what type of bike for a short (under 5 2) girl?

[trend]

I have a friend that showed up right after someone hit my bike.. She was saying she wants a bike, but can't find one that would be easy enough to ride.. her feed didn't even come close to touching the ground on my gs500....

Any ideas?

[Kasumi]

well a 125 and 250 would be perfect sizing for her but probably not enough displacement. Aprillia make new 125's and 250's, the other big names do have 125 and 250 bikes but not brand new unless your looking at a trials bike which i don't think you are.

If you can get hold of a 400, ZXR400, VFR400, (all the big brands had a 400 import) they have plenty more power, much more than the gs500 and they were prided for having such a low seat height. She could also get a lowering kit for one if it needed to be smaller.

[wildbill]

yeah honda rebel 250, sits real low and perfect for women. Now if she wants a sport bike she'll have a hard time finding a low profile bike w/o modifying it.

[trend]

yeah, she wants a sports bike.. So a lowering kit is her best bet?

[Kasumi]

Find the smallest bike that she really likes, then ask the dealer about a lowering kit. If not move up onto next favorite - blah blah. But i reckon if you could find a 400 in america she might be alright without a lowering kit. but i dunno how many they imported into america.

[wildbill]

Kawis EX250 sits pretty low IMO. I mean im 6ft but i 've been right up to it before and it seems to be a good height for women. Have her try it out, it might not be too bad. If you are lucky enough to find  a 400 then try it out first. Try a bunch of bikes out before you settle on any one.

[ASIA 1]

How about form Japan?

SUZUKI
http://www1.suzuki.co.jp/motor/sv400s/index.html
http://www1.suzuki.co.jp/motor/gsr400/index.html

HONDA
http://www.honda.co.jp/motor-lineup/hornet/
http://www.honda.co.jp/motor-lineup/vtr/

YAMAHA
http://www.yamaha-motor.jp/mc/lineup/sportsbike/xjr400r/index.html

[jackiei26]

Im 5'2 and I was able to sit 90% flat flooted on the Ninja 250.

[starwalt]

If she is ready, the Ducatti Monster 600 lowers very well. I saw one at Touring Sport in Greenville, SC that was lowered -- perfect for a vertically challenged individual. 

But if she is new to riding, a GZ250 or so -- though cruiser/classic -- would be a better choice. The sucker gets 85 mpg! The Honda Nighthawk 250 gets 99 mpg!

Functionality wins over looks when gas prices get way up there.

[jackiei26]

and of course, to take the MSF course before doing anything!

http://www.msf-usa.org/

[12thmonkey]

How about form Japan?

SUZUKI
http://www1.suzuki.co.jp/motor/sv400s/index.html
http://www1.suzuki.co.jp/motor/gsr400/index.html

HONDA
http://www.honda.co.jp/motor-lineup/hornet/
http://www.honda.co.jp/motor-lineup/vtr/

YAMAHA
http://www.yamaha-motor.jp/mc/lineup/sportsbike/xjr400r/index.html

America! C'mon! Get with the program! We need more bikes like these...

[CirclesCenter]

Why not trim the seat on the GS500? Use thinner but better gel and that should help.

I know somewhere there are lowering links for the GS.

[pandy]

I just lowered my SVS. I'm 5'4", and I can now flat-foot it with room to spare. No more dropping for me? 

[jackiei26]

I'm definitely not riding flat-footed on my bike but I've gotten use to riding it.  It's been 4 months.  I didn't lower the bike or trim the seat

[nick_villan]

hey would lowering it help it aerodamically, like cars?

[CirclesCenter]

Somewhat, but lowering is a last resort kind of thing.

Some bike tolerate it well, others it just DESTROYS handling. (Not from personal experience, I'm tall enough for most bikes.)

The only reason to lower it is if you are too short.

[jackiei26]

people told me that it changes the dynamics of the bike.  I do hv the lowering links for it but I hvn't done it

[pandy]

It's my understanding that lowering changes the geometry, that they need to make the front end match the back end. I took my bike to a professional. They set up my suspension again with me there after they lowered him. There are some things that I won't take chances with, and this is one of them. 

Lowering my SVS was definitely a last resort for me. So far, the only thing I've noticed about the SVS after lowering is that he needs slightly more input for sweepers, but that he attacks corners and twisties like never before. It definitely affects handling, so ya' need to take it easy and get to know your bike again after lowering. I call him my midget bike now. He's probably as low in the back end as my commuter GS was.

The only other thing that's different now is that the kickstand is too long now. He sits VERY upright on his sidestand, and even slight tugging to bungie something down could easily cause him to fall over (if it's not one way my bike will fall over, it's another....    ), so we're going to work on THAT problem next.

Having my feetz flat on the ground again has given me more confidence, too. It feels VERY good to have my feetz firmly planted on the ground again.





(P.S. I *swear* that lowering him gave my SVS at *least* another 10 HP, nick)...
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j/k   

[RVertigo]

You can have the seat on the GS500 cut and get a few more inches out of it...  We used to have a GS500 rider around here that was really short...  She had the seat cut and could get one foot firmly planted or get the balls of both feet down...  Which it all you really need once you get used to it.

If it's still not low enough, you can lower the bike and get another couple inches out of it.

[natedawg120]

I just lowered my SVS. I'm 5'4", and I can now flat-foot it with room to spare. No more dropping for me? 

Give it a month and let us know how the no dropping goes.....just joking 


But i think everyone is giving good advice.  I would see how far off she is from touching the ground and shaving the seat some might do it.  There have been quite a few ladies here who have done.  If that won't do it then lower the bike.  My logic is that i would start with the cheapest remedy and work up to the more expensive ones.