Small Girl, Fast Bikes....Impossible Dream?

Giselle

Ladies and gents of the motorbikes forum, your help is needed!

I'm a city dweller, living mostly in a very busy Euro capital and usually I drive a 3L 4x4 for fairly long regular commutes (about 4 hours) at weekends.

Its not much use in the city, but not much is. Its pretty much gridlock for 12 hours a day. Think M50 at 5.30 on a Friday, and you've got the picture.

I love bikes. I've thought about getting bike lessons before and its becoming more and more tempting the more I think about it. I don't want a scooter, I want something that I can use in the city conveniently and take on the longer commutes if the feeling takes me.

Now, the big question is this..I'm small, only 5ft (actually a bit less ) and very light, and I'm not sure how this would translate into biking. What I'm worried about is:

a) Would it be possible/comfortable for me to learn to ride using the sort of standard bikes available in schools?

and:

b) Am I likely to be able to find a bike that fits my needs and is practical for someone my size?

Thanks for all your help in advance

Notch000

Yes &
Yes

cantdecide

I don't know how much of the learner's thread would apply to you outside Ireland. Depending on where you are, it's more than likely that there would be some kind of mandatory training. Have a look and see of you can find out your local rules but training is your friend whether mandatory or not.

The bike isn't necessarily a problem for you. The biggest question is what kinds of bike you like. Any particular bikes out there you care to mention? Some styles of bike tend to be lower than others. You can get lowering kits and lowered seats for a lot of bikes. Have a look here to figure out how you are likely to fair with a sample of bikes you like...

dMaN24

I know people having their bikes customised to fit their.. Uh.. vertical challenge.

So yes. Go! You will love it.

Giselle

cantdecide wrote: »

I don't know how much of the learner's thread would apply to you outside Ireland. Depending on where you are, it's more than likely that there would be some kind of mandatory training. Have a look and see of you can find out your local rules but training is your friend whether mandatory or not.

The bike isn't necessarily a problem for you. The biggest question is what kinds of bike you like. Any particular bikes out there you care to mention? Some styles of bike tend to be lower than others. You can get lowering kits and lowered seats for a lot of bikes. Have a look here to figure out how you are likely to fair with a sample of bikes you like...

Training is mandatory, but I have a recommendation for a reputable school with a great pass record. I'll probably take some advanced training after the mandatory, to gain confidence.

Thanks for that link.

bradknowell

you can lower almost any bike so ya be grand. Anyways once you get used to going around on the bike you wont mind leaning over on one leg at the lights. I know plenty of short arses going around on high enough bikes. Go for it.

daenerysstormborn3

Giselle wrote: »

What I'm worried about is:

a) Would it be possible/comfortable for me to learn to ride using the sort of standard bikes available in schools?

and:

b) Am I likely to be able to find a bike that fits my needs and is practical for someone my size?

Thanks for all your help in advance

Yes.

Yes. Almost all bikes can be lowered and you may even find a bike comfortable at your height that won't need to be lowered. The best thing you can do is try out the bikes at the school and see what style you like best and then go sit on a few bikes at a dealership for height ideas.

Good luck.

Giselle

bradknowell wrote: »

I know plenty of short arses going around on high enough bikes. Go for it.

I'm a fairly extreme shortarse to be fair

pixiebean22 wrote: »

Yes. Almost all bikes can be lowered and you may even find a bike comfortable at your height that won't need to be lowered. The best thing you can do is try out the bikes at the school and see what style you like best and then go sit on a few bikes at a dealership for height ideas.

Good luck.

Thanks pixie, I'm quite excited now

P.C.

Giselle wrote: »

b) Am I likely to be able to find a bike that fits my needs and is practical for someone my size?

Thanks for all your help in advance

I know a lot of folk on here do not like BMW bikes, BUT...

I would recomend a BMW F 800 ST.

Loads of advantages
- Lowered seat
- Easy to fill with fuel for a short person
- Panniers available
- belt drive, so no chain maintenance

daenerysstormborn3

Giselle wrote: »

I'm a fairly extreme shortarse to be fair




Thanks pixie, I'm quite excited now

You should be. Nothing beats driving a bike. And you won't be alone either, loads of women drive bikes.

In relation to gear, you'll probably find that you'll end up buying mens gear because ladies gear tends to be aimed towards passengers, i.e. not on a bike everyday which seems to equate with needing less protection for a lot of companies. I find Richa ladies gear ten times better than Alpinestars ladies gear for example, which is funny considering how expensive Alpinestars is in comparison. I know you're not in Ireland but if you've any questions and want answers from a ladies point of view feel free to PM and at the very least I might be able to point you in the right direction.

