Weight of bikes...

[sinned]

I almost didn't test ride a Tiger as it was on the side stand on a sloping footpath, outside Motorad, and I could only just lift it up. However, once it was up I thought what the hell ride it anyway - nice bike but too tall for me.

You need to be able to lift a bike that is overleaned on the sidestand.
You need to have enough leg movement to shuffle a bike back and forth while straddling it. Especially is the surface has loose stuff eg pea metal.
Wide bars and a narrow seat make it easier to manhandle a bike.

If weight was the prime factor no one would be able to ride a Harley. The low seat and wide bar offsets the excessive weight.

[Mystic13]

Yes went out today, out to Kariotahi for a picnic with monkeymsea. And had a short ride yesterday as well. Last time I rode in the cold I got one lol. I struggle to stay warm normally so riding in the cold isnt a very good option for me.

I notice you and another rider talking about being normally cold. I'm a normally hot person. If you google "hot and cold foods" etc you can find some info. In Asia they understand this. Some foods/drinks make you hot and some make you cold.

In the summer heat in Asia it's best to drink "cold" drinks. In the west we think cold as in freezing but that's not the case. Some drinks will lower the body temperature and some will raise it. As do certain foods.

Over the hot days in summer and when my body temp is up I make a point of avoiding "hot" foods (that increase my body temp) and eating/drink "cold".

I find this incredibly useful.

Outside of that when riding plastic on the outside keeps you warmest. I carry a two piece wet for rain but on a cold night (real cold) in the central North Island plastic is my friend. A year ago when my bike was building up a snow cone on the front screen going through the desert road other riders with me stopped and complained of being frozen through with their cordura and thermal liner and thermals. I was toasty warm. I must get a plastic cover for my boots though.

Plastic wet gear is my friend.

[BMWST?]

I notice you and another rider talking about being normally cold. I'm a normally hot person. If you google "hot and cold foods" etc you can find some info. In Asia they understand this. Some foods/drinks make you hot and some make you cold.

In the summer heat in Asia it's best to drink "cold" drinks. In the west we think cold as in freezing but that's not the case. Some drinks will lower the body temperature and some will raise it. As do certain foods.

Over the hot days in summer and when my body temp is up I make a point of avoiding "hot" foods (that increase my body temp) and eating/drink "cold".

I find this incredibly useful.

Outside of that when riding plastic on the outside keeps you warmest. I carry a two piece wet for rain but on a cold night (real cold) in the central North Island plastic is my friend. A year ago when my bike was building up a snow cone on the front screen going through the desert road other riders with me stopped and complained of being frozen through with their cordura and thermal liner and thermals. I was toasty warm. I must get a plastic cover for my boots though.

Plastic wet gear is my friend.

plastic = a truly imperviuos extra layer...

[Pwalo]

I almost didn't test ride a Tiger as it was on the side stand on a sloping footpath, outside Motorad, and I could only just lift it up. However, once it was up I thought what the hell ride it anyway - nice bike but too tall for me.

You need to be able to lift a bike that is overleaned on the sidestand.
You need to have enough leg movement to shuffle a bike back and forth while straddling it. Especially is the surface has loose stuff eg pea metal.
Wide bars and a narrow seat make it easier to manhandle a bike.

If weight was the prime factor no one would be able to ride a Harley. The low seat and wide bar offsets the excessive weight.

Yes indeedy. Although it's nice to have a bike that's not too heavy, seat height is a big factor. 800mm and 170kg (dry) is about right for me.

[Thani-B]

Yes indeedy. Although it's nice to have a bike that's not too heavy, seat height is a big factor. 800mm and 170kg (dry) is about right for me.

Yes Im currently test riding bikes to see how I fit them, well have just started to, so far have only taken out an SV650 but should be taking out some others this weekend.

[James Deuce]

Seat shape is really important, more so than seat height. You'll sometimes be surprised by a bike with a seat height cms higher than something you normally ride and find you can get both feet flat on the ground.

Conversely, some less altitudinally (sic) inclined people will go for a cruiser because it looks like your butt is almost on the ground only to find that the engine width is such that they can only get one foot on terra firma at a time and the footpegs are too far away for comfort.

[Pwalo]

Seat shape is really important, more so than seat height. You'll sometimes be surprised by a bike with a seat height cms higher than something you normally ride and find you can get both feet flat on the ground.

Conversely, some less altitudinally (sic) inclined people will go for a cruiser because it looks like your butt is almost on the ground only to find that the engine width is such that they can only get one foot on terra firma at a time and the footpegs are too far away for comfort.

Very good point Mr Deuce. I find that sport(ier) bikes are easier to handle because they tend to be slimmer and their seats are cut away more at the front. Does indeed help in getting your feet on the ground. (That always assumes that you can throw a leg over the beast to get on and off).

[Thani-B]

Idle was going to let me ride his bike if I could touch the ground on it hehe, yeah right. Got one leg over and it was still about half a metre off the ground. Would have been interesting to try. Stopping would have been a problem though. Maybe if I had someone beside me to catch the bike when I stopped...

