Good starting bike for a short young lady?

[DrunkenMistake]

Hey there,
Figured this would be a good place to post,
My partner has been keen on bikes for as long as I have had one which is about the same amount of time we have been together, but I refused to teach her on my 250 as I wasnt all too confidant on letting her ride something that had tried to kill me a few times,
and now I have moved up so she certainly cant ride what I ride now but here is the question
My partner is about 5'2 give or take, she managed to just sling over a cbr250r (the 22 year old ones) and she was on the balls of her feet and she wasnt too certain about it, she likes sports bikes and she likes the looks of the cbr125's and what have you, but she has a hankering for bobber look alike 250's, but alas she doesnt wanna sink a hole in her little leopard skin purse,
Does anyone have a good suggestion or range of bikes we can look at for her, that arnt overly powerful and she can probably get both feet down on?
Cheers
Cheers.

[English Kiwi]

Hey there,
Figured this would be a good place to post,
My partner has been keen on bikes for as long as I have had one which is about the same amount of time we have been together, but I refused to teach her on my 250 as I wasnt all too confidant on letting her ride something that had tried to kill me a few times,
and now I have moved up so she certainly cant ride what I ride now but here is the question
My partner is about 5'2 give or take, she managed to just sling over a cbr250r (the 22 year old ones) and she was on the balls of her feet and she wasnt too certain about it, she likes sports bikes and she likes the looks of the cbr125's and what have you, but she has a hankering for bobber look alike 250's, but alas she doesnt wanna sink a hole in her little leopard skin purse,
Does anyone have a good suggestion or range of bikes we can look at for her, that arnt overly powerful and she can probably get both feet down on?
Cheers
Cheers.

Hey,

My first bike was a VL250 (cruiser) I'm 5"4 so not much taller than your partner.

I also liked the look of sports bikes, but again the height was an issue. The VL was fantastic as I could comfortably get my feet down and isn't too powerful.

Great for learning on for confidence and getting the basic skills. My partner had a Ninja 250, which he learnt on. I now ride that as he has his full licence, was sop glad I learnt on the VL.

Hope this helps :)

[blackdog]

Marauder or Virago if you don't want to go down th GN route.

GV Hyo also a good option.

Magnas are cool too but everyone wants moonbeams for them and most are getting long in the tooth now.

[DrunkenMistake]

Hey,

My first bike was a VL250 (cruiser) I'm 5"4 so not much taller than your partner.

I also liked the look of sports bikes, but again the height was an issue. The VL was fantastic as I could comfortably get my feet down and isn't too powerful.

Great for learning on for confidence and getting the basic skills. My partner had a Ninja 250, which he learnt on. I now ride that as he has his full licence, was sop glad I learnt on the VL.

Hope this helps :)

She seemed to like the look of it, ill try track one down here and see what she thinks

Marauder or Virago if you don't want to go down th GN route.

GV Hyo also a good option.

Magnas are cool too but everyone wants moonbeams for them.
I think shes more into sports bikes and shes picky about the cruisers

[oracle]

I'm about 5'6" and could very confidently put my feet on the ground with my fxr(s), they are very well priced too. Bandit seat height is another 10cm (4") shorter than the fxr too, so may be worth looking at for her. But hard to tell because women with the same height can often have different leg lengths. If you tell us what her inseam length is it may help, as this can then be compared to seat heights

[scumdog]

Honda Rebel?

Cool styling and pretty low too.

[nodrog]

A K6 GSXR1000 has a low seat height

[MadDuck]

5'2 is not short. I have it on good authority that it is in fact too tall to be a hobbit :yes:

[Katman]

I think shes more into sports bikes


and she can probably get both feet down on?



250 Katana.

Sor'ed.

[Ender EnZed]

...she doesnt wanna sink a hole in her little leopard skin purse,
...bikes we can look at for her, that arnt overly powerful and she can probably get both feet down on?


Scorpio.<DEL>

[DrunkenMistake]

Scorpio.<DEL>

Yah Iv been trying ti push her towards them a little but she doesnt seem to interested,

thanks for all the info guys and girls, ill compose a list for her and see if we can track some down locally and see what she thinks

[hellokitty]

5'2 is not short. I have it on good authority that it is in fact too tall to be a hobbit :yes:

You are as tall as that? :nya:

Back on topic..... I am 5'5 (with short legs)and I am flat footed with bent legs on a bandit.

[DrunkenMistake]

Thought Id update,
Shes narrowed down her pickings to two bikes,
a Hyo GV 250in pink and silver, for a whopping $4,500 ono (I dont think so..)
And a 2010 Suzuki Intruder 250 in silver and chrome for $3,300 ono.

Both on tardme.

[tigertim20]

R15, brand new 5k. low, light, has warranty. how could you go wrong?

[marty]

The Intruder has the best name :)

[hellokitty]

The Intruder has the best name :)

I had an Intruder and it was such a great bike - perfect to learn on. The forward controls take about 10 minutes to get used to! Get her to practise putting her feet up and down several times til she knows instinctively where they are (hold the bike for her while she does it so she can do both feet at once)

[JimO]

The Intruder has the best name :)

i dont know......intruder sounds kind of dirty like a sex toy

[That looks like fun]

My wife re started bikeing :scooter: on a kawasaki Eliminator, real nice low 250 :yes: Easy to ride, cruiser style without the forward control footpegs :woohoo: She is shortish but I am not allowed to say that ok :angry2:

[MadDuck]

You are as tall as that? :nya:

When I stand on my tip toes .... yes I am :woohoo:

[hellokitty]

i dont know......intruder sounds kind of dirty like a sex toy
Yes Suzuki has had its fair s hare of dodgy names - Marauder, Bandit.....


