Measure your motorcycle rider triangle
Measure rider limb lengths and the grip and footpeg positions from one hip reference point. Repeat each measurement, record the motorcycle setup and units, and compare uncertain inputs before using the diagram.
Use one reference point
Use your hip as (0, 0), not the seat edge. Forward and up are positive; peg drop is positive downward.
Measure inseam and seat height
- Stand on level floor in your riding boots, feet comfortably apart.
- Press a level hardcover book snugly upward between your legs.
- Keep the book level; measure vertically from floor to its top.
- Repeat three times and enter the average. The height estimate is barefoot and omits boot soles; measure instead.
With the bike upright and unladen, measure vertically from the ground to the seat where you sit. Record the spot and suspension setting; published methods vary, so note the source.
Measure footpeg position from your hip
- Sit in riding position and boots; a helper holds the bike upright on level ground.
- Mark the side hip bone and hang a plumb line (a weight on a string).
- Place your boot on the peg. Measure straight down from the hip mark; enter positive Footpeg below hip.
- Measure horizontally from the plumb line to the peg; forward is positive, behind is negative.
Measure handlebar position from your hip
- Keep the same hip mark and plumb line; hold the grips.
- Measure horizontally forward to the grip center: Bar reach from hip.
- Measure vertically up to the grip: Bar height above hip; use negative if lower.
- Set Torso forward lean to the angle you want to test. It is an input.
Measure your body lengths
Measure these lengths; do not guess from height.
- Hip to shoulder: same hip point to the middle of the shoulder joint.
- Upper arm: shoulder joint to elbow joint.
- Forearm and hand reach: elbow to fist center, as if holding a grip.
- Hip to knee: same hip point to the outer knee.
- Knee to foot: outer knee to the boot sole where it rests on the peg.
What the angles mean
Knee angle is the inside angle between thigh and shin. Elbow angle is the inside angle between upper arm and forearm. A straight limb is 180°.
Hip angle is the angle between torso and thigh. Lean is your chosen tilt from vertical; it moves the shoulder and changes elbow angle, not knee angle. Unreachable means a limb cannot span the entered distance.
See the riding positions guide for style examples.
Keep seat height separate
Seat height alone cannot predict footing. It is measured at one spot; seat width, footwear, stance, road slope, and sag (the seat sinking under your weight) affect reach.
See the seat-height and inseam chart for arithmetic examples; check the real bike in your riding footwear.
Compare two setups
Pin a baseline and change one input. The dashed figure keeps the original. Style buttons change bike coordinates and lean, not rider measurements; they are not model specifications.
Test your least certain number
Vary your least-certain measurement. There is no comfort or safety score; check real reach, mobility, and clearance in person.
Example styles
These example styles are not specifications for any manufacturer or model. Measure the actual motorcycle first.
| Example style | Seat height | Footpeg | Handlebar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 820 mm (32.3 in) | 180 mm forward, 500 mm below hip | 690 mm forward, 300 mm above hip |
| Sport | 810 mm (31.9 in) | 50 mm forward, 470 mm below hip | 720 mm forward, 160 mm above hip |
| Cruiser | 700 mm (27.6 in) | 500 mm forward, 480 mm below hip | 620 mm forward, 310 mm above hip |
| Touring | 750 mm (29.5 in) | 260 mm forward, 490 mm below hip | 650 mm forward, 340 mm above hip |
| Adventure | 870 mm (34.3 in) | 130 mm forward, 540 mm below hip | 680 mm forward, 390 mm above hip |