now, and I'm struggling to get comfortable on this great machine. Had Electra Glides for alot of years and it's just plain different. I'm not going to give up finding comfort, the hwy. pegs helped, I'll get it figured out. Lot of info here to help us out. Wish I could test sit a bike with MOP's and a day long seat. $$$$

Steve

2cruiser · May 21, 2008

Hey Scott

Same problem here. I am 5.10 175lbs And after getting my new 08 Wing a couple of months ago. I can not get comfortable :x Paid $24,000 and I think I had made a mistake. I can't wait to trade this Buick in for the new 2010 model. But I will drive it first. I did not drive this one first, my mistake :evil:

I just install a Utopia back rest and it helps a lot, also bought handle bar risers(not installed yet). I will make it better. I have tooooo

I bought this bike because of it's great name, and it looked so comfey. I was shocked. Very shocked on how uncomfortable it is.

alltimes · May 21, 2008

Hey guys. read our board comfort expert's post. It may help.

viewtopic.php?p=160917#160917

PassTheGravy · May 21, 2008

Coasty, I've owned my Wing for 10 days, and I cannot believe how comfortable it is. It fits me like a glove. Just goes to show that this is a very personal thing, and people of the same basic size seem to get different results. Maybe it's just a matter of what you're used to, or maybe you would never get comfortable on the Wing.

If I was you, I'd rent one for a day or a weekend and put some miles on it and see how I felt about it at the end. I did rent one for a day, and after that I knew I wanted one.

Bardo · May 21, 2008

Let me say, I had my wing now for a couple months. I felt cramped at first but after about a month, I wouldn't trade it. I'm 6' and about 230lbs. i was going to have my seat modded but am having second thoughts about that. I'll know more after this weekend. I have about a 1200 mile ride leavin out Saturday morning. I also have highway pegs to help me stretch out.

zaT111 · May 21, 2008

Many of you coming off cruisers may want hi way pegs of some kind. But if you are willing to give the neutral riding position a chance, you may discover it will give you greater comfort and control in the long run. The foot forward barcolounger position of the cruiser style motorcycles is not conducive to allowing you to maintain positive control of a motorcycle. If you feel the need for a change in the riding position, DDKing's "getting comfortable", Linked to by alltimes above, has quite a bit of good information to make the Wing "fit" most riders.

Welcome to riding a Wing, it may take a while to get that silly grin off your face!!! (I am still grinning 24 years later).
Ride, Ride far, Ride often.........Enjoy the Ride!!!

:flg:

CyberVet65 · May 21, 2008

My first Wing is a trike. I love the bike. Hate the riding position. The trike has the EFX package and that means running boards. It has no footpegs. I am 6 foot and a "husky" 310 lbs. with a 30 inch inseam. I think that I have got this figured out. In order to get the pressure or weight off my thighs I am installing a set of Kury footpegs. I also have the exterior highway pegs. I think I just have to get used to the saddle. I say this because my other bike is a Victory Touring Cruiser. I have a Mustang seat on the bike and it is extremely comfortable. I can do 10 hour days with no problem. So I think I will hang onto the trike and see what develops. This is without getting a Big Boy seat or a Russell seat.

Dr2 · May 21, 2008

I'm a bit taller, and thought that the stock riding position was really strange at first. Immediately I bought highway pegs but now only use them as an alternate position.

There's something to be said about this riding position in the long run. Sure, the feet forward cruiser style looks cool in the showroom, but it's hard on your lower back. (I checked with my physical therapist) When he saw me sitting on the 'wing with my feet on the normal pegs, he said it was exactly what my back needed.

I do have some foam removed from the seat so I sit further back, and that probably helps.
But the bottom line is: I find that after 80,000 miles, I'm more comfortable with 90% of my time on the stock footpegs. I can do back to back 14 hour days and not have back problems, shoulder problems, etc. Maybe the cowboys know something after all?

hossman · May 21, 2008

alltimes said:
Hey guys. read our board comfort expert's post. It may help.

viewtopic.php?p=160917#160917

YUP! This is what you need to do for sure! If your not comfortable now, you won't get as comfortable as you could be. Period. I have Add-On (junk) highway pegs. Should have gotten the Kury's. Oh well. But, I just sent my seat off to get the Wingsoft Large mod done to it. I'm somewhere between 6'1''-6'2'', so I'm not that tall either. I weight between 250-260lbs depending on the time of month. :lol: :lol: I put about 16k on my stock seat and HATED it. I was pushed WAY to far forward, I always slid forward in the seat, the pad kept pushing me forward. I'm hoping that the Large mod will work well. DDKING did a great job on his "getting comfortable" link. REG Risers were a DEFINITE bonus to me getting comfortable.

I'm going to have a spare 1800 seat (non heated) and backrest (heated) up for sale here soon. both in good condition and will work well as a temp seat while anyone is getting their seats done up. I'll post on the for sale section soon.

