Taller GS850 rider

[Dennisanger]

Good evening and hello to all. My name is Dennis. I just bought a GS850G and I'm looking for any advice on how to outfit it for a taller rider. I'm 6'2" and I feel kind of scrunched on it. Thanks in advance for any help, and keep it shiny side up and rubber side down

 

[dpep]

What year 850? And what motorcycles are you comparing to with regard to comfort/fit?

 

[Dennisanger]

1979.

And I've had about 200 different motorcycles in the last almost 50 years of every genre. Currently I have four Goldwing 1100s and a Goldwing 1500. The last 6 months I sold a VTX 1300 and a Valkyrie. I realize that the GS 850 is not a Goldwing. But I still was thinking either a handlebar change or Highway pegs or something else might help

 

[dpep]

I bought my first 850 (an '80) in December of 1979 when I was 6'5". I am closer to your height now. Those early 850's were/are widely recognized as having one of the most comfortable production motorcycle seats ever to current day. I know I haven't found anything I would rather be sitting on.

As to legs being cramped I would definitely have preferred that the pegs be located a little farther back. Their forward positioning along with the stock 'plow handle' bars make for an awkward (at least for me) 'sit up and beg' riding position.

Many of us here, regardless of which GS we have, routinely swap out the stock bars if they are still on the bike for something lower, usually Daytona bars. That has the effect of shifting the top part of your body a little bit farther forward relative to where your feet are on the pegs. It would be helpful if you could put up a picture to show the existing configuration.

Of course you can always put on some highway pegs for distance riding. Most commonly the riders here mount them to the crash bars which I strongly suggest you install if some previous owner has not already done so.