Bikes for shorter women?

[got no boat]

Hi guys and gals,

My wife is a bit of a shortie and is looking at getting a new bike. She is 163 cm tall and doesn't have much weight to her so we are struggling to find another bike that will fit her.
Her old bike was a 2007 Kawasaki Ninja GPX 250 which she loved but unfortunately had a spill on the gravel so insurance wrote it off.

She is still on her learners and would prefer something with the same amount of power or more and prefers the sports style.

What would anyone recommend?

Cheers

[Paul in NZ]

I would go into the local shops as many of the new crop of LAMS bikes will have lowering kits... Just ask... Sorry I'm not familiar with them

[got no boat]

I would go into the local shops as many of the new crop of LAMS bikes will have lowering kits... Just ask... Sorry I'm not familiar with them

Cheers Paul, We have been to a few shops but unfortunately can't really afford some of the new LAMS bikes just yet. Keen to get her back onto the road for summer then look at saving for somthing bigger/newer next year

[nodrog:Me]

Theres nothing you can do, get a taller wife.

[dogsnbikes]

You could look at a honda VTR 250 or the Ducati monster range.

My Partner liked both bikes and is vertically challenge (160 approx), she had a CBR400 aero which she found heavy and difficult to move around,since she has had the Ducati Monster the fuel bill has doubled as she would rather ride her own bike now, she totally loves it and how well the weight of the bike is balanced and how much lighter it feels compared too her old CBR despite the Monster being 20kg heavier.

[HenryDorsetCase]

second the VTR250 idea.

[Mike.Gayner]

163cm isn't even that short - almost any bike will fit her. I'm under 170cm as a guy and will fit almost any bike. The average woman in NZ is 165cm. My wife is 150cm - now that's properly short.

[rustyrobot]

My wife is a bit of a shortie and is looking at getting a new bike.
What would anyone recommend?

Hey there - you should definitely check out this website: http://cycle-ergo.com/

It wont suggest a bike but you can easily and visually compare any suggested here and see how they will work with your wife's height. Under options select 'feet on the ground'. It can take a short while to load after you make any change to the options, so be patient.

[Stirts]

What would anyone recommend?

Being a short-arse myself, I am 163cms. I had a Hornet 250 that was perfect, then went to a ER6 - had it lowered, now I am on a Speed Triple - also lowered.
See what bike she actually likes the look of, get her to put her little arse on it while you hold the bike so she gets a feel for the riding positions, and then assess how easy it would be to lower it. Just my

You could look at a honda VTR 250 or the Ducati monster range.

second the VTR250 idea.

+1 on the VTR. And the Ducati Monster 696 *drool* and was a perfect height for me.

163cm isn't even that short - almost any bike will fit her. I'm under 170cm as a guy and will fit almost any bike. The average woman in NZ is 165cm. My wife is 150cm - now that's properly short.

Yeah nah... it is short depending on where the majority of that 163cm lies. I am shorter in the legs - so almost any bike will not fit me.

Theres nothing you can do, get a taller wife.

[EJK]

Ducati Monster 400 is LAMS approved too and very short-legged friendly.

[Grashopper]

I can definitely recommend a Honda Spada. It's a sporty 250, to get for not much money, great fun to ride and lower than a GN 250

I'm 164 and I get both feet down easily. Can even walk it backwards while I'm sitting on it.

[Fern]

I'm 163cm, and 32'' inside leg, I ride a DRZ400..

ITs not just the seat height, but the seat width that affects how much toe you can touch on the ground, but the narrower the seat the more uncomfortable it becomes.

Don't forget you can send seats away and have them cut down. I did one myself with an electric carving knife.

[leeroy996]

My wife is 158 with shot legs. She went straight for a CBR 400 and found it comfortable.
As an Fyi, when you looking at bikes note the width of the seat. A bike with a higher seat may work if its narrow. My 1098 is easier for my wife to handle than a 600cc sports bike.

[got no boat]

Thanks everyone for the inputs.

We have cut a seat down before for her on a dual purpose bike but with the sports bikes there isn't much foam to start with so harder to carve some out.

Re the seat widths we have figured this out but unfortunately not a lot of bikes list the seat width. Just the overall bike width.

We will be heading out this weekend to sit on as many bikes as possible to get a feel.

I will let you know what we end up getting

[f2dz]

+1 for a VTR.

I flat foot mine very very easily, and my knees are pretty bent. I'm 180cm.

Try Red Baron on the weekend. They usually have VTRs kicking around. If not, I'm sure Botany Honda or Barrys Point Rd Honda have one.