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2003 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Brenda, Meanwhile, I got busy and checked out one the links I have listed on my site. It's the Short Biker site and if you click on the SBL FAQ link at the bottom, you'll enter a section that lists potential bikes for shorter riders as well as a listing of riders by their height and the bike that works for them! Totally awesome! Also, there are many motorcycle shows during the winter. Go to the MotorcycleEvents.com site, click on their Events Calendar, type in your state, and see if any are near you. This way you can see a wider range of bike models and talk directly with people who can address your questions. – Mama Monday, January 20 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Beckie, Thursday, January 30 For Brenda who is considering a particular bike but may need to lower it to fit her height: Instead of lowering your bike, you might be able to change your seat. I changed my seat and it bought me down 1" which is better change lowering and a lot cheaper. I ordered a Corbin seat -- you can call them and give them your specs, they will advise you accordingly. – Angela Kosar (note from Mama: we've heard from many readers that a Corbin seat CAN make a difference. That it is a lot less expensive to do is a great point!) Tuesday, February 4 For Brenda who is looking for a bike and is height-challenged: I own a '97 Honda Shadow VLX and am only 5'2". It is perfect for me as it has a low seat height. You might consider this as an option. – Nancy (note from Mama: thanks for sharing your own personal choice in bikes that works for you!) Wednesday, March 5 Dear VTwin Mama, All the smaller riders out there: don't forget to look for older used bikes! My little Kawi is just a great bike for riding around town or on short trips. It doesn't have the "OMG" power of newer sport bikes but still is quick enough to fill your helmet with smiles. It's low enough that most riders can "flat-foot" at almost any stop. At less than 400lbs. it's not too heavy and can be a confidence-builder to a newbie or re-entry (that would be me) rider. And, take the MSF course. They are great! Thanks for a great newsletter! Till the snow in Northeast IN melts, the bike will be in hibernation and I'll be waiting for riding weather. Keep the shiny side up! – Beck Dear Beck, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Karen, At the same time, go to the MotorcycleEvents.com site and see if there is a motorcycle show near you soon. This would give you the opportunity to look at all current bike models under one roof. If there are none available, then you need to start visiting the main motorcycle dealers in your area. Either way, sit on lots of bikes. That's right -- just sit on them! You're looking to educated yourself on comfort (feet flat on the ground, arms easily reaching controls, feet comfortably reaching foot controls, tilting the bike a little off center to feel the weight, etc.) Keep a notebook handy to jot down your thoughts (the many models/mfgs. all get jumbled up quickly). Many women start on 250cc bikes and then quickly graduate to 600-1200cc and higher within a year, so don't rule out checking into every range right off the bat. Discuss with the dealer or representative on options to lower a bike you might like or change out the handlebar for closer reach. These things are best discussed early on. Some women have reported being treated with less enthusiasm by salespeople at showrooms, so insist on a sales person who will listen to your needs and explore your options. I always recommend that shorter people visit the Short Bikers site -- they've got a page (FAQs link) that lists bikes that shorter riders like for various heights, etc. This would be a good source so you would have an idea before visiting a show or showroom. Now, armed with all that information, start looking at the classifieds in your local newspaper for used bikes (you might want to get a smaller, less powerful bike to start with and learn on, so why pay top dollar for something that might only work through your initial learning curve!). Why am I not specifically recommending one bike over another?!? Too many bikes, so many choices, and you'll be the best judge soon enough! Also, check the links at the bottom of the VTwin Mama home page for links to many women's riding groups and join one or two. The support you'll receive from other women riders will be tremendous and offer you a life-long support group as you work your way into becoming a rider. If you have a passion for reading, then you should check my Books/Magazine page for women's riding magazines and books that are recommended reading for any level rider. Good luck in your hunt and we look forward to hearing from you as you make your way into the world of riding! – Mama Tuesday, March 18 For Karen, who is looking for a bike to learn on: I like the Honda VT250R (Spada) because it is light, low & unfaired. It is also very