Best bike for a shorty?

[crs_is]

Hey people.

Well im looking at getting a road bike.

i have riden in the past but only dirt, so now wanna go road..

My problem is.. im a short guy..

i stand only about 4'10 and they problem is finding a bike that is low enough so i can put both feet on the ground and also fairly light.

i know you can modify the seats so the thighs dont stick out much and mayb get a lowering kit.

but what bike should i be looking at in the 250cc class and under cruiser style.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Number One]

Re cruisers int he 250 class just don't look at a yellow rebel...great wee bikes but even short people look a bit ghey on them.

What about those Hyosung cruizers? They look quite neat.

Other than that sorry I can't any help - I a shorty tooo but into sport bikes.

[Taz]

Yamaha Virago 250.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Cruiser/auction-138131584.htm

[crs_is]

Yea i thought about them. i guess ill have to go have a sit on one those hyosung's..

NAh not keen on those yellow rebels.. thanks anyway !!

just want a cruiser to ride with the old man.. he just got one of the new
M109r's.

[MSTRS]

One of the friendliest, short people cruisers is the Kawasaki EL250. Seat height is only about 680mm.

[Pwalo]

If you've been riding dirt bikes you could try a Suzuki GN250 or a Yamaha SR250.

They're both cheap to run, dead simple to work on/maintain, cheap, and would feel similar to what you've been riding.

I'm afraid people don't think they're very exciting, but they are ideal for starting out.

[jafar]

Virago 250
Intruder 250
GV 250

Question is how much do you want to spend ?

[crs_is]

Prob looking at about 6 grand max mayb stretch more if i sell the old mans car :D.. i mean he dont need it now right ??

yea i like the look of the intruders

[jafar]

Prob looking at about 6 grand max mayb stretch more if i sell the old mans car :D.. i mean he dont need it now right ??

yea i like the look of the intruders

Sell the old mans 109 & you can get a few 250's :devil2::lol:

[crashe]

In my honest opinion.... go for the Virago 250.

Reasons are.

Honda Rebel, the air boxes are in the way of your legs reaching the ground.
Kawasaki EL250 could be a tad tall for your height.
The Hyosung GV250 has a very wide seat......
GN250, heck I cant even reach the ground on them.

Suzuki Intruder 250 is also single cylinder and is ok to reach the ground.
The Virago is low and also has a narrow seat.


Scorpygirl is shorter than me and can handle the Virago really well.
Oscarthecat is also shorter than me as well and rode a Virago 250.
I am only 4 ft 12 inches tall and I ride a Virago 250.

I have ridden a SRX250 for a few days and found that yes I can reach the ground good with one foot but tippy toe on 2 feet.
I have also ridden a 1981 Virago 750 and again the same situation.
(the 1981 Virago 750 is more of a tourer than cruiser style bike - they changed the style over over the years.)


So what it comes down to is not only the length of your legs but also the width/size of your thighs for you to be able to reach the ground. Also the width of the seat on the bike.

Since you have ridden dirt bikes in the past then you would be used to stretching out with one foot to reach the ground.

But, what is a good idea is to go around different bike shops and try them ALL out for size.

Good luck in finding the right bike for you.

[crashe]

Yamaha Virago 250.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Cruiser/auction-138131584.htm

That is a blardy good buy at that price.........

[Maha]

Yea i thought about them. i guess ill have to go have a sit on one those hyosung's..

NAh not keen on those yellow rebels.. thanks anyway !!

just want a cruiser to ride with the old man.. he just got one of the new
M109r's.


Something like this?......http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?bikead=yes&p=1400764
Ok, its 400cc but at least i will keep up with the 109 unlike a 250 cruiser...:wacko:

[jafar]

Something like this?......http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?bikead=yes&p=1400764
Ok, its 400cc but at least i will keep up with the 109 unlike a 250 cruiser...:wacko:

A VFR will be too tall for someone 4'10". :girlfight:

[crs_is]

So is it possible to get lowering kits ? and are they that expensive ?

thank for your guys help so far.. its awesom..

[Finn]

MV Agusta Brutale R. Makes short people tall.

[MVnut]

MV Agusta Brutale R. Makes short people tall.

beat me to it (tho he's only got 6k), anyway I thought most dirty bikes were taller than road bikes.

[Maha]

A VFR will be too tall for someone 4'10". :girlfight:

Taller Boots????


So is it possible to get lowering kits ? and are they that expensive ?

thank for your guys help so far.. its awesom..

Choose carefully mate, get whatever fits you best, you dont need the extra cost of fecking around with a bike after you purchase.

[jrandom]

MV Agusta Brutale R. Makes short people tall.

Not every short bugger can afford to keep a normal-sized person retained on salary to carry a stepladder around for them, Mister Finn Sir.

[yungatart]

In my honest opinion.... go for the Virago 250.

Reasons are....


Kawasaki EL250 could be a tad tall for your height....



Seat height difference is 4mm between the EL at 690 and the Virago at 686.
I suggest you go and sit on/try as many bikes as you can. You will find one that is comfortable for you.

[MVnut]

You don't need to be limited to cruisers. Some nice small 'naked' sports and also small sportsbikes. Try as many as you can

[NZsarge]

Yamaha Virago 250.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Cruiser/auction-138131584.htm

That's a good find I reckon, they are a sweet looking 250 cruiser IMO.

[Maha]

That's a good find I reckon, they are a sweet looking 250 cruiser IMO.

But a bastard having to carry that brick around tho aye??.....

