To Big ??

[Sensei]

Road back on Sunday with some Lady's from here that belong to the Wima riding group & must say there are afew small Ladys that ride big bikes . One rides a CBR1000RR the other a SV1000 both are very short & of course very light one about 45kg's fully geared up . As I followed one on her CBR1000RR I noticed that when she went over bump's in the road the back end came of the road as there was not enough weight to hold it down . I believe both bikes have had their suspension lowered so they can touch the ground . Now I know you can buy what you want but when is the bike to big to be safely ridden & how small is to small to on a 1000cc bike that you have to have lowered to put your feet onto the road ? . Have road with most of these ladys for a few years & they have had afew off's in that time but are very good rider's still . But I know if somethig happend they more than likely wouldn't beable to stop or control their bike due to their small body weight & height . What's everyone thought's on this ?

[XTC]

It's obvious isn't it.... Women shouldn't even ride bikes.... What are they doing out of the kitchen???? :rofl: :chase: :dodge:

[eliot-ness]

Mmm How big is Rossi???????

[Big Dave]

They should buy decent shocks with suitable spring weights.

I hate watching those poor wimmen who struggle with a springer or heritage etc because it's what hubby wants her to ride - not what she can manoeuvre.

[Marmoot]

It's obvious isn't it.... Women shouldn't even ride bikes.... What are they doing out of the kitchen???? :rofl: :chase: :dodge:

what are u talking about? There is nothing sexier than females in tight leather.......or lace.....or both...... :hitcher:

[Big Dave]

Mmm How big is Rossi???????


When he wins a few more he'll be as big a Doohan - still a ways to go before Agostini.

[Motig]

So as well as cc restrictions you want height and weight restrictions?Seriously if someones happy and enjoying their ride whats it matter? :hitcher:

[Sensei]

Mmm How big is Rossi???????


He's over 6ft & about 68kg's

[Sensei]

So as well as cc restrictions you want height and weight restrictions?Seriously if someones happy and enjoying their ride whats it matter? :hitcher:

I was asking about the safety of small people on big bikes not restrictions
etc

[Zed]

Road back on Sunday with some Lady's from here that belong to the Wima riding group & must say there are afew small Ladys that ride big bikes...

What's everyone thought's on this ?Sounds like common sense talk to me Sensei.

The few female riders I know, mostly through KB, are very aware of this issue and usually ride bikes that more suit their size & weight. But hey, each to her own! :scooter:

[Zed]

He's over 6ft & about 68kg'sUmm...try 59kgs!

[eliot-ness]

He's over 6ft & about 68kg's

Shit!! he ony looks 5ft and 50kgs on my tele. Have to get a bigger screen

[John]

I was asking about the safety of small people on big bikes not restrictions
etc
Sensei, thats a good point - people can buy what they want but they need to think what they are doing, and what can of worms they are opening.

[SPORK]

Sensei, thats a good point - people can buy what they want but they need to think what they are doing, and what can of worms they are opening.
Just wondering, wasn't it you that REALLY wanted a ZX-12R no matter what?

[Sensei]

Umm...try 59kgs!

Cheers Zed thought it was around there :clap:

[John]

Just wondering, wasn't it you that REALLY wanted a ZX-12R no matter what?
considering I have been involved / riding bikes since you were pretty much born my commitment to the bike was justifiable. JUST SO YOU KNOW

[Biff]

Met a lady a while back that rode a Ducati 9??. She was short. So short in fact that not only could she not touch the floor when sat on the bike, but she'd also dropped the bike several times in the few weeks that she'd owned it while attempting to remain stationary at lights, on her drive, and in a petrol station forecourt.

Her reason for buying the bike - her ex-husband always wanted a 9??, so she thought it would be a real piss take to buy one out her share of the divorce settlement. :sherlock:

[SPORK]

considering I have been involved / riding bikes since you were pretty much born my commitment to the bike was justifiable. JUST SO YOU KNOW
Uh yeah HOKAY! That sounds great. I'm not being a dick, I was just saying.