responsive with excellent braking. Mine was very reliable, except that it would often not start if it was sitting in the shed for too long. When visiting the shops, you should go with a girlfriend. No guys - because the sales people will often talk to the guys and won't be showing you bikes that would suit you. Only take the guy along at the very end if you want to check out mechanical bits. I had this problem. The guys would choose a bike that they wanted to own themselves and often it was too high or too heavy for what I needed. – Judith Symonds, Lower Hutt, New Zealand (note from Mama: we've heard before on this site that salespeople often turn to the man in a buying situation, so I agree with your advice on women going on the shopping trip to begin with to keep the focus on what the woman wants and so that answers are directed for her alone. Thanks!) Friday, March 28 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Nichole, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Jude, If that bike you found is used, then talk to the local Harley dealer about the cost to put a lowering kit on it, and how much lower it will bring the bike. That might just do it for you. Same question if it's a new bike you're thinking of getting. Some of Harley's models have lower seats right off the bat, but are more powerful and expensive bikes. Would this be an option for you? And do you have to buy a Harley? There are lots of great "metric" bikes out that fit shorter riders nicely. Check my Cool Links page for websites that cater to the short rider and learn what bikes they like the most. Also, check for a motorcycle show in your area so that you can see a lot of models all at once -- Motorcycleevents.com has a good listing. Good luck in your hunt! – Mama Share Your ThoughtsTop Tuesday, May 13 For Jude who is height challenged and is trying to stay away from "tippy toes": I put a Corbin Close Gunfighter seat on my Harley Sport and it brought me 2” down and 2” forward. Call them and see if they can help. The seat costs about $300 -- much less than lowering. I have heard when lowering the bike it makes it stiffer. – Angela Kosar (note from Mama: thanks for this alternative solution that worked for you! Corbin be reached by calling 1-800-538-7035 or going to their website at www.corbin.com.) Share Your ThoughtsTop Monday, May 19 For Jude who is height challenged and is trying to stay away from "tippy toes": I agree with the lowering kit...or try to find one that's already been lowered. I'm 5'8 with a 30 inch inseam, and found even the Hugger top heavy. . . just didn't feel comfortable on it. Sat on a Yamaha 650 Classic that was awful sweet. . . sure felt comfortable and well balanced. – No Name (note from Mama: so many solutions!) Share Your ThoughtsTop Dear VTwin Mama, P.S. Is there much of a difference between a Honda VLX 600 and a Honda Shadow Spirit? I ask because I felt more comfortable on a Spirit but think I should start out on a smaller cc bike like the VLX. Thank you again VTwin Mama. – D. Dear D., At your height, the 600 VLX should not be too big a bike for you to handle, or the Spirit for that matter. Here's the big clue: when you sit on either of these bikes, are your feet flat on the ground? This is an ABSOLUTE requirement for good riding. If you can't bring that bike to a stop with your feel firmly planted on terra firma, you'll never have full control of that bike. If it starts leaning on you a bit (for what ever reason, like the ground is slightly slanted where you stop or park, etc.), you need to have your foot solid on the ground to handle it. Also, how does the weight of the bike feel to you? Check your arm and leg positions -- too stretched out or too cramped? Either is no good. As to the transition from a 250cc to ANY higher cc bike -- don't let the extra power fool you. ALL bikes have plenty of power to get you into trouble really quickly if you're not paying attention! That's not meant to scare you, but merely to point out that learning about the power of a bike is a matter of practice in a safe environment where there are little or no distractions. When you take that course, pay special attention to the learning sequence that is used to make you familiar with riding. Then, when you get that bigger bike, learn to ride it EXACTLY the same way and you should be fine! – Mama Share Your ThoughtsTop Wednesday, May 28 For D. who is wondering if jumping from a 250cc to a 600cc bike is too much: This is in response to D., who was wondering if the Shadow VLX would be a good bike to start out on. I started on a Shadow VLX and had no trouble whatsoever. Many people buy this as a first bike because it's easy to handle, easy to control, low to the ground, and you won't outgrow it soon like you would a 250cc bike. She also asked about the Shadow Spirit. Someone asked the same question in one of the Shadow forums that I read about the difference between the Shadow VLX and the Shadow Spirit. Many people responded that there is not much difference between the