To Big ??

[Beemer]

I started off on an RG150 that I couldn't touch the ground on and had it lowered - bingo! As soon as I wasn't on tiptoes, the bike was manageable (low weight as well, about 128kg) and I was happy.

A few years later I bought the BMW F650CS. Same seat height as the RG, but about 60kg heavier and also the seat is very wide. Loved it at first and had no trouble riding it around Wellington, but I almost dropped it once when stopping in a hurry and pulled a muscle in my leg trying to hold it up. I lost my confidence and virtually gave up riding, and I missed it. I still love the bike, but I'm a bit scared of low speed riding and stopping on anything other than a level surface.

Earlier this year my husband talked me into buying a 350 Goose. Feet almost flat on the floor, weight 145kg, skinny seat - and I LOVE it! My confidence has returned, I find excuses for taking the bike out. So for me, I would have to agree with Sensei - ride what YOU want as long as YOU can handle the consequences. My husband isn't overly tall but he has years of experience and I've never seen him worried about riding any size bike. I've also seen some fairly short riders of both sexes who I don't like riding near - or more to the point I don't like being near them when they have to stop.

I personally woudn't like to ride a bike I didn't feel 100% comfortable on and I know from experience that I am much more confident riding a bike like the RG or the Goose because of that. I rode a Honda XRB200 around the South Island - couldn't touch the ground on both sides with that, but it was only 113kg and I had no trouble holding it up when I stopped.

[Brains]

Is the chick on the CBR (black one maybe) the one that has occassion to change her eye colour via contacts? Meet her once, if I'd been the marrying kind that would have been it . The size of bike that people ride is purely up to individual choice, and really I don't think that 'big brother' should poke his conformist head into it.

[Sensei]

Is the chick on the CBR (black one maybe) the one that has occassion to change her eye colour via contacts? Meet her once, if I'd been the marrying kind that would have been it . The size of bike that people ride is purely up to individual choice, and really I don't think that 'big brother' should poke his conformist head into it.

Yea Shona or something like that . Has a boyfriend Brain's . You not getting the post . Just asking what everyone thought about small rider's riding bikes that are to big for them . Doesn't bother me what they do with their money . But does if they crash into me as they cann't control their bikes well enough

[Hitcher]

He's over 6ft & about 68kg's

Seriously? At that rate I'm nearly a set of Rossi twins...

[Sensei]

Nothing wrong with that Hitcher

[SpeedyGirl]

The bigger the better Sensei

[Brains]

Seriously? At that rate I'm nearly a set of Rossi twins...

I know the feeling Hitcher.

I think, as someone already mentioned, it all comes down to skill, heaps of stuff can be done to bikes to make them fit better, if someone wants to ride a bike then more power to them. I can appreciate however, that new bikers should be educated in their choices, in order to match skill with bike choice. It is a problem however that the larger bikes (e.g. any of the current litre and 600 race reps) do come with all the good gear - they brake faster, turn better and do all the rest far better than a cruiser. Like most things in life, riding/purchasing a motorcycle is a matter of trade offs, yeah maybe a cruiser is better for some sizewise, however it wont brake, turn or do many things half aswell as a race rep. However, a race rep, maybe a little too much bike rwhp wise for some at this stage of their biking career.

[pritch]

I guess the point is that you should be able to control the bike, in a bend or at the lights. Saw an interesting comment on Sunday's IoM programme, the winner was saying that you can push the 600s where you want them to go. On the 1000s, he said, you are really just along for the ride.

Sean Harris says something similar in the '03 IoM DVD.

Technically the less amply proportioned ladies may be better off on a 6oo but I guess if they want a litre bike they will get one.

I know guys who own Winchester .458 Magnum rifles. There's nothing round here to shoot with those, they just wanted one. Fair enough it's their money, but like Sensei I would be interested to see how much "control" was in evidence :-)

[Pixie]

Rider size is only relevant to walking pace and at a stand still,as long as you can reach the controls.
Paris to Dakar machines are ultra tall,I remember seeing one multiple winner (a french bloke) who's shoulders were at handle bar height.
And I know of a woman with spina bifida who rides a ducati.
And old buggers that have had to get smaller bikes as they get enfeebled and senile,including one that had to get a goldwing trike when he started falling over everywhere

[inlinefour]

I don't think that it would be that wise to ride a bike that is too big to handle. But I've heard of blokes who have done it (and died), so if we are PC, women may do it also. I thought about getting the thou and I'm not vertically challanged at all. Really if you can afford it, go for it. But if the bike that is choosen prooves too much for you, it won't take much to down size at all.

[gav]

I think its more a setup issue, seems the CBR is not setup for her light weight, be interesting to know if the shop bothered to adjust anything suspension wise for her. The seating position between say a CBR600RR and a CBR1000RR is not that different is it and the weight is pretty similiar too, go for it but probably just a matter of fine tuning the bike.

[RiderInBlack]

Here it is a matter of size not power. Let's face it, how strong would you have to be before you could easily stop a Goldwing from falling over? See, the answer is in your technic and the set up of the bike, not your strenght.

[Ogri]

Well, this really is a can of worms isn't it. Personally, I ride an SV650 naked version and when I bought it I also purchased a low seat. Now that I am happy and comfortable on the bike I have gone back to standard seat - The low one was like sitting on a brick wall for 2 hours - come to that the standard one isn't much better! Good job I have plenty of padding in that area. Anyroad, I can tiptoe both feet on the ground at once and get one foot flat down when I stop at lights, junctions, etc. I agree with the comments on setup - I'm still fiddling around with mine. Can't seem to get a good balance between front and back end. Front always seems too soft and rear always too hard. Any suggestions (apart from after market bits). I don't want to get into big $$$s, just want to get a nice compromise. Front end always seems a bit vague to me - although I'm no expert! Any suggestions gratefully received.

[Lou Girardin]

There's an article in Bike mag about the change in bike dimensions over recent years.
Sprotbikes are getting shorter, higher seats, less reach to the bars, higher pegs, all to conform to the race rep style. But riders are getting bigger and heavier.
The question was, why are bikes not more adjustable?
All cars have adjustable seats or pedals, and steering wheels.
So why do bike manufacturers think we are all the same size?

[Mooch]

Road back on Sunday with some Lady's from here that belong to the Wima riding group & must say there are afew small Ladys that ride big bikes . One rides a CBR1000RR the other a SV1000 both are very short & of course very light one about 45kg's fully geared up . As I followed one on her CBR1000RR I noticed that when she went over bump's in the road the back end came of the road as there was not enough weight to hold it down . I believe both bikes have had their suspension lowered so they can touch the ground . Now I know you can buy what you want but when is the bike to big to be safely ridden & how small is to small to on a 1000cc bike that you have to have lowered to put your feet onto the road ? . Have road with most of these ladys for a few years & they have had afew off's in that time but are very good rider's still . But I know if somethig happend they more than likely wouldn't beable to stop or control their bike due to their small body weight & height . What's everyone thought's on this ?

Wife is small (legs)and has been riding for 22 years and she hasn't come off in that time on the open road (Apart from trail riding a CB550 on the Winui fire break) , she managed a GSXr1000 just fine a few weeks back. How does your own record of coming off bikes compare ?.