[mstriumph]

you!! out of the playground and behind the bike sheds NOW! *rolls sleeves up* :kick:

mutter, mutter ....
It's obvious isn't it.... Women shouldn't even ride bikes.... What are they doing out of the kitchen???? :rofl: :chase: :dodge:

[mstriumph]

No disrespect to the vertically-challenged, wafer-thin brigade [of EITHER gender] intended .. but personally i think its just plain daft to get yourself something your height, reach and mass aren't compatible with.

I mean, there are enuff challenges on the road already, it's a survival thingy ...............why handicap yourself from the outset??

*hums --- did u do it for love, did u do it for money, did u do it for spite, didya think you HAD to, Honey ........ *

[Big Dave]

you!! out of the playground and behind the bike sheds NOW!


Sex, sex, sex it's all she ever thinks about.

[crashe]

Sex, sex, sex it's all she ever thinks about.

And you know this because??????????????????????
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[mstriumph]

--- we are just good friends ----
And you know this because??????????????????????
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[FROSTY]

no issue with the size of the mbike -given the person has sufficient experience -but badly set up suspension -thats gotta be bad for ya

[HenryDorsetCase]

Met a lady a while back that rode a Ducati 9??. She was short. So short in fact that not only could she not touch the floor when sat on the bike, but she'd also dropped the bike several times in the few weeks that she'd owned it while attempting to remain stationary at lights, on her drive, and in a petrol station forecourt.

Her reason for buying the bike - her ex-husband always wanted a 9??, so she thought it would be a real piss take to buy one out her share of the divorce settlement. :sherlock:


sooooo nasty, but so cool

also, after she got sick of it it was probably for sale cheap.... everybody wins.

I am vertically challenged and used to be skinny. now five ft 4 and 70kgs ready to ride. All of the road bikes I have had Ive only been able to get one foot on the ground at once, and been very careful at slow speed. From memory ZX750s and CB750s (the proper ones, none of this DOHC malarkey) are over 200kg dry. I just had to be aware of it really and plan accordingly.

Im not sure on a modern bike that you HAVE to be a big lump to operate the controls but the big issue for small people is seat to ground height, seat to footpeg height and seat to bar length.

the most comfortable bike I have sat on in years is the CB400/4 I picked up tonight. Instantly felt at home, and nimble and flickable is good. Its a keeper.

also putting $16 worth of gas in it to brim it, and the meter from the fill before me was $143.95. Some big SUV. chatting to the servo guy, he said SUV guy was NOT HAPPY....

[TwoSeven]

If the size of the bike actually mattered then no-one would ride goldwings.

[Zed]

If the size of the bike actually mattered then no-one would ride goldwings....or Street Magic's (http://www.motosalas.com/catalogo/images/street.jpg) lol!

[RiderInBlack]

Mmm How big is Rossi???????:clap: My thoughs exactly.

[Motu]

I was asking about the safety of small people on big bikes not restrictions
etc

I give up,I've written 3 replies aready so I'll just sigh.....I might try another planet soon....

[Sniper]

I think its just up to the individual to what bike they ride. If they want to buy a bike that border lines or exceeds their limitations, thats their fault and they have to live with the consequences

[Beemer]

I started off on an RG150 that I couldn't touch the ground on and had it lowered - bingo! As soon as I wasn't on tiptoes, the bike was manageable (low weight as well, about 128kg) and I was happy.

A few years later I bought the BMW F650CS. Same seat height as the RG, but about 60kg heavier and also the seat is very wide. Loved it at first and had no trouble riding it around Wellington, but I almost dropped it once when stopping in a hurry and pulled a muscle in my leg trying to hold it up. I lost my confidence and virtually gave up riding, and I missed it. I still love the bike, but I'm a bit scared of low speed riding and stopping on anything other than a level surface.