two, despite the Spirit having a 750cc engine and the VLX having a 600cc engine, there is only a 4-6 horsepower difference between them. If she feels more comfortable on the Spirit, she should be able to handle the small increase in power with no problem. I have to say, one nice thing about Hondas is that they are very smooth - the clutch is easy, the brakes don't grab, everything is very easy to control. I had an old Suzuki 450 that had the clutch of death - you know, let it out and there's nothing, nothing, then all of a sudden, EVERYTHING and you were flying off at warp speed. My Shadow is just the opposite, just let the clutch out, bike starts moving smoothly, even if you pop the clutch, the engine just stalls, it doesn't buck like a bronco when it happens and throw you off balance. I think even just for that fact it is a perfect bike for a beginner. – Robyn Cubakovic (note from Mama: I'm sold! Thanks for the specific comparisons and benefit of your knowledge!) That’s just what I did, I took the class on a 250 and moved up to my Honda VLX 600. It was great, take is slow and practice what you learn in class over again on the 600 just like you started with the 250. Good luck – Angie (note from Mama: affirmation is always good!) Share Your ThoughtsTop Friday, May 30 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Chibi99, That said, there is site that may provide you with more clues. It's the Short Bikers (!) site. If you look at the FAQs, you'll find charts and opinions from other "petites" who have found solutions. Other than that, I would visit dealer showrooms, start sitting on bikes and inquire about lowering kits that will get your feet flat on the ground. – Mama Share Your ThoughtsTop Dear VTwin Mama, I recently took the MSF class and am now trying to decide which motorcycle will be best for me. I have a 1971 Yamaha R5 350, but feel that the height (I'm 5' 2") and maintenance/repair work required on this bike will cause more frustration than joy. I'm leaning toward buying a Virago 250 or Rebel 250, but the bike shops have suggested nothing smaller than a 650. I've checked out the 650's available with a low seat and I'm concerned about the weight of them, as I am still working on my skills. But, I would like to have the option of traveling on the highway. Do you think that a 250 is adequate for highway use, or should I go ahead and learn on a heavier bike? – Pam Dear Pam, There's nothing wrong with learning on or riding a 250cc bike -- but for longer road trips, you don't want to be stuck listening to that bike whine at 55 or 65mph (or higher). They simply don't have the necessary cc power to make for a comfortable ride. At these higher speeds, you need power to cruise comfortably, without maxing out the bike power. Maybe that's why the bike shop suggested a minimum 650cc -- that's my vote! Still, many women choose a used 250cc bike to get some time under their belt, and yes, you can take it on the highway for short distances without blowing out your eardrums. Then, when they've got some time under their belt (usually one year or 5,000 miles, which ever drives you nuts first!), they sell the smaller bike and are in position to gauge more accurately what bigger bike is going to meet their needs. As to maintenance, well . . . all bikes need regular maintenance, and on occasion, repair. No exceptions to the rule. The trick here is to get the "big book" repair manual for whatever bike you choose. Then read it. At least you will have a nodding knowledge of terminology and possible solutions to problems. Duct tape is your best friend. So are new spark plugs! – Mama Share Your ThoughtsTop Thursday, June 12 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Neko, First things first. It would be extremely wise for you to check into the availability of a certified motorcycle safety riding course since it's clear you've never ridden before. Check out this page on the Motorcycle Madness site (another women's riding site) -- Camille has listings for many countries as well as the 50 states of the U.S. If you are in the U.S., then you can also check out the Motorcycle Safety Foundation classes. If you can ride a bicycle (and balance well), then you are in position to learn to ride a motorcycle. They'll start you off on a smaller 250cc bike in these courses. Or, if you're really adventurous, check for a used 250cc bike in your local paper and learn on your own! It helps if you have a friend that rides who can show you the ropes. Then, and only then, are you in position to gauge what more powerful bike might ultimately meet your riding needs (see the letter right above). Have fun learning and let us know how it's going! We're behind you 100%! – Mama Share Your ThoughtsTop Dear VTwin Mama, It’s important for beginners to
understand they might well be able to better handle a Suzuki SVS650,
Kawasaki Ninja 500, or Harley Sportster they can only touch the balls of
their feet, than they can handle a 700 pound Fatboy,
even if the seat is lowered to 24”.
