How easy is it to cope when you can barely touch feet down?
Discussion
I’m only 5’7” and with short legs. Only ever had 600s and although I can only get my tip-toes on the ground, it’s just enough and I’ve never had a problem.
Now want to buy a BMW S1000RR and sitting on one revealed that less of my tip-toes could touch down and I felt really nervous that I could manage.
The salesman showed me that rather than stopping upright and trying to balance with both feet, I should slightly lean the bike to one side and get one foot flat on the ground (and the other foot on the peg). This looked ok when he showed me, but I’m worried how this would work with me in reality - I’m not strong that’s for sure. What about if the ground is not perfectly level and my grounded foot goes down further than expected? Could the bike lean too much and I’m not strong enough to straighten it?
Just wondered if anyone else uses this technique? Is it a case of just getting used to it, or will I be terrified of red lights and forever be falling over?
Now want to buy a BMW S1000RR and sitting on one revealed that less of my tip-toes could touch down and I felt really nervous that I could manage.
The salesman showed me that rather than stopping upright and trying to balance with both feet, I should slightly lean the bike to one side and get one foot flat on the ground (and the other foot on the peg). This looked ok when he showed me, but I’m worried how this would work with me in reality - I’m not strong that’s for sure. What about if the ground is not perfectly level and my grounded foot goes down further than expected? Could the bike lean too much and I’m not strong enough to straighten it?
Just wondered if anyone else uses this technique? Is it a case of just getting used to it, or will I be terrified of red lights and forever be falling over?
I’m 5’6” and the S1000RR is the shortest/best fitting bike I’ve had!! 
My previous bike was a Gen1 Aprilia Mille which are tall, bulky and top heavy by comparison but I managed fine for 8yrs...just used to have to get off to reverse.
Leg length, general strength and confidence will all factor in but I’d certainly say it’s doable and something you could get used to.
My previous bike was a Gen1 Aprilia Mille which are tall, bulky and top heavy by comparison but I managed fine for 8yrs...just used to have to get off to reverse.
Leg length, general strength and confidence will all factor in but I’d certainly say it’s doable and something you could get used to.
pasmith73 said:
The salesman showed me that rather than stopping upright and trying to balance with both feet, I should slightly lean the bike to one side and get one foot flat on the ground (and the other foot on the peg). This looked ok when he showed me, but I’m worried how this would work with me in reality - I’m not strong that’s for sure. What about if the ground is not perfectly level and my grounded foot goes down further than expected? Could the bike lean too much and I’m not strong enough to straighten it?
The technique is fine but just take care when you employ it, for example where there's a lot of camber and you can see loose stones on which your foot might slip.Does the S1000 have a low seat option - lots of Beemers do. Great choice of bike BTW. I had one and it was really very, very good.
I'm 5' 5" and I struggle on most bikes, even scooters because of their width.
But I've got by, with just a few scary moments when I've had to stop suddenly at slow speed.
If I'm riding a tall bike nowadays I just come to a stop nice and slow and just rest onto my left foot.
You can do it.
But I've got by, with just a few scary moments when I've had to stop suddenly at slow speed.
If I'm riding a tall bike nowadays I just come to a stop nice and slow and just rest onto my left foot.
You can do it.
zzrman said:
Does the S1000 have a low seat option - lots of Beemers do. Great choice of bike BTW. I had one and it was really very, very good.
BMW do do a low-seat, but it’s a version of the M-Sport seat, which is rock hard. Even hardened journalists with the M-Sport bike have swapped the seat for the standard seat. But unfortunately they don’t do a low version of the standard seat. Tiger Sport owner with 29" inside leg here. I use the technique the salesman showed you and never have a problem. You can slide off the seat a bit to keep the bike upright if you're worried it'll fall over. I've been fine for 3 years on the TS.
That said, I'm about to swap it for a Guzzi v7 and get my feet flat for the first time in about 20 years!
That said, I'm about to swap it for a Guzzi v7 and get my feet flat for the first time in about 20 years!
Pothole said:
Tiger Sport owner with 29" inside leg here. I use the technique the salesman showed you and never have a problem. You can slide off the seat a bit to keep the bike upright if you're worried it'll fall over.
Actually the salesman did do that, he slide slightly off the seat. I tried that in the showroom. It did feel stable once I had the one foot down. But it felt very awkward to then get the bike ready to pull off. But maybe that’s when you move off, and the bike will naturally straighten anyway?pasmith73 said:
Pothole said:
Tiger Sport owner with 29" inside leg here. I use the technique the salesman showed you and never have a problem. You can slide off the seat a bit to keep the bike upright if you're worried it'll fall over.
Actually the salesman did do that, he slide slightly off the seat. I tried that in the showroom. It did feel stable once I had the one foot down. But it felt very awkward to then get the bike ready to pull off. But maybe that’s when you move off, and the bike will naturally straighten anyway?anonymous said:
[redacted]
One of my bike instructors used his own bike for a day, it was a GS1250, he must have been about 5'6". To the OP, fit crash bungs/frame sliders/mushrooms, to the axles and the frame, i dropped my GSXR600 in the works car park, it's a 2004 but it's absolutely mint, no damage at all, crash bung did it's job, not one bit of the bike touched the ground, also if the worst does happen at a junction you'd be amazed at the amount of joe public and car drivers etc that will be quick to help give you a hand lifting it back up, as for being strong enough to save it falling, once it tips past a point it's gone, best just to let it go. Dont let it stop you buying your dream bike.
If it's just a question of a cm or two that would make the difference and you are light, setting the front / rear preload for your weight might make the difference.
You can also use the rear ride height adjuster and also drop the forks through the yokes a small amount. All these changes do have an impact on handling, so experiment a little at a time.
You can also use the rear ride height adjuster and also drop the forks through the yokes a small amount. All these changes do have an impact on handling, so experiment a little at a time.
pasmith73 said:
I’m only 5’7” and with short legs. Only ever had 600s and although I can only get my tip-toes on the ground, it’s just enough and I’ve never had a problem.
Now want to buy a BMW S1000RR and sitting on one revealed that less of my tip-toes could touch down and I felt really nervous that I could manage.
The salesman showed me that rather than stopping upright and trying to balance with both feet, I should slightly lean the bike to one side and get one foot flat on the ground (and the other foot on the peg). This looked ok when he showed me, but I’m worried how this would work with me in reality - I’m not strong that’s for sure. What about if the ground is not perfectly level and my grounded foot goes down further than expected? Could the bike lean too much and I’m not strong enough to straighten it?
Just wondered if anyone else uses this technique? Is it a case of just getting used to it, or will I be terrified of red lights and forever be falling over?
I was taught that technique when I took advanced riding lessons and have used it for decades. I only ever put both feet down if my right knee is feeling a bit sore from riding too long. Shouldn’t take much practice but as others have said you need to be careful with footing and camber. Less of a problem on an S1000RR as light but I used to have a K1300S and was aware that if it tipped beyond a certain angle I would be struggling to keep it upright.Now want to buy a BMW S1000RR and sitting on one revealed that less of my tip-toes could touch down and I felt really nervous that I could manage.
The salesman showed me that rather than stopping upright and trying to balance with both feet, I should slightly lean the bike to one side and get one foot flat on the ground (and the other foot on the peg). This looked ok when he showed me, but I’m worried how this would work with me in reality - I’m not strong that’s for sure. What about if the ground is not perfectly level and my grounded foot goes down further than expected? Could the bike lean too much and I’m not strong enough to straighten it?
Just wondered if anyone else uses this technique? Is it a case of just getting used to it, or will I be terrified of red lights and forever be falling over?
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