Earlier this year my husband talked me into buying a 350 Goose. Feet almost flat on the floor, weight 145kg, skinny seat - and I LOVE it! My confidence has returned, I find excuses for taking the bike out. So for me, I would have to agree with Sensei - ride what YOU want as long as YOU can handle the consequences. My husband isn't overly tall but he has years of experience and I've never seen him worried about riding any size bike. I've also seen some fairly short riders of both sexes who I don't like riding near - or more to the point I don't like being near them when they have to stop.

I personally woudn't like to ride a bike I didn't feel 100% comfortable on and I know from experience that I am much more confident riding a bike like the RG or the Goose because of that. I rode a Honda XRB200 around the South Island - couldn't touch the ground on both sides with that, but it was only 113kg and I had no trouble holding it up when I stopped.

[Brains]

Is the chick on the CBR (black one maybe) the one that has occassion to change her eye colour via contacts? Meet her once, if I'd been the marrying kind that would have been it :love: . The size of bike that people ride is purely up to individual choice, and really I don't think that 'big brother' should poke his conformist head into it.

[Sensei]

Is the chick on the CBR (black one maybe) the one that has occassion to change her eye colour via contacts? Meet her once, if I'd been the marrying kind that would have been it :love: . The size of bike that people ride is purely up to individual choice, and really I don't think that 'big brother' should poke his conformist head into it.

Yea Shona or something like that . Has a boyfriend Brain's . You not getting the post . Just asking what everyone thought about small rider's riding bikes that are to big for them . Doesn't bother me what they do with their money . But does if they crash into me as they cann't control their bikes well enough

[Hitcher]

He's over 6ft & about 68kg's
Seriously? At that rate I'm nearly a set of Rossi twins...

[Sensei]

Nothing wrong with that Hitcher

[SpeedyGirl]

The bigger the better Sensei :bleh:

[Brains]

Seriously? At that rate I'm nearly a set of Rossi twins...

I know the feeling Hitcher.

I think, as someone already mentioned, it all comes down to skill, heaps of stuff can be done to bikes to make them fit better, if someone wants to ride a bike then more power to them. I can appreciate however, that new bikers should be educated in their choices, in order to match skill with bike choice. It is a problem however that the larger bikes (e.g. any of the current litre and 600 race reps) do come with all the good gear - they brake faster, turn better and do all the rest far better than a cruiser. Like most things in life, riding/purchasing a motorcycle is a matter of trade offs, yeah maybe a cruiser is better for some sizewise, however it wont brake, turn or do many things half aswell as a race rep. However, a race rep, maybe a little too much bike rwhp wise for some at this stage of their biking career.

[pritch]

I guess the point is that you should be able to control the bike, in a bend or at the lights. Saw an interesting comment on Sunday's IoM programme, the winner was saying that you can push the 600s where you want them to go. On the 1000s, he said, you are really just along for the ride.

Sean Harris says something similar in the '03 IoM DVD.

Technically the less amply proportioned ladies may be better off on a 6oo but I guess if they want a litre bike they will get one.

I know guys who own Winchester .458 Magnum rifles. There's nothing round here to shoot with those, they just wanted one. Fair enough it's their money, but like Sensei I would be interested to see how much "control" was in evidence :-)

[Pixie]

Rider size is only relevant to walking pace and at a stand still,as long as you can reach the controls.
Paris to Dakar machines are ultra tall,I remember seeing one multiple winner (a french bloke) who's shoulders were at handle bar height.
And I know of a woman with spina bifida who rides a ducati.
And old buggers that have had to get smaller bikes as they get enfeebled and senile,including one that had to get a goldwing trike when he started falling over everywhere

[inlinefour]

I don't think that it would be that wise to ride a bike that is too big to handle. But I've heard of blokes who have done it (and died), so if we are PC, women may do it also. I thought about getting the thou and I'm not vertically challanged at all. Really if you can afford it, go for it. But if the bike that is choosen prooves too much for you, it won't take much to down size at all.

