Short-legged girls.

**Goblin** · 5th December 2006, 08:51

Originally Posted by Joni

When you are a learner, there are so many scary things to consider, not being able to get your feet down would freak you out... remember back to those days Goblin (yeah yeah I know

), the bike felt like it weighed a ton and you had to remember all those "scary" things...

I see where you're coming from. It was soooooo long ago though....I learned to ride on the road on a 750 Katana and I couldnt get both feet down...and the bike did weigh a ton. Only ever dropped it once after skidding to a halt on pea-stones.

I once ran it out of petrol in the middle of an intersection on K road and had to push it the rest of the way to work. Not a bad effort for a 17 year old skinny white chick. The only other bikes I had ridden before that was the Honda 50 and a Yamaha Grasshopper on the farm. Maybe Im just weird but I never found riding scary.

**LilSel** · 5th December 2006, 09:06

When it comes time to upgrade... I am thinkin bout R6 or 6R... hopefully either will be suitable for the lil leggies lol... (hopefully that growth spurt will happen in the next 18 months tho!!

... hmmm... what age you stop growing??! is there still hope for me? lol)

**Trudes** · 5th December 2006, 09:09

You can also get them lowered like I did, either by the seat or though the shock (had to do both). Just can be costly so wouldn't recommend for a bike you're not planning on hanging onto for a few years.

**SDU** · 5th December 2006, 10:02

Your daughter is a tad taller then me.
It is what she feels comfortable on & don't forget the reach to the bars. It is a balance thing mainly. If she feels right with the weight & balance of a bike with just her toes down & she likes the bike its a winner, you can lower it a bit more for her confidence if she needs it.
I have learnt on Gn250, KLX125L, Serrow225(XT250) I would have been happy with the Honda VTR250/Yamaha renaissance.
Heaps of choices out there.

**bobsmith** · 5th December 2006, 10:28

Originally Posted by LilSel

Im a shorty and can touch down on my ZZR250, just lol... still hoping that im gonna have a growth spurt tho

Haha, yeah, I was always hoping that too but I gave up when I turned 20... I could also touch down on the ZZR but reversing was more difficult than it needed to be... on the other hand, on the CBR I can put both my feet flat down and it's much much easier to handle. (besides the fact that it's shitloads faster...)

**LilSel** · 5th December 2006, 10:43

Originally Posted by bobsmith

Haha, yeah, I was always hoping that too but I gave up when I turned 20... I could also touch down on the ZZR but reversing was more difficult than it needed to be... on the other hand, on the CBR I can put both my feet flat down and it's much much easier to handle. (besides the fact that it's shitloads faster...)

Awwe... so I should prob give up on the growth spurt idea seeming as almost 23 lol... bugger!

Ah yes... reversing... I accomplish that by standing beside my bike for the most part.

**hXc** · 5th December 2006, 10:49

Originally Posted by Joni

I will confess and say I dropped a bike once, because of my height or lack of it... came to a stop, the road was at a slight angle, I put my foot down and the road was not there and my foot kept going until the bike went for a lie down, and that was a CBR400, not the biggest of bikes...

Mum (yungatart) did the same thing many years ago, on a CB250; stopped on the side of the road, left foot goes down, but there's no ground there. She just kept stepping out, and didn't drop the bike; she placed it on the ground. Then politely asked Dad (MSTRS) to pick it up...

Bloody lazy if you ask me!

**Swoop** · 5th December 2006, 11:02

Originally Posted by LilSel

still hoping that im gonna have a growth spurt tho

Originally Posted by LilSel

Awwe... so I should prob give up on the growth spurt idea seeming as almost 23 lol... bugger!

I wouldn't be mentioning the fact of wanting ANY type of spurt around here... The_Dover will find out......

**des_picable** · 5th December 2006, 11:02

Thanks for all your replies. I had the GN in mind already , but wanted some other options which I now have that I hadn't considered , like the Zeal which I think she will love

mind you , she also likes bikes with fairings. It's going to take some thought.

Thanks to everyone.

**LilSel** · 5th December 2006, 11:06

Originally Posted by Swoop

I wouldn't be mentioning the fact of wanting ANY type of spurt around here... The_Dover will find out......

opps....

**Swoop** · 5th December 2006, 11:08

Originally Posted by LilSel

opps....

**Beemer** · 5th December 2006, 13:46

I'm 5'1" so perfectly able to comment with authority here! I started off learning to ride on a Suzuki RG150 and then upgraded to a BMW F650CS and now I ride a Suzuki SG350 (Goose). The RG had a 780mm seat height but I had mine lowered so I could get both feet flat on the ground!

Don't forget those Kawasaki 150s - think it is a KRR150? Very cute with a fairing and not too bad as far as height goes. I never considered a GN250 as I don't like cruisers, but they are good bikes for a learner.

**yungatart** · 5th December 2006, 17:08

I have an EL250 - a great bike, I'm 5'4" but can comfortably sit on the seat with my knees bent and feet flat on the ground - confidence inspiring for nervous newbies..
Good luck finding the one that suits

**crashe** · 5th December 2006, 17:40

Just found this thread. How on earth did I miss it......

Im 4 foot 12 inches tall.
I own a VIRAGO 250cc

Its not only the height of the seat...... look at the width of the seat as well.

Not only is it the person's leg length.... now dont take this the wrong way... but the size of the thighs as well.

If she has very slender thigh's then it seems they can sit on higher bikes and can cope with the wider seats as well.

The VIRAGO

seat is narrow at the front of it compared to say the GN250.

The best bet is to take your daughter around a few bike shops and sit on the few choices already mentioned in this thread.

Good luck.