Plus, when a beginner understands that he or she isn’t as limited
as he or she though, suddenly a greater world of motorcycling is opened,
and it’s a MUCH more inviting world.
I feel I can safely speak for short
people everywhere (I’m 5’1”) when I say that we learned to adapt
years and years before we were even old enough for a learner’s permit.
As hurdles go, this one ain’t …… Dear Jerry, I continue to stand by my advice that being "flatfooted" for maximum control of a bike is the most advantageous of all possibilities, but now acknowledge that a rider can learn to have control of a bike whether they are flat on the ground with their feet or not. There are a number of variables, including overall bike weight, bike width at the seat area, handlebar reach, foot control reach etc. that can make a bike less manageable overall -- and that these variables may prove to be more important than the flat foot variable (and the ever-present seat height part of the equation). I appreciate you bringing this to my attention -- it was an excellent 2 cents worth! And given in the true spirit of this site -- which is an open discussion forum that invites all opinions in the effort to help each other achieve our best riding practices. Let's just say that I was "blinded" by my height -- which is 5' 10", a condition which didn't allow me to advocate the best possible overall view of the issue. Yahoo -- I learned something! – Mama Share Your ThoughtsTop Excuse me, but is Jerry who rides a Sportster a guy or a girl? Yes, it does make a difference. Men have more upper body strength than women. I am 5' tall, and it helps me greatly to be able to maintain the balance of the bike to be able to flat foot it...or at least close to flat footing it. If you can't maintain your own balance...how in the world can you expect to maintain the balance of a 500+ motorcycle? If Jerry is a gal....then I applaud her! I know a gal that is also 5' tall and rides a Gold wing. How she does it is a mystery to me. Just had to ask. Thanks. – Bootygrandma (note from Mama: Jerry is a man and your point is well taken.) Share Your ThoughtsTop Tuesday, June 17 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Monica, If you've never ridden before, than it would be to your advantage to take a motorcycle riding course like the one offered by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. They'll start you off on a 250cc bike to help you get your motorcycle "legs" and put you in position to further determine what you're looking for in a bike overall. If you have ridden before, then my suggestion is that you visit every dealer in your area (with notebook in hand) and begin the process of exploring makes and models. There simply is no shortcut to this step. Once you've narrowed down the field, you can use the Internet to gather more information about these particular models, opinions on them, road test reports and look for used ones if money is a concern. People are so unique in their requirements for the "perfect" bike, that it is impossible for me to name one or two that will thrill you! Good luck in the hunt! – Mama Share Your ThoughtsTop Monday, June 23 Bootygrandma’s
message said it all. She
has a friend who’s five feet tall, female,
and rides the Granddaddy Honda, the Wing. If
that doesn’t verify everything I originally said, en toto,
I don’t know what does. Top Monday, June 30 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Nichelle, If you have experience, then head to every local dealer in your area and begin gathering information. If you like the look of a bike, but the handlebars/foot controls, seat, etc. don't "fit" just right -- talk to the salesperson about modifications that could be made. Bike choice consists of many variables: what kind of riding do you want to do (local, day trips, longer trips), how much money you have (new versus exploring used bikes for sale), experience level, style preference, etc. It's impossible for me to gauge all these considerations and recommend any particular make/model of bike. You've simply got to do the research. If you check my Cool Links page, you'll find a number of sites that offer road test reviews for a wide range of bikes. This could be an added source of information. – Mama Share Your ThoughtsTop Monday, July 21 Dear
