Help find me a bike!

[just_because]

Hey Guys,

Seriously need some help finding a bike that would fit a vertically challenged chic (5foot flat)

I have had a few people tell me to look at GN250, Yamaha Zeal, Yamaha Virago 250, but the “naked bike” really doesn’t appeal to me :no:

what bikes would you recommend for a newbie??

Thanks

[sleemanj]

I have had a few people tell me to look at GN250, Yamaha Zeal, Yamaha Virago 250, but the “naked bike” really doesn’t appeal to me :no:

You have riding history, or is this your first time? If it's your first, personally, I wouldn't get a faired bike, you want as little breakable plastic as possible IMHO.

For the first bike, all those suggestions are what you should be looking at.

[just_because]

You have riding history, or is this your first time? If it's your first, personally, I wouldn't get a faired bike, you want as little breakable plastic as possible IMHO.

i have riding experience on a 250cc scooter....

[red675]

with a bit of skilled help & advice you could look for a model for which a lowering kit is available - they basically chnge the rear suspension linkage geometry to lower the seat - the skilled advice is to make sure it's done properly and the bike still handles

[rie]

I am 5'3" and ride a GPX (ninja 250) which is faired. I am on tip toes and it has not been lowered.

It has a pretty low seat height to begin with, and you can lower it further if you need. Some people will argue this will compromise cornering lean, but personally I would rather have the option of being able to touch the ground.

There is also the neat option of taking some foam out of the seat from the GPX - you can take quite a fair bit off and it will cost a lot less than lowering. The GPX seats (anything from 2007) are different to the new ninja 250 seats (2008 onwards), and you can take more off and re-cover quite easily, taking at least an inch off I think. This is from talking to some upholsterers though - haven't done it myself. They seem pretty confident though.

If you do any of these things to whatever bike you end up getting and still can't flat-foot the ground, no fear. In my experience as long as you can tip toe at least both big toes on the ground, it's not an issue - unless you intend on walking your bike backwards a lot... -_-;

[HenryDorsetCase]

Hey Guys,

Seriously need some help finding a bike that would fit a vertically challenged chic (5foot flat)

I have had a few people tell me to look at GN250, Yamaha Zeal, Yamaha Virago 250, but the “naked bike” really doesn’t appeal to me :no:

what bikes would you recommend for a newbie??

Thanks

Triumph Bonneville SE

[grbaker]

The key thing here is "Newbie".

Do not worry to much about how "cool" your first bike is when you really want to worry more about riding than looks.

Okay 5' is trickey..
There are some smaller 'sport' 250's out there that may fit the bill, but you will have to find one to see if it fits and the go for a pretty high price considering they are a 250 (older Honda CBR250RR and newer Kawaaski Ninja 250R are the smaller ones).

Other than that these Nakked/Crusier bikes are cheaper
Yamaha Scorpion looks alright, sounds fine, and does 100 (almost) and doesn't blow up. I haven't heard too many off things about this bike.

Suzuki Intruder 250 - a rare single that went quite well, bit of a crusier.

Yamaha Mirago 250 - another crusier, this one actually goes well.

Suzuki GN250 - wife did her learners on one of these newer 'Chinese made' GN250s. I wasn't impressed at all. But you can now get the rust buckets in 225cc size... I warn against thee things tho, poor brakes, tires and should have a toilet built in to help shit yer self mid-corner or when braking.

Oh and the Honda CBF125 is due out soon. Nakked and simple

[SMOKEU]

Fuck lowering a bike. It will feel like shit to ride because you won't be able to lean it much.

[Rosie]

The key thing here is "Newbie".

Do not worry to much about how "cool" your first bike is when you really want to worry more about riding than looks.

+1 Also bear in mind that the longer you have been riding, and the more confident you get, the easier it is to manage a taller, heavier bike.

I'm 5'4" and learnt on a KRR150. I could get both feet flat on the ground, with my knees slightly bent, so they may be ok for someone a bit shorter. FXR150's are apparently very good for shorter folk.

