bagger / default rider 183 cm
BMW R 18 B vs Kawasaki VN1700 Classic LT ergonomics
BMW R 18 B and Kawasaki VN1700 Classic LT land within a few ergonomic points for the default rider, so the better choice comes down to posture preference and bike category.
Fit verdict
BMW R 18 B
92Comfortable
All contacts reached
Kawasaki VN1700 Classic LT
92Comfortable
All contacts reached
The two bikes are close enough that posture preference matters more than the overall score.
Rider fit: reaching the ground
The BMW R 18 B has a 720 mm seat; the Kawasaki VN1700 Classic LT sits at 721 mm, within a few millimetres of each other. As a rule of thumb you flat-foot a bike when your inseam roughly matches its seat height: about 72 cm for the BMW R 18 B and 72 cm for the Kawasaki VN1700 Classic LT.
Geometry snapshot
| Spec | BMW R 18 B | Kawasaki VN1700 Classic LT |
|---|---|---|
| Seat height | 720 mm | 721 mm |
| Wheelbase | 1,695 mm | 1,666 mm |
| Wet weight | 398 kg | 365 kg |
| Displacement | 1,802 cc | 1,700 cc |
Posture metrics
Knee angle
- BMW R 18 B
- Open (113.8 deg)
- Kawasaki VN1700 Classic LT
- Open (111.8 deg)
Hip angle
- BMW R 18 B
- Sport (80.2 deg)
- Kawasaki VN1700 Classic LT
- Sport (80.0 deg)
Elbow angle
- BMW R 18 B
- Relaxed (143.3 deg)
- Kawasaki VN1700 Classic LT
- Relaxed (143.3 deg)
Torso lean
- BMW R 18 B
- Neutral (8.7 deg)
- Kawasaki VN1700 Classic LT
- Neutral (8.3 deg)