Not-as-tall ladies, Please help the newbie!

[GingerMidget]

So I'm serious about buying a bike this year, pending finances being sorted. I'm on the shorter side, and have my hear set on a twin. Ideally a gsx250, but I could only just toe down on that, so I'm not so keen.

I don't want a gn250 if I can help it. Any suggestions for a twin 250, that I won't grow out of within weeks, and doesn't still cost the earth?

Keep in mind, I'm 5"2 on a really good day. I live up to my name.

[DrunkenMistake]

You can buy lowering linkage kits, or you can go to your local shop and they will get one made and put it in for you, probably not overly doable on a 250 as they are pretty little to start with, but you can also look at getting alot of the foam taken out of the seat, you can sometimes get up to an inch off the seat and its usually enough to make it bearable

[mossy1200]

http://bhph.hubpages.com/hub/The-Best-Motorcycles-for-Short-People


or


http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/b/0/0/3b/7/AAAAC4sc-ckAAAAAADt_Gw.jpg?v=1237309485000

[CelticSam]

Hi, I'm 5.2 with heels.

I was tossing between the Suzuki Intruder and Yamaha Virago, both I could flat foot but chose the Virago as it just felt more comfortable. Pop along to bike dealers and try some on, if not then look on trade me and go and see a few.

[Madness]

Mom on here had the soles of her boots altered to give her just that little bit more "reach" with good results. Simple is sometimes best.

/Edit: Just saw Mossy's (second) link. Just remember you'll still have to get you foot under the gear lever.

[mossy1200]

Mom on here had the soles of her boots altered to give her just that little bit more "reach" with good results. Simple is sometimes best.

/Edit: Just saw Mossy's (second) link. Just remember you'll still have to get you foot under the gear lever.


I have a set of hole saws and live in Welly

[sil3nt]

So I'm serious about buying a bike this year, pending finances being sorted. I'm on the shorter side, and have my hear set on a twin. Ideally a gsx250, but I could only just toe down on that, so I'm not so keen.

I don't want a gn250 if I can help it. Any suggestions for a twin 250, that I won't grow out of within weeks, and doesn't still cost the earth?

Keep in mind, I'm 5"2 on a really good day. I live up to my name.GPX 250. Cheap as chips, last forever, low seat height, low weight, good spread of power, in production for 20 years so plenty of parts available. Just as fast (if not faster) then the new ninjas that replaced them.

[hellokitty]

I am taller than you (5'5") and I had an Intruder - awesome bike, nice and light and I was flat footed with bent knees. Sit on as many bikes as you can and see how they fell when you are moving them around - as if you were parking them or putting them in the garage, because from what I have seen, that is the time that you will drop a bike. Dealers are fine with you doing this :laugh: they understand completely! Sit on it and waddle around on it!

[oneofsix]

I am taller than you (5'5") and I had an Intruder - awesome bike, nice and light and I was flat footed with bent knees. Sit on as many bikes as you can and see how they fell when you are moving them around - as if you were parking them or putting them in the garage, because from what I have seen, that is the time that you will drop a bike. Dealers are fine with you doing this :laugh: they understand completely! Sit on it and waddle around on it!

Good advice but I think you wanted a double e and not a double l :laugh:
:shit: me picking up spelling errors or typos, now that is the pot calling the kettle black :laugh:

[hellokitty]

Good advice but I think you wanted a double e and not a double l :laugh:
:shit: me picking up spelling errors or typos, now that is the pot calling the kettle black :laugh:

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh: imagine going to bike shops and dropping them to see how they fell!

[GingerMidget]

Haha well I live in a scody apartment block, so parking is a premium, and I need to squish it in front of either a small mazda, or long holden. Depends on how charitable dad is feeling I guess. :laugh:

My budget is 3k, and my heart is set on the gsx, but I also looked at the zxr. Will find a gsx and see how i feel about those at some point. Cheers for that one. I had a bit of a barney with dad over the gn tonight. He will pay for a gn, but nothing else. I have this stubborn streak that won't let him pay for a bike, cos I'm a moron. His logic is gn or nothing else. I don't want a gn. Should make him ride one! :laugh:

[TrentNz]

get the seat shaved.

