Weight of bikes...

[Winston001]

Interesting question. Since you seem to already have an idea of the bikes you like, the best test is to try one. As suggested, lowered suspension may be all it takes for a good fit.

Weight is one of those illusory things. A BMW feels lighter than it is because the weight is low in the frame. Similarly wide handle-bars make a bike easier to control, particularly when stopped.

When it comes to motorcycles, the weight discussion is generally focused on how light an off-road bike is, or power-to-weight ratio for a sports bike. Which suggests most riders find a fit they are comfortable with and total weight isn't a significant issue.

[YellowDog]

I think you are asking the right kind of questions however as has already been stated, the weight is just one of many factors.

The most important consideration has to be your comfort. The only time a bike is heavy is when you have to pick it up or if it leans too far over. It is not realistic to expect to be able to recover from a stationary overlean situation so you need to focus on a bike that your weight and height can comfortably control.

A light weight bike with a high centre of gravity will feel heavier than a heavy bike with a low centre of gravity.

Best thing for you to do is not to rule out anything until you have sat on it. AND secondly - EAT PIES THREE TIMES A DAY !!!

[2wheeldrifter]

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

Anyone offering to teach me? lol

Yes can always teach, will need pic's of you bending over, keeping legs straight, fingers touching toes... this is good practice and technique, this is a good starting position for..... wrong thread.... what am I talking about

[allycatz]

I had to sell bike I bought to learn on , too tall and just to uncomfortable for a shoulder thats had a 3 times torn rota cuff muscle.

[Mully]

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

Yep, it's in the Road Code (well, it was).

Their suggestion was that no more than about 3 times your weight. As already mentioned, it's more to do with how the weight is distributed and how comfortable you are with the bike.

Anyway, as a biker, you should know that the Road Code is a quaint list of suggestions (much like speed limits) rather than a hard and fast rule (again, like speed limits)

[crazyhorse]

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

Its not about weight - but about how you fit the bike. i.e not too tall that you cannot put your feet on the ground in order to stop the bike from tipping over.

I was always told that you shouldn't own a bike if you cannot pick it up yourself - and thankfully, I can do it - but yes, there is an art to it

[slofox]

Their suggestion was that no more than about 3 times your weight. A

Sooooo according to that I should be able to ride a 3000kg bike....

[Str8 Jacket]

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

And when you are that light DONT buy a KR150 and think you can ride it comfortably around Wellington/Wairarapa without being blown around and/or over!

[Thani-B]

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.

Will try that, thanks.

People at either end of the Human Bell Curve for size/weight/limb length shouldn't ride bikes. Stick to scroters...

No thanks, just because I am small doesnt mean I should miss out.

AND secondly - EAT PIES THREE TIMES A DAY !!!

I eat plenty, just dont put on weight, ask monkeymsea..

Its not about weight - but about how you fit the bike. i.e not too tall that you cannot put your feet on the ground in order to stop the bike from tipping over.

I was always told that you shouldn't own a bike if you cannot pick it up yourself - and thankfully, I can do it - but yes, there is an art to it

Will have to try bikes to see if I can touch the ground on them, dont think I would be comfortable on one that I couldnt. And I dont see many places letting me put a bike down to see if I can pick it up

Can anyone elaborate on 'the art' of picking up fallen bikes? lol

[monkeymsea]

Maybe some HTFU pills are in order.. lol..

Just ride my bike around thats pretty heavy to get use to the weight and riding postition you cant do any more damage to it then I have already done =P

[Gwinch]

Can anyone elaborate on 'the art' of picking up fallen bikes? lol

[munterk6]

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!

Yeah, but there's some bloody monsters out there as well

If you are short, for God's sake, stick to scooters...big bikes are for big people

[Thani-B]

..

Cheers for that, will wait until monkeymsea drops his bike again (shouldnt be too long..) and then I'll try that.

Yeah, but there's some bloody monsters out there as well

If you are short, for God's sake, stick to scooters...big bikes are for big people

Now what kind of attitude is that, hardly seems fair...

[Beemer]

I think the main thing to take into consideration is whether you can move it around without scaring yourself shitless when it's turned off! Some bikes are quite top-heavy - their weight is in the tank (when full) rather than low down. My BMW F650CS was the opposite - the tank was under the seat so it felt quite stable when being wheeled around under no power.

I think it's not so much a matter of your weight compared with the bike's weight as other things come into consideration too - like your height and the height of the bike. My husband has some big touring bikes and he's not very heavy himself but he has no trouble moving them. He's taller than me and I'd be petrified to even try moving some of his bikes as the weight, combined with the height of the bikes, would be too much for me.

One of the things we had to do in a motorcyclist of the year competition was wheel our bikes around on both the left and right sides of the bike - and that's quite difficult! One rider dropped her bike and she was a very experienced rider.

[MarkH]

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?

That sounds more like a guide than a rule TBH. I think that as others have said the height is more important - if you can put your feet flat on the ground you have more leverage and can hold up more weight easier. The weight distribution also makes a noticeable difference - my scooter is 199kg dry, but it doesn't feel heavy because the weight is lower than on most bikes.

I think you should worry more about finding a bike that is comfortable for you than the weight of it. Once you are moving than it is balanced, it is only when you stop that you need to hold its weight.