I'm starting to lose hope...

**strayjuliet** · 30th October 2005, 22:48

Wolf and I went to Hamilton Motorcycles on Saturday because Wolf wanted to take the new BMW F650GS Dakar for a test ride. While we were there we looked at a Suzuki GX125 as a good small bike for me to learn on. Well, looking at it, I thought I would be able to sit on it with no problem. However I climbed onto this mountain (it seemed like it) of a bike only to find that I'm standing on tip-toe like a ballerina. I am now starting to lose hope of ever finding a bike that I can sit with my feet flat on the ground and feel comfortable.

my height is approx: 5'2"
Does anyone else have the same problem? If so, how did you overcome it?

**crashe** · 30th October 2005, 22:52

awwwwww buggar, I should have let you sit on my Virago... when I was down there, when we meet. :spudwave: :spudwave:

You would be able to reach the ground no probs.... cos afterall, I am shorter than you.

**Ixion** · 30th October 2005, 22:52

Ms Crashe is (I believe) 2 inches shorter than you. I suspect she'll recommend the Virago.

EDIT. She did! I must have the gift of prophecy

**The_Dover** · 30th October 2005, 22:53

I'm a big bastard but I seem to remember both the VTR250 and the GN/GZ250 feeling like they were designed for dwarfs, no offence meant.

Do you really feel you need both feet flat on the deck? Are you gonna let it hold you back?

Also have a look at a Honda Magna 250, big frame for a 250 but torquey little V-Twin and a really low seat height.

**crashe** · 30th October 2005, 22:57

Originally Posted by The_Dover

I'm a big bastard but I seem to remember both the VTR250 and the GN/GZ250 feeling like they were designed for dwarfs, no offence meant.

Do you really feel you need both feet flat on the deck? Are you gonna let it hold you back?

Also have a look at a Honda Magna 250, big frame for a 250 but torquey little V-Twin and a really low seat height.

I cant reach the ground on a GN250.. .
they are deceptively quite a lot taller than you would think they are.

I too like to have both feet on the ground when they bike is stationery.

**mstriumph** · 30th October 2005, 23:01

damn - there's a whole thread on bike heights on here somewhere - was active shortly after i joined .. but i'm damned if i can find it ------ can anyone else supply a reference please?

**strayjuliet** · 30th October 2005, 23:06

Likewise I can't reach the ground on a GN250. (they were made for a hobbit I think.)(dwarfs are shorter) I feel I need to have both feet on the ground as a more safer position for me. I think it's a confidence thing. Also I don't have very good balance as I am missing my big toe on my right foot - long story, lost it as a 3 year old on a push bike.

**Wolf** · 30th October 2005, 23:07

Originally Posted by mstriumph

damn - there's a whole thread on bike heights on here somewhere - was active shortly after i joined .. but i'm damned if i can find it ------ can anyone else supply a reference please?

Here - I resurrected it today...

**Wolf** · 30th October 2005, 23:08

Originally Posted by Ixion

Ms Crashe is (I believe) 2 inches shorter than you. I suspect she'll recommend the Virago.

EDIT. She did! I must have the gift of prophecy

Immortal and a prophet - you're practically Biblical, Mr Ixion...

**T.W.R** · 30th October 2005, 23:12

Try a CMX honda 250 rebel, or the GZ suzuki, and the yammy virago 250 their the lowest seat heights of all the 250s. all cruiser style though but thats the deal for low seats. kawasaki used to make a ER 250 vulcan(cruiser), dunno if its still in production ? it was a street hugger.
the VTR honda mentioned in a post is way out of the question it would be taller than the suzy you sat on. the lowest 250 sportbike would be maybe a SRX 250 yamaha or BR 250 kawasaki.

**jazbug5** · 30th October 2005, 23:14

Or, of course, there is this thread.

Or this link for 'short person' bikes (which I put on the thread above as well). I think the having your feet flat thing is going to be hard to do on most bikes- and really, isn't it just a confidence thing..? Not sure how the toe thing would change things, of course; but would a good solid boot not help with that?

**Indiana_Jones** · 30th October 2005, 23:15

GN!!!!!!!!!!

-Indy

**Ixion** · 30th October 2005, 23:21

Ms Strayjuliet is very welcome to try Li'l Ratty (SRX250) for size. As Mr T.W.R. says, it is one of the lowest non-cruiser bikes. Still nowhere as low as the Virago though, and probably not too useful since the odds of finding one are slim. The Kawasaki Eliminator has a VERY low seat, I think maybe lower than the Virago.

**Wolf** · 30th October 2005, 23:28

Originally Posted by The_Dover

Do you really feel you need both feet flat on the deck? Are you gonna let it hold you back?

After 24 years of riding experience, I finally learned I don't need to be limited by having both feet on the ground - courtesy of a great site aimed at short-arsed bikers and a bit of practical experience on a BMW F650GS Dakar (albeit with the optional low seat bench) - just goes to show how limited I have been for years owing to my own preconceptions and that you can teach an old canine new tricks...

Having both feet on the ground is a confidence issue. Strayjuliet is not an experienced rider - she used to have a little KR80 on which she used to blat around the yard when we lived at Tauwhare, but we sold that.

For ages I felt the need to be able to firmly ground both feet even though, in retrospect, I realise I normally only put one foot down these days - the whole "both feet grounded" thing had become a habit.