Woman Bikers

[BABY R]

It was nice meeting you too MadDuck. It is always nice to know that there are other women bikers out there too.

Hopefully I will get my own bike in the near future. But for the mean time, I will be riding the CBR250RR.

[Beemer]

Baby R, good to hear you are thinking of the future! I started off on an RG150 and couldn't even reach the ground on that - I'm 153cm! I got it lowered and had three years of fun on it before upgrading to a BMW F650CS. Yes, low seat height, but VERY wide and weighs 189kg. Have ridden it for a couple of years but never had the same level of confidence as with the RG so have got it up for sale and have just bought a Suzuki SG350 Goose. Stupid name, but fantastic bike to ride. Goes well, corners like it's on rails and is really low. 770mm seat height I think. I am not into cruisers either, so this is another alternative to what has already been suggested. I think I was lucky enough to get the last new one in NZ but there are some second hand ones around if you look. Phil Turnbulls in Palmerston North had one in there last week.

[Goddess of Goof]

Hi Baby R. I found this website the other day which has some interesting info for gal bikers including some info for newbies and the vertically challenged. Hopefully I've put the link on correctly.

http://www.bikegirl.co.uk/resources/...whichbike.html

Hey stroker girl, that was an interesting link.... a bit tooo pink,
me thinks,
but interesting to see what the UK girls get into.
Adored the Hunks. I reckon Tony Rees is a God of Motorcycling here in NZ .... as good looking a racer as any WSB guy ........why isn't he featured huh ?

Noticed that the Site's Gossip & Chat forum had about 3,000 posts, and the site technical thread had 4. Obviously a Nerd free zone.

Sorry this was Off Topic On topic ------

My Suzuki RF 400 has a lowered seat, I'm 5.5" so my tootsies touch the tarmac. Trouble is, it's a bit too large and heavy for me, although I have grown into it, and learned to handle her correctly. There are times tho when I've been glad of a hand from male riding buddy to park it.

My Yamaha FZR 250 is a total sweetie and perfect for someone getting into sportbikes. Pity they don't make them anymore. Worldwide, the small bikes and pocket rockets are vanishing........ curious, as I'd have thought that the opposite would apply.

If WOMEN MADE MOTORCYCLES now, that'd be a fine thing !!!

[Odin]

Welcome in Baby-R. and let me confess here that its not just newbie female riders that have the felling of the bike being to heavy. I have the same problem with my Honda magna 750 . Se here

BestFun : Great site hope its ok i sneak in and have a look at the tips too. Though most of it was tought to me as i got my license, but that was in 92 and a refrech is good

[jaybee180]

Thought about this thread after my little experience last weekend.

Haven't had my bike for long and took it out last weekend as the weather finally came right for a couple of hours.

Only to get halfway round and I dropped it!!! Luckily I wasn't hurt and only minor damage to the bike BUT.......... then I couldn't pick it up!!!! Sat on the side of the road for 40 minutes waiting for someone to come by but as I was out in the country (avoiding cars (!) as I'm still a real beginner) there were none to be seen. Eventually had to call someone to come out and pick it up for me. Most embarrasing and did nothing for my confidence. Have been in to see about having it lowered as although I can get my feet on the ground I'm on tippy toes and not very stable. I'm fine when I'm going but absolute crap when I'm stationary. Not good at lights etc ........

So I'm not getting back on it until it's lowered. Can't afford the cost of repairs every time I drop it (not to mention the damage to the ego!)

[Ixion]

Thought about this thread after my little experience last weekend.

Haven't had my bike for long and took it out last weekend as the weather finally came right for a couple of hours.

Only to get halfway round and I dropped it!!! Luckily I wasn't hurt and only minor damage to the bike BUT.......... then I couldn't pick it up!!!! ..although I can get my feet on the ground I'm on tippy toes and not very stable. I'm fine when I'm going but absolute crap when I'm stationary. Not good at lights etc ........

So I'm not getting back on it until it's lowered. Can't afford the cost of repairs every time I drop it (not to mention the damage to the ego!)

There's a trick to lifting a bike. If you know the technique even a very small person can lift quite a big bike.

Basically, assuming the bikes on it's side, but still on the road (if it's in a ditch that's a bigger problem) , what you is :

Stand beside the bike , on the side the seat is , with your back to the bike, and about 1 to 2 feet away from it (ie you are facing away from the horizontal bike with your back to the seat bit.

Now squat down enough that you can get one hand on the lowest handlebar, and the other grabbing the frame somewhere to the rear of where you normally sit. It's going to depend a bit on the bike, your height and theangle the bikes on. If you can't reach move a bit closer.

Now sort of duck walk backward and straighten up as you do it. You'll find that you'll life the bike quite easily (really, you will, you don't have to be a weightlifter). As the bike comes up , you move backwards , closer and closer, until the bikes is upright enough for you to turn and stand it up in the normal way.

I'm a short [ass/arse delete which ever is unwanted] myself ,and no Mr Muscle, but I've been able to life really heavy bikes this way.

I find I can't get both feet down on many bikes, I'm lucky if I can get one foot on most.

You can get used to it, you just lean the bike over a LOT when you stop so that you can get a foot down. Accept that you're only going ever to have one foot on the ground. I've never found an actual need for the both feet down paddle thing. You'll tend to do a litle swerve as you move off , but it's no real problem. Just got to watch the camber REAL carefully.

Incidentally, the problems is as much to do with width as height. The Whale has a LOWER seat height than my old Triumph, but I have a LOT more trouble getting a foot down, because the bike is so much wider at the seat bit.

