Hi all, it's been a while since I've posted on here, just been skipping thru posts once in a while...

Anyway, I've got a friend who's 5'2'' and she rides a buell blast. She wants to get a different bike. It doesn't need to have a ton of power, that's not really a concern. But it's hard to find something with a low enough seat height. I think the buell blast is something like 26'' seat height.   What would you recommend? She was looking at the harley 1200 nightster, but what is there in the ways of a sport bike? I'm sure a GS500f would be great for her, but it's just too tall, she kinda likes the SV650.

ninja 250 + lower links
ninja 500 + lower links
gs500 + lower links

a 1200 HD would be a real imposibility should she drop it.

Quote from: ohgood on October 09, 2008, 09:21:06 AM
ninja 250 + lower links
ninja 500 + lower links
gs500 + lower links

a 1200 HD would be a real imposibility should she drop it.

Thanks, I'll look into the lowering links. How much work is it to install?

I can go along with wanting a shorter bike as a first bike - but at some point, shorties need to realize that there's no need to flatfoot both feet on the ground.  Or even touch both feet at the same time.

I'm a shorty (an inch shorter than your friend), and I've learned how much easier it is just to ride a bike and not worry about the height.  When you come to a stop, do it with your left foot flat on the ground and your right foot up on the peg.  Easy.  The bike is actually more stable with a slight lean to one side than it is when you try to balance it straight up-and-down, and it's constantly wobbling from one side to another.

I had a lowered SV650.  It screwed up the handling; the bike would scrape hard parts without using close to all of the tire.  And it really didn't help me ride it any.  I got a non-lowered SV a little later, and was just as comfy.

If you really want that extra inch, shaving the seat is a lot less invasive than lowering the bike.  Or reshaping it (the post-'00 GSs had annoying 'wings' on the front sides of the seat that push your thighs off to the side, and just trimming those off makes the reach to the ground a lot more comfortable).

Actually - I do own one bike I can flatfoot:



Sporty, but kinda slow.

I agree with it screwing up the handling, I know she's not going to be leaning it over that much, but also resale value probably isn't as good once you've lowered it and all. Maybe I'll go to a motorcycle shop with her and see how she looks sitting on the GS, if shaving the seat would help enough.  She just doesn't like her blast that much, but she can flat foot on it.

I told her she can just put one foot down, she didn't like that idea. I usually never put both feet down, I do the same, left down right up. Unless it's really windy.

She needs some dirt ridin'!   

I don't blame her for not liking the Blast.  They are really very buzzy (and I own and love my share of thumpers) and quite cheap and plasticky in construction.

Quote from: Roadstergal on October 09, 2008, 10:02:30 AM
She needs some dirt ridin'!   

I don't blame her for not liking the Blast.  They are really very buzzy (and I own and love my share of thumpers) and quite cheap and plasticky in construction.

She's ridden dirt bikes. But the blast is her first street bike.

and yeah, when that thing is idling, it sure is shakin!! It's as bad as my dads road king!

I lowered my GS500F K8 by 2 inches.  Takes 10 minutes to do.  Once she gains confidence you can remove restore it to a height nearer to stock.  I had to adjust my stand as well.

I am happy with it since it allowed me to ride the bike I want as opposed to a cruiser (that I did not want).

Thanks

Does she want sport or crusier???  I was unclear on what she actually wants so its going to make a difference.  If a sport bike, how about 650r with lowering kit, or the new suzuki gladius possibly with a lower kit as well.  That should be enough oomph to keep her entertained while allowing for a little room to not kill her.  Also a kawasaki eliminator may be the ticket in the cruiser world.  They're a 4 cylinder cruiser with a really low seat height.  I was also thinking of the boulevard s50 v twin which may be a bit buzzy, but liquid cooled, cheap, girly looking enough, and enough power to be happy on. 

Just my .02

I lowered my GS two inches in the rear and just under two in the front. The seat height is under 28 inches.

As far as picking the bike up, watch this:

http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html

...if your talking about a bike thats too heavy (HD)


And I have to disagree with some about the flat foot thing.  I really enjoy having both feet down.  More stability and control of the bike.  But this is my first bike.  I rode dirtbikes as a kid that were too tall for me and I remember how unmanagable they were. 

I would tell her to get a Gs and if its too tall, and she needs both feet down, just let most of the air out of the back tire.  And wear out the shock .  Have a fat man bounce on the bike till it drops down.  This wont hurt resale of the bike as much I dont think...

Not that it matters but I didn't have a problem putting only one foot down in Chicagoland but in Omaha/Lincoln it's a different story.  I actually had my first drop trying to maneuver it around in a parking lot in Omaha.  The whole parking lot was on a hill and I just took a bad angle.  Anyway, my point is that getting two feet down is a bit more important when you're parking on hills and what not (for me).  Just my two cents, though.

Hell my skinny ass can upright a goldwing, up through 07, never tried on an 08. its all in the technique ( i am the gs rider in my avatar with teh backpack on)

Other than cutting down the seat, the lowering is easily reversible. Pick up a used sidestand and modify it for the lowered bike. The forks definitely need to be re-sprung if lowered in the clamps. I've seen a SV650 lowered for a 4'11" rider. The resale value of a properly lowered bike can be higher than stock.

GS will not even make it to #5 on beginner bikes.
#1 and I have not changed my position on this in over 12 years. Virago 535. 87-90. The no tank in front of you version.
#2 Again several years. Savage 650.
#3 Vulcan 500.
#4 KZ 305CSR or whatever was the parallel 2 cyl cruiser I forget.
#5 400 maxim yamaha.
There is several more before we get to a GS.
Cool.
Buddha.

come on buddha, make it a top 20 list. i'm dying to know what other bikes you'd recommnd instead of a GS. i personally think the GS is a fat hog.  (of course i've only sat on a newer F model and tried to manuver it a bit round the dealership.) i'm a short person myself so this thread intrests me. 

Quote from: The Buddha on October 11, 2008, 08:13:32 PM#2 Again several years. Savage 650.

Yuz gots to be kidding.  Those bikes are highly craptastic from a riding standpoint.

OK, not as bad as the 250 Nighthawk, but still - I'm glad I started on a GS500.

Quote from: porsche4786 on October 09, 2008, 09:09:36 AM
Hi all, it's been a while since I've posted on here, just been skipping thru posts once in a while...

Anyway, I've got a friend who's 5'2'' and she rides a buell blast. She wants to get a different bike. It doesn't need to have a ton of power, that's not really a concern. But it's hard to find something with a low enough seat height. I think the buell blast is something like 26'' seat height.   What would you recommend? She was looking at the harley 1200 nightster, but what is there in the ways of a sport bike? I'm sure a GS500f would be great for her, but it's just too tall, she kinda likes the SV650.

thers no way the GS is taller than a SV..

Quote from: Roadstergal on October 13, 2008, 10:36:26 AM

Quote from: The Buddha on October 11, 2008, 08:13:32 PM#2 Again several years. Savage 650.

Yuz gots to be kidding.  Those bikes are highly craptastic from a riding standpoint.

OK, not as bad as the 250 Nighthawk, but still - I'm glad I started on a GS500.

how so? i KNOW youre not naive enough to compare teh savage to a sport type bike, but how are they craptastic, ( cept maybe for teh thumper aspect of it?. lemme know i am curious