which sports bike for relatively short rider (5ft5)?

[TeX]

hi, just wondering if anyone has any recommendations for a sports bike for someone 5ft 5 (and a bit)?

I've tried sitting on most of the main sports 600's (CBR, R6, TT600) and find them all slightly too big, I'm on the balls of my feet when I want to be flat feet or at least almost flat feet. I know lots of people say you don't have to flat feet but personally I do for sense of security. I have a K3 SV650s (with lowered seat) which Ive had for a year and I'm still not comfortable with it's height so I think it's a case of getting a lower bike.

Been thinking of a ZXR400, I like the look of them and sat on one and found it to be tiny, seemed lower than my NSR125 was. Any other recommendations, I'm looking for a fairly recent bike (less than 10 years old)? Or is it better to go for a modern 600 and lowering the suspension?

[GearboxGeezer]

Im on tip toes on a rs 125, dont worrie about putting your feet down, if you can see over the handle bars youll be fine

[Danny]

I'm about the same height as you and had no problems with my Thundercat.

[Skunkcap Freddie]

if you have to you can master lifting your leg of from the right and bring it around the other side of the bike ,(knew a guy when i was younger he was about 12yo riding about on a 250cc moto / crosser /scrambler (so many names i don't know whats what)

used to have to do that he was only about 5ft lol, that or he needed to find a short wall or fence

[Bendy]

Tried getting thicker soled boots?

I'm about the same height as you and have no problem on any of the 600 sports - true I can't flatfoot them but that doesn't really bother me.

I did chop some foam out of my CBR seat to make it easier to paddle backwards though, maybe worth looking at what's got a thick seat. Remember seat width matters as much as height, maybe look for a twin instead of a four as they're usually narrower.

[Kickstart]

Hi

I would say not to lower the suspension of a bike unless you really have to. It will affect the handling.

Cutting some out of the seat should be fairly easy. Get someone to put a gel insert in to replace the foam and it should not be any less comfortable either.

To be honest, despite what many people say, I do not think the SV650 is a particularly low bike. For example the ZZR600 is far lower (and has a narrower seat).

Also, might be a bit cruel to say this, but I think you are going to have to learn to be comfortable on the balls of your feet unless you want an very limited choice of bikes. I am 5'8" and I do not have my feet flat on many bikes.

All the best

Keith
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[ProXimaCore]

The R6 is the easiest to get your feet on the ground from the 600s. I've got a ZX6R and I'm on the balls of my feet at 5ft 8". Don't find it a problem at all. If it was tip toes then it would be different. Balls of your feet is plenty to stand on, you'd get used to it quick.
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Honda NSR125R -> Suzuki GSXR400R GK76a -> Kawasaki ZX636 B1H -> Honda CBR400RR NC29 -> Nothing

[gixer6er]

I'm 5 8" and have a gixer 6, it fine but impossible to push the bike backwards, i have to keep getting off and pushing it!!! theres a company on ebay that will cut your seat for £25, only takes about 2" off but anything helps!

[Jack_Cheese]

Old 400s are quite puny. I saw an RVF400 last time i visited MMC, and the think looked like a rollerskate. There's a website with seat heights, that also allows bike comparisson, and i've totally forgotten the name. I'll have a google and get back to you.

Jack

EDIT: www.bikez.com
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[DynaMight]

Honda CBR400 NC29 it probably the lowest. Good bikes too.
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[johnsilva]

HERE HERE
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Current Bikes: ZX7R P5; KR1S C2; GPX250R F3
Previously: CBR400RR-R; YQ50 Aerox

[craigs23]

[Groove]

With both feet down im on tip toes on my CBR 6 (FS)

Generally only put one foot down when stopping etc, and manovering can be done whilst not on the bike
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[Annabella]

[minesweeper]

Cbr400 is superb for short arses, any 400 might be worth a look but i cant judge as im 6ft on my rvf400

Matt

[Kitten]

I'm 5'3" and my RVF 400 is perfect.
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RVF400 (NC35) My baby

[ZZR Girl]

I'm 5'4" and my ZZR600 is perfect.
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Keep it shiny!

[curryfishball]

i'm about the same height as well, on a gixer 6. usually i just have one foot on the ground and the bike very slightly tilted towards that foot, the foam on the seat has been reduced as well. the first day on it, it felt really high, but after a couple of weeks, your confidence will increase on it.