[gav]

I think its more a setup issue, seems the CBR is not setup for her light weight, be interesting to know if the shop bothered to adjust anything suspension wise for her. The seating position between say a CBR600RR and a CBR1000RR is not that different is it and the weight is pretty similiar too, go for it but probably just a matter of fine tuning the bike.

[RiderInBlack]

Here it is a matter of size not power. Let's face it, how strong would you have to be before you could easily stop a Goldwing from falling over? See, the answer is in your technic and the set up of the bike, not your strenght.

[Ogri]

Well, this really is a can of worms isn't it. Personally, I ride an SV650 naked version and when I bought it I also purchased a low seat. Now that I am happy and comfortable on the bike I have gone back to standard seat - The low one was like sitting on a brick wall for 2 hours - come to that the standard one isn't much better! Good job I have plenty of padding in that area. Anyroad, I can tiptoe both feet on the ground at once and get one foot flat down when I stop at lights, junctions, etc. I agree with the comments on setup - I'm still fiddling around with mine. Can't seem to get a good balance between front and back end. Front always seems too soft and rear always too hard. Any suggestions (apart from after market bits). I don't want to get into big $$$s, just want to get a nice compromise. Front end always seems a bit vague to me - although I'm no expert! Any suggestions gratefully received.

[Lou Girardin]

There's an article in Bike mag about the change in bike dimensions over recent years.
Sprotbikes are getting shorter, higher seats, less reach to the bars, higher pegs, all to conform to the race rep style. But riders are getting bigger and heavier.
The question was, why are bikes not more adjustable?
All cars have adjustable seats or pedals, and steering wheels.
So why do bike manufacturers think we are all the same size?

[Mooch]

Road back on Sunday with some Lady's from here that belong to the Wima riding group & must say there are afew small Ladys that ride big bikes . One rides a CBR1000RR the other a SV1000 both are very short & of course very light one about 45kg's fully geared up . As I followed one on her CBR1000RR I noticed that when she went over bump's in the road the back end came of the road as there was not enough weight to hold it down . I believe both bikes have had their suspension lowered so they can touch the ground . Now I know you can buy what you want but when is the bike to big to be safely ridden & how small is to small to on a 1000cc bike that you have to have lowered to put your feet onto the road ? . Have road with most of these ladys for a few years & they have had afew off's in that time but are very good rider's still . But I know if somethig happend they more than likely wouldn't beable to stop or control their bike due to their small body weight & height . What's everyone thought's on this ?

Wife is small (legs)and has been riding for 22 years and she hasn't come off in that time on the open road (Apart from trail riding a CB550 on the Winui fire break) , she managed a GSXr1000 just fine a few weeks back. How does your own record of coming off bikes compare ?.

[skidz]

One of my old mates 25 odd years back had a Kawasaki Z1R, and had to wear fairly good soled boots to touch the ground with his toes. He used to get shit about toe tapping the pavement, but hey, good on him doing what he wanted. I you don't do what you want, then this would be one hell of a boring place!

[Ixion]

I've seldom had the luxury of two feet on the ground on a big bike . Never found it a problem.

I guess, though, that a very small person might have some difficulty on some (some) large bikes. Not because of height but cos of arm reach , hand size, upper body strength etc.

The Whale, f'instance, takes quite a bit of arm and upper body effort to force through the corners - y'have to forcibly countersteer it. Maybe a small chick might find that over tiring after a while. And some sprotbikes are a long stretch to the bars - tricky if you have very short arms.

And I know one girl whose hands were just too small to be able to use the brake lever on the BMW - at full extend she could just get the tips of her fingers on the lever. That would be a bit dicey.

Comes down to the rider, surely though. If it works for them where's the prob. People are good at finding ways to adjust/compensate for such things. Look at Mr OneArmedBandit. Manages to ride very well with only one arm. And I knew a one legged rider once.