Red · May 21, 2008

Goldwing riding position...how different is it?

It's no different than any other motorcycle I've ridden.

If you've been riding a wannabe Harley then maybe it would feel strange to you. They had to put the pegs and boards forward because the bikes are built for folks 5' and under! :wink:

snowmark · May 21, 2008

I put bar risers on mine which raised the bars up and more importantly back so I can sit against the backrest and still easily reach the grips....to really have control of a bike your feet need to be under you like a wing, rather than stretched out in front and sitting flat on your butt, where all your weight and g forces are on your lower back rather than being shared by your legs.....once you retrain your body to the neutral position of the wing you may like it better, I have three basic riding positions on the wing....toes on the pegs, butt back in the seat and upper body foward for more agressive riding in the twisties....heels against the pegs, crotch up to the gas tank at the front of the seat, back hard against the back rest for cruising and then basically a completely centered position on the bike...this allows for redistribution of body weight/pressure points to different areas. With a gel pad and a sheepskin I can ride as far as I like if I take a little stretch every couple hundred miles and if I do hit some sand or go wide on a turn I have much better control being able to transfer weight to the footpegs under me rather than out in front. I have MOPs, rarely use them but nice to have the option.

daddysbike · May 21, 2008

I'm also 5-10 190lbs. I find the wing very comfortable, in fact its the only bike I can ride. I have a bad back/hip and just sold my FJR after 20,000. This is my third wing. I've had a bunch of sport/sporttourers/standards and one cruiser-A VTX1300 that I didn't keep for long, I didn't like the ergos or peg scraping but do like the looks of cruisers.
Anyway I think the ergos on the wing are perfect/correct for proper handling and not putting pressure on back/neck.
I met a guy at a BMW dealership a few years ago he was 6ft+ and was looking to trade his wing for a GSA for better ergos. He said he felt cramped on the wing and that the wing was made for guys my size.
If you like that foot forward position I'm sure you can add boards and such but give it a try first.

Steve

Rackin Ray · May 21, 2008

I came to the Wing from a metric crusier. Could not get comfortable on the crusier. Finally realized that it was the low seat heigth. I remembered being more comfortable on a standard back in the '70 so I started looking for a standard style seating bike.

Picked the Wing over the Beemer and I love the riding position. It is more comfortable to me and with a back reast and highway pegs like I had on the crusier it is the bomb! Long rides are now possile, where on the crusier it was painful even with after market $600 seat with backrest and hwy pegs!

The pegs on the Wing offer my 13EEE's more room to change positions and with the hwy pegs I have at least six leg positions to ease the long rides. Last summer did a 5303 mile trip in 14 days. This summer NW Fl to Maine and back!

I am 6'2", 32 inch inseam, and run 270 or so.

Bill Davis · May 22, 2008

Anyone 5'10" or taller coming off a cruiser has the problem. If you have little cruiser experience then you may not know you have the problem. The cure is getting yourself an inch or so higher to let your knees unwind and legs can stretch a bit. Read the "comfort' thread... a good start is buying two $18 wal-mart cushions -- they make a world of difference. Do this before you even think of paying big bucks for a custom seat which you don't need.

YIWING · May 22, 2008

I found the 1800 a bit tighter seating than my last bike, 1`500 Wing.
Highway pegs are deffinitly a big help. If you use a back rest (I do and did on the 1500 also) it will feel even less roomy.
All that being said I do find the bike comfortable enough for all day rides, day after day.

Jammer · May 22, 2008

I just got my new 2008 this last saturday after riding a Suzuki 1500LC for 4 years - a very roomy bike which made a Ultra feel small. I am adjusting to the new riding position myself, but you have to remember that it is totally different and designed to be that way. Your riding position on a cruiser is sitting back, slouched slightly in the seat with your legs forward. I found that this became difficult for me after a few hours in the saddle even with a Mustang seat and a backrest. The Wing was built and devoloped for the natural position of the body, thats head to toe like sitting on a chair. So knowing that it is different, not better or worse, I adjusted my thinking about how to ride. I took a 3 hour ride over the weekend and my lower back did not hurt like it did on my cruiser. I think a backrest and some pegs will help especially when you are able to change positions.

Coasty · Oct 14, 2008

As an update to the riding position on my wing...I have found the Wal Mart cushion has to be the least expensive purchase with the most reward. I've put abut 1500 miles on the bike since purchase and have tried to find my comfort zone without sucess. After trying the cushion it placed me several inches higher and that seems to be the answer. The first ride with the cushion was like riding a whole different bike. (In regards to the sitting position)
How many have tried the Wing Soft seat and liked it? Was it worth the money and would you buy another?

Goldwing riding position...how different is it?

Coasty

srinehart

Harper

Bluesjammer

2cruiser

alltimes

PassTheGravy

Bardo

zaT111

CyberVet65

Dr2

hossman

Red

snowmark

daddysbike

Rackin Ray

Bill Davis

YIWING

Jammer

Coasty

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