Giselle

pixiebean22 wrote: »

In relation to gear, you'll probably find that you'll end up buying mens gear because ladies gear tends to be aimed towards passengers

I don't know if thats going to be possible. At under 5ft and 91lbs its not very likely there'll be mens gear available to fit me.

I'll do some research on brands available at home and see if they cater to the more petite biker.

daenerysstormborn3

Giselle wrote: »

I don't know if thats going to be possible. At under 5ft and 91lbs its not very likely there'll be mens gear available to fit me.

I'll do some research on brands available at home and see if they cater to the more petite biker.

Ah no, there's small fellas too :P I've just found the selection of ladies gear absolutely rubbish as regards protection. I have one Richa ladies leather jacket which is a brilliant ladies fit, I'd definitely recommend checking them out. They've good looking gear (not cerise pink hallelujah!) and most jackets include all the usual protection, shoulder, elbow, arms and back protector as standard.

SaoriseBiker

I shouldn't answer this as yet again we have a " Hi, I'm thinking of taking up biking " type of thread which belongs in the highlighted sticky right at the top - Learner/Newbie Sticky **All Learner/newbie/Starter/Basic Questions Go here!!****.

anyway, if your on the short side, a low down bike like a 250cc cruiser is a good starter, you can easily plant your feet on the ground when you need to. There good looking bikes also, like a 250cc Yamaha Drag Star or 250 Honda Rebel -

Drag Star


Rebel

Cuddlesworth

A four foot something PA in my old place loved her ninja 250.

Wossack

if anything sportsbikes are getting smaller year on year - reckon you'll be the optimal height in about 5 years :P

skapegoat

I'm 5ft 4" on a good day and Idont let it stop me buying some very fast bikes.
Obviously a BMW gs is out of my reach but sports bikes are light enough to get a handle on.

Some of the lower sports bikes out there that can be restricted for learned are the Honda Cbr250 and the Honda Vfr400/ rvf400
The kawasaki ninja 250 is small too if a bit expensive.

All the cruisers are low, but some mopeds are very high!

Welcome to biking! That jeep sound like hell in traffic!

Zascar

Ducati Monster 620 - very low seat height and popular with girls for many reasons. I'm not tall and got one for my first proper bike and I loved it! Still kinda miss it in ways!

MrPudding

P.C. wrote: »

I know a lot of folk on here do not like BMW bikes, BUT...

I would recomend a BMW F 800 ST.

Loads of advantages
- Lowered seat
- Easy to fill with fuel for a short person
- Panniers available
- belt drive, so no chain maintenance

My GF is taller than Giselle and she did not get on with this bike... Shame, as I like the no maintenance aspect of the belt drive and I also rate BMW very highly from a customer service perspective.

Giselle wrote: »

I don't know if thats going to be possible. At under 5ft and 91lbs its not very likely there'll be mens gear available to fit me.

I'll do some research on brands available at home and see if they cater to the more petite biker.

Check out Daytona Boots. You can get them platform style. Two of my friends (male) have them to add a couple of inches. They also happen to be rather good boots.

MrP

paddy147

A Ducati 996 is the size of an Aprillia RS250 or RGV 250.

Its a small,low narrow bike,but packs one hell of a punch with a 996cc V-Twin motor.

gipi

skapegoat wrote: »

I'm 5ft 4" on a good day and Idont let it stop me buying some very fast bikes.
Obviously a BMW gs is out of my reach but sports bikes are light enough to get a handle on.

Why do you think a gs might be out of reach? I've recently bought an F650GS (2005 model), I'm 5ft 2" at best (and far from a confident rider!). Bought lowering links which took the bike down 1 inch, bought the Daytona "platform" boots which brought me up a couple of inches, and the bike fits me perfectly!

There are 2" lowering links available for the gs Dakar model, which is taller than the regular gs.

You can't get lowering links for the newer (post-2008) 650GS models as they don't have links that can be replaced. The only option there is a factory lowered model.

rubadubduba

Giselle wrote: »

Ladies and gents of the motorbikes forum, your help is needed!

I'm a city dweller, living mostly in a very busy Euro capital and usually I drive a 3L 4x4 for fairly long regular commutes (about 4 hours) at weekends.

Its not much use in the city, but not much is. Its pretty much gridlock for 12 hours a day. Think M50 at 5.30 on a Friday, and you've got the picture.