[Capinure]

KRR 150? By far the smallest bike I've sat on. Decent power for a 150 too.

[MSTRS]

Everyone is getting all caught up in the 'short' department. The thing to remember is that everyone's proportions are different. So a low seat height on one particular make/model won't suit everyone.

Best advice? Decide what style of bike you want and try them all until you find a fit. Failing that, lower (ha!) your sights...
Many of the short/er women end up on cruisers. Like the Yamaha Virago, Kawasaki Eliminator, Suzuki Boulevard/Intruder etc

[nodrog]

Sounds like you need a GSXR 1000

[HenryDorsetCase]

You can buy lowering linkage kits, or you can go to your local shop and they will get one made and put it in for you, probably not overly doable on a 250 as they are pretty little to start with, but you can also look at getting alot of the foam taken out of the seat, you can sometimes get up to an inch off the seat and its usually enough to make it bearable

not only seat height but also trimming the sides down so you can have straighter legs.

See if you can find a VT250 Spada to have a sit on.

[Tigadee]

http://bhph.hubpages.com/hub/The-Best-Motorcycles-for-Short-People


Hilarious to see the Hyosungs there as they are typically recommended for tall riders...

However I do agree with that because having tried out the Hyosung GT250, I found out that while the seat height may be tall (so seemingly good for tall riders), the leg space is short and cramped. Also the fact that the Hyosungs can be lowered without much effort must be why they appeared on the list.

[Hitcher]

Mrs H is 5' 2" in the old money. She rides a Suzuki GSF650S K6. It has been Mac McDonalded, to lower the seat; Robert Taylored, to lower the suspension; and she has also had her boots raised by about 1.5cm (in the new money). This combination suits her down to the ground most nicely indeed.

Don't Mickey Mouse around with suspension advice offered by well meaning amateurs. Properly lowering suspension is a job best left for professionals who know what they're doing. Seriously.

[MSTRS]

Don't Mickey Mouse around with suspension advice offered by well meaning amateurs. Properly lowering suspension is a job best left for professionals who know what they're doing. Seriously.

Or don't do it at all. Esp not on an SV650, eh Madduck?
It can play havoc with the general balance of a bike and the steering geometry.

[MadDuck]

Or don't do it at all. Esp not on an SV650, eh Madduck?
It can play havoc with the general balance of a bike and the steering geometry.

Correct! I certainly learnt some very valuable lessons in that department.

[GingerMidget]

Sounds like you need a GSXR 1000

Careful, trollf ace is showing.

Yeah I really don't want to lower a bike if I have another option. Simply because I want to learn to ride a bike in its native state, rather than modified. Plus resale value is higher on a stock bike in the learner sizes, than is is on something thats been played with.

Fairly certain Ill happily buy a vt/vtr250, just need to work out budget, and start saving like mad!
Which means less drinking, and pay off the car faster so I can afford to buy something half decent!

[XxKiTtiExX]

As someone else has mentioned there is the "height" thing, but also everyone is proportioned different. I'm 5'4" but suffer from the short and stumpies syndrome (short legs). A lot of people advised I started on a GN250, I did look at one but found I was on the very, very tips of my toes and the seat was so wide it hurt. Ended up with an RG150, seat was slimmer and my feet are perfectly flat on the ground.

Check out a few of the bikes that people have mentioned. You will find what one fits you and feels right.

[GingerMidget]

I can almost flat footn a ZZR, feels good. Quite keen to take on out once I sort the paperwork side of things out. Tomorrow is the big day for BHS. I've bribed mum in to coming down to watch, based on she paid for it, and then she can sleep at night knowing she has seen me ride and I won't die. Terribly quickly anyway.

Then its still at least 3 weeks til I get to do the theory test cos of conflicting work/reality schedule. Oh well, such is life.

