Bike suggestions for a really short rider?

[Metastable]

My wife is pretty short... and has short legs.

Bikes that fit her:
Buell Blast (you'd have to buy it used)
CBR125
Ninja 250

I don't see how a Sportster 883 would be too high.... they are pretty low already, but heavy. I also wouldn't want my wife to be riding anything that is too low.... some bikes you can sneeze and be grinding something. Forget that unless you are riding straight roads and posing.

[trustme]

Is a GPX 250 too tall. My wife ride one for 2 years before I got her a mag wheel Bonnie. The wife is shortish & very light , she coped fine on the GPX , did a few longer rides like the Cold Kiwi. The heavier bikes can be pretty unnerving at low speeds for a short light person, personally I'd get a lighter bike first. I've seen a few women put off because their partner pushes them too far too soon.
GPX is still in the garage if she wanted a bo peep.

[Maha]

Excellent!!
This is the renamed Savage - biggish single yeah?
Sounds ideal actually. Thank you!!

Fucken cheap brand new also...$6-7K?

[Edbear]

C50T?
Ok, im really Not a huge cruiser fan. And I dont know the bikes....but the C50T looks like a large and heavy cruiser? Vs an 883 or S40 looking small and ummmm petite.
Or, do the pics not do the bike justice. Scuse my ignorance here....

Seriously too big...

Yeah, a bit big for her I think. My wife was wanting a VL250 Boulevard after trying them all for size and if she's a light person they'll happily keep up on the open road. I recall a test where they were two-up with two male testers and they were cruising at 115km/h on the M/way, so for one small person they should be great. If she's starting out, I'd definitely ease her into it with a bike she can handle power/size wise, otherwise you'll put her off very quickly.

[jaffaonajappa]

cheers guys, sooo many bikes out there now. And so much cheaper than they used to be

[boman]

Well, my girlfriend is keen on getting a bike. She been riding scooters for ever, but never been on a bike. Well, on the front.
Shes not into going fast - much to my chagrin she likes Harleys and doesnt like sportbikes. That Speights add springs to mind...'its hard finding the perfect woman'.

With a reasonable budget - can you suggest some bikes that might suit her? Ideally under 10k, but could stretch a little higher for something in great condition, or New.
Not worrying about the 250cc laws - this is a few months away (LAMS) and we arent really that well known for being anal sticklers to the rulebook....

Only problem is. Missus is 5' zero = 152 centimetres. Short assed, and not the strongest lass.

Any recommendations?

If a 250 cruiser is an option, then Mr Motorcycles, in Pukekohe, has a Yamaha 250 cruiser for sale in there. They should do you a good deal, or let her sit on it.

[Devil]

The missus is 5'0". She's currently riding a lowered Super Sherpa adv bike. Getting used to one foot on the ground has greatly increased her confidence in riding other bikes though. Much lighter than a cruiser, but the poor thing has a hard time on the highway.

I think the 883 Low is just the right size. Beware however, we're pretty sure (after sitting on both) that the last few years worth of the 883 Low, is NOT the same as the current model 883 superlow. Seat height on paper might be about the same, but she swears the superlow is wider, which makes it unrideable. We've never had the two side by side though.

M50 and C50 are way too big for her.

[jaffaonajappa]

The missus is 5'0". She's currently riding a lowered Super Sherpa adv bike. Getting used to one foot on the ground has greatly increased her confidence in riding other bikes though. Much lighter than a cruiser, but the poor thing has a hard time on the highway.

I think the 883 Low is just the right size. Beware however, we're pretty sure (after sitting on both) that the last few years worth of the 883 Low, is NOT the same as the current model 883 superlow. Seat height on paper might be about the same, but she swears the superlow is wider, which makes it unrideable. We've never had the two side by side though.

M50 and C50 are way too big for her.

