Cruiser advice for a vertically challenged rider

[fletcher]

Hi, I returned to riding last year after a long absence. I got some great advice here on bikes and in the end I got a Suzuki VL250, then a 2009 Ninja 250. I love the Ninja for round town but find it tiring for the long distance rides with friends. So - I want a bigger bike and need some advice!

I'm tiptoe on the Ninja but would prefer to be more flatfooted so am looking at more cruiser-style bikes. I have a 10k budget max (preferably closer to 8k) and would welcome advice on the Suzuki M50, C50 and Honda VT750C (or others). Tried a Sportster but it isn't me. Want 900cc max.

I rode a VT750 and aside from not being so keen on such forward foot controls, it was good to ride and easy to handle at low speed. I'm curious to know if anyone who is similarly short can tell me what it's like manoeuvring a C50 or M50 around at standstill and low speeds, as it is a substantially larger bike.

Thanks everyone.

[SilverGrin]

This should help:

[phred]

How about a Vulcan EN550. Suitable for shortarses. Looks bigger than it is

[dilligaf_nz]

I recently purchased an M50, and although I am not a short-ass, a friend of mine who is a short-ass took the bike for a quick spin the other day and came back and commented how easy he found it to manouver and control, even at low speeds. The bike has most of it's weight down low, giving it a lower centre of gravity. However he is about as wide as he is tall so he found pushing it around from standstill very easy.
I do a lot of motorway travelling and have found it very easy to control at low speeds.
Best advice, as usual, is take one for a decent test spin, get used to how it feels and form your own opinion.

[ukusa]

Hi, I returned to riding last year after a long absence. I got some great advice here on bikes and in the end I got a Suzuki VL250, then a 2009 Ninja 250. I love the Ninja for round town but find it tiring for the long distance rides with friends. So - I want a bigger bike and need some advice!

I'm tiptoe on the Ninja but would prefer to be more flatfooted so am looking at more cruiser-style bikes. I have a 10k budget max (preferably closer to 8k) and would welcome advice on the Suzuki M50, C50 and Honda VT750C (or others). Tried a Sportster but it isn't me. Want 900cc max.Thanks everyone.

Sounds like you're looking for a 2nd hand Triumph Bonnie. Take one for a spin, it might just be you.

Here's one http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-278450314.htm

[<G>]

How short of a shortarse are you? I'm 5' and ride a Kawasaki Vulcan EN500, mainly because I couldn't reach the controls on any of the bigger cruisers.
It cruises comfortably at 100km - after all that's the speed limit and has a very comfortable seat. Even though it weighs around the 200kg mark I can manoeuvre it quite easily. Haven't been two-up on it, so can't help you there. Price around 10k.

Take one out for a test ride, I think you will be pleasantly surprised

Good luck!

[bluebird]

Why don't you try an S50? I owned one and really liked it, lighter and not as wide as an M50, plenty of power, pegs not too far forward and they are good value for money.

[blackdog]

Sounds like you're looking for a 2nd hand Triumph Bonnie. Take one for a spin, it might just be you.

Here's one http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-278450314.htm

or an america or speedmaster. more cruiserish than standard bonnie.......

[blackdog]

also consider a yamaha dragstar, they do a 650 and i reckon the best lookin' of the japs....

[hayd3n]

man even the hornets have a low seat height!!!

[fletcher]

This should help:

That would definitely help me get on the bike of my dreams - a ZRX1100. Otherwise there just ain't no way ...

[fletcher]

This should help:

That would definitely help me get on the bike of my dreams - a ZRX1100. Otherwise there just ain't no way ...

[gilly]

My hubbie has the M50 and I'm on the Honda Shadow 750.

His bike is lovely to ride, but is hell of a weight when stopped. ie. having to push it backwards into the garage or when stopped at lights.
The Honda is only 10kg lighter but is much easier to move as you're closer to the ground.

[fletcher]

Thanks, that's good to know about the M50. Even a long test ride on a bike doesn't tell you about all the challenges when you own it for a while and that's exactly what I wasn't sure about.

Do you find it hard to keep your feet on the pegs when you're travelling at speed for a long time down the motorway or whatever? It was the forward foot controls that didn't excite me about the Shadow. Everything else was fine.

[fletcher]

Sounds like you're looking for a 2nd hand Triumph Bonnie. Take one for a spin, it might just be you.]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Here's a general reply. I really like the Bonnies but am not even flat foot with the A-1/SE bikes. Also the pegs hit me mid-calf when I put my feet down too which is a bit uncomfortable. The America and Speedmasters have the foot controls too far forward for me. I think I'm about 5' 1" or 2" so definitely short-arse.

Yes I quite like the S50 but the tank is real small so ruled that one out.

I sat on a Yamaha XVS a while back but found those foot controls a bit forward too.

I do like the Kawa EN500. Very much. I don't think I'll ever take a pillion so does it have enough grunt for overtaking on the motorway?