[sil3nt]

I can almost flat footn a ZZR, feels good.Going to be annoying and say try a GPX. Essentially the same bike as the ZZR.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Mrs H is 5' 2" in the old money. She rides a Suzuki GSF650S K6. It has been Mac McDonalded, to lower the seat; Robert Taylored, to lower the suspension; and she has also had her boots raised by about 1.5cm (in the new money). This combination suits her down to the ground most nicely indeed.

Don't Mickey Mouse around with suspension advice offered by well meaning amateurs. Properly lowering suspension is a job best left for professionals who know what they're doing. Seriously.


agree. plus if you're smaller, typically you're lighter, and the spring and damping rates are set by mr Suzuki or Hyosung or whatever for a 90+kg gorilla. Just getting that right is a huuuuge difference.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Careful, trollf ace is showing.

Yeah I really don't want to lower a bike if I have another option. Simply because I want to learn to ride a bike in its native state, rather than modified. Plus resale value is higher on a stock bike in the learner sizes, than is is on something thats been played with.


I have been riding for a few years and (sorry Ive been drinking since lunchtime) honestly, that "learning to ride a bike in its native state" is a crock of shite. You dont get in a car and dont adjust the seat and steering wheel if the last munter that drove it was 6 ft 7, why put up with a bike that isnt right? IF you can afford to change it. Resale valuer is about the same on a bike with fruit vs a stocker (trust me on this) but the one with fruit will sell quicker. Things like suspension (esp shocks) can be sold separately, and even forks can be too.

My 2c: get something thats right for you, if its not right, make it right, or at least better, ride the motherfuckin' wheels off it, then upgrade.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Going to be annoying and say try a GPX. Essentially the same bike as the ZZR.

I had a GPz500 in the late Neolithic which was quite a good little bike as I recall.

[hellokitty]

You will also find that as you become more experienced, you will be able to cope with a taller bike.
I have always been obsessed with being flat footed, but on my BMW, I am on tippy toes. The bike is skinny and light and is not an issue, but I have been on a full license now for over 2 years.

[GingerMidget]

Suzuki ax100. Ewwwwww. Basic handling skills is done now though, and I passed. My parents showed up near the end, and mum cringed as I leaned the horrible smoky old heap, dad was apparently laughing his ass off. Now just have to find the time to do my theory test!

[FJRider]

Suzuki ax100. Ewwwwww. Basic handling skills is done now though, and I passed. My parents showed up near the end, and mum cringed as I leaned the horrible smoky old heap, dad was apparently laughing his ass off. Now just have to find the time to do my theory test!

Well done ... The first step done. :sunny::sunny::sunny:

[bittertwistedcute]

have a look at the 250 Zeal if you can, I had a couple of 250's and the Zeal was the most confidence inspiring, I am not tall either ; )

[GingerMidget]

I felt like a bit of a dick tbh, The others turned up in hoodies and jeans, and I wore jeans and my leather jacket. Adding the pants might have been a bit over kill. Hahaha.

The cone slalom was a bit of a pain in the ass the first couple of times, cos I couldn't go slow enough yet keep the revs up. I had a bit of a practise the other day with the scooter in the garage downstairs, but that probably made it harder than it needed to be. I really want new boots though, I wore my old docs, and they are on their last legs :(

[FJRider]

... I really want new boots though, I wore my old docs, and they are on their last legs :(

Find a good shoe repair shop ... and get an extra layer of sole on those Doc's ... A good help with the altitude impaired (short) riders ...

Cost will usually be half the price of a new pair ...

[GingerMidget]

I've got my eye on a pair of sidi boots, on FC Moto. Just have to wait til I have a bit of coin free before I order them.

[mossy1200]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-442668744.htm

Thats a good little bike with nice 250 power.Seat width and height would be good for shorter rider also.

