Reccomend me a bike for a short person!

_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

So following my CR build, and then the various photo's of the KTM hooning round Ashford the other halfs taken an interest and wants to give it all a go!

She's tiny however. Like really, really tiny. Barely touches the floor on a YBR.

Bike doesn't need to be capable of much (very mild green laning), 125cc four stroke. She feels comfortable on the YBR125, so that's the sort of seat height & weight we're aiming for.

Plan is to keep an eye out for a project shed of a bike & rebuild it same as what i've done with mine - will try and borrow a pitbike in the meantime to see what she makes of it, she's desperate to get on one of the Mick Extance days however i'd rather she at least had a few hours mucking about on a pit beforehand so she knows what to expect.

The only bike i've come across so far that'd suit was wotsthestorys 80's DT - but I dont fancy a full on restoration job, or the fun of finding parts when she falls off.
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

Matt B · World Chat Champion Joined: 01 May 2012 Karma :

Suzuki van van?

Would handle light green laning and I think they are pretty low seat height.
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

lots of late 70s-early 90s stuff but mainly smokers

ts100
ts125 (early)
dt125 (early)
mt-5 with h100 lump
ke100
ke125

4 stroke an xr100 perhaps?
xt125

Yamaha make a xt225 serow which would be perfect if she had a license. as she doesn't I wonder if it would be possible to convert an sr125? similar frame and engine.

STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

pit bike's aren't much cop for green laning really, the wheels are too small so ruts made by 4x4 etc are horrible.

STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

ah another good one would be an xl125, or if your tight buy a cg and fit a chinky enduro exhaust and some taller forks/shocks

STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1977-Honda-XL125-4-STROKE-SEVENTIES-TWIN-SHOCK-TRAIL-BIKE-PROJECT-799-/251432098057?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item3a8a855909

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

GasGas Pampera. End of thread.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

125 is rare and expensive....thread re-opened! Laughing

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Why 4 stroke? Intentionally going for a heavier bike for the leg-impaired seems silly. Remember off-road can put you at all sorts of weird angles, so weight can be even more important.

STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

I wonder if an xt125 pipe could be modded to go on the ybr? then maybe a bash plate?

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

most lanes round here (even the easy ones) have the odd rut from 4x4's to get through which would soon see that exhaust battered. maybe a bash plate isn't so important but from the ones I have seen the YBR exhaust is pretty low and sticks out from the bike far enough to cause problems.

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Pegs are about the same level as the exhaust that I remember of the YBR - if the exhaust is getting hit, I expect the pegs are catching too.

STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

fair point, meh i still think the extra ground clearance would be good and also high level pipe looks the tits! Laughing

_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

85cc MX bike i'd considered - however I dont think I'd be able to register it as enduro exempt due to seat height and such.

Could possibly reg it as a trials bike, however she likes to use controls as lightswitches & I think it might be too much for her at first - the four stroke 125 commuter engines are a lot more predictable, less peaky etc and won't need rebuilding every five minuites while she's learning. Long term, yes if she gets into it this is what I intend to do Very Happy

Couldnt do the YBR bit - it doesn't LOOK like a proper offroad bike, she'll not be interested if it doesnt look the part.

I'd thought about a Derbi Senda or simmilar? Little smoker, not too quick, when she blows the top end up it'll cost me £25 to replace, loads of go faster bits availible, nice and light etc. Potentially lower the arse end a bit & cut a chunk of the seat foam to lower it, but they're designed with scrawny 16 year olds in mind aren't they?
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

How tiny is tiny?

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

I believe the thing to do is register it on big wheels and lock the shock and forks out (spacers or whatever in both).

But yes, as standard they're likely to be reasonably 'frisky'.
But then they also handle much better.

I suspect a Derbi Senda will be too high - see my message on facebook.

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

I'd say a KE100, TS100ERZ or DT80MX would be the ideal bikes here, but all are old and hard to find in good nick quickly.

The Derbi/Reiju and moto hispana 50cc trail bikes look quite decent chassis wise, but I question if a peaky 7-8bhp 50cc engine is going to be usable or easy for a beginner to enjoy off roading with.

If there was something like a DR125 or XR125 locally I'd consider that over the 50cc bikes and see if you can lower it enough to be usable?

I'm not so sure how good for general off roading a Van Van or TW125 would be? They are also trendy/funky 125's and id expect them to be a bit pricey because of this?

Fladdem · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2011 Karma :

What about a TW 125? My mate had one and it went everywhere his old DTR125 went. It seemed pokey enough, he reckoned it was easier than his dt is to ride, he got it dynoed at about 25hp, and almost all of it comes in at about 7500RPM. It's reliable, blah blah blah, low seat and fairly cheap I think?

Only downside I think would be getting tyres and it doesn't look offroady. But it can do most gentle lanes, and we even wentdown some pretty tough ones. I'm even led to believe he took it to the BMX track one night, but I'm not sure how true that is.
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.

STONEY! · Brolly Dolly Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Karma :

Tw......25bhp...... Laughing

Fladdem · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Jun 2011 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

By the sound of it, most of the 125 dirt styled bikes will be too tall.
With the exception of the 'sand' style bikes, maybe, as they tend to be pretty low (don't tend to need big ground clearance for sand).

_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Not THAT tiny really - I'd say it's more a confidence thing along with a bit of forward planning and big boots.

This is Ady Smith who runs the KTM schools. Not sure how small he is, but you'll note he's a chunk shorter than everyone there:
https://www.enduronews.com/logos/Britis7.jpg

He rides full height dirt bikes all day.
It was noticeable that he had to be half off the bike to get a foot down and made sure he had his foot down on the up hill side when on a slope etc.

1cyl · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Karma :

Lots of good suggestions, my Penny Coin

would be: as a purveyor of pit bikes, i would say dont rule out a road goer. If you can find a good example of the slightly larger off road focused road registered ones, it should do her fine. As well as the low seat, clearance isnt bad and an 85kg wet weight (Full MOT) will make it easy for her to pick up after a spill. They gobble green lanes with ease as they are derived from proper off road bikes, if a big rut approaches a sharp tug on the bars soon solves the smaller wheel issue. Ive even found them pretty capable in a fair amount of mud (it was like spreading butter on toast). As you might be aware the little 4strokes are solid if looked after, and the bikes are so newbie freindly, + just swap sprockets and maybe wheels and a 125/140 will scrape 55/60 on the Tarmac, and have easy knee down potential. Not to mention SM pits are almost as cool as Proper SM's

A SH equiverlant of something like this https://bit.ly/1ahLD04
And you may recall this thread of wisdom. https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=281617&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
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