[Nagash]

Re cruisers int he 250 class just don't look at a yellow rebel...great wee bikes but even short people look a bit ghey on them.


Aww, i'm over 6 ft and am yet to receive anything besides compliments as of yet, oh well.

But yeah, the bog standard list of 250 cruisers should do the job,

Virago 250, Marauder 250, Intruder 250, GV 250, and i'm gonna add Rebel 250 just cause I have one and have no grimes with it.

[crs_is]

beat me to it (tho he's only got 6k), anyway I thought most dirty bikes were taller than road bikes.


yup some are.. but you got to take into account.. the reach of the handle Bars are alot closer.. and the weight of them..

[crs_is]

Well.. went saw the guys at a few shops.. tried out a few bikes..

came to the conclusion that virago was closest bike that i felt comfortable.. with out doing to much modificaitions.. infact prob just lowering the seat would do the trick..

i did notice that the hyosung was quiet a wider bike, mayb could modify the seat to.

does anyone know if there are many problems with a virago... as i dont want to spend lots of money on a bike that craps out all the time.

[crashe]

Well.. went saw the guys at a few shops.. tried out a few bikes..

came to the conclusion that virago was closest bike that i felt comfortable.. with out doing to much modificaitions.. infact prob just lowering the seat would do the trick..

i did notice that the hyosung was quiet a wider bike, mayb could modify the seat to.

does anyone know if there are many problems with a virago... as i dont want to spend lots of money on a bike that craps out all the time.

You will never ever have a problem with a Virago 250 at all..... she goes and goes.....
I have owned mine for 8 years...... and she never missed a beat... taken mine over the clock.

She has had work done on her recently, due to what was done to the bike.


* Just lube the chain regular, like every 500kms and clean it all up properly every 3000kms.
* Change the oil every 5,000kms and change the oil filter every second oil change.
* Lube the cables
* Check the air in the tyre
* Just general maintainence and she runs sweet as.

I have a few spare bits and pieces that I brought off a wrecker, never needed them to date.

Anything you want to know re the Virago, just send me a pm.......

Seat: If the seat is a 5 studded seat then it is more comfy than the non studded seat. I found that the non-studded seat on a newer bike is a fraction taller than the 5 studded seat...

[Scouse]

Hey people.

Well im looking at getting a road bike.

i have riden in the past but only dirt, so now wanna go road..

My problem is.. im a short guy..

i stand only about 4'10 and they problem is finding a bike that is low enough so i can put both feet on the ground and also fairly light.

i know you can modify the seats so the thighs dont stick out much and mayb get a lowering kit.

but what bike should i be looking at in the 250cc class and under cruiser style.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.Yamaha Mini Enduro

[MadDuck]

Well.. went saw the guys at a few shops.. tried out a few bikes..

came to the conclusion that virago was closest bike that i felt comfortable.. with out doing to much modificaitions.. infact prob just lowering the seat

Try some more....are you in a rush? I know that if you look around you will find a bike that is better than the "closest".

Believe me as a vertically challenged person buying the bike that kind of fits is not the best option

[Mom]

Try some more....are you in a rush? I know that if you look around you will find a bike that is better than the "closest".

Believe me as a vertically challenged person buying the bike that kind of fits is not the best option

So I guess that means, that noisy friggen "potato, potato" grass flatening thing you rode up on last weekend is better than closest :innocent:

I actually agree, dont go for closest, go for a fit!

I am not a tall girl. In my yoof I would ride anything, no matter if the ground was too far away to reach, sometimes used to have a catcher for stops and starts :yes:

Impractical in the extreme for commuting, but huge fun anyway.

My lovely man bought me a bike before Xmas, it is a tiny little 600, I fit it very well. Keep looking mate. Find the ride that fits!

[crs_is]

Yea im not in any hurry..

i mean like closest as in no modifications..

with the virgo can put both feet half flat on ground with about heels up in the air about say 2 cm.. so with minor modifications.. ima be sweet as..

was thinking with me being only 45 killios.. what ever one i get im gonna fly.. within the laws of speed in nz.. (safe riding)

but yea ima take my time look around try heaps of bikes.. got a shop in rotorua to see.. and how can i not forget the ones in aucks so im sure i will run into one thats a "perfect fit"

[Rosie]

Depending on the bike, if you can get the balls of your feet on the ground, some seat trimmage (reducing height and width) may be enough to get your feet flat on the ground.

Being able to reach the ground easily will help your confidence a lot when you are learning. None of the road surfaces you encounter later on are going to be nice and clean and level like the floor in the motorbike shop. Tip toeing around 'ballerina style' seems pretty managable, until you want to park on a slope, or on a road with a lot of camber and find that the ground is a looong way away. :laugh:

[pritch]

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/school-SectionTwoB.htm

[Ixion]

Yank site, so not much in the way of 250s. Virago is about the only one they mention , but, predictably they say it's too small (though they say that about almost everything under 1000cc. Yanks )

Try a few bikes. Height isn't always a totally relaible deterinator. Your leg length is what actually counts. F'instance,, although I am 5'9", if my legs were in proportion I'd be about 6'3". All my height is in the body, so despite my height I am somewhat challenged on taller bikes (I just ignore it, and carry a small portable stepladder , but it makes things a bit harder for a learner)

So, go sit on as many as you can find.

[heyjoe]

Take a GN250 for a ride and see if it suits.

[HTFU]

My GPX is in Hams every weekend parked outside my work (not for sale). Flick me a PM if you want to try it out. Heaps of second hand seats around for them if you want to modify. Bike is one of the lighter ones so that good too.