5'11 or taller recomended

[coachgeo]

in an add on craigslist a fellow says about a 1997 Tiger Steamer

I wouldn't consider this bike if I was not at least 5'11'' (no offense), as it is top heavy and rides "high."

About his statement: What say you?

If lowered in the ways described on this board (ecentric turned, lower seat, fork tubes slide up).........  then what say you about hight range of rider a Steamer  fits?

[Nick Calne]

I agree with the poster.

Most tiger riders are quite tall and it does ride 'high'.  Have a look at this photo at the UK2011 meet up.  I'm far left and 6'2"... certainly not the tallest rider that day, nowhere near in fact!

Coolhandluke's bronze tiger is on the right and it looks taller than the Girly and the beaker bikes.  It is massive compared to my daytona.

[coachgeo]

in an add on craigslist a fellow says about a 1997 Tiger Steamer

I wouldn't consider this bike if I was not at least 5'11'' (no offense), as it is top heavy and rides "high."

....

If lowered in the ways described on this board (ecentric turned, lower seat, fork tubes slide up).........  then what say you about height range of rider a Steamer  fits?

and what say you on lowered? Thanx in advance for any info.

[Sin_Tiger]

Coach, I would wait till you get the monster on the road. The weight and distribution is bound to be different, so might the ride height. Working with the standard set up Erroll give you a baseline to work from, or back to if it all goes pear shaped.

[coachgeo]

Coach, I would wait till you get the monster on the road. The weight and distribution is bound to be different, so might the ride height. Working with the standard set up Erroll give you a baseline to work from, or back to if it all goes pear shaped.

Eroll?   Weight and distribution will of course be different. Height won't unless we go to shaft drive, or flip the sprocket to other side etc. which changes all geometry. Was hoping to plunge in deep and ride it to Cincinnati area where I live from Dallas where it is being built (where I use to live) after its done.  Am just trying to plan ahead for that possibility. 

May have to pay to have it shipped but that cuts into the build budget.

[Sin_Tiger]

Flynn  auto correction 

Riding is of course going to be more fun if you can manage it and a lot cheaper on diesel  also drive characteristics from the diesel engine be different from that of a petrol engine and I think you will want to take that into account when setting up your suspension. I know this from doing diesel conversions on cars, what I knew was a good set up with respect to braking control, drive out of corners, grip and ride just wasn't right with the diesel engine, even though the weight difference was no more than a few donuts

[abruzzi]

Its all technique.  I have a bike with a 38" seat height.  When I'm riding it down the road, with both legs fully extended, I'm still several inches from touching.  I'm 5'10", wear jeans with 30" inseams.  I've owned a 955 tiger, Steamer, KTM 950ADV (the earlier tall ones), and a KTM 640ADV.  The 955 tiger was my first adventure bike, so it took me a couple of week to really feel comfortable.  Since then, I never look at seat height when I buy.  I just assume that if its a tall bike, I'll have to slide off the seat a bit to get a foot down at stop lights.

Flat footing is overrated.

Geof

[iansoady]

Flat footing is overrated.

Until you need to do it in a hurry and your foot ends up in a hole.....

I have fairly short legs and although the Tiger is fine once on the move (in fact very stable and easy to control)  it can be a handful when starting /stopping, especially on adverse cambers / steep slopes / greasy or uneven surfaces. I wouldn't try to put anyone off but it's a heavy and unwieldy thing and once it decides to go down there's little you can do about it. Flat footing from a secure position on the seat gives psychological security if nothing else.

[Bixxer Bob]

What he said.....

[Sin_Tiger]

Never trust grass 

[John Stenhouse]

Or steep garage forecourts on the BTBR Coast to coast...............Once Marcus had stopped laughing and we picked the beast up we came seventh

[abruzzi]

Flat footing is overrated.

Until you need to do it in a hurry and your foot ends up in a hole.....

I have fairly short legs and although the Tiger is fine once on the move (in fact very stable and easy to control)  it can be a handful when starting /stopping, especially on adverse cambers / steep slopes / greasy or uneven surfaces. I wouldn't try to put anyone off but it's a heavy and unwieldy thing and once it decides to go down there's little you can do about it. Flat footing from a secure position on the seat gives psychological security if nothing else.

That's best solved by being careful where you stop, and learning how to pick up you bike when you drop it (and not being too in love with your paint job that you fear dropping it.). I haven't been able to flatfoot any bike I've owned for the last 5 years.  I hate to be dickish, but that is simply the way with these types of bikes.  Tigers, KTM Advs, BMW GSs, Yamaha Teneres, Suzuki VStroms.  They're all tall, and they're mostly heavy.  Once you start looking at so-called "adventure" bike it's simply a fact of life, and while some who get into them go to great lengths to drop the seat height down, I think it's better to accept their height and learn the riding techniques that make it a non-issue.

Geof

[Sin_Tiger]

  get over it and get on with riding p

[Spud]

I'm 5 10 and don't have to many problems, though once it decides to have a kip it will  cheers Spud 

[chappers]

iam 6 foot3 and i drop my tiger twice on the same day last year . what a tit i felt  lol