[colin1]

if you sit near the tank when u need to have your feet on the floor,they reach farther as that bit of the seat is narrower

as some have already said, just get used to using the balls of your feet

the only reason i can think of where it would be good to be able to put the flat of your foot down, is when sitting on the bike and pushing it backwards

you will just have to get off it and push it back instead

the only bike i wd advise against would be a 99 r6 as the pegs are so high its a long way to the floor, i found r6 the trickiest so im surprised so many ppl are recommending it for this problem

as mentioned, get a 400 if you dont want to learn to use the balls of your feet. only problem is that most 400's are old and knackered so you will be paying quite a lot for a good one to be able to put your feet down

you have tried bikes by sitting on them, but when you are riding them they will be fine once u get used to it. you dont even need to keep the bike vertical when u stop, u can lean it over
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[ISLAND GIRL]

I am same height as you and have no probs with the hornet 600, Kat600 here is shorter than me and rides her 600 fine. Are you sure you are that height and not a little shorter ??
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Live on the Isle of Wight and ride a CBR600F

[Zimbo]

Another vote for the ZZR, it's got the lowest seat of all the 600 class, nice and comfortable, easy to ride, and 160mph potential! As a bonus they're cheapest of the 600s to insure, very inexpensive to buy too.

[Bendy]

Its the length of your legs that matters really, not your actual height.

[yambabe]

Bendy is right.

Annabella is actually about the same height as me (maybe even slightly smaller) but can ride bikes I can't even sit on because her legs are proportionately long and slim whereas mine are short and fat!

The only way to find out which bike feels right for you is to visit as many dealers & showrooms as you can and sit on loads of them. It may surprise you what you can feel OK on.

One other tip is that generally if you can find a place that does imports from Japan (Performance in Darwen spring to mind https://www.performancemotorcycles.co.uk/ ) they are usually an inch or so shorter than the same UK spec model.
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[TeX]

cheers for all the advice

being a bloke I probably have a shorter leg then all you nice ladies besides, a hornet is not a sports bike, I did my test on a hornet and the height felt fine, it's with the sport 600s where I'm having trouble.

regarding the flat feet thing, as I said in my original post I already have an SV650s and have had it ample time to get used to it but still not totally comfortable with it. I know 95% of the time you do not need to flat foot but it is useful in some scenarios. Some examples, parking, you generally need to reverse the bike and being on the balls of your feet is a stuggle on a flat road and pretty much impossible on a uneven road. I remember once I tried a 3 point turn but the front wheel got stuck in the gutter area and I just couldn't move the thing backwards and had to get off, quite embarassing really. Also while waiting at traffic lights I like to check I'm in first, this involves swapping standing feet which means you have to tilt the bike one way then the other. When slow manouvering through traffic, if you lose your balance or have to stop suddenly and you have to tilt the bike once you've stopped and your very close to another car there's a danger of tilting into that car. Other slow manouvering places such as lowered curbs, uneven\sloped roads etc where you need to stop. There's lots of other situations but don't really want to bore you.

yes I'd really like to just go a place and try out loads of bikes, however it's hard to find places that have that many varied bikes. As I've said I've tried most of the main sports 600's (including R6). Actually I did sit on one R6 and it felt low but must have been lowered as others I've sat on I'm on tip toes. Not many places do 400's but I've tried a ZXR400 and it felt really small.

If no one recommends lowering a sports 600 I think I'll go for a 400. Much prefer the look of the ZXR400 rather than the big-eyed VFR/CBR 400's and you can get a newer ZXR400 (99) so hopefully will be still in good nick. Not tried the ZZR600, but I'm guessing this is not a true sports bike, anyway, I'll check it out if I come across one.

So from what people have said, in order, my preferenence is:

ZXR400
ZZR600
VFR/CBR 400
R6 / CBR600 (possibly lowered)

[Bendy]

Sounds to me like you just need more practice time to get used to being on tiptoes, all the situations you describe are the norm for lots of preople (including me) but you just have to learn to adapt and work around them. Use your brain so you don't have to use your legs.

- Never park pointing downhill, use gravity to get you in, power to get you out.

- Similarly, don't 3-point down the slope of the other side of the road, do a 5-point and use the camber to help you roll back to the gutter.

- Look at the camber and surface of the road before you stop and shimmy your arse to the side accordingly.

- Know that you put the bike in first before stopping so you don't have to Hendon Shuffle to check.

Yes, you'll have the occasional 'oh shit' wobbly leg stretched to max, entire strength struggling to hold the damn thing upright moments, but they should be few and far between as you learn from each one and try not to do it again (eg. I did your 3 point one, won't be trying that again).

Also, look at your clothing. If I'm in baggyish textiles and combat boots I can touch the deck much better then when I'm in tighter leathers and silly plastic race boots with thin soles and less ankle flex. If you've got lady-sized feet, look into some of the 'for women' brands of bike boots, they often have a bit more of a sole and a slight heel to them to give you a bit of extra reach (and look just the same as men's ones!).


Out of interest, have you ever actually dropped the SV cos of being short?