Weight of bikes...

**Thani-B** · 10th June 2009, 15:06

Looking for some advice about choosing bikes, this isnt going to be the kind of thread "What bike should I get?" where everyone just tells me to test ride, because I have gathered that from other threads. My question is about the weight of bikes.

As a rider you can generally ride a bike that is 3 (or is it 4?) times heavier than you, correct? So as a small person (about 5'3" and roughly 45kgs) I think I'd be fairly limited to what I can ride according to that 'rule'. How important is that really? Do people generally try a bike to see how it handles without any regard to whether they can pick it up if it falls over or what?

Opinions and ideas?
Cheers

**Katman** · 10th June 2009, 15:13

Originally Posted by Thani-B

As a rider you can generally ride a bike that is 3 (or is it 4?) times heavier than you, correct?

I have never heard that one before.

If you can sit and balance it comfortably when stationary then you can ride it.

Picking up a fallen bike is all to do with technique.

**javawocky** · 10th June 2009, 15:15

If its a learner bike you are after, the Yamaha Scorpio

is about as light, low and easy to ride as you get.

Don't get a GN

EDIT* ROFL just saw your profile says GN

**Ixion** · 10th June 2009, 15:15

Even a very small chick (or guy) can pick up quite a large bike if they use the correct technique. It's been covered several times, search should find it. Weight itself is not really the question, it's how high the weight is, what sort of riding you do (even a very heavy bike is not going to be a problem on long straight roads - round town, may be another matter); how long you ride at a time; and such like. I'm a short arse, but many years ago i decided that i would not let height or weight etc compromise my biking. Even if it DID mean carrying a small step ladder. there are ways to deal with it. Just depends on your priorities. I've heard those formulas, I don't think they mean a damn

**kunoichi** · 10th June 2009, 15:21

i'v never heard of that rule, and i think that size of the engine is the biggest weight difference on a bike. So if u go for a 250cc rating, then u won't find one 250 much different weight than another. What i would advise is to have them put the bike on the lowest suspesion for u, and see how far off the ground u r, i found some bikes were taller than others.
Some people argue that you only need ur toes on the ground, but i felt alot better after my suspensions were lowered and i had the ball of my foot rooted nicely on the ground. Kuz reversing with only on ur tip toes is a bitch. The more of ur foot on the ground the better, i reckon.

**James Deuce** · 10th June 2009, 15:27

I remember training a scrappy Scots woman around your weight to pick her bike up. She threw it over the other side using the correct technique. At least it was damaged evenly.

A Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster Low is a piece of wees to move around. Get one of them. Practically self righting too. (You didn't mention your license status).

**Hitcher** · 10th June 2009, 15:27

Nobody weighs 45kg. That's about the size of a decent lunch.

**Metalor** · 10th June 2009, 15:30

So the bike is for yourself? Any 250 is gonna be fairly nimble due to how light they are. You may like to try a bandit, pretty big for a 250 and pick up quite nicely.

Those VTR's look like they have a pretty low seat height, may be good for you. Look like they'd be pretty fun to ride aswell.

Or maybe one of these:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-209487416.htm

**kunoichi** · 10th June 2009, 15:33

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Nobody weighs 45kg. That's about the size of a decent lunch.

Wrong. My mum is that weight and probably the same height, my sister would be pushing it at 50kg. There are some small woman out there!

**Crazy Steve** · 10th June 2009, 15:33

Motorcycle road code makes a remark that you can ride a bike three times your own weight....

But ive seen a 48-50kg women not much bigger than you riding a Busa on The Taupo race track...And at 250kgs approx wet....Thats five times her weight...

So from what ive seen there is no limit....

Women can doooo Anything...

Crazy Steve...

**Thani-B** · 10th June 2009, 15:44

Originally Posted by Katman

I have never heard that one before...
Picking up a fallen bike is all to do with technique.

In the road code maybe.. Im sure Ive read it somewhere.

Anyone offering to teach me? lol

Originally Posted by kunoichi

The more of ur foot on the ground the better, i reckon.

Yes, Id like to keep my feet on the ground if I can. Ive sat on a GSXR750 and could touch the ground, dont think both feet were flat though.

Originally Posted by James Deuce

(You didn't mention your license status).

Sorry, should have said. Will be getting my full soon and then hopefully upgrading from my GN.

**kave** · 10th June 2009, 15:46

I'm 5'5" and not very heavy, and I ride a bike that weighs around four times my weight. After three months on my full licence I had a bike that weighed almost five times my weight, and on top of that I would normally be carrying a pillion and luggage. As far as I am concerned the weight of the bike is not an issue. What is an issue is a combination of weight and height. If you can get both feet down flat, then a bike that weighs 400kg is rideable, but if you can only get one tip-toe down by hanging off the side of your bike then it becomes a lot more difficult to handle a heavy bike (not impossible but challenging to the point where it can interfere with your enjoyment of riding)

Once a bike is moving at speed, weight becomes almost irrelevent, but low speed manouvering (and balancing at lights while on an awkward camber road when the surface is greasy and you have cars on both sides of you) can be quite tricky.

The selling point for the GSX1200 that made me buy it instead of a CB1300, XJR1300 or a ZRX1200R was the low seat height (though price did play a part in the decision). If I was looking at lighter bikes then seat height would have been much less of an issue.

If when you are sitting on a bike while it is on a sidestand you find it no problem to stand it upright then you will probably have no trouble with the weight/size of the bike, if on the other hand you find it challenging to stand it upright I would't buy it.

If you want any information on the process I went through getting into sportbikes when a large percentage of them were completely unsuitable for people of below average height then feel free to send me a PM.

**Metalor** · 10th June 2009, 15:47

In that case, Hornet 600 it is!

**Stirts** · 10th June 2009, 15:52

Originally Posted by Thani-B

Do people generally try a bike to see how it handles without any regard to whether they can pick it up if it falls over or what?

I am not exactly Miss Muscle so when I lay my bike down on my driveway, (with a dry weight of 174kgs), I was so angry that I picked it as if it weighed 10kgs.

Agree with everything Ixion said in his post.....

Originally Posted by Ixion

using the correct technique, how high the weight is, what sort of riding you do (even a very heavy bike is not going to be a problem on long straight roads - round town, may be another matter)

I too am a short-arse, I lowered my bike 25mm in the front, shorter shock, and custom lower seat so I could have the balls of my feet touch the ground. I did this purely to gain confidence while learning. I know that with my next bike I may not be able to change the height, as this can compromise handling. But by then I will be a more experienced rider and it won't be so much of an issue. I hope.

All it really comes down to is what YOU are comfortable with. This is paramount in the learning stages of riding!!