Woman Bikers

**Estrella** · 17th June 2005, 22:14

Originally Posted by 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.

Hey thanks for that link, lifting my little but heavy beastie has been playing on my mind.

I've gots ta get me one of those skerts!

**MadDuck** · 17th June 2005, 22:48

Originally Posted by Ixion

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

Ixion you been here for five minutes and you have a say on absolutely EVERYTHING hence the huge posting numbers. You aint a gal so stay off the thread and wait for someone that knows what they are talking about. We are not all weak females. Dont be so damn polite gals there are US websites for us to refer to. You want the link PM me cos NZ boys are just that NZ boys

IMHO
The MadDuck

**Ixion** · 17th June 2005, 22:51

What brought on that tantrum pray? Other than an urge to general rudeness?

**MadDuck** · 17th June 2005, 23:07

Yeah well I am just damn rude ..ask anyone around here

**FROSTY:Me** · 17th June 2005, 23:28

cut it out you two

--no need for nastiness--we're all bikers here
the thread was from a womans prospective ixion maybee summat to think about.

**MadDuck** · 17th June 2005, 23:36

Thaks Mr Frosty. Ixion has an opinion and thats it

**froggyfrenchman** · 7th August 2005, 19:32

Originally Posted by sAsLEX

you still have that boyfriend??? he must be very forgiving!!!!

Welcome to the site :spudwave:

You have to b 4giving when you have a good woman into bikes!

**SARGE** · 7th August 2005, 23:47

Originally Posted by chic 'n' charge

unfortunately guy salesmen will sell ya flashy expensive bikes even if you can't reach the ground.

i think i resnt that CnC.. i cant speak for all of us, but i try my best to fit each customer into the bike thats best for them.. male of female.. young or old..i dont want to sell you just ONE bike.. i want you to be happy enough to trade it back in with ME several times.. how can i do that if i sell you a big flashy bike that you wont be happy with ( unhappy with the bike.. unhappy with me..)

i look at each customer as a future investment... not as a one shot deal..

**Wellyman** · 8th August 2005, 01:57

Welcome. I belive the GN250 is one of the lowest bikes you can buy, a bit gutless though.
WM

**Beemer** · 8th August 2005, 10:04

Originally Posted by Aitch

Where are flopsy and Cotton Tail?

I don't know about Cotton Tail, but as I look out my study window I can see Flopsy eating grass! (We named one of our last year's lambs Flopsy - she comes over when you call her and climbs on the fence for a piece of bread!)

As for advice on lifting bikes, does it matter that Ixion is a male? Jazzbug was the only other female to offer any advice on lifting bikes and it's not like Ixion was being patronising. Many guys find it hard to lift bikes and let's face it, a lot of us females - speaking for myself here, MadDuck, I've never met you so you may be built like a brick shithouse for all I know - are fairly petite and so need all the help we can get when lifting bikes. Thankfully there were people around to help when I dropped my bike (all when learning), but a friend taught me how to lift my bike so I would be okay if it happened when I was alone. The fact this friend was a female was irrelevant - she just happened to have the same type of bike as I did and had been taught how to lift it.

There is not one 'right' bike for shorter people of either sex - some short people are very confident riders and are happy to be on tip toes or only get one foot down, others are petrified unless they can get both feet flat on the floor. A lot depends on the weight of the bike too. My RG150 was only 128kg but until I had it lowered, it scared the shit out of me! The BMW weighs 189kg and although it is only 780mm high, the seat is very wide, as is the body of the bike, and I don't feel confident on it at low speeds or when I have to stop on any roads that aren't flat. The Goose is 770mm, 145kg and very skinny and my confidence has returned in bucket loads. I have no fear of stopping ANYWHERE and slopes no longer scare me.

I sat on a Suzuki SV650 but found it too tall for me, although I know a shorter woman who rides one without any problems. It all comes down to your level of skill and your confidence. I could only reach the ground with my tip toes on a Honda XRB200, but it was very skinny and only weighed 113kg so I had no trouble sliding off the seat when I stopped - something I wouldn't feel happy doing with a heavier bike.

