I sat on a friends 1000rr and its pretty much the same exact size. The only difference was how comfortable his seat was compared to the one on the f4i.
To battle cramps and feeling sore make sure you are staying hydrated and getting plenty of potassium. It seriously helps.

 

Thank you for your input but I am sure you can appreciate that your experience of the machine and your fluctuating weight does not necessarily mean you can say that the bikes are "comfortable for different body sizes, no problem" because you are relatively short so you would not experience the same discomfort that a taller individual might experience; the discomfort in my case being caused by height rather than girth.

I will get a custom seat, eat lots of potassium, drink lots of water, shift about on the seat a lot, and use core strength to support myself. Forums are very useful aren't they? Thanks all for your comments.

 

ok I'm 6' 200lbs n I find the F4 as comfy as a sportbike is gonna be. I've sat on the new 1000RR n newer 600RRs, old 900RRs. The biggest diff in size is the newer bunch is even tighter more cramped when compared to the F4/i. When comparing the 900RR, its fatter in the seat n tank n still has a cramped race positioning to it.

 

also you have to factor what bike is what... i have a f3 with a f4i shock on it and it sits taller than my friends 954 and its actually more reasonable on the legs on the take off but it leg position is still the same on most bikes...

when it comes to bikes size technically doesnt matter because im pretty sure youve seen fat 500lb ***** on harleys that are around 700cc's or around there... is all about how comfortable you are on a bike

 

It may well be the most comfortable sportsbike in the world ever. I am not disputing that. Nor am I saying that a 1000cc bike is bigger. At no point did I suggest that. I was simply asking whether anyone of my height, 6'4", and above had discovered ways in which to make long distance riding more comfortable. The original post makes everything crystal clear if you care to read it. People have been most helpful and suggested a number of methods which I look forward to trying next ride.

 

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is trying to find better rearsets. Some adjustable rearsets will let you change the ergos of the bike a bit. You'd be surprised how a little change can make a huge difference.

 

I'm 6'9", and I have a 2004 F4i with the awesome banana seat. Once I learned to loosen my death grip on the bars, and to really use my legs to support myself, I can go on 300 mile rides and be totally fine.

Some of the tips in this thread are REALLY good. For myself, I stretch while riding, alternate stance on the pegs, really use my legs and thighs to squeeze the tank rather then death grip with my hands.

Sort of like what you do on a long airplane flight: take breaks, shift positions, stay hydrated: all the right moves.