Motorcycle Riding Position
Just as there are a dozen or more different basic types of motorcycle, each type of motorcycle has its own riding position. Truthfully, each bike rides differently, and it’s critical to learn how to position yourself properly to ride your bike safely and have fun doing it. At North County Indian Motorcycle®, we’ve put together this guide to help you understand the differences in riding position between basic types of bikes. And when you’re ready to look at motorcycles for sale, or you need accessories or gear for your current ride, come see us in San Marcos, California. We’re also happy to serve customers coming from San Diego and Oceanside.
The Basics
Before you buy a bike, it’s important to learn about the bike’s general riding position. After all, if you’re going to be riding your bike long distances—and we hope you are—then you’ll be in that position for a long time, and you want to be sure you’ll be comfortable and confident about your ability to ride in that position.
Whether the handlebars are high up on the bike or tight to the chassis, whether the saddle is forward or back on the bike, where the footpegs are set—all of these factors will affect not only how you ride the bike, but also the basics of how your body sits on the bike. Some motorcycles, notably street racers, are designed so that the rider almost lies flat on the bike, hugging the chassis, to improve airflow and control for the kind of speed riding that these bikes are designed for. Other bikes, like choppers, have high handlebars and forward footpegs so that the rider sits upright and forward.
Riding Positions
A “standard” riding position is often seen as the most comfortable or “neutral” position for a wide variety of riders. Standard riding position is great for long-distance rides because it keeps the spine and hips aligned and puts less strain on the joints. If you’re looking for the most comfort for your buck, then you might consider a standard bike for these reasons.
A “relaxed” or “cruiser” position allows the rider to position their legs forward on the bike, which can be more comfortable on long-distance rides. Cruisers also set the handlebars higher than standard bikes do, which some riders might prefer.
A “sport” position is designed for comfort and control at high speed. The footpegs are farther back, the handlebars are down, so the rider is leaning forward, hugging the bike. Supersport and racing bikes take this position to the extreme, with the rider basically lying down on the bike and stretched all the way out. Sport and supersport bikes are generally not seen as ideal for long-distance riding, but your mileage may vary. If you want to speed down those twisting roads, and you’re comfortable on a sport bike, then have fun!
It’s important to consider how your body’s frame and size will gel with a particular riding position. You might find that your legs are too long or too short to reach the footpegs on a particular bike. Likewise with your arms. Even your torso’s length will affect how comfortable you are on a bike. All these factors, and your own preference as to how you want to ride, should guide your decision on what kind of bike you end up buying.
We hope this brief guide to riding positions has helped you understand more about the kind of bike you want to ride, and the kind of rider you want to be. When you’re ready for a new ride, or you need gear or accessories for your current bike, please come visit us at North County Indian Motorcycle®. Our friendly sales team will be happy to help you.