First bike but only 5'7

**Bike_noob** · 12th June 2009, 00:15

Hi guys, been thinking about getting a bike. I'm 25 and after growing up on 100ish bhp minis and one with 147bhp. I'm only 5'7 and really love the looks of sports bikes, my worry is not being able to touch the ground LOL any recomendations

**breakaway** · 12th June 2009, 00:24

So you're 5' 7? That's what, like 170cm? I'm around that and I can touch the ground on a GSXR1000 no worries. So I'm sure you'll have no issues on any 250 sport bike.

**YellowDog** · 12th June 2009, 06:03

Completely agree with this post.

170cm is not short for riding a sports bike.

But even if you want a bigger bike, there are techniques (and lowering kits) you an ustilise.

It's a bit like riding a horse.

Good luck.

**Mr Triple** · 12th June 2009, 06:30

Originally Posted by YellowDog

Completely agree with this post.

170cm is not short for riding a sports bike.

But even if you want a bigger bike, there are techniques (and lowering kits) you an ustilise.

It's a bit like riding a horse.

Good luck.

Totally agree YellowDog...I'm 5'7 and ride the same bike as you with no problems so far. As you say techniques and reading the road in front of you.

**ajturbo** · 12th June 2009, 07:04

ya doppy bugger..

why ask us??

just go down to TTS and talk to Steve and SIT on some of their bikes...

hell i'm your hight and i can touch the ground on the buell.............just

**BiK3RChiK** · 12th June 2009, 07:11

I'm 5'4 and manage it, and I'm a girrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrl.........

You'll get by!

**Insanity_rules** · 13th June 2009, 21:03

I'm 5'8 and Have no problem with most sports bikes. Climb on and try it out. My Duke looks huge but when you sit on it its fine. Even ridden a shiver and a superduke with no issues.

**White Boots** · 13th June 2009, 21:26

Test ride your heart out man

wish i did more test riding.

**quickbuck** · 13th June 2009, 21:36

Test ride EVERYTHING.

Good news is that 170cm is the average height of a Japanese person.... So...

It is the 180cm plus people that have the issues with regard to bike size.

**PrincessBandit** · 13th June 2009, 21:41

I'm 5'2 and ride a 650 bandit (with the seat set at its lowest setting mind you). Can comfortably sit at lights with one foot flat, the other on the peg; or with both feet down on the balls of my feet. With your height you should have plenty of options. Have fun finding out!

**LaytonNZ** · 13th June 2009, 21:42

Haha @ You!

You can ride almost everything at 5,7 (dirt not included)

Im 5,7 and i rode a 250 ninja for awhile and i was fine then moved to a ZX6 and im still fine haha.

**quickbuck** · 13th June 2009, 21:50

Originally Posted by LaytonNZ

Haha @ You!

You can ride almost everything at 5,7 (dirt not included)

.

Na, I was 4'10" when I started on those......
Way back when a 1976 XL125 seemed ENORMUS!

**robboh** · 14th June 2009, 00:18

Im 5'6 to 5'7, and about 62kg wringing wet.

Current bike is a CBR600RR, which has a 820mm high seat. Thats about the highest Id go I think. The Trumpy 675 is just a little higher, and I didnt feel completely comfortable sitting on that. Gixxer600 is considerably lower, and fine.

Hell, I learnt to ride on a TF185, and the seat came up higher than my waist at the time. I had to use the chopping block to get on the damned thing.

Your leg length is actually more important than your overall height. And if you are light, like me, then you will possibly find a lot of the bigger bikes will potentially need re-springing to get the suspension working right for you. The other thing to take into account is seat width and shape at the tank. You can have a low wide seat that is actually harder to get your feet on the deck than a higher narrower seat height.

The 250's should all be fine for you. I can put both feet flat with the current Ninja 250. Any of the 2T 250's will fit you perfectly (bonus for those our height). Havent sat on a Hyosung, so cant comment about those, they are a fairly large bike for a 250.

To a certain extent, the seat height isnt typically an issue when riding. You just slide your ass on the seat to one side, and tilt the bike slightly that way to put a foot flat at the lights. Where that does get to be a little bit of an issue is if the road is slippery or gravelly, or inclines a lot one way or the other (always go for foot on the higher side, and try to keep the bike upright as possible).

Where your height will be more of an issue is where you are trying to maneuver the bike at a standstill, especially on any sort of hill. Its usually easiest to get off and push it around, rather than trying to peddle it with the tips of your toes (or balls of feet).