Congrates on test

[GingerMidget]

Thanks :)

Already on the watch list ;)

[xtskinz]

For what it's worth (and I think it's been mentioned already), try the Honda VTR250 on for size. A mate of mine has been riding one up until recently (traded to a GSX-R 600 with shaved seat!) and he loved it. He's very similar in height to you - he couldn't flatfoot it (unless he moved in the seat) but found that it was light enough that he could get it around and it went well in the twisties and ok on the open road.

[GingerMidget]

Thats what I'm looking for now. Gonna head out to TSS as soon as I have af ree afternoon, and see how that goes. There are a few possibilities at this stage.

[baffa]

I felt like a bit of a dick tbh, The others turned up in hoodies and jeans, and I wore jeans and my leather jacket. Adding the pants might have been a bit over kill. Hahaha.

The cone slalom was a bit of a pain in the ass the first couple of times, cos I couldn't go slow enough yet keep the revs up. I had a bit of a practise the other day with the scooter in the garage downstairs, but that probably made it harder than it needed to be. I really want new boots though, I wore my old docs, and they are on their last legs :(

Tbh good on you for dressing sensibly. Bikes tend to feel more stable with trailing throttle or trailing rear brake. So slow corners like cones will be a lot easier if you ride the rear brake. Practice makes perfect.

[jaffaonajappa]

Tbh good on you for dressing sensibly. Bikes tend to feel more stable with trailing throttle or trailing rear brake. So slow corners like cones will be a lot easier if you ride the rear brake. Practice makes perfect.

+1 this (10char)

[GingerMidget]

I figured that out in the end. I wanna play with corners now! I need to win lotto. Or find a rich husband. shame about the husband part o that :bleh:

[Ocean1]

Tbh good on you for dressing sensibly. Bikes tend to feel more stable with trailing throttle or trailing rear brake. So slow corners like cones will be a lot easier if you ride the rear brake. Practice makes perfect.

+2

And slip the clutch. Practice setting the throttle so it stays about 2000 - 2500rpm and try to keep it there, (one less variable you need to handle) and then slip the clutch to get the drive you want. You'll notice that letting the clutch out a fraction to get drive helps stand the bike up coming out of a slow corner, easing it in slows the bike up and allows you to dip into the next.

Keeping a little pressure on the back brake through all this tends to make the other inputs less critical and stabilises the bike. It actually has a real-life application, there's plenty of situations where trail braking the back brake and using the clutch to regulate drive works better than using just the throttle.

[jrandom]

OHMYGOD why has nobody yet mentioned Scorpios?

Buy a Yamaha Scorpio, GingerMidget.

Have a ride on one before you buy anything else, anyway. (Try and imagine it with flat bars.)

[Mom]

Mom on here had the soles of her boots altered to give her just that little bit more "reach" with good results.

Yeah, worked a treat. Good comment about adjusting the gear lever too. We did, but forgot the brake lever :pinch: Good fun times at the first set of lights I came to :laugh:


Keep in mind, I'm 5"2 on a really good day. I live up to my name.

If you decide to go the Virago way let me know, I have a very short friend who is selling hers.

[GingerMidget]

I've decided to wait for lams, and buy a monster 400. If I can find one in good enough condition. This gives me time to save, pay off other stuff, and just generally get my shiz sorted. I had a real good look at a 620 dark yesterday, but in the instincts of self preservation, I won't be buying a 600 straight away, despite the fact I may be able to ride it legally. Going from a scooter to a 600 just seems like a good way to die.

As I said to someone else, even I'm not THAT retarded! :blink:

[kerryhare]

a yamaha Dragstar 250. I loved mine but now moved up to a bigger bike.

[GingerMidget]

Thanks but no thanks. Totally not what I want. I love the vtr250, and i love the monster even more. I will get a monster 400, as soon as lams comes in. maybe even sooner, and just not ride it on the road til its legal.

On a more fun note, wheeeeee.

I spent most of today playing pillion, after being very nervous because its been a long time, got on, and it all came back. I forgot how much I love corners. God I'm an egg today. :eek:

[PuppetMaster]

Yamaha SRX250. Just throwin it out there.
And. Once you have your full license, I'd recommend a SV650.