VTwin Mama, Over the years, she has had an opportunity to ride many other bikes - HD Road King & Softail, BMW K75, K1200RS (30 1/2" seat height,) R1200C, Honda ST1100, CRB900RR, 750 Nighthawk, 700 Sabre, Yamaha Road Star (1500 cc) and VStar 1100, Kawasaki Vulcan (1500 cc,) etc. She feels that she can ride any bike that she can pick up off the side stand - its not about strength, its about balance. That said, she is more comfortable with bikes that allow her to put her feet flat on the ground when the bike is stopped. VTwin Mama is absolutely right about practice - practice is the key to confidence on a motorcycle (isn't this true about almost anything?). Kathy (my wife) has ridden the open road, expressways, Deals Gap (US Hwy 129 in NC & Tenn - 318 curves in 11 miles plus elevation changes) and downtown in major cities and I have never felt like she was holding me up. When she first started on her Bridgestone, she was like many of the people who have written about the jitters - it took months of riding in parking lots, quiet neighborhoods, and sparsely traveled back roads, before she felt comfortable to just go out and ride. Please, if you are uncomfortable about riding somewhere, don't do it! Practice in circumstances where you are comfortable and your skills will improve to the point where you are comfortable doing more. Ride safe, – John Geda Dear
John, Monday, August 4 For Michael, whose girlfriend is looking at Spirits and VStars: I ride a 2002 Honda Shadow Spirit 750 and I'm very happy with it. I'm 5' 4" and weigh about 140, so I'm not a big person. But I don't have any trouble handling it. It has a fairly low center of gravity so I can easily reach the ground. It's only the second bike I've ever ridden so I don't know anything about the Yamaha. My husband has a Honda VTX 1300 and I have no trouble at all keeping up with him on highway rides. My Spirit has enough power to suit me. Hope this helps a little bit. – Linda in Ft. Worth, TX (note from Mama: every bit of shared information helps. Thanks for sending your insights!) Friday, August 29 Dear
VTwin Mama, So we finally decided I need to take the safety course and learn to ride a bike. Now that I've made up my mind I'm so excited and it's all I talk about. He's trying to keep me in check (I can be a bit obsessive), but while he tries to keep me grounded, I'm searching for a bike. I'm currently trying to get into a safety course as a stand by (all of the fall courses are full here in MD). I am definitely going to take the safety course before I buy a bike, but in the mean time, I want to shop around and find some good possibilities for me. Do you have any advice on good starter bikes for women? I'm only 5'4" and 125 pounds. I'm athletic and pretty strong for my size, but I don't want to get too big of a bike. I already attempted to walk my boyfriend's Honda Hawk around but I was on tip toes! Also, I'd like to look at sport bikes as well as cruisers (I'm not sure what I want yet). And finally, I'd like something around a 450 or 500, I think I'll grow out of a 250 too fast. What do you think? So far I've heard great things about the Suzuki Savage 650, but I think that's too big for a starter bike, right? Thanks! – Kris Dear
Kris, What you might not have realized is that there are websites geared specifically to shorter riders -- one of them is the Short Biker site: http://www.ki.org/sbl/. Lots of direct input from women and men who are vertically challenged, with listings of bikes by height. This might prove to a useful reference point for you. As you have been riding passenger for quite some time, and are seriously looking to take a rider course, I don't see that a 650cc bike is necessarily too big to start on. While many women report that they truly enjoyed getting their beginning solo mileage done on a smaller bike (sometimes bought used for cheap), most have jumped up in size within half a year to a year. Others have hopped onto to their "dream" bike right off the bat -- but were smart enough to schedule many practice sessions in empty parking lots where they could concentrate on learning to handle the bike before adding the pressures of traffic. Either way, the key to good riding is practice, practice, practice. Trust your gut instincts on what you think you can handle, and then stick with it. – Mama Tuesday, September 2 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
M&M, Thursday, September 4 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Min, 1.
