Rcommended bike for a short rider.

[Kryostasys]

Hi,

Now before anyone starts, I've read the rules and searched (We enforce a similar thing on the Honda CRX uk Owners group!) and I do apologise if this (and most probably has) been asked a thousand times before (What can I say, I'm a man who prefers 4 on the floor )

A friend of mine has recently passed her test and now has a full license (though as she was 20 at the time needs to get the bike restricted!). I'm looking at getting her a bike as a belated 21st present/xmas present. She's been eyeing up honda BabyBlades and CBR's since she passed! I've been looking at Kawasaki GPX and GPZ's, as some half decent ones sell for around the £5-600 mark on eBay. The only problem is, she's quite short... 5'3" to be precise, with a 28" leg.

Would someone her height fit on for example an 1985 Kawasaki GPZ600R (Found a very reasonably priced one) without too much effort?

If not, could anyone recommend a good bike for a shorty?

Thanks in advance

[Frost]

The gpz's do have a fair high seat height. chances are she would fit however she may not find it comfortable enough to be confident.

Please tell me where you found this GPZ600R as if its the one i think it is i can give you alot of info on its past...

[Kryostasys]

It's on eBay, it needs a little work done on it, but the reserve is very low. It was bought for the sellers son as a first bike and a project but it never happened.

At the risk of other people bidding on it, i'll post the here

I was thinking she could perhpas get a thinner seat or remove some padding to help.

[Frost]

Standard seat height on that bike is 30.3 Inches
Which is Do-able, removing a little seat foam is a possability. All depends on how confident she is on the bike.

[Rory]

The NC29 model of CBR400RR is apparently one of the lowest bikes you can get. I'd imagine that you'd lose less of the power from restricting it, too, compared to the 600.
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[iCraig]

The GPZ500S is also a very low bike, as is the GS500.

Both have seat heights around 760-775mm, I am only 5'7" and can get my feet fully down on both so should be OK for a shorter rider.

As far as I know the GPZ600R is the same seat height as the GPX600R, and thats quite low too.

[Kickstart]

Hi

The CBR400 is tiny, and she is easily tall enough to ride one of those. The GPZ500S is also very short (my better half has one, and she is about that height but also has a dodgy right leg to make things harder).

The GPZ600R is not that low, but also has a quite restrictive riding position (the seat rises rapidly up to the tank and the pillion seat), same for the GPX. Probably possible (5'3" is not that short) but a bit more experience first might be an idea.

The FZ750 and FZR600 are both fairly low and narrow.

Beyond sports bikes the Ducati Monster and Cagiva Raptor are both quite low.

I would normally suggest trailing round the bike shops sitting on a variety of bikes, but not really a good idea for a surprise.

With experience and confidence she should be able to ride most bikes, but as a first bike a CBR400 (quicker, more expensive to buy, harder for parts, less available) or a GPZ500S (slightly slower, cheap to buy, loads around) would be best.

All the best

Keith
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[Annabella]

[Kryostasys]

Cheers for the replies people, looks like it'll be a GPZ500S or along those line's. Now on the next problem... got to make sure I get the right colour or she won't touch it... women

Edit: ARGH! Why are 400cc bikes selling more expensive than the 600cc varient of the same model of similar years? You bikers and your pricing scheme's confuse the hell outta me

[Ste]

There are far more of the CBR600's around than there are the CBR400's (and all the 400's), but they're in reasonable demand mostly by people who have recently passed their test and are looking for a first big bike. Same as everything, price is set by supply and demand, low supply and high (for that amount of supply) demand = high price

[Rory]

[Frost]

The difference betwean having to find the smallest bike you can, and being able to just about fit most is only a few inches.

5ft restricts your choices quite a bit, 5ft 3 means you can possibly fit most bikes enough to get your toes down.
The real question isnt can she get her toes ont he ground, but is she confortable only being able to balance on her toes.

Personally i wouldnt be confident just being able to get my toes down, but some are alot more confident than me

[Bendy]

I'd say as a newbie, you want to get at least one foot down properly. Toes are okay once you're used to the whole thing.

Of course, toes on each side often equates to one foot on the ground and the other in the air (with a bit of a shimmy). Which is cool for everything except parking really.

I'm afraid that buying one as a surprise you take a big chance on whether she'll be comfortable on it or not. I sat on lots of bikes when looking for a 600, and one of them felt 'me' while the others just didn't. Hard to explain, it's all a bit subjective.

I'm sure 'I'm going to buy you a bike, lets go shopping' would be just as good a surprise. Or maybe you could contribute towards the CBR4 that she wants instead of buying the whole thing yourself - I don't know the circumstances of course but personally I think I'd prefer to be involved in the selection process.

Hope it works out whatever.

[Nighteyes]