Cruiser advice for a vertically challenged rider

**Jerry74** · 24th March 2010, 18:52

My M50 is for sale if you are keen !!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=279734679

**fletcher** · 24th March 2010, 22:51

Thanks! Nice bike. I'll have to test ride one.

**Jerry74** · 24th March 2010, 23:05

If you check listing photos my daughter is well under 5 ft and she can nearly touch the ground hahaha

I'm 5ft 8 and I'm too big for it

**fletcher** · 24th March 2010, 23:19

It's the weight that I'm not sure about. It feels like a much heavier bike than the Vulcan 500.

**blackdog** · 24th March 2010, 23:26

Originally Posted by fletcher

I do like the Kawa EN500. Very much. I don't think I'll ever take a pillion so does it have enough grunt for overtaking on the motorway?

50 hp, about the same as the vt 750, and im guessing you ain't heavy so should have plenty enough oomph for ya

**DMNTD:Me** · 25th March 2010, 00:32

Originally Posted by fletcher

I think I'm about 5' 1" or 2"....

I'd say 5' 1.5"

**<G>** · 25th March 2010, 08:00

Originally Posted by fletcher

I do like the Kawa EN500. Very much. I don't think I'll ever take a pillion so does it have enough grunt for overtaking on the motorway?

Yes, more than enough,it gets up to 140km quite easily (did I say that? shhh). I think it's quite nimble for what it is. I get up to +/- 225km's before filling up again, hadn't gone onto reserve yet though.

**fletcher** · 25th March 2010, 12:40

Did you try a Vulcan 900 or just the 500?

**<G>** · 25th March 2010, 19:48

I've sat on the Vulcan 900, but it's too long for me. I'm too stretched out on it. The other thing that I had to take into consideration is weight. I didn't want to give myself a hernia every time I tried to move it.

I've sat on a Suzuki Boulevard S50, and if I could have bought one new I might have gone for that instead of the Vulcan 500. Wasn't able to test ride it though. Suzuki doesn't appear to sell that model here anymore. The M50 is considerably heavier that's why I didn't consider it.

The good news: you pay less ACC if your bike is under 600cc

**fletcher** · 25th March 2010, 20:59

Good point about the ACC!

I have a friend with an S83 which he loves. Did you try a Honda VT750?

**Zamiam** · 26th March 2010, 08:15

Have a mate who just got his full licence who is a bit challenged in the leg department. He can't reach the forward controls on my Harley. He has been riding a Suzuki 250VL after having a Suzuki 250GN. Went around with him to look at bikes the day he got his full licence. He was leaning towards a Suzuki M50. Tried the Yamaha Vstar 650 which he really liked and I found comfortable (I'm 5'9"). We then went and looked at the Honda VT750 and he found it fitted him real well and he bought one the next day. He loves it and rides it every opportunity he gets. They are pretty well priced as well.

**<G>** · 26th March 2010, 08:30

Didn't try the Shadow, again because of its weight. But it's very true what they say - best to test ride a bike so that you know how it fits YOU! I learned that the hard way with the ER6N. It can all look good on paper, and when you sit on it - but may be a very different story when you actually ride it and have to manoeuvre it.

Gilly has just bought a Shadow, she posted in your thread, maybe send her a PM?

**Lucyloo** · 26th March 2010, 15:22

I have ridden the VT750 and the EN500 and bought the EN500. I love it. It's easy to handle, light enough for me to move easily, sits at 100 kph without any problems and can go faster if required for overtaking (or whatever!) and it looks good. The VT750C2 was easier to corner than the standard C but the seat on the C2 is blimmin uncomfortable.
It really is just a case of trying beofre you buy. good luck.
Luce.

**kawasutran** · 27th March 2010, 14:19

I think you'll be better with an upright sitting harley davidson, I saw one on the biketrader for 10k but negotiable. If you can get it at 8k's . Well you'll be sweet! I think its an 883 Harley Davidson in Red Colour. All done up and customized. Better than a brand new 2010 883's. Browse it on wrongly placed classification of bikes on adventure lisitings instead of cruiser or classic/vintage at kiwibikers for sale bikes. If I got the money, I would buy it myself. I dont know what happened there.