Scared of heights

[esullivan]

I brought my NC700 in for the 16K mile service last week and, as usual, they offered me a loaner. They asked if I wanted "something different" and suggested the Honda CRF250R, for a laugh. I looked at the seat -- or, rather, looked up at the seat -- and chickened out. I'd be afraid of toppling over at the first set of lights with even a vaguely steep camber. I went for the CBF500F, instead. Very boring bike, and this from an NC owner!

But I am starting to think about the next bike and most of them (aside from cruisers) have quite a bit higher seats than the NC's 790mm. I'm not really short -- I'm the same height (5'9") as Ewan McGregor and he rode a GS (at least 100mm higher) -- but I don't understand how people handle a bike on their tippy toes.

Am I worrying about nothing and will quickly get used to sliding my bum off the seat at stops?
____________________
Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[DiscoBiscuit]

You get used to sitting on your thigh instead of your arse.

[Irn-Bru]

You can get smaller seats and/or lower the bike quite easily.
____________________
KTM 990 SMT & Suzuki DR-Z 400 SM

[P.]

Slide a cheek off and support it with 1 foot.

[Suntan Sid]

It's not your overall height that's critical, with a taller bike, it's your inside leg measurement that counts.
With trail bikes and crossers the manufacturer will quote a seat height, however that type of bike has huge suspension travel, compared to a road bike and the suspension needs to be set up to suit you.
Whenever I've researched setting one up, the first step is to set the race sag, which is usually around 100mm, so when your arse is planted on the seat the seat height wil be 100mm less than the manufacturers quoted seat height.
So for the CRF, with you sitting on the bike, the seat height will be a couple of inches higher than your NC.
You can get lowering kits, if you're really worried about it.
____________________
"Everybody needs money, that's why they call it money!"

[-Matt-]

Like Sid said, until you have a good sit on various bikes its hard to tell - i'm only an inch taller than you if that and I can flat foot on almost every bike i've sat on because i've got quite long legs.

If you can't flat foot though its really not as bad as it might seem in principle just shuffle to the side as you go to put your foot down - you should be able to flat foot then, or at first have a good sturdy grounding with the ball of your foot, the bike won't topple until after you'd get a flat foot down if you did over-lean it a bit trying to get stable in either case

[Rogerborg]

Having had a sit on some SM/trail bikes recently, I'd plan to keep one foot on a peg and put the other one down, rather than dangling them both off and hoping for the best.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[esullivan]

I have a 29" inseam -- "short" instead of "regular" in most brands of trousers -- which is probably my main issue. Shortish arms, too. I'm leaning a bit forward on my "upright" NC.

As I get closer to buying another bike, I'll probably rent a few different models with various seat heights for a day. I suspect it would take me longer than the average test ride to get used to the higher seats. I've sat on loads of bikes at tradeshows, but the bikes are always on centre stands, so you don't get a good idea. I fit quite nicely on a GS while sat on it, but need a stepladder to get on...

I know it's probably mostly in my head. I've parked up next to a woman on a GS at the Ace and she was probably a foot shorter than I am. It must be possible.
____________________
Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[Screw Loose]

Try having a look at the Yamaha Tenre 1200 - that things practically a horse!
____________________
MBK Nitro 50cc -> CBF 125 <\s>
CBT: February 2012 - Full licence August 2013

[Jefr0]

No problem getting on at least..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRFyw57o_Ic

When I've ridden SM/Enduro I've had to slide off the seat and put one foot down with the other foot not even touching the peg on the other side! I'm about 5' 8 and short in trousers.

I've looked at getting the CRF250 when the missus passes her test on the XR125 I got.
____________________
Rides: Honda XR 125 ('03) Honda CBR 600F ('91), Ducati 916 Biposto ('95)

[Rogerborg]

[Shinigami]

reportedly the seat hight on the fz6 is 790mm, don't think i'd want anything higher than that as already feels pretty high (i'm also 5' 9")

my hornet was much lower, felt like i was sat on a booster seat when I first switched but used to it now
____________________
Current: Honda City Fly CLR125 2003 Honda CB600F Hornet 2008 Yamaha FZ6 S2 + 1991 Kawasaki GPZ500
"Once you realize what a joke everything is, being the Comedian is the only thing that makes sense.

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

I might be getting a crm and it looked pretty tall stood there in this garage. Fortunately though my bulk brought the fucker down a good few inches once I was on. Just gotta show 'em who's boss innit.

tl;dr - don't be scared of pies
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Ribenapigeon]

Did you at least have a go at sitting on the CRF?

[esullivan]

[Motorhate]

Get some inserts in your boots. You can buy them on ebay and they raise your inside leg by 3" or so. Happy days.
____________________
Current - Harley Davidson FXDB Street Bob | Harley Davidson FLTR Road Glide | Harley Davidson Road King
GONE - Honda CB500 Ratbike | Yamaha FZ750 | Yamaha XVS1100 | Kawasaki VN2000 | Kawasaki ER-6 F | Harley Davidson XL883L Sportster

[Llama-Farmer]

[Al]

[Llama-Farmer]

[Al]

Wouldn't that make me look a bit out of proportion with a small body
Sounds like an option but I think a lowering kit for the bike might be easier in the end.
____________________
Yamaha FZR400RR 3tj
My Instagram Thingy

[Motorhate]

[Llama-Farmer]

[Tamsin]

I know I'm a bit of a newbie, but I dont think you lot should be wearing high heels on bikes

[Clanger]

[smegballs]

I'm 6 foot 6, and I was surprised when I got my leg over my mates XR400. I had to tippy-toe it to stand up. Quickly learnt that if you sat down "into" the suspension you could flat foot quite easily and the bike was perfectly stable.