[GingerMidget]

Sat on a VTZ250 the other day, it was perfect. Quite small, and the CBF saturday night was almost perfect.

So we narrowed it down to a Honda at least? :laugh:

Ooooh and, I sat my learners saturday morning, and paniced when I couldn't see properly out of my right eye! then lost vision in the same one partway through the test. Stupid incoming migraine. So that made the rest of the test a bit of a challange! I got two wrong, despite knowing the answer. Some idiot didn't double check the answer. Moron.

But I got it! and haven't ridden yet. Pillion totally doesn't count.

[xtskinz]

On the monster.... here in Aus they have the LAMs scheme and the 659 is LAMs approved..... ;)

I assume that will come to NZ at some stage.... otherwise, enjoy the VTR. My mate had a ball and loved it over this bit of road:

http://www.motorcyclerides.com.au/motorbike-rides/australia/vic/yarra-ranges/reefton-spur.html

[GingerMidget]

I did see the 659, thats what got me looking at the 400. Smart me is thinking they had the 250 limit for a reason. Logical me is saying that many ozzies didn't die, and stupid me wants a 620 dark. :brick:

even stupider me got 2k in to debt for stupid things, and has 1300 left to go!

[GingerMidget]

So, thanks to the lovely team at Motorad in town, I'm looking at a honda again. This time a Hornet. its not a VTR, which I have my smart heart set on. I sat on the ninja, and while its very pretty, I just don't love it. The honda, i loved. Straight away. Its light, I got right in to a comfortable position, and its in good nick. Gonna sweet talk them in to letting me take it out for a play some time soon.

[nzspokes]

So, thanks to the lovely team at Motorad in town, I'm looking at a honda again. This time a Hornet. its not a VTR, which I have my smart heart set on. I sat on the ninja, and while its very pretty, I just don't love it. The honda, i loved. Straight away. Its light, I got right in to a comfortable position, and its in good nick. Gonna sweet talk them in to letting me take it out for a play some time soon.

A mates got a Hornet, he let me ride it for 1/2hour few weeks back. Very nice bike. I would be happy to own one.

[GingerMidget]

God I hate working 6 day fricken weeks. So bloody sick of it! I want to go and test ride the hornet before i go insane!

But then I'll probably just buy it, and whine cos i'm broke...

I really do want a twin not an inline four... patience is a virtue midget...

[nzspokes]

You need to ride that Hornet.......

[GingerMidget]

I will. If i ever get a free effing saturday. My boss walks in this morning, hey i put you on the next ocuple of saturday. Nobody else will, so its left to me. Pissed is an understatement

So the likelihood of riding it before someone else buys it? NIL.

[Subike]

I dont want to play the devils advocate here,

I have a keeway super shadow, a copy of the yamaha virago.
having said that. you have looked at a ninja and a honda

so here is a three way test of them for you.

oh the seat height on the virago?, lowest on the market, 22"

http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mccompare/250shootout.html

[nzspokes]

Get the shop selling the bike to bring it to you at lunch time. My guess is they want to sell it and would be happy to do it.

You got the money, you got the powa.

[GingerMidget]

I dont want to play the devils advocate here,

I have a keeway super shadow, a copy of the yamaha virago.
having said that. you have looked at a ninja and a honda

so here is a three way test of them for you.

oh the seat height on the virago?, lowest on the market, 22"

http://www.motorcycle.com/mo/mccompare/250shootout.html

Thanks, but no.

I wouldn't touch a keeway, and I believe I've already said I don't want a cruiser?
The honda was a great fit. The ninja wasn't too bad, but its too much money.

[GingerMidget]

Get the shop selling the bike to bring it to you at lunch time. My guess is they want to sell it and would be happy to do it.

You got the money, you got the powa.

I'll speak to them when someone comes in at some stage. I get half an hour for lunch which isn't long enough sadly.

Week after, I'm back to 3pm finishes and hopefully a weekend! then its all on :D