Cruiser advice for a vertically challenged rider

[fletcher]

Hi, I returned to riding last year after a long absence. I got some great advice here on bikes and in the end I got a Suzuki VL250, then a 2009 Ninja 250. I love the Ninja for round town but find it tiring for the long distance rides with friends. So - I want a bigger bike and need some advice!

I'm tiptoe on the Ninja but would prefer to be more flatfooted so am looking at more cruiser-style bikes. I have a 10k budget max (preferably closer to 8k) and would welcome advice on the Suzuki M50, C50 and Honda VT750C (or others). Tried a Sportster but it isn't me. Want 900cc max.

I rode a VT750 and aside from not being so keen on such forward foot controls, it was good to ride and easy to handle at low speed. I'm curious to know if anyone who is similarly short can tell me what it's like manoeuvring a C50 or M50 around at standstill and low speeds, as it is a substantially larger bike.

Thanks everyone.

[SilverGrin]

This should help:
201650

[phred]

How about a Vulcan EN550. Suitable for shortarses. Looks bigger than it is

[dilligaf_nz]

I recently purchased an M50, and although I am not a short-ass, a friend of mine who is a short-ass took the bike for a quick spin the other day and came back and commented how easy he found it to manouver and control, even at low speeds. The bike has most of it's weight down low, giving it a lower centre of gravity. However he is about as wide as he is tall so he found pushing it around from standstill very easy.
I do a lot of motorway travelling and have found it very easy to control at low speeds.
Best advice, as usual, is take one for a decent test spin, get used to how it feels and form your own opinion.

[ukusa]

Hi, I returned to riding last year after a long absence. I got some great advice here on bikes and in the end I got a Suzuki VL250, then a 2009 Ninja 250. I love the Ninja for round town but find it tiring for the long distance rides with friends. So - I want a bigger bike and need some advice!

I'm tiptoe on the Ninja but would prefer to be more flatfooted so am looking at more cruiser-style bikes. I have a 10k budget max (preferably closer to 8k) and would welcome advice on the Suzuki M50, C50 and Honda VT750C (or others). Tried a Sportster but it isn't me. Want 900cc max.Thanks everyone.

Sounds like you're looking for a 2nd hand Triumph Bonnie. Take one for a spin, it might just be you.

Here's one http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-278450314.htm

[<G>]

How short of a shortarse are you? I'm 5' and ride a Kawasaki Vulcan EN500, mainly because I couldn't reach the controls on any of the bigger cruisers.
It cruises comfortably at 100km - after all that's the speed limit ;) and has a very comfortable seat. Even though it weighs around the 200kg mark I can manoeuvre it quite easily. Haven't been two-up on it, so can't help you there. Price around 10k.

Take one out for a test ride, I think you will be pleasantly surprised :yes:

Good luck!

[bluebird]

Why don't you try an S50? I owned one and really liked it, lighter and not as wide as an M50, plenty of power, pegs not too far forward and they are good value for money.

[blackdog]

Sounds like you're looking for a 2nd hand Triumph Bonnie. Take one for a spin, it might just be you.

Here's one http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-278450314.htm

or an america or speedmaster. more cruiserish than standard bonnie.......

[blackdog]

also consider a yamaha dragstar, they do a 650 and i reckon the best lookin' of the japs....

[hayd3n]

man even the hornets have a low seat height!!!

[fletcher]

This should help:
201650

That would definitely help me get on the bike of my dreams - a ZRX1100. Otherwise there just ain't no way ...

[fletcher]

This should help:
201650

That would definitely help me get on the bike of my dreams - a ZRX1100. Otherwise there just ain't no way ...

[gilly]

My hubbie has the M50 and I'm on the Honda Shadow 750.

His bike is lovely to ride, but is hell of a weight when stopped. ie. having to push it backwards into the garage or when stopped at lights.
The Honda is only 10kg lighter but is much easier to move as you're closer to the ground.

[fletcher]

Thanks, that's good to know about the M50. Even a long test ride on a bike doesn't tell you about all the challenges when you own it for a while and that's exactly what I wasn't sure about.

Do you find it hard to keep your feet on the pegs when you're travelling at speed for a long time down the motorway or whatever? It was the forward foot controls that didn't excite me about the Shadow. Everything else was fine.

[fletcher]

Sounds like you're looking for a 2nd hand Triumph Bonnie. Take one for a spin, it might just be you.]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Here's a general reply. I really like the Bonnies but am not even flat foot with the A-1/SE bikes. Also the pegs hit me mid-calf when I put my feet down too which is a bit uncomfortable. The America and Speedmasters have the foot controls too far forward for me. I think I'm about 5' 1" or 2" so definitely short-arse.

Yes I quite like the S50 but the tank is real small so ruled that one out.

I sat on a Yamaha XVS a while back but found those foot controls a bit forward too.

