Smaller riders

[Doobrey]

Hey guys,

Mrs doobs is considering doing a bike test, etc....

She is only 4'11". So small.

What bikes could she ride????

Any sensible suggestions would be much appreciated.

Doobs

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

SV650 is the classic.

TBF width of the seat is usually more important than seat high for those that are vertically challenged. Might be worth looking at an ER6, and Hornet as well. What's her leg length?
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[kawakid]

My ER5 A4 had a really low seat height they also do a low seat for it as well.


It's not your wifes height which is the problem it will be the length of her legs, my wifes 5'6" and she takes a 32" leg i'm taller and I have a 30".

It will also depend on how happy she will be if she can ony get one foot down at once, many riders will say they are fine with just one foot down or even just the balls of one foot down.

I wouldn't choose an ER6 I have one, the ER5 A4 was way lower.
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I've a twin and a 4.

[FerretFing]

https://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j415/ferretfing/Puddin-Pink.jpg


or..

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=230544

[TUG]

Anything, just get it lowered to the desired height and she will be fine, ZX Jay's sister had me lower 2 ninjas for her and i think she was roughly that size.
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Haz ER-5, innit!

[Slacker24seve...]

An ickle 400?
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Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
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[MarJay]

CBR400

XV535 Virago.

SV is too tall for that height IMO.
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Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Rogerborg]

[yambabe]

Go to "New Bikers" and read Bendy's advice to the short and feeble.

Which bike she can ride depends on a combination of her inside leg, on some bikes the length of her arms and very importantly her confidence.

Personally I am just over 5' tall and have a nearly-26" inside leg, and I'm a total wimp who prefers to have as much foot down as possible.

I ride a lowered 550 Zephyr and a couple of VS Intruders (1400 and 800 but the old style, not the new lardy ones).

What sort of bikes does she like?

Lowest 125 IIRC is a Yam SR.

Lowest sportsbike is a VFR400 NC30 but these are not suitable for ladies with big boobies cos they get squished on the tank.

Vtwins tend to be narrower than IL4s so are often better for shorter legs.

A lot of modern cruisers are not suitable cos they have either wide seats or the pegs & controls in daft positions.

SV650s are massive, I need a bloody stepladder to get on one and my feet don't reach the floor at all.

Lots of popular models can sometimes be found as 400 grey imports from Japan, these are often an inch or two smaller than standard UK bikes.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=230544

Edit: Linky to Bendy's post
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[.Chris.]

I have a 27" inside leg. I've sat on an XV535 and could flat-foot it with ease. Likewise a Suzuki 650 Savage. Both are fairly low-powered novice-friendly bikes, too.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Recluso]

Get her to try EVERYTHING. It'll give her an idea of what's out there and also consider how it might fit with a lowering kit or shaved seat.

I tried the 'what bike will fit' idea but in the end found just sitting on it all helped instead as I was gaining a basis of comparison.
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[MyCarVsYourHe...]

I used to watch a female motorcycle blogger on you tube who was around 5'2 who rode a ninja 250 and found it comfortable for her height, I have no idea of the measurements though. I'm sure there are possible modifications that can me made to lower a bikes riding hight, a softer rear shock perhaps? but that might interfere with the bikes handling. There's probably a pair of riding boots out there with extra soul

[Suntan Sid]

[yambabe]

[garth]

Honda CB1 with a lowered seat is fine at that height.

Suzuki Goose.

Yamaha SZR660.

CBR400.
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[garth]

Oh and GS500.
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[Walloper]

[Walloper]

[yambabe]

[Bendy]

Nobody should be recommending anything without knowing how long her legs are.

[garth]

[Codemonkey]

+1 on the little Kawasaki Ninja 250. Sat at one at the dealers ages ago and was quite surprised how low it was.
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[G]

I'd say the CBR400 was lower than the VFR400 - presume the 'V' engine adds a bit of height; but the baby blades were always pretty tiny.

[garth]

[yambabe]