When I stand on my tip toes .... yes I am :woohoo:
Yes but we all know that dynamite comes in small packages :headbang:

[kerryhare]

Hey there,
Figured this would be a good place to post,
My partner has been keen on bikes for as long as I have had one which is about the same amount of time we have been together, but I refused to teach her on my 250 as I wasnt all too confidant on letting her ride something that had tried to kill me a few times,
and now I have moved up so she certainly cant ride what I ride now but here is the question
My partner is about 5'2 give or take, she managed to just sling over a cbr250r (the 22 year old ones) and she was on the balls of her feet and she wasnt too certain about it, she likes sports bikes and she likes the looks of the cbr125's and what have you, but she has a hankering for bobber look alike 250's, but alas she doesnt wanna sink a hole in her little leopard skin purse,
Does anyone have a good suggestion or range of bikes we can look at for her, that arnt overly powerful and she can probably get both feet down on?
Cheers
Cheers.


I have the perfect bike, a xvs250 2002 dragstar, Just right for the vertically challnged. Nice wee bike, it was parked at the magpie next to your tent. pm if for further details. it has been well looked after.

[DrunkenMistake]

I have the perfect bike, a xvs250 2002 dragstar, Just right for the vertically challnged. Nice wee bike, it was parked at the magpie next to your tent. pm if for further details. it has been well looked after.

Yes yes I remember,
She might be coming to this years magpie,
Probably in her car though as she has some stuff to do in the weekend, so I think she is coming up on the Saturday afternoon,
Will you be bringing it with you?
or have you got the pile of parts together? haha

[quattro]

http://cycle-ergo.com/

What is the official stance on placing feet with regard to training and driving tests etc? Here in Ireland, your right foot stays on the back brake and your left foot balances the bike. Being 6'4", I can't speak too authoritively here but I think this works well for the short of leg too, being able to skew off to the LHS a bit rather than being on tip toes with both feet??

[DrunkenMistake]

http://cycle-ergo.com/

What is the official stance on placing feet with regard to training and driving tests etc? Here in Ireland, your right foot stays on the back brake and your left foot balances the bike. Being 6'4", I can't speak too authoritively here but I think this works well for the short of leg too, being able to skew off to the LHS a bit rather than being on tip toes with both feet??

Stats that both feet must be placed but an exception could be made, shes a bit clumsy and would most likly drop the fucker lol

[quattro]

Really! It wouldn't even occur to me to put both feet down at this stage.

[DrunkenMistake]

Really! It wouldn't even occur to me to put both feet down at this stage.

I could be wrong! but im pretty sure you need both down

[sil3nt]

I have no idea how tall my girl is but she does fine on the GPX250 but can't get both feet down on the NC30.

You only need one foot down for any licence tests. How can they expect both feet if its physically impossible?

[English Kiwi]

Thought Id update,
Shes narrowed down her pickings to two bikes,
a Hyo GV 250in pink and silver, for a whopping $4,500 ono (I dont think so..)
And a 2010 Suzuki Intruder 250 in silver and chrome for $3,300 ono.

Both on tardme.

Definately an Intruder :) really light bikes!


I had an Intruder and it was such a great bike - perfect to learn on. The forward controls take about 10 minutes to get used to! Get her to practise putting her feet up and down several times til she knows instinctively where they are (hold the bike for her while she does it so she can do both feet at once)

+1

Very easy controls, get her practsing the stop and start I found that the hardest :facepalm:

Brilliant bikes though...so much better looking than a Hyo!!

[Vinz0r]

Kawasaki ZR250! All the fun of an early 90s sportbike, but has a lower seat and no pesky fairings to smash when she drops it.

[oracle]

The VTR250 I just got (the pre-2009 model) would be really good for her as well. Much more stable than most 150/125cc due to the wider tires and I really wish I had had more stability when learning now that I know what it feels like. In consistent details as to the seat height but it feels lower to me as I can very firmly put both feet down no worries

[GrayWolf]

http://cycle-ergo.com/

What is the official stance on placing feet with regard to training and driving tests etc? Here in Ireland, your right foot stays on the back brake and your left foot balances the bike. Being 6'4", I can't speak too authoritively here but I think this works well for the short of leg too, being able to skew off to the LHS a bit rather than being on tip toes with both feet??


Stats that both feet must be placed but an exception could be made, shes a bit clumsy and would most likly drop the fucker lol

Damn that ia actualy quite interesting, as stated for ireland, in the UK you had you right foot on the brake lever left foot on the ground. Change feet just prior to engaging a gear to move off.
I understand that it can be argued 'safer' with both feet on the ground, but you still have to lift your foot to 'select first gear'. What both feet on the ground will encourage is leaving the bike in gear while stopped, and front brake, throttle are in the same hand hand slip?? Oooooops!!

[PrincessBandit]

250 Katana.

Sor'ed.

I'm 5'2" and comfortably can get both feet flat, slightly bent knees on Katman's 400 katana. Comfortable riding position too given that I'm used to my bandit and thought I'd be almost lying flat on the katana tank.


Yes Suzuki has had its fair s hare of dodgy names - Marauder, Bandit.....

Phwoar I love my bandito, sneaky sexy beast that it is.

[fletcher]

I'm a bit late to jump into this one but I'm 5'2" and I had a VL250 which was perfect for learning on. Not the best open road bike but you know when you are ready for more bike and are less likely to give yourself horrendous frights. Now I have two bikes and one is a newish Ninja 250 for commuting. I'm tippy toe but it's light and the skills I developed on the VL mean the Ninja is just right. I wouldn't have felt confident enough to start on the Ninja but really, it would have been fine.

Love those older cbr250r's! A great bike after the VL :yes:

[Ender EnZed]

This (http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/cruiser/auction-412911640.htm) might be of interest if you haven't already seen it. It's in Dunedin.