What's the seat height on that adventure motorcycle?

(Above: The “lowest” of all seats…the kind with frost on it as we start a cold day of riding in Argentina, heading into the richness of Patagonia further south.)

We as motorcycle guides are often asked "which is the best motorcycle to rent" as inquiring travelers plan their adventures with our services. Choosing the right size bike can be as important to your overall riding experience as any other factor, so often riders are concerned about the seat height. While intuition tells us “a larger engine means a larger bike and taller seat,” however as you'll see below, this is not necessarily true across the board. 

As such, we’ve been inspired to list for you below the seat height specifications for some of the most common motorcycles people are renting from us around the world:

About Motorcycle Seat Heights

• Remember that seat height alone is not the only factor to consider, as the width of a seat and the motorcycle are factors in being able to firmly reach the ground with both feet. For example, BMW's "inner leg curve" measurement considers how far apart a rider's feet are when seated with their feet firmly planted on the ground.
• Where a manufacturer lists a special low seat as an option, or an adjustable position, such is shown. If you don't see a low (or high) option listed, ask your local dealer for options, as they might have access to a non-OEM seat.
• Visiting your local dealer will typically be your best opportunity to sit on these bikes personally, and get the true "feel" between their differences.
• This listing does not show where manufacturers have special suspension-lowering options to lower the overall seat height, or in some cases can be ordered directly from the manufacturer with a lower suspension profile.

These specs were taken from each manufacturer’s websites, and have been continually updated as new bikes are released into the market.

Keep checking back with us for similar posts on the topic of fitment of motorcycles.