Short Arse ... Advice Please

[monkeymechanic]

Hey All,

Just completed my direct access and in the market for my first proper bike.... but I have a slight (literally) issue..... I'm only 5ft 8, and seem to have a problem with getting my feet on the ground when I'm on any sort of sports bike.

Has anyone got any suggestions of a good bike that would suit a short arse?

I was thinking Ducati Monster, but suggestions are welcome.

Thanks All

[lawrence567]

[Rich_AR]

You aint that short!

I'm 5'7 , with 30" inside leg and ride a CBR600RR with no issues.

Honda Hornets have a nice low seat. I found GSXR's lower than my RR.

Also, the Kwak ER-6 is very low, I'm flat foot on one of those with trainers on.

Edited by Rich_AR on Tuesday 17th November 16:37

[roboxm3]

Don't discount sports bikes altogether until you've sat on a few!!
I'm a short-arse (5' 6") but managed a fair few thousand miles on my (2002) R1 with no real problems.
Admittedly I couldn't sit on in with my feet flat on the ground and occasionally had to get off to manouver the bike but you just get used to it and get on with it.
From memory the newer R6s were quite a bit taller and not helped much by having quite a firm seat, the GSXR 6s were similar to my R1 and the CBR 6s were lower still and had a nice soft seat to help further.
So in short (no pun intended...well maybe a little bit (definitely not that time)) go and have a sit on a few and see what you think.

[Baldy881]

VFR400 NC30, CBR400 NC23 Great bikes to ride and learn on, plenty quick enough and superb handling, cheap to buy and run, ideal for short arses.

Baldy

[snowboardkeith]

Yeah i'm only 5'6 and have a CBR 600F, its not too bad although I can't get both feet down flat, just go with which ever bike you like, You will get used to it.

[monkeymechanic]

I'd really pinned my hopes on an R6, but just couldnt get both feet on the floor.... I was gutted! I'd also thought about a CBR600 and a ZX6R, so maybe have a sit on both of those before I get too depressed.... not really thought about a Suzi actually, dunno why, just slipped my mind.... might have to go away and have a look.

Cheers

[mitzy]

Im 5.6 and have a FZ6 I cant get my feet down on the floor , but the like most machines today they are very well balanced I have the balls of my feet on the floor and im fine.


Ps Lawrence, is that Chilli on the roadtrip you posted ?

Edited by mitzy on Tuesday 17th November 16:45

[Dontlift]

And what exactly do you need BOTH feet on the floor for, 1 or the other will do...

[lawrence567]

mitzy said:

Im 5.6 and have a FZ6 I cant get my feet down on the floor , but the like most machines today they are very well balanced I have the balls of my feet on the floor and im fine.


Ps Lawrence, is that Chilli on the roadtrip you posted ?

Edited by mitzy on Tuesday 17th November 16:45

It was me right before i crashed into a wall

[sprinter1050]

Buy thicker soled boots.

[darkyoung1000]

I see your 5'8" (and the 5'6" mentioned) and lower you... I'm 5'4" and ride an SV650 (not a sports bike mind) and can get both feet flat on the floor if required. I did buy it from someone who was 5' tall though and had had shorter dog bones fitted to make it even lower.
Before I picked the SV, I was considering a number of Sports 400s as being short-arse friendly though, indeed this is what the seller of my bike is now riding.

Cheers,
Tom

[SurreyMustang]

I'm 5'8".
Have ridden loads of sports bikes.
Currently ride a Fireblade and a Ducati ST4 with no issues.

Try a few before you decide you're too short!!

[mywifeshusband]

I'm only 5'7" on a good day and in thick socks. I used to commute on a Super Tenere and a TDM. It's all down to confidence, technique and you only need to put one foot down when stopped.

So get whatever you like and do lots of low speed practice on an empty industrial estate at weekends. The high speed stuff is easy!

[Guy Torf Myland]

Once you sit on a few different bikes, you'll be surprised at how many you can fit on. I'm 5ft 8 and can easily fit on CBR600F & RR, Blade, Blackbird (mates' bikes that I've tried), even a BMW F800GS, though that was a bit of a stretch.
I started out on an ER6f which was easy to get both feet flat on the deck.

Go for something you feel comfortable with as a first bike though, one less thing to worry about.

[B3njamin]

I'm 5 ft 6 inches, and my new beast, the Yamaha Thundercat is fine to put my feet down.

I would comment on what its like to ride properly, but since I don't take my test for another 2 weeks, I can't I'm afraid!

[*Al*]

It's not overall height that's the issue, it's the length of the leg.Some people are short with long legs, others long bodied with short legs!Very strange the human race!

[toxgobbler]

monkeymechanic said:

Hey All,

Just completed my direct access and in the market for my first proper bike.... but I have a slight (literally) issue..... I'm only 5ft 8, and seem to have a problem with getting my feet on the ground when I'm on any sort of sports bike.

Has anyone got any suggestions of a good bike that would suit a short arse?

I was thinking Ducati Monster, but suggestions are welcome.

Thanks All

Get yourself to the NEC and sit on as many as possible until you find one that fits.

[Nee_Naw]

I'm 5' 6" with 30" inside leg, and I've ridden a BMW GS for the last 4 years.
If you want to ride it, you'll manage.

I started with a CBR6 and found very little issue with it either.

Edited by Nee_Naw on Tuesday 17th November 23:35

[Mellow Matt]

Just going to echo what everyone else has said really, you'll be fine at 5'8". I'm the same height and owned a CB500 and GSXR600 SRAD and got on fine with them. Also ridden a CBR600F, SV650, ER5, BMW R100RS, Street Triple etc etc with no problems and I'm not a particularly experienced biker. The only bikes I've really struggled with so far have been motocross bikes, and even then it's just a case of sliding your arse half off the seat and using one foot on the floor instead of two.

You'll be fine with pretty much any bike