I do like the Kawa EN500. Very much. I don't think I'll ever take a pillion so does it have enough grunt for overtaking on the motorway?

[Jerry74]

My M50 is for sale if you are keen !!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=279734679

[fletcher]

Thanks! Nice bike. I'll have to test ride one.

[Jerry74]

If you check listing photos my daughter is well under 5 ft and she can nearly touch the ground hahaha

I'm 5ft 8 and I'm too big for it

[fletcher]

It's the weight that I'm not sure about. It feels like a much heavier bike than the Vulcan 500.

[blackdog]

I do like the Kawa EN500. Very much. I don't think I'll ever take a pillion so does it have enough grunt for overtaking on the motorway?

50 hp, about the same as the vt 750, and im guessing you ain't heavy so should have plenty enough oomph for ya

[DMNTD]

I think I'm about 5' 1" or 2"....
I'd say 5' 1.5" :shifty::shake:

[<G>]

I do like the Kawa EN500. Very much. I don't think I'll ever take a pillion so does it have enough grunt for overtaking on the motorway?

Yes, more than enough,it gets up to 140km quite easily (did I say that? shhh). I think it's quite nimble for what it is. I get up to +/- 225km's before filling up again, hadn't gone onto reserve yet though.

[fletcher]

Did you try a Vulcan 900 or just the 500?

[<G>]

I've sat on the Vulcan 900, but it's too long for me. I'm too stretched out on it. The other thing that I had to take into consideration is weight. I didn't want to give myself a hernia every time I tried to move it.

I've sat on a Suzuki Boulevard S50, and if I could have bought one new I might have gone for that instead of the Vulcan 500. Wasn't able to test ride it though. Suzuki doesn't appear to sell that model here anymore. The M50 is considerably heavier that's why I didn't consider it.

The good news: you pay less ACC if your bike is under 600cc :yes:

[fletcher]

Good point about the ACC!

I have a friend with an S83 which he loves. Did you try a Honda VT750?

[Zamiam]

Have a mate who just got his full licence who is a bit challenged in the leg department. He can't reach the forward controls on my Harley. He has been riding a Suzuki 250VL after having a Suzuki 250GN. Went around with him to look at bikes the day he got his full licence. He was leaning towards a Suzuki M50. Tried the Yamaha Vstar 650 which he really liked and I found comfortable (I'm 5'9"). We then went and looked at the Honda VT750 and he found it fitted him real well and he bought one the next day. He loves it and rides it every opportunity he gets. They are pretty well priced as well.

[<G>]

Didn't try the Shadow, again because of its weight. But it's very true what they say - best to test ride a bike so that you know how it fits YOU! I learned that the hard way with the ER6N. It can all look good on paper, and when you sit on it - but may be a very different story when you actually ride it and have to manoeuvre it.

Gilly has just bought a Shadow, she posted in your thread, maybe send her a PM?

[Lucyloo]

I have ridden the VT750 and the EN500 and bought the EN500. I love it. It's easy to handle, light enough for me to move easily, sits at 100 kph without any problems and can go faster if required for overtaking (or whatever!) and it looks good. The VT750C2 was easier to corner than the standard C but the seat on the C2 is blimmin uncomfortable.
It really is just a case of trying beofre you buy. good luck.
Luce.

[kawasutran]

I think you'll be better with an upright sitting harley davidson, I saw one on the biketrader for 10k but negotiable. If you can get it at 8k's . Well you'll be sweet! I think its an 883 Harley Davidson in Red Colour. All done up and customized. Better than a brand new 2010 883's. Browse it on wrongly placed classification of bikes on adventure lisitings instead of cruiser or classic/vintage at kiwibikers for sale bikes. If I got the money, I would buy it myself. I dont know what happened there.

[Virago]

...I saw one on the biketrader...I think its an 883 Harley Davidson...If I got the money, I would buy it myself...

The one that you're advertising yourself...?

[fletcher]

I think you'll be better with an upright sitting harley davidson

Thanks but I've decided not a Harley this time round. Very nice bikes but.

[bluebird]

What you must understand is that just becaus a bike weighs X does not mean it is a pig to ride, my M109 at 300kg becomes a lightweight at 20kmh. The M50 is a far superior machine than a Kawasaki 500, and a second hans S50 is a great buy they are bullet proof. But the Honda VT750 is also great but my guess is that you will quickly grow out of it.

[fletcher]

Hey everyone, thank you so much for all your advice and the great discussion :yes:

After riding lots of bikes, in the end I went for a Triumph Bonnie. The seat height is good, the ergos suit me well, I'm almost flat foot and the weight is nice. I'm happy. There are lots of fantastic bikes out there but this is the one that ultimately fits me the best for my level of riding at present. I suspect I'm going to end up owning more than one bike though .....

[Zamiam]

Congrats enjoy the ride that works for you

[bluebird]

Great choice. you will enjoy that bike!