Have I ever ridden a motorcycle before? If not, then the proper place to
start on your new journey is to take a motorcycle riding/safety course --
like the one offered by the Motorcycle
Safety Foundation. Now, armed with some serious thinking about these things, start heading out to the local dealerships and sit on bikes. Talk to them about your concerns. Open up the local newspaper and see what's for sale. Take notes, then look online for reviews of bikes that strike your fancy. So many styles, so many choices, so much fun! – Mama Saturday, September 20 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Fadiva and Mary Kathleen, Here is some of my "stock" advice on figuring out what bikes to consider. First, check MotorcycleEvents to see if there is a motorcycle show coming to your area in the future. This is a great way to see all makes/models under one roof. Second, visit the local showrooms and sit on bikes! If you like a model, but it feels like you're sitting too high for your comfort level, inquire whether the bike can be lowered -- lowering kits are big business -- and you can request this modification as part of your purchase price. Check your arm and leg positions to the controls as well -- you don't want to be reaching for the controls, so again, if you like a make/model style, there are a gazillion aftermarket options on handlebars and relocating foot controls if necessary. Smaller riders sometimes have smaller hands, so pay attention to whether you can "pull in" the clutch lever and front brake lever with ease and address this too. As to the engine "oomph," you'll need to determine what kind of power you are looking for. Many woman start off on smaller 250-400cc bikes for the first year to get the necessary practice time in on something that isn't going to overwhelm them. It's helpful to understand ultimately what kind of riding you want to do -- day trips in the area, longer cruisers or major road trips. Have this in mind when you talk with the salesperson. The fact is that some higher power bikes actually sit lower and handle better -- as noted by many readers of the VTwin Mama site. Suzuki Intruders, Honda Shadows and VLXs, and Yamaha VStars are examples. In the Harley Davidson arena, be aware that the Sportsters, which are most often marketed to new woman riders, are reported to sit high, be top heavy and harder to handle. A great site for shorter riders, which contains a lot of useful information, including bike recommendations, etc. is the Short Biker site. If your pocketbook is better equipped to handle the lower prices for a used bike, these are great steps to take so that you can more easily evaluate how a used bike will meet your needs. – Mama Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Shorty, Then, use State 8's site (New Vehicles) to find spec pages on all Hondas, Yamahas and Kawasaki models, including seat height and other pertinent bits of stuff. Also useful, hit my lowering kit page as a beginning indicator if there is a lowering kit solution for a bike you're interested in. Now, armed with some beginning facts, visit the showrooms and start taking to the sales people! As many shorter riders who have visited this site have told me, "Where there is a will, there is a way!" It's just not written in stone, but a little bit of digging will get you to your goal (as price, power, type of riding, etc. are part of the decision making process on what kind of bike is going to meet your overall needs). – Mama Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Tabitha, Of all the Harley models, the Low Rider, Night Train and Springer Softail have the lowest seat height on the factory model (25.2", but that's assuming a 180 lb load (person)). Have a lowering kit installed will probably shave off 1.5 to 2" and put on a different seat (I'm thinking a Corbin) and maybe lose another 1 to 2" -- but is that going to be enough for you? Measure the seat height of that Yami you modified and compare. As you noted, the width of the bike at your butt is of concern, that's why although the Heritage Softail Classic and Fat Boy are relatively low seats (25.5 and 25.4 inches respectively), these models are fatter. A narrower custom seat would help. Still, at 4' 9" -- you are definitely sweating every fraction of an inch in height and width. If you think there's a chance, check for a motorcycle show in your area by logging on to MotorcycleEvent -- or visit a showroom with your new found info and start yakking at someone remotely qualified -- get the service manager involved in this conversation for sure! Choppers?! Are you nuts?! Ok, maybe you are, but usually choppers are rigid frames (think, ah, no shocks in the rear to absorb the bumps in the road, ouch) and are hugely pricey (hey, maybe you're rich and this is not a concern, and if you can afford a custom chopper, you can afford to have them make it to your every exacting specification -- that's the point!). I wanna be the first to see a picture if you go this route! – Mama Tuesday, October 