[Sensei]

Wife is small (legs)and has been riding for 22 years and she hasn't come off in that time on the open road (Apart from trail riding a CB550 on the Winui fire break) , she managed a GSXr1000 just fine a few weeks back. How does your own record of coming off bikes compare ?.


Better than that sorry 33 years of hard out riding everyone of the 50+ bikes I'v owned & only one slid through my on fault . No broken bones etc !! . The post was about small people not been able to control their Big bikes if it broke out or lost control of it . Not taking the piss that small people cann't ride big bike have seen big people that cann't ride small bikes . Would your wife beable to control a GSXR1000 if something hit the front of it while riding EG does she have enough strength or skill to keep it on the road . This is what I am talking about nothing more

[Teflon]

Would your wife beable to control a GSXR1000 if something hit the front of it while riding EG does she have enough strength or skill to keep it on the road . This is what I am talking about nothing more

Is the gsxr1000 physically bigger than a 600?

I thought somthing like a zzr11 would be more of a handful for a light person than your 1000.

[Sensei]

Is the gsxr1000 physically bigger than a 600?

I thought somthing like a zzr11 would be more of a handful for a light person than your 1000.

By the looks of all the post's even that wouldn't matter .

[Mooch]

Better than that sorry 33 years of hard out riding everyone of the 50+ bikes I'v owned & only one slid through my on fault . No broken bones etc !! . The post was about small people not been able to control their Big bikes if it broke out or lost control of it . Not taking the piss that small people cann't ride big bike have seen big people that cann't ride small bikes . Would your wife beable to control a GSXR1000 if something hit the front of it while riding EG does she have enough strength or skill to keep it on the road . This is what I am talking about nothing more

You’re doing well to have 33 accident years with only a minor issue, well done!
I don't think size comes into it too much; she had no issues with the GSR1000 apart from the heavy clutch which most likely can down to poor maintained on the rental bikes we had. In fact, she said the 1000 was very easy to ride. The GSXR1000 is probably around 30 - 40 kilos lighter than the last couple of bikes she'd own. Skill wise, she has a conservative riding style most of the time, nothing to prove, just likes ridding. Every now and then she give a bike heaps much to the surprise of those who know her, at this point the experience comes through. She's gets amused with man biker ego, says we often miss the point of motorcycling with silly HP bikes.
She was teaching handling skills when I met her, and raced the odd bucket.. And on the ego sport side used to sky dive for a hobby, so has plenty of modest confidence. So I guess what I'm saying is that size doesn't reflect on experience or ability. We have another lady friend that rides a big block Harley with no issues and she is tiny.

[Sniper]

I attempted to sit on the ZX12 in Sportzone the otherday. There is no way unless some modifications were taken for me to sit on there comfortably. But it didn't stop a shorter (albeit stockier) chap trying it too. Must be something to do with....... ummmm

[SPman]

I think it comes down to a combination of skill/experience/technique over physical strength.It's just a fact of life that most women have less upper body strength than men, regardless of size.Most of the time, its not really an issue.As long as, in particular the case of a high performance sport bike, the bike is set up to the characteristics the rider likes and can easily handle, again, it shouldnt be an issue.
In the case of a sudden emergency situation, that actually involves the strength factor, people with less strength will be at a disadvantage, but, then again, in a potential high side situation, for example, even with the strongest of people, its all in the lap of the gods, because the forces involved will far outweigh any input the rider can make.
eg. I hit a small rock on the Kopu hill - cranked over,full power on, between corners, passing a car.The bike was fully airborne and bent both front and rear rims! My upper body strength MAY have played a small part in not canning off, as would, perhaps, experience, but the biggest factor was probably luck! So many "what ifs" involved!
I see what your're getting at, Scott, and I think there is an element of what your're talking about involved.But, in 99% of situations, it's probably not a major factor.
PS who was that chick, back in the 70's - used to ride a Norton Commando, then the last time I saw her, was riding a Kawasaki KZ1300/6! She was about 5'3" and 45kg!!