Bikes for midgets

[jonnychez]

I finally got to sit on a few Bikes the other day and have already come to the conclusion that being a short arse is not good if you want anything above 400cc. I sat on a XT660X and although I could touch the floor (Tippee toes) I wouldn't feel safe using it. I suppose my question is what bikes do other vertically challenged peeps ride?

BTW I'm 5'5".

[G Man]

My mate rides a Triumph street triple with a lowering kit he is 5ft 5

[Carl-H]

Most bikes can have the suspension lowered and you can also take some foam out of the seat.

Failing that theres always a YSR lol.

[Aubrey]

This is true, you need to have the bike lowered, most garages should be able to do this. I used to know a girl who had an R6 with a lowering kit. She was 4ft 11ins, so it can be done!

[lawrence567]

An 80cc pewee bike?
Lol

[Chilli]

I AM CHAD has just bought a Triumph 675, and it's pretty small. He won't let me sit on it, but he's a compact chap, and he's ok!!

[Aubrey]

I've tried one, they are very small. Great bikes and a nice engine, but definately get a gel seat and some new mirrors

[nw_sonic]

i'm 5' 6 and got a honda nc30, can get both feet on the floor

[catso]

jonnychez said:

my question is what bikes do other vertically challenged peeps ride?

HTH

[Rach81]

^^^^^
Your taller than me

Hyperpro make lowering kits, you can adjust the suspension too, scuplt the seats and lower the front forks to even everything up.
Good luck!

[surfsofa]

Pretty sure mine would be OK for someone your height. It feels very small under me now I'm used to it. CBF500

[StevRS]

We talking new bikes, used bikes, or ancient bikes?

New, the ER6-F's a good looking bike (650cc parallel twin) and supposedly goes well, used the ZZR-600's pretty small too. If you're looking ancient then the GPZ500's a small bike too...

I'm only 5-9 and sat on all the above with inches to spare, should be ok for you...

[rsv gone!]

Chilli said:

I AM CHAD has just bought a Triumph 675, and it's pretty small. He won't let me sit on it, but he's a compact chap, and he's ok!!

675 is quite tall as standard

[jonnychez]

Thanks for the ideas guys, glad should be able to get on a Triple. My mates have already suggested I buy a minimoto

I still haven't decided what bike I want yet but I have to say I am leaning towards one of the naked types, Ducati Monster looks the mutts but a bit pricy for me at the mo.

Anyways it's a bit irrelevant, I've not long passed my CBT and I don't have my Theory till Aug 6th, so until I do the DAS I'm stuck on 125 or less.

[711]

jonnychez said:

Thanks for the ideas guys, glad should be able to get on a Triple. My mates have already suggested I buy a minimoto

I still haven't decided what bike I want yet but I have to say I am leaning towards one of the naked types, Ducati Monster looks the mutts but a bit pricy for me at the mo.

Anyways it's a bit irrelevant, I've not long passed my CBT and I don't have my Theory till Aug 6th, so until I do the DAS I'm stuck on 125 or less.

Whilst being taller helps if you lose your balance or fk up, the thing that really makes a difference is skill and confidence.

I've got a very short inside leg, and I've ridden most bikes without bother. The only thing I've never tried is a big trailie.

Build up your low speed control and confidence on something manageable like a CBF500/600 and plan your ride, you'll be fine.

I spent a while messing around on an sxv supermoto that had a seat height about 6 inches taller than my inside leg. Slide off to one side, find a tall curb, or lean on a white van at the traffic lights LOL.

Just don't let it put you off

[Flat6]

I'm 5'5" too (only 29/30" inside leg) and it was a concern of mine when I was learning. My first bike was a 95 CBR600 which had quite soft suspension which helped, as it dropped quite a lot when I sat on (and I'm not a FB!). Previous owner had taken quite a bit of pre-load off the rear shock. I'm not heavy so I think it's probably also a consideration to have the preload checked in accordance with your body weight?

Once I'd built confidence I got a GSXR600K1 (which I've still got). This has a sculpted seat (you wouldn't know - it's a great job) which was fitted by the previous owner who was also a shorty. Although I'm fine riding the bike, I can't "paddle" it, so have to get off the bike to move it, which sometimes makes me feel like a bit of a novice when out with the "tall" guys!

I wouldn't go by advertised seat heights TBH. I've found a lot is to do with the width of the bike i.e. the latest smaller sportsbikes are so much narrower that they feel lower and are easier to touch the floor. Sat on the latest GSXR600 (with std seat) and it felt smaller than mine.

If you want something really small then try the new Monster 696. I looked at one earlier this week and it was the first bike I've ever sat on where I could virtually get both feet flat It really is a tiny bike, much smaller than the original Monster IMO. I'm actually quite tempted but have yet to ride one, so planning a test ride next week....

[alfa daley]

Honda Hornet was good for me. Both feet flat on the floor and I'm 5ft6

[Fire99]

I wouldn't say 5'5" is that short overall. I know atleast one girl under 5'2" who ride bikes. last bike she had was a Suzuki 600 Bandit and got on ok with it.

ZXR400's are pretty popular with those smaller in stature and my ZZR600 has a fairly low seating position.

Personally i would always try and get away with a modified seat first before going for lowering kits etc as they can upset the geometry of the bike...

[AndyDRZ]

Another tip...

It's actually the width of the seat that can make a big difference.

For example.

My mate (Probably about 5.8) finds it easier to get his feet down whilst sat on my R1 compared to when he is sat on his triumph scrambler.

The scrambler seat is actually a few inches lower down but because of the width of the seat, it pushes his legs out wide first so a lot of the leg length is wasted going wide instead of down....