Originally it was really bad , but I modified the seat to make it an inch narrower on each side , and that made a big difference

I HATE this modern trend for stupid wide seats.Look at an old British bike, they had the best riding position ever, and the front of the seat/rear of tank area is always really narrow.

[crashe]

There's a trick to lifting a bike. If you know the technique even a very small person can lift quite a big bike.

Basically, assuming the bikes on it's side, but still on the road (if it's in a ditch that's a bigger problem) , what you is :

Stand beside the bike , on the side the seat is , with your back to the bike, and about 1 to 2 feet away from it (ie you are facing away from the horizontal bike with your back to the seat bit.

Now squat down enough that you can get one hand on the lowest handlebar, and the other grabbing the frame somewhere to the rear of where you normally sit. It's going to depend a bit on the bike, your height and theangle the bikes on. If you can't reach move a bit closer.

Now sort of duck walk backward and straighten up as you do it. You'll find that you'll life the bike quite easily (really, you will, you don't have to be a weightlifter). As the bike comes up , you move backwards , closer and closer, until the bikes is upright enough for you to turn and stand it up in the normal way.

Thanks for this tip.... I shall remember this in the future....
not that Im planning on dropping my bike.

[jazbug5]

Yep- good advice- beat me to it!

Just to be a nanna here, though- LIFT USING YOUR LEG MUSCLES.
I'm sure you would anyway, but it's worth stressing the point. I did a search on the net for 'bike lifting techniques' after I got the wee n and found this American woman who appears to tour bike shows over there demonstrating this technique. Just found this site so have a look there for pictures (not too sure about her... um... 'protective' gear, though) it's not the one I mentioned originally. I think her handle is something like 'V Twin Mamma' or some equally cheesy thing.

[Keystone19]

Hi jaybee180

I dropped my VTR250 the day after I picked it up on a back road out of Wanganui a few weeks back. Had to wait for a farmer to come along and help me pick it up! Would have been helpful to have had the advice on picking up the bike before I dropped it! Luckily no damage done to me or the bike. The farmer was a bit surprised to come across me standing in the middle of the road with my hands on my hips though!!

Can't give you any help on feet touching the ground though. Mine are flat on the ground. Love that bike!

[Will]

Before my latest bike , I had an older CBR 600. Very top heavy. So I was dropping it somewhat regular ( once is regular and I managed 3).
The last time I dropped it was at an intersection in rush hour. The camber was sharp and when I put my foot down, the ground wasn't close enough.
So here I am, standing over a terrible sight, thinking how the hell am I going to pick that back up!!!
Then I had the brainwave, walked over to the footpath , took my gloves and helmet off, and by the time I turned back to the bike, I had 2 muscley men out of their trucks, rushing over to me, saying what happened there dear.
So it is one of the few times I pull the Girl Card out of my pocket.

I have those sliders on my latest CBR and they work a treat. I haven't droped it yet. (The weight distribution is lower)

[jaybee180]

Thanks for that Ixion - will give it a crack - not that I want to get the bike on it's side again. I've had a number of different methods described to me - and even had someone come out and try to teach me but I still couldn't get it up (oooppppsss - that sounds like a man thing doesn't it?). But will give this a go. It's a bit unnerving when you're in the middle of the road at a blind corner and you're just waiting for someone to come hooning around the corner to wipe your pride and joy out (not to mention what they will do to themselves.).

Anyhow I've found out how to have it lowered so that should help a bit. At least until I get some confidence again..........

[jaybee180]

Oh ......... and I have to get the gear lever and the clutch fixed first as well ......... MMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmm can see that this learning gig could cost me a bit of money.

[crashe]

Yep- good advice- beat me to it!

Just to be a nanna here, though- LIFT USING YOUR LEG MUSCLES.
I'm sure you would anyway, but it's worth stressing the point. I did a search on the net for 'bike lifting techniques' after I got the wee n and found this American woman who appears to tour bike shows over there demonstrating this technique. Just found this site so have a look there for pictures (not too sure about her... um... 'protective' gear, though) it's not the one I mentioned originally. I think her handle is something like 'V Twin Mamma' or some equally cheesy thing.

Great wee site to have a look at Jazbug..... with good pics showing you as well.

[Qkchk:Me]

Hiya,

I'm new to the site, just been reading on which bike might suit a small-build lady. Im not sure if anyone else has mentioned a SV650 or not (it's such a long thread, I'd be here all day reading it.. ) but Ive been told by other riders that the SV is a perfered bike of the ladies. I'm 174cm and about 69kgs (Im a truck driver so have well-built shoulders and arms) and I'm riding a 210+kg bike. I did my time on a ZXR250 and it taught me well. I find that you can handle a bike as long as you can place both of your feet firmly on the ground. (I can't practise my own preaching - I'm tippy-toeing on my Busa but Im used to big bikes so just work with it. I can say that I've had a few close calls when it comes to turning / moving bike around @ low speeds.. )

The best thing you can do for yourself is attend a day course with BRONZ or with Passrite. You will always pick up on new things and it may just save your life! There is NO substitute for experience, time will bring confidence. Make the most of the wet weather riding, it may be scarey but if you can learn to ride in the rain, you can ride anytime.

Keep us posted.

[MadDuck]

Hi QKCHK

Theres one or two (umm I know of 4) of us gals on here have the SV650. I had mine lowered as I am not a small gal just short and can just touch the ground on mine! They are great bikes but its about finding the right bike for you be you a bloke or a gal, a gorilla or a chimp (not to be taken personally)

Welcome to the site and see you on your first KB ride....