28 I’m 4’11’’ and ¾” just a bit taller than you….not often I can say thatJ Yes, there are motorcycles that you will be able to ride. However, most will require some adjustments. I’ve had a Honda Nighthawk 250—the seat height was a bit too high but because it was light weight I was able to ride it without any significant adjustment—just be sure the rear shock is set to the lowest point. I also had a Honda VLX 600. Loved this bike in terms of seat height (just 25 inches) but wide handlebars and reach were a bit much. I bought a Lazy Rider bag that helped to push me forward in the seat so I could reach the handlebars with a little more ease. Later I changed the risers to 4” pullback risers which helped me to reach the handlebars with a bit more ease. On long rides I still had a lot of shoulder pain from the stretching required to reach the handlebar. A friend kept telling me to try a Harley Hugger. I wasn’t interested in a larger bike or a Harley per se. But, I did a test ride and found that the Hugger, although the seat height was slightly higher, seemed to fit me much better. I purchased my Hugger in late July. It’s a bit heavier than any of the bikes I previously owned and has required a few amenities. Here’s what I’ve added---an AMF power clutch (the Harley clutch was so hard that after 50 miles or so I felt as if I wouldn’t be able to shift another time before I got home), a LePera Silhouette seat (this is a low profile seat that moves the rider position forward) and a White Bros. lowering kit (lowers the rear shock position by 1”, you can also lower both the front and rear with Progressive Shocks). The Hugger has been eliminated from the ’04 Harley lineup but you might want to check out an older model. The Harley low rider is another option but it is a big bike for a beginner and is still wide for us shorties. If you want to ride you’ll find a bike that’s comfortable for you but it may take some time and patience. The Suzuki Savage is another very low, narrow and light option that you might want to consider. Good luck! – Pat (note from Mama: shorties unite! And ride!) Tuesday, October 28 For Tabitha who thinks maybe a chopper will fit her 4'9" frame: Many of the current batch of choppers are built on Softail frames which, although they LOOK like rigid (or hardtail) frames, have the suspension cleverly hidden in front of the swingarm. :-) – Dave Williams, Laura's husband (note from Mama: oh dreary me . . . I was kinda knocking the chopper without thinking and researching it farther -- thanks for catching my snafu.) Monday, November 3 For Tabitha who thinks maybe a chopper will fit her 4'9" frame: Unless you just have your heart set on Milwaukee Iron, consider another possibility. I sat on a Suzuki 1500 LC the other day and it was easier to stand up than my 750 Shadow. This is because the fuel tank is actually under the seat rather than in the apparent tank which houses other stuff. Having the fuel down under the seat really lowers the center of mass and will really help you at stops. The stock seat height is a bit high for you at 27.5" or so, but a custom seat and the low CG might be just the ticket to put you on a big road burner comfortably. – Gary in Tuscaloosa (note from Mama: more input is good, but that seat height is a lot to overcome.) Monday, November 3 It's not just seat height that determines whether or not you can touch the ground. The width of the bike and seat are other factors that must be taken into consideration. Anyway...there's one other change I made on my bike that may be useful to other riders of small stature. I replaced the standard clutch and brake levers with a set of Custom Chrome Ergonomic levers. The curvature of the levers make it easier to grab them (I can reach around them with more than just the tips of my fingers) and reduce the amount of effort needed to pull in the clutch and brake. There's less stress on my hands and I can ride longer. As Martha Stewart would say, "it's a good thing!" – Pat (note from Mama: thanks for your added comments on this!) Tuesday, November 4 I am also on the short size 4 ft 9 in tall. I started with the Honda 600 VLX SHADOW, my husband took the side covers off, this helped me reach the ground. Now I ride a 750 Magna, with the side covers off (we made leather side covers), the seat cut down and installed a lowering kit. Actually the Magna fits me better than the Shadow due to the pegs not being forward pegs (which is on most cruisers now days), this helps a lot. If I hadn't found the Magna, I was looking at an Intruder, they are a narrow bike. From one shorty to another "Don't give up!" Your ride is out there, just keeping sitting on all bikes! Look at the shocks to see how much they can be lowered, check out the pegs if they are forward pegs or not, most seats can be cut down, and ask about lowering kits. GOOD LUCK! – Shorty on a 750 Magna in Indiana (note from Mama: again, direct advice from one who is "there" is the best!) |
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