[peasea]

Idle was going to let me ride his bike if I could touch the ground on it hehe, yeah right. Got one leg over and it was still about half a metre off the ground. Would have been interesting to try. Stopping would have been a problem though. Maybe if I had someone beside me to catch the bike when I stopped...

Has anyone near you got a HD Sporty? You might be surprised. My misus is a shorty (who rides a Sporty, oh the poetry...)

Whatever you glean from all this b/s you will have to be comfortable on the machine. Don't be swayed by weight, engine size or sales pitch. It's nobodys machine but yours, you and it need to fit.

I'm not a big guy (5ft 10ins) but I fit my Wideglide HD like a glove, it's like a second lounge chair. That's how I like to ride. If you like to ride 'bum up' then that sort of machine isn't for you. I prefer the 'feet in the wind' posture. This is all about you, so you need to find a machine that suits your 'feel'.

Don't rush into anything.

[rie]

Did I hear correctly? Did that "how to pick up a bike" youtube vid suggest that Georgia lie down on the asphalt to get help?

This is more helpful. 5'3" (160cm) woman weighing 118lb (53kg) picks up her 600lb (272kg) BMW


http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html#video


As for short/light people riding, it can only make you a better rider. I find myself constantly alert to surface conditions and even the slightest incline makes me reconsider my parking strategy. Realising that you can't just waddle your bike out of awkward places and that your weight will compromise your ability to push it around as well, you will learn very fast that you need to use your brain.

[Thani-B]

Did I hear correctly? Did that "how to pick up a bike" youtube vid suggest that Georgia lie down on the asphalt to get help?

This is more helpful. 5'3" (160cm) woman weighing 118lb (53kg) picks up her 600lb (272kg) BMW


http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html#video

I suppose if all else fails, and you cant get the bike up, lying down would get people's attention and hopefully someone would stop to help.

But that was a good link. Something I will have to remember.

[Ixion]

Very good point Mr Deuce. I find that sport(ier) bikes are easier to handle because they tend to be slimmer and their seats are cut away more at the front. Does indeed help in getting your feet on the ground. (That always assumes that you can throw a leg over the beast to get on and off).

That's easily solved. Use the footpegs and mount like mounting a horse. Left foot on peg, lift up and right leg over (dismount the same way).

[rosie631]

Did I hear correctly? Did that "how to pick up a bike" youtube vid suggest that Georgia lie down on the asphalt to get help?

This is more helpful. 5'3" (160cm) woman weighing 118lb (53kg) picks up her 600lb (272kg) BMW


http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html#video


As for short/light people riding, it can only make you a better rider. I find myself constantly alert to surface conditions and even the slightest incline makes me reconsider my parking strategy. Realising that you can't just waddle your bike out of awkward places and that your weight will compromise your ability to push it around as well, you will learn very fast that you need to use your brain.

Hey, thanks for that link. Wish I had seen that before I had to try to pick my 300kg bike up. Tried 3 times, put my back out. Had to swallow my pride and ask a mate to do it for me.

[george formby]

I've squizzed most of this thread & a lot of info dwells on the downside of a bikes weight. They are all heavy & your ability to handle the bike whether riding it or pushing it round the garage boils down to confidence, technique & forward planning. Some of the greatest Paris - Dakar endurance racers are only knee high to a grasshopper & ride huge, heavy bikes, their crews often have a wee box so they can climb off the bike at the end of the day. Ride what you fancy & find the bike which gives you the confidence. Plan ahead at all times & think and act positively. When you ride a bike it goe's where you look, don't look at the trees!

[Goblin]

I've squizzed most of this thread & a lot of info dwells on the downside of a bikes weight. They are all heavy & your ability to handle the bike whether riding it or pushing it round the garage boils down to confidence, technique & forward planning. Some of the greatest Paris - Dakar endurance racers are only knee high to a grasshopper & ride huge, heavy bikes, their crews often have a wee box so they can climb off the bike at the end of the day. Ride what you fancy & find the bike which gives you the confidence. Plan ahead at all times & think and act positively. When you ride a bike it goe's where you look, don't look at the trees!

Too true! There are so many threads in here about shorties who feel they have to be able to touch the ground with both feet flat. It is a confidence thing and all about using your head.

Years ago there was a tiny woman here on a water bucket who had to shift her whole butt off the seat to get one foot down at the lights. She had no problem because she kept the bike balanced, so she never dropped it.

Then there was the mighty Buster Saunders who raced at the Casterol 6 Hour Race. This guy was a dwarf! He'd run along beside the bike, left leg on the left peg then swing his right leg over.

The weight of a bike shouldn't be a problem as long as you keep it balanced.

Any small person should be able to ride any sized/weight bike they fancy, if they are confident in their own ability.

If you're not confident...stick to a small light bike that you can reach the ground flat feet, and pick up if you drop it.

edit: More of a problem would be being too tall and not being able to find a bike big enough to fit.