Woman Bikers

**BABY R** · 18th March 2005, 09:59

HI,

I am new to the site. I am on my learners.

Do you girls out there find motorbikes a bit heavy to handle? I am currently riding / sharing a CBR250RR with my boyfriend and I find it a bit heavy. I went to Cyclespot a while back and had a sit on a VTR1000 and CBR600RR and realised that I can't reach the floor, looks like I might have to stick with the 250cc. Well even with the 250, it is quite a handful on hills and parking.

How do you girls out there ride / handle bigger bikes? :spudwhat:

What kind of riding do most of you girls do?

Thanks

Nice meeting you all.

**jrandom** · 18th March 2005, 10:07

How tall are you?

'Cruiser' style bikes are generally appropriate for shorties.

Go to Holeshot, just down the road from Cyclespot, and have a go on a GZ250. You might be pleasantly surprised.

The nicest 250cc cruiser is the Kawasaki VN250. Keep an eye out for any that come up for sale.

And welcome to the forum.

**CTM** · 18th March 2005, 10:11

welcome to the site!!

**jazbug5** · 18th March 2005, 10:12

It won't seem heavy for long, trust me. I felt exactly the same about mine at first (having done my learner course on a 125 and only ridden bicycles before that). But now I've adapted to it and it seems as light as. Especially when I've got crosswinds to worry about. There is a listing of bikes suited to different heights that I've got at home, so I'll post it when I get there this evening. As for bigger, heavier bikes, I think it's true that you wouldn't want to be getting something you couldn't pick up (again, I think there are formulas or something, but ask at any bike shop, making it clear you're not about to buy, that is) but there are also techniques for that, which you can find on the net. There's actually a woman who tours rallies in the States showing people how best to pick up heavy bikes!
Welcome, and good luck. You'll get lots of excellent advice from here.

**BABY R** · 18th March 2005, 10:13

thanks for your reply. I am 158cm. I would ultimately like to get a 400 + sports bike... Looking at some of the biker ladies here, they have really really cool big bikes. I don't really like cruisers and would like to upgrade one day to something larger than a 250cc. Still on my learners, but just wondering how the other females handled their bikes.

P.S. I dropped my b/f's CBR250RR... luckly slight damage only ...

**vifferman** · 18th March 2005, 10:28

The vifferbabe is ~155cm, I think. When we were shopping for helmets, she sat on a number of bikes, and found that the Cagiva Raptor 650 enabled her to sit with both feet on the ground, so there are bikes bigger than 250s that shorter people can ride.

**Riff Raff** · 18th March 2005, 12:14

Weight of a bike is something you get used to - and doesn't take that long. Being able to get your feet on the ground is probably more important for you than weight - but most modern sportsbikes aren't that heavy. Head round all the bike shops and sit on everything and if you feel comfortable on it put it on your list to take for a spin. As you get more comfortable with your motorcycling skills you will find you are more able to handle bigger bikes.

Welcome to the site BTW

and look forward to seeing you on a KB ride.

**claire** · 18th March 2005, 12:22

Hey Baby R

You will get used to the weight of the bike sooner than you think. Just like everyone else has suggested cruise around the bike shops and try as many bikes as possible. You could try a ZZR600 when I was looking to change bikes a few years ago lots of salesMEN in bike shops I rang about bikes suggested them as they have a low seat height. At 190cm tall seat height isn't really a problem for me but lots of other woman on the site have commented about seat height etc. Good luck.

Claire

**sAsLEX** · 18th March 2005, 12:31

Originally Posted by BABY R

P.S. I dropped my b/f's CBR250RR... luckly slight damage only ...

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

Welcome to the site :spudwave:

**Madguitarist!** · 18th March 2005, 18:05

Welcome baby r, nice to see you posting!!! :spudwave:

From what I've seen, you handle the bike quite well. As the other ladies pointed out, it's really a confidence thing and that comes with more riding time. Keep riding consistently and regularly and you'll probably start to feel the bike getting 'smaller & lighter'.

ps don't worry abt Feint, he should be buying another bike for himself and giving you this one!!!

**jazbug5** · 18th March 2005, 18:13

http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/sbl.sbl.html#cat3

...to see a list of bikes sorted for different heights. Good stuff!

**crashe** · 18th March 2005, 19:57

hi ya and welcome to the site...

Ok 158cm = 5 foot 2 inches tall.... had to get my tape measure out...lol.
Im 4 foot 12 inches tall and I ride a cruiser.... as I can't reach the ground on many bikes at all, and I like to place both feet on the ground when just sitting on the bike going nowhere (like at lights etc)

The weight of the bike you will get used to it.... give it time.
I sat on a mates CBR250RR recently and it felt quite light compared to mine...but my feet didnt touch the ground...lol..... tis a buggar being short aye.

You say you dont like the cruiser style... have you actually gone around and sat on a few and even test ridden a couple of them....
it is a different style to ride compared to the sportsbikes.
Riff Raff can tell you that - she went from the Honda Rebel cruiser to a sports.

I personally prefer the cruiser to ride.... due to a number of reasons...

As others have suggested go around all the bike shops and sit on every style of bike.... and take a few out to ride..... you maybe surprised at riding a cruiser.

The more you ride the bike the more you become one with her.
Good luck in finding your own bike.

**Coyote** · 18th March 2005, 20:26

If you want something light, I suggest getting a motard of some sort. They are very light as they are dirt orientated, easy to ride and damn fun too (instead of knee down, you can have your foot out

) At Motorad, I've seen the Aprilia RS50 and Gas Gas EC50, they seem like good first bikes, allthough you might find them underpowered, in that case, you might want to go for a XR250. Also, being dirt bikes, they are fairly high, but some bikes are lower, the forks can be lowered, and they have thinner seats

Hope that helps

**BABY R** · 18th March 2005, 23:10

Thanks for your helpful advice!

Well, I've only been riding for like 2 weeks, so I guess I will get used to it as I ride more.
Just wondering if there are any tips or tricks for women riders?!

You guys are cool!

Thank you