Cheers man.
Missus sat on a GN250 and lol....hated it. Phew.
I ha d a sit on a 883SL yesterday - damn its a nice bike. Too nice for a learner - but. Anyway, I dont know what the old 883's were like, but the SL seat wasnt very wide at the front....but yeah was shaped for a full sized backside to the rear. Sounds like just her thing :P

[Ender EnZed]

Don't rule out the 250 v-twin cruisers. They go almost as well as the 750s and are much lighter and easier to handle at low speed. I'm sure a Virago or a Hyosung GV250 would be at least as quick as an S40.

[Old Steve]

Don't rule out the 250 v-twin cruisers. They go almost as well as the 750s and are much lighter and easier to handle at low speed. I'm sure a Virago or a Hyosung GV250 would be at least as quick as an S40.

Yeah, I was thinking of the Suzuki Intruder 250, the Virago or the Hyosung GV250 (my choice ).

I really love my GV250, she weighs in at around 125 kg give or take a tank of gas, you can cruise at 115 comfortably, up to 125 downhill with a following wind. Easy to ride around town as the c of g is low, you get good rear view from the mirrors yet the handle bars aren't too wide. The seat height would let your gf touch the ground with both feet.

And these three bikes don't look much smaller than a Suzuki C50, one Harley rider wouldn't accept that my Hyosung GV250 was in fact a learner bike. The Hyosung GV250 has the same power to weight as the Honda Shadow 750.

[hellokitty]

Don't rule out the 250 v-twin cruisers. They go almost as well as the 750s and are much lighter and easier to handle at low speed. I'm sure a Virago or a Hyosung GV250 would be at least as quick as an S40.

I think most things are faster than a S40 = the guy at Colemans Suzuki told me to get a 250 Intruder over a S40 as the 250 is faster and peforms better. (V twin vs single)
I loved the 250 Intruder - such a great bike to ride and so forgiving for learners. A real confidence builder and it looks cool too.

[bittertwistedcute]

For me it has always been what feels right, pretty much anything can be lowered but nothing matters more than "fit"
I really wanted a bandit, bought one, it was terrible for me - knocked my confidence etc
Yamaha Zeal 250, sports but upright, fantastic - confidence back!
Whatever she feels confident on is the best bike to buy, and if you buy and sell five bikes in the first two years of riding, who cares, she will work out what she likes to ride
Good luck!

[jaffaonajappa]

Tried a virago 250 thingy this week...well she sat on it and liked it lol. Still a coupla months away....maybe not till close to xmas till I/we really make this happen.

I figured out what was making me look at the 883 Superlow. It was that I wanted one....but cant make myself get one for myself. Some issues to work through there.....that blardy HD name has some issues. But id be completely happy with the missus having one, and it living in my garage. I love the look of them! And yes. the garage is Mine.

and if you buy and sell five bikes in the first two years of riding, who cares, she will work out what she likes to ride
Good luck!

Im thinking this might be the way we have to go....buy trial and error. So far she likes lightweight bikes with a low seat...but we dont know what will work for her best once underway. Trouble is tho.....I have a problem selling things...and would hate to end up with five wee baby bikes.....lol.

[bittertwistedcute]

My SV400s is lowered so I can drag my ankles along the ground, but he is currently sitting in ChCh and we have left the shaking,
fantastic bike, kept up with all the big kids, same as an SV650s
listed on tardme
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-384782715.htm

Awful awful not having a bike up here though LOL

[skinman]

I had a virago 250 & found it to be easy to ride but did run out of legs on the mway. In good conditions could do 110 but if headwind or uphill speeds drops off fast & its not easy to lie on the tank to reduce drag. I may have been a fraction tall for it ideally, (5"8").
Best 250 twin IMO is still the Honda Magna but they are getting old now.
When your learning I really think a lighter bike is better otherwise its going to get dropped when low speed maneuvering.
I went from the virago to a C50 & had a few near things at intersections & in carparks for a while, that extra 150kg or so makes a difference.
Have to be careful where I park it as cant push it backwards uphill, that stuff needs to be learnt on lighter bikes where, although hard to do, its still possible, so that when you do trade up you dont get stuck say outside a cafe looking silly trying to back out from the curb up the camber.
Good luck