**ktee** · 8th August 2005, 11:42

I brought a Kawasaki ZZR250 to learn on (sharing with Hubby). I found it heavy until I did my basic skills course, came home and didn't really feel the weight the same. But ... I can ride this bike at 50k and higher no probs but as someone very blunt pointed out ... that is not riding, the real skill in riding is when the bike is going slow ... if you can control it without feeling like the weight of the bike is going to take over, then you are truly riding.
I was told the ZZR was a sports bike and would not allow me to master and practice my slow riding skills because the ZZR is built for speed. I was told to try a Suzuki GN250 and ditch my ZZR! NO WAY - I too love the look of Sports Bikes and wasn't keen on cruiser style.
However after dwelling on my dilema of not wanting to part with my ZZR and really wanting to feel in control of my bike at carpark speed - I picked up, at a bargain price a GN250 off Trademe. This was a perfect solution coz I didn't have to part with my ZZR.
Wow ... I am having so much more fun on this bike. It's really giving me the confidence with slow riding and it's not that slow. Mine is 1984 and sounds really grunty even thou its only a 250.
So put aside the "I don't like cruiser style" thoughts and go to a bike shop and just try one. You can't progress from 250 until you have your full license so find a bike that you feel comfortable on in all situations and worry about look after you have mastered the riding skills that will make you a better rider.

Hey Baby-R .... just my thoughts and take from it what you will ... Safe riding. K

**Beemer** · 8th August 2005, 12:00

Originally Posted by ktee

I brought a Kawasaki ZZR250 to learn on (sharing with Hubby). I found it heavy until I did my basic skills course, came home and didn't really feel the weight the same. But ... I can ride this bike at 50k and higher no probs but as someone very blunt pointed out ... that is not riding, the real skill in riding is when the bike is going slow ... if you can control it without feeling like the weight of the bike is going to take over, then you are truly riding.
I was told the ZZR was a sports bike and would not allow me to master and practice my slow riding skills because the ZZR is built for speed. I was told to try a Suzuki GN250 and ditch my ZZR! NO WAY - I too love the look of Sports Bikes and wasn't keen on cruiser style.
However after dwelling on my dilema of not wanting to part with my ZZR and really wanting to feel in control of my bike at carpark speed - I picked up, at a bargain price a GN250 off Trademe. This was a perfect solution coz I didn't have to part with my ZZR.
Wow ... I am having so much more fun on this bike. It's really giving me the confidence with slow riding and it's not that slow. Mine is 1984 and sounds really grunty even thou its only a 250.
So put aside the "I don't like cruiser style" thoughts and go to a bike shop and just try one. You can't progress from 250 until you have your full license so find a bike that you feel comfortable on in all situations and worry about look after you have mastered the riding skills that will make you a better rider.

Hey Baby-R .... just my thoughts and take from it what you will ... Safe riding. K

You deserve some rep for that post, ktee. You are so right - it is the low speed stuff that makes you a good rider because you need to be able to control your bike (not the other way around) in all situations. I know once I had my RG150 lowered (I didn't have the option of buying another bike) my confidence rose significantly and I had so much more fun on the bike. The BMW dented my confidence somewhat, due to not being happy at low speeds and when stopping - but since buying the Goose, I have regained my confidence and really enjoy riding again. Filtering through traffic at the lights? No problems. Following a line of traffic going at less than 5kph - pfft - no worries! Stopping in a hurry and having to put my feet down? No fear.

Even my husband has noticed how much more fun I am having now - on a 350! And that is what riding is all about - having fun. It doesn't matter if you are on the latest sportsbike or a GN250 or even a Harley - it that is what puts the smile on your dial, go for it!

**ktee** · 8th August 2005, 12:19

Originally Posted by Beemer

You deserve some rep for that post, ktee. You are so right - it is the low speed stuff that makes you a good rider because you need to be able to control your bike (not the other way around) in all situations. I know once I had my RG150 lowered (I didn't have the option of buying another bike) my confidence rose significantly and I had so much more fun on the bike. The BMW dented my confidence somewhat, due to not being happy at low speeds and when stopping - but since buying the Goose, I have regained my confidence and really enjoy riding again. Filtering through traffic at the lights? No problems. Following a line of traffic going at less than 5kph - pfft - no worries! Stopping in a hurry and having to put my feet down? No fear.

Even my husband has noticed how much more fun I am having now - on a 350! And that is what riding is all about - having fun. It doesn't matter if you are on the latest sportsbike or a GN250 or even a Harley - it that is what puts the smile on your dial, go for it!

Thanx Beemer, I agree with your thoughts and you said them so well. Cheers.

**Pixie** · 8th August 2005, 20:16

The design is refered to as Feet Forward,and the Gurney Alligator is the latest in a long line of examples going back to the Ner-A-Car of the 20's.I experimented with one in the eighties with a Hossack style front suspension.
http://www.allamericanracers.com/all...r_photo27.html

PS Beemer; it's a single