Smaller rider going long distance

[kittay]

For those of you who are smaller, I wanted some opinions. I'm 5'2 and want to go on longer trips. I was curious what you have found to be the most comfortable. The S2R I just bought has clip-ons, which with my size I feel will only make it more uncomfortable being stretched out more. I'm just curious what people have found to help out. I am thinking of trying it with the clipons for a bit, but may go to a normal bar and risers, as I would assume that would be the most comfortable? 

[stopintime]

The distance from seat to grip is actually shorter with clip ons, but it sure doesn't seem so.

Rizoma Touring bars will be a couple of inches closer (sweep angle is backwards) and higher.
http://www.monsterparts.com/pc/MA005/Bars/MA005.html
(they say it's only 10 mm higher, but it's more than that, compared to stock bars)

Maybe a lower seat? The seat from a 695/620 will be 20 mm lower.

[Slide Panda]

Yep, going to bars to decrease your reach. A lower seat will allow for less tip-toe action when stopped As noted, the 620/695 seat is shorter and a direct replacement for your seat

There's also a tutorial in Tutorials about doing up your own lowered seat, with gel insert from the stock seat
http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=2513.0
The writer, as noted in the thread is 5' 1"

If you feel you need more foot contact, you can get a lowering link for the rear end and slide the forks up in the triples to lower the ride height of the bike - Just be aware that lowering it too much leaves the header precariously low when crossing speed bumps.

[JBubble]

I'm your height, so here is my experience:

I rode my husbands 620 (w/ clipons) and hated it. The monster is already an aggressive position for me on my S2R with normal bars, the clipons just made it worse on the 620. Plus, I couldn't even get a tank bag to fit as I was already laying on the tank. After an hour, my hip and back pain were unbearable on the 620 as a combo of the position and pre-existing spine problems.

I do recommend the 620/695 lower seat on the S2R as I've found it was a little narrower as well as lower and made my hips more comfortable.

I think trying the clipons would be good, and if they don't work, go for normal bars/risers/touring bars.

[zooom]

maybe I am being silly with this question...but what is the longest you have ridden at one time?..what problems if any did you have?...

I ask because maybe you are trying to fix something that ain't broke...

[kittay]

I'm not worried about the height part. I am going to swap the seat from my 620 before I sell it, and have the lowering link that will go on it soon.

Just the stretched out part felt akward on the s2r compared to the 620.

I have ridden a 6 hour trip on the RD350 and it wasn't bad. I did a 3 hour trip on the 620, and it had hurt between my shouders/ shoulder blades.

[zooom]

I have ridden a 6 hour trip on the RD350 and it wasn't bad. I did a 3 hour trip on the 620, and it had hurt between my shouders/ shoulder blades.

sounds like bad posture where your are holding on the bars and letting your torso dip inward...clip-ons aren't necessarily going to help that...a cruise control device to allow you to shake your arms out individually once in a while will do moreso in that regard and you practicing holding yourself up with your legs and core moreso...

just my .02 FWIW

[the_Journeyman]

From a guy who just put wide bars w/ rises on my M750:  Unless you have really long arms for your height, you're going to feel stretched with bars.

JM

[corey]

Something else to consider here is the type of trip you plan, and planning accordingly for fatigue. Riding a motorcycle is more tiring and less comfortable than sitting in a nice comfy volkswagen. As it was written... "it's like riding a bicycle... that hates you"

But just because you're planning a LONG trip, doesn't mean you have to stay in the saddle for 200 miles without a rest. When we go on long rides, my group stops roughly every 50 miles (or sooner if there's something to see!) for a break. Yea sure, we don't get where we are going really quickly... but we ride for fun! If you're in pain and not enjoying it, what's the point? Stop and take a break, look around, and take in some of the world around you... sometimes we miss that in our trance whilst on the saddle.