Shorties with Enduros or Crossers

[711]

Are there any shorter riders here who've got an enduro or off road bike? I've always liked the look of them, and the idea of easy city riding handling, but I've never really considered them because of high seat height. I come in at a towering 5 feet 7 inches

I've found some resources on lowering your usual candidates like sports and muscle bikes, but not so much the supermotos, etc. Perhaps therein lies my answer

Any other vertiginously challenged riders who've got one, or am I going to have to live with riding cruisers for the rest of my life?!

[bimsb6]

i'm not very tall but have a tt600 yamaha ,starting can be a problem as kicker only but i seem to manage ok

[711]

How do you cope at traffic lights and other stops though?

[bimsb6]

i slide off to one side or rest left foot on kerb .

[711]

Thanks for the feedback, that gives me a bit more confidence to start looking at some of these machines. I'd heard about the sliding off the side idea, but I've so far not managed to find anyone who'd used it.

All I have to do now is persuade a dealer to let me have a test ride when I can barely see over the top of the seat

I was thinking about a Honda FMX, but was also wondering if is was better to start with something like a DT125. That might be a bit gutless compared to what I'm used to, but it should be easy to get used to and flickable around town which is what I'm after really...

[telecat]

Tried a Scorpa Long-ride????? Trials Bike with road kit, seat and big tank. Available as a 4T 125/175 Low seat height and being a Trials bike much more flickable than a Trail bike. They use a Yamaha engine from the TT-R 125

>> Edited by telecat on Tuesday 21st March 00:00

[711]

To be honest, I'd not heard of that bike I've just had a look at their website, and they look like they might well do the job actually.

[mel]

KTM do short arse seats if that helps.

[711]

Like they say, every little helps

[telecat]

Trials Bike's do tend to be "undercover". First reaction to the competition bikes is "Where's the seat??".

[bimsb6]

all depends what you want to use it for off road or city?

[711]

It'll be city mostly. I might take it off road from time to time, but most of it will be hacking around town.

[bimsb6]

then you don't want a trials bike ! a dtr125 is a very capable town bike and a good traily much more substantial than an honda xr125 .

[711]

Yeah, I'm struggling a bit with that - I'm not a commuter - I live smack in the middle of town and I'm looking for a bike to have a laugh on, basically buggering around in an urban setting...

[telecat]

bimsb6 said:

then you don't want a trials bike ! a dtr125 is a very capable town bike and a good traily much more substantial than an honda xr125 .

Scorpa Long ride is a much better ride than the Trail bikes. The seat is usable and for messing around is much less compromised.

[bimsb6]

telecat said:

bimsb6 said: then you don't want a trials bike ! a dtr125 is a very capable town bike and a good traily much more substantial than an honda xr125 . Scorpa Long ride is a much better ride than the Trail bikes. The seat is usable and for messing around is much less compromised.

but still not a town bike !

[711]

I reckon I've come up with the best way forward on this one - buy both!!

Or almost both, think I'll get a secondhand DT125 for any actual transport duties, and a similarly cheap trail-style thing for larking about. God knows, I might even get into doing trails properly which is something I'd never really considered before

There might even be a bit left over for an ZXR 750, although Mrs. 711 might get seriously if one those turns up

So I've gone from 1 bike to 3 bikes in a single bound I'd better keep buying those lottery tickets!

Thanks for the help folks, it's much appreciated. I'd never even heard of Scorpa before and that kind of stuff would never have entered my thought process

>> Edited by 711 on Tuesday 28th March 22:37

[huckster6]

OOOOOOOOh what a whopper.
I'd love an enduro but I seem to be a short fat man with giant's hands and a huge head. Bike stuff is all like condom sizes. Nobody's small.
I can't even climb on most enduros. Only real men can ride these things. They do remind me of Henry VIII's codpieces. Wrap yer arms round that and cling on, misses.

Bah.

We short inside leg trouser wearers are NOT mutants, though. See this from RealClassic.co.uk:

"One For Low-Down Bums

Is the world getting taller? Have your legs shrunk in the wash? Royal Enfield have the answer… a low seat option for their Bullet Electra. The normal seat height on the 500cc single is around 32-inches and, although that's not particularly tall by modern standards, it can feel like a long way up if you've got tight trousers!

The new low seat option reduces the seat height by a huge 4-inches, which brings it down to something like the level of a Harley Sportster - and makes an Electra saddle some two inches lower than that of a standard modern Bonneville. Royal Enfield reckon this 'makes the machine far more manageable for shorter riders and can significantly increase confidence.'

A new Electra with a low seat sells for £3582 OTR. Owners who want to lower a seat on an existing machine can purchase the low seat as an aftermarket accessory for £130 including VAT. Try before you buy; do remember that a lower saddle will significantly alter your riding position so although you might find life easier when trickling around at low speed, it will also affect the angle of your hip, shoulder, elbow and knee joints while you are riding…"

[from www.realclassic.co.uk/newsfiles/news06022100.html]

[711]

huckster6 said:

I can't even climb on most enduros. Only real men can ride these things.

Perhaps we need to add that to the real man thread at the Pie and Piston I've not actually been down to the dealer to try and get on the DT yet. I'm planning on going in the middle of the week so that any abject failure to climb onboard the damn thing will at least not be witnessed by an entire bike shop full of lanky bar stewards

Depending on how much embarressment I suffer the Yam dealer, I might have to give up on these bikes and enjoy the lightweight trend in sports bikes. At least being a relative shorty means there is not a lot of mass for the bike to have to launch forward

Thanks for the links, top stuff.