Distance bike for a short person?

lofty · Spanner Monkey Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Karma :

Hi

I want to go travelling by bike, europe ish direction maybe further, for at least a few months, in the future after I finish uni.
Could someone point me in the direction of a reliable, economical, low seat height (I am 4ft 11 at a push.. with short legs) bike to do some distance work on? Simple as possible and easy to maintain/repair/sort parts for.

Bike would be mainly for road work but not too fussed about outright speed, would like it to be rugged enough to not fall apart at the first pot hole.

Thanks!

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

The ZZR600 always seems to be referred to as 'low'. Never sat on one myself but could be worth a look.

JsyBoy · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Karma :

yea i was going to say that too, a good ZZR600 an be piked up cheap, you an fit hard bags to them, reliable and comfortable, plus it has a low seat hight, I had a friend who had one and it was a decent bike.

Or you could find a cruiser they have really low seat hight. They will cope with any sort of road too.

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

lofty · Spanner Monkey Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Karma :

Ha, Garth is right, I do have a deep seated hatred for cruisers.. not quite sure why!

Width of seat is also a factor... makes my legs shorter! Depends how chunky the seat is too, because I can always take a bit out.

JsyBoy · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Karma :

My old man has a gpz 900r and i find the riding position really odd its comfy, but the bars are bit of a reach and the mirrors are annoying, and maybe a bit to heavy for a short person.

If you got the cash you could find a bike you like and just get it lowered nothing wrong with that.

What about a Triumph Bonnie or scrambler, both have a low seat hight and can be used to tour europe on easly.

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

ZZR's are quite cheap too, lowering kits are available, the seat is about an inch higher than a GN125's.

Lower it by 1.5" and drop the forks through and you should be fine.

Don't they suffer from 2nd gear woes?
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Mudskipper · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Karma :

I did (loads of! Laughing

) DAS on an ER5, I had no problems and it wasn't lowered.

If you could drop the shock and/or chop some seat out of one, you could maybe even flatfoot.

(I'm 5'1", 28" leg)

Not sure about reliability though, they are Kwaks after all...
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"You're clumsy, you eat too much and you behave like a 12 year old boy. But you know what? Every once in a while, you find a thumb."

JsyBoy · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Karma :

bah if you go Jap it will be fine, kwaks make solid engines. The only thing kwaks suffer from are poor brakes and bad finish, when i say bad its not as good as Honda but not as shit as ducati in past years ago.

Irezumi aka Reuben · Carrot Top Joined: 28 Sep 2004 Karma :

GPZ500s.

200 miles to a tank sitting at 90 all day because you are tiny (no drag!), good acceleration and probably up to the job handling wise. nice and slim as well as low, very easy to handle as well.

lofty · Spanner Monkey Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Karma :

Will I have a problem with things like reaching the bars..I mean I haven't got stupidly short arms, but I don't really want to end up with my chin on the tank if you know what I mean! Equally, I do have quite dodgy wrists, not easy to please ey.

JsyBoy · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Karma :

bloody hell suppose you want the bike gold plated to hoot as well Laughing

have a look at the triumph classic range very accommodating ergonomics, or the Street Triple not sure how high the seat is but its a bloody light bike that would suit your build.

I'v done a few trips round europe now, one thing worth saying is pack lightly, really lightly bring enough pants and socks for a week some dedicated riding cloths and 1 or two good set of cloths and just go to a laundrette or washing machine on a camp site when you run out of clean cloths. The lighter you pack the less hassle it is to unpack and pack the bike. oh and gaffer tape, it will fix anything.

lofty · Spanner Monkey Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Karma :

A man after my own heart...I fix everything with gaffa tape... or electrical tape!
As for packing light, I am a seasoned festival goer, so no problem there. Thanks for the help.

Seb · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Jul 2007 Karma :

Another recommendation for the ZZR here, might be worthwhile getting a better seat for it if your doing serious mileage though, mine left me rather numb within 100 miles or so.
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cestrian · World Chat Champion Joined: 24 Jul 2006 Karma :

The GS500 is low with a narrow seat. The Bandit 650 is also low but perhaps not low enough, unless you get the seat trimmed down a bit. Bothe motors are bullet proof too.

Gazdaman · I did a trackday!!! Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :

Hornets are pretty low. And my GS500 is tiny, and there are lowering kits on eBay.

Depends what sort of bike you want really.

Gaz

flat spot · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Aug 2003 Karma :

If you seriously want to go then I'd forget anything like a 600. Quite honestly I think you're to small to handle a fully loaded bike of that size. Don't forget when you stop you'll have to manoeuvre the thing around sometimes.
I don't want to burst your bubble either, but there will probably be days hacking down the motorway in torrential rain and strong winds. I really do believe it'll be to much weight.
Having said that you don't say whether you're camping or not. Maybe without a tent and stuff it would be doable, but certainly more a 250 4t like a ZZR250 would be far more suitable. https://www.reviewcentre.com/reviews96290.html

Please don't think I'm patronising by saying this, but having travelled on a bike and knowing how physically demanding it can be, and having a girlfriend who's 5ft tall and 7 and a bit stone soaking wet, I'm pretty sure I know what she'd be realistically capable of.

BTW, how far are you thinking of going? Possibly further than Europe in a few months? It doesn't sound much fun to me. Better off planning a shorter route so it doesn't become a battle of how far you need to get in a day, but taking it easy and stopping more often.

Also in all seriousness..... https://www.dongfang.co.uk/

St0rmer66 · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Karma :

GPZ500S. Narrow, small, light, enough power not to be boring, good parts availability. It has clip-ons but they are upright and comfortable enough to use. Wind protection is very good, you don't need to duck down (especially not at your height). I would have kept mine if I hadn't got a company vehicle at my new job for the commute.

Click the link in my sig to see pics of mine.
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:: Honda XR 125 L ('53) => Kawasaki GPZ 500S ('02) => Suzuki SV650S ('00) => Aprilia RSV-R ('51) ::