WOMEN Riders less than 5' 3" in here please

[rogue]

Originally Posted by cuttle

you are right - and confident rider can ride almost anything, but it's hard for some people to gain confidence if they don't feel safe while stopping... heck, after 20 something years I still don't feel confident to ride my hubbies KTM with 37.5 inches

Very true. When I first started riding, I didn't know shit about bikes, gear, or anything. I learned on a V-Star 650 Custom, which is a heavy bike. I could almost flat foot it...couldn't quit get my heels firmly on the ground.....but it was heavy for me, even though the weight was lower to the ground. I couldn't ride it on the interstate because I felt unsteady on it at higher speeds, especially if it was a little windy.

When I got the SV, I didn't take into consideration the differences in the seat height (although I knew it was going to be taller), I was more concerned with the weight of the bike. It was alot lighter and easier for me to manuever, but I lost being comfortable at stopping, etc. I didn't want to lower the bike at first but since it came with lowering links (previous owner was a shorty like me), we lowered her and soon after redone the seat. It gave me time to get to know her and build a little confidence. I'm hard headed and practice stopping with one foot on tip toe (sliding my butt a little off the seat so I could touch) and when I became confident with it, I raised her back to stock and shortly after got another stock seat to replace the one I had redone. She was lowered for about six months.

Later the ex and I bought a little TTR for me. It's sole purpose was to give me a smaller bike to ride and romp on to build my confidence in riding period, which it did. It seems when I started riding dirt, my skill level improved almost overnight. I still have a couple of small issues with being so short legged on the bike, but I work through those as I get to them.

I also rode my ex hubby's KX125 and although it made me nervous to ride on a track full of people, it helped me to overcome alot of my height issues with the SV because the seat height is almost a foot taller than my inseam! I rode it just fine, even with starting and stopping without help. The only help I needed is if I went down on the dirt track. I didn't care for the KX because it was a two stroke....I had never ridden one so the power delivery was a major adjustment. I probably would have done much better on a track on a four stroke.

Looking back, sometimes I kind of wish I had gotten a little smaller bike, something that wouldn't have posed such issues I had to overcome with height issues. But I'm hard headed and seem to only learn the hard way. I think my skill level would have improved at a faster rate than what it has.

[MissHell]

Originally Posted by fnfalman

Get her a Honda Nighthawk 250, or the Honda Rebel 250, or that Suzuki's equivalence of the Rebel 250. After she gets comfortable with riding and balancing a bike, then get her something taller so that she can balance on one leg. Starting out with a tallish bike is do-able, but not pleasant and the learning curve is definitely a lot shallower than starting out with a bike that gives her confidence.

Great advice!

I started on an EX250 and glad I did, it helped build my confidence to move up to a bigger bike.

[Cass]

30.5 inseam for me, without shoes. 1st gen SV 650, I had about half the foam shaved from the seat. What I didn't do was have the seat narrowed - that would have helped too.

I wear normal MC boots, so the sole isn't too thick - my foot-to-ground ratio is better when I wear something like Doc Martens, but I sacrifice the ankle protection. I have accepted the fact that I won't flat foot the vast majority of bikes in production today, and I'm OK with that.

If your wife is dead-set that she has to flat foot at all times, then it's not real likely that you'll be able to keep her on a sportbike without doing some modification. Get her into cruisers, or work on the suspension big-time. Like Zoomy said... boots will get you so far, and you shouldn't need to rely on them.

[tached1000rr]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

Latex or leather... thigh high.

hell yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! woot-woot

[tached1000rr]

Originally Posted by fnfalman

She's too proud to start on a beater cruiser?

She hates the cruisers. She has a ninja 500 now, and has put some decent miles under her belt and wants to step up (I've told her to keep it but she wants another one so)

[Smittie61984]

I hear breast size is very important when picking a bike. Dimesions and pics would help greatly. You know. For the ladies because I care and have tried to end Woman's Suffrage for years.

I know a local female rider. She's got to be around 5'3" or less. She sports a white Ducati 848.

[PiZdETS]

I can give the lady riders of short stature a hand free of charge.

I am hereby relieved of liability for damage to your bikes suspension or your dignity.

[rogue]

Damn! How tall are you?

[xx CURVE xx]

Originally Posted by PiZdETS

I can give the lady riders of short stature a hand free of charge.

I am hereby relieved of liability for damage to your bikes suspension or your dignity.

RAAARRRRR!!!

[the chi]

Originally Posted by Rogue

Damn! How tall are you?

Our Piz is the most ginormous man I have ever met in person, and the best canonballer EVAH!!!

Name throws ya off dont it?