Bikes for short riders?

Princey

Princey

Princey

Soldato
Joined
26 Apr 2003
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Location
West Midlands
I've very much been a car guy because I've always felt I'm too short for a motorbike, I'm 5'5 with a 30" inside leg barefoot. However I really would like to give a bike a go.

So what 125cc bike can you guys recommend that isn't comically slow (considering I'm used to 400+BHP cars) with a low enough seat height that won't cause me problems? I guess I'm pretty much restricted to cruisers maybe?

I don't want to spend more than £3000 really.
 
Pretty much all 125cc 4-strokes are going to be limited to 11bhp, because that's the legal limit for leaners iirc.

I've got short legs, and a YBF125 I remember being more comfy height-wise than my CBF125. They'll both do 60ish as well, depends on what you mean by comically slow.
 
All 125s will be slow. Do your full test and get an ER6, they fit shorter riders nicely.

My mate at work is about your height and he can get his feet flat on the floor on the ER6 however it was comical watching him swing a leg over a GS1200 :D
 
I'm 5'4" with a 27" inside leg. I currently ride a 2006 Speed Triple. I can only get one foot down at any one time, but you get used to it :)

Most Japanese bikes I have no problem on, can generally get a toe down on both sides. Your muscles will adapt over time :)
 
Princey - my height has played a big part in deterring me from going anywhere near bikes but I decided to take a 2 hour pre-CBT course since I've never ridden a bike. That happened just last week and I'm in my late 30's.

I spent 2 hours at Dunsfold aerodrome zipping about on a 125 and it was marvellous fun. I'm 5' 6" and 3/4 (every bit counts LOL!) and both feet easily touched the ground. A further confidence booster was sitting on a 600 before I left and although not quite the same as sitting on the 125 I felt OK on it. It hadn't been lowered.

Further to all that - my brilliant instructor - Audra, is a mere 5' 2" tall and rides 400 and 600 CC bikes.

Edit - the 600 was a street bike - not a Harley type cruiser. They are really low!! I sat on a Harley in a show room a few weeks back.
 
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Domo said:
Further to all that - my brilliant instructor - Audra, is a mere 5' 2" tall and rides 400 and 600 CC bikes.
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Which instruction school was that? I've got a feeling that I met Audra the other week at the NW200.
 
The centre is called Ridesure and they're based at Dunsfold aerodrome, which is where they film Top Gear (although we're not allowed on the Top Gear track!).
 
Can't help with 125s as I had a Varadero, which is probably the only bike not suitable to short riders, but my 5'6" girlfriend has no problems on my SV650S.
 
does it have to be new?
A fast 125 would have to be a two stroke, you can pick up a rs125 for peanuts and have fun chucking it into the corners without worrying. plus they are quite small
 
eidolon said:
That's the one.
http://www.ridesuretraining.com/

Audra and Trevor were in the same guesthouse as us at the NW200 the other week.
Small world!
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Small world indeed - I see you're in Bristol!
Yeah I met Trevor too plus some of the other guys there who instruct. All nice people. I'm going back there in a week to continue my course. I'm going for DAS ultimately but I need to learn to walk before I can run. I'll mention our chat - I'm sure they'll be stoked :)
 
If I were you I would do your DAS and get yourself a bigger bike something like an sv650 my mate who is 5'3 has one and can reach the ground just. You can get a decent one for around £2000 and your test and lessons will cost around £500 which leave the rest to get kit

And pretty much any modernish bike can get a lowering kit which lowers them by 2-4cm doesn't sound a lot but it will make a big difference.
 
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Ish said:
If you don't want comically slow, go for your DAS.
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eidolon said:
All 125s will be slow. Do your full test and get an ER6, they fit shorter riders nicely.

My mate at work is about your height and he can get his feet flat on the floor on the ER6 however it was comical watching him swing a leg over a GS1200 :D
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As said, 125s feel terribly slow if you've driven/own a half-powerful car. If you can budget to DAS (or whatever it's called now) and go for a 'big' engine bike, you'll find it more what you're hoping for I suspect!

As regards size, i'm 5'8 with about a 30" inside leg and have been fine on: K8 SV650 Sport; BMW F800ST; K1300S. Oh and some Bandit 650 in GSXR drag as a courtesy bike.

You can also get lowered seats of course... and cuban heels :p
 
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