I also agree that reshaping seat foam can go a long way towards 'lowering' some bikes. The width of the seat can be as important as the depth of the foam, so making the foam a bit thinner, and slimming the sides of the seat down can make quite a difference on some bikes. I got an electric breadknife and a staple gun, and redid the seat on my sherpa by myself.

[firefighter]

I wouldn't get a faired bike, you want as little breakable plastic as possible IMHO.

Yeah, because it's much cheaper replacing engine covers........

This advice had been nipped in the butt a while back, you've dredged it up for some un-known reason.

Fairings are expensive to fix but they actually give a little protection to the shit underneath.

Get what you want, you'll probably drop your first big bike rather than a 250.

I do'nt actually know anyone personally who dropped their 250 and did any serious damage. (yes they exist obviously)

I'd rather replace/fix a fairing than all the important stuff underneath.

IMHO

[bogan]

CBR150, fully faired http://bikefreak.wordpress.com/2008/11/27/honda-cbr-150-pics-and-specs/ 776mm seat height, compared with a 720 for the GN250. Not the most pwerful bike, but they reckon itll do 155kmhr so could be good for a learner.

[325rocket]

sorry, didnt read the whole thread (i should be working)
did anyone suggest a honda hornet?

[bogan]

I do'nt actually know anyone personally who dropped their 250 and did any serious damage. (yes they exist obviously)


Ive dropped mine bout 3 times i think, all very low speed, one time i broke a brake lever. My fairing wasn't the flashest to begin with but didnt do any major damage to it. Make sure you get a light one so you can pick it up again!

[firefighter]

Ive dropped mine bout 3 times i think, all very low speed, one time i broke a brake lever. My fairing wasn't the flashest to begin with but didnt do any major damage to it. Make sure you get a light one so you can pick it up again!

Holy shit that's pretty bad.......

You have a gravel driveway or somesuch?

[Danae]

FXAAARGH!!!

I would recommend the FXR150, great little bike. And little. However there would be a power difference as you have been riding a 250cc scooter. If you don't mind the power downgrade though...

[bogan]

Holy shit that's pretty bad.......

You have a gravel driveway or somesuch?

One was a gravel driveway while pushstarting it, went to push off and fett slipped on gravel, down she went. Another was doing skid on some grass, got a bit sideways, down she went. Last one was at a service station, turned to look at some hottie going past, overbalanced and down she went; the bike, not the hottie unfortunately :bleh:

[Duke girl]

I am 5ft 1 and Ride a 250 Ninja which when I 1st got it Sat on it tip toes.
I eventually took my boots to a shoe repair shop where I got the guy to add 15mls to the soles of my boots and can now get most of my foot flat to the ground.
There are lowering kits out there that can be put on most bikes to help with making people with our problem feel more comfortable and stable when sitting on your bike stationary.

[yungatart]

Kawasaki Eliminator has a pretty low seat height.

[YellowDog]

How much are you prepared to spend:

1. On the bike
2. On riding gear
3. On training to help you and your bike both stay in one piece

The more you spend on '3' the better the value you will get from '1' & '2'.

[Hiflyer]

What about an aprilia RS125?

Or would the 2stroke engine be too much of a hassle?

(I know for me it would)

[Ender EnZed]

Is there anyone here that hasn't dropped a bike while still at the bottom of the steep part of the learning curve?

First day riding with a learners I locked the front wheel at about 0.4km/h and forgot to put my feet down. A couple of months later I stalled making a u turn when dog jumped a fence barking right in front of me, the bike went down. And I've had the side stand be less down than I thought it was getting off at a petrol station.

Nothing worse than a few scratches to the exhaust and bar ends and no fairings getting in the way.

[phred]

My wife is 5' and she rides a 250 Virago and won't give it up. She says its the only one she can get her feet down on.

[cheshirecat]

After you'vr progressed through your license check out the new Harley Iron, OK I'm not a die hard Harley fan but these have a real low seat height and they seemed to have fixed the side stand standing out too much. It would cruise about all day every day. You would be in the same league as landrovers re acceleration but you could help pull one out of a ditch

[PrincessBandit]

Just watch that in the search for a low seat you don't forget that width can counteract that. "Narrow" is also important.

p.s. 5'2" I went the GN option as my very first bike.