I love bikes. I've thought about getting bike lessons before and its becoming more and more tempting the more I think about it. I don't want a scooter, I want something that I can use in the city conveniently and take on the longer commutes if the feeling takes me.

Now, the big question is this..I'm small, only 5ft (actually a bit less ) and very light, and I'm not sure how this would translate into biking. What I'm worried about is:

a) Would it be possible/comfortable for me to learn to ride using the sort of standard bikes available in schools?

and:

b) Am I likely to be able to find a bike that fits my needs and is practical for someone my size?

Thanks for all your help in advance

start off on a small bike like a cg 125 or a cb 250 on till you build up your confidence while your doing your training and then when your doing your test see can you get yourself a cb500 http://ye103910.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/honda-cb500.jpg
all these bikes are great learners and very good for commuting on.
just ride yourself in to it, there is no hurry the big bike will come.

ride safe.

cantdecide

rubadubduba wrote: »

start off on a small bike like a cg 125 or a cb 250 on till you build up your confidence while your doing your training and then when your doing your test see can you get yourself a cb500 http://ye103910.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/honda-cb500.jpg
all these bikes are great learners and very good for commuting on.
just ride yourself in to it, there is no hurry the big bike will come.

ride safe.

I'm not sure using bikes as stepping stones is necessary. Okay, I'm a big guy but riding bikes is 99% technique. The way the legislation is these days, there's no real need to cut-your-teeth on a bike you'll soon outgrow. I started on a Bandit 600 and outgrew that in months. My mate started on a CBF250 and now, less than two years on has a Bandit 1200 and a Blade and he now concedes knowing what he does now, he wouldn't have bothered with the CBF.

galwaytt

After 10 yrs off the road, my SO, also small, I got her an SV650S. Previously, she had, and loved a BMW F650ST. Fitted with lowered seat, the F was great, and it's a good bike.
As for the SV, I bought a lowering kit on the 'net for $89, and it took 20 minutes to fit, and its perfect. Sits about the height of my RGV250....

Bought her a ladies cut jacket in Galway for €140, so ladies gear is out there...and shouldn't cost a fortune.....+1 on boots with a slight heel, too.

Go for it; you'll be glad you did.

Pipz

I'm fairly short, and had to have my bike lowered, but it's a fairly simple process, that takes less than half an hour to do. On most bikes you can also lower the forks and the suspension, as well as the lowering links, and depending on the bike the seat as well. So that's no problem. And I bought an extra small guys bike jacket that fits well, but bought a pair of Nitro ladies trousers that are pretty much perfect, with a good amount of padding and protection.

cantdecide

I'd also suggest having gear tailored. I lost some weight and had to have my Richa Highlander taken in. The guy was a leather specialist and it fits me like a glove now and it didn't cost too much money.

skapegoat

gipi wrote: »

skapegoat wrote: »

I'm 5ft 4" on a good day and Idont let it stop me buying some very fast bikes.
Obviously a BMW gs is out of my reach but sports bikes are light enough to get a handle on.

Why do you think a gs might be out of reach? I've recently bought an F650GS (2005 model), I'm 5ft 2" at best (and far from a confident rider!). Bought lowering links which took the bike down 1 inch, bought the Daytona "platform" boots which brought me up a couple of inches, and the bike fits me perfectly!

There are 2" lowering links available for the gs Dakar model, which is taller than the regular gs.

You can't get lowering links for the newer (post-2008) 650GS models as they don't have links that can be replaced. The only option there is a factory lowered model.

I meant a 1200cc gs 650s are em... Underpowered.

I sat on a factory lowered one and still thought no effing way could I live with this!

Did you put links on a pre lowered one?

The way I look at it is it the gs was just on the road then it wouldn't be too bad but I would want to bring something like that off road there is no chance of keeping a giant heavy bike upright then!

I think my 15 year old Dominator is a better solution!

Plus I wouldn't be seen dead in bono boots...

gipi

No, my gs hadn't been pre-lowered, it was the standard height (30.5 inches) before I lowered it. In standard bike boots I was on tiptoe on one foot before I changed it - couldn't even get tiptoes of both feet down!

Bono boots, ha ha, love it!!

Giselle

skapegoat wrote: »

I'm 5ft 4" on a good day and Idont let it stop me buying some very fast bikes.

This is what I really like hearing, I love most fast machines .

Thanks everybody for the replies, I've been on the phone and have my first lesson organised.

I've also been drooling over bike porn, but I'll be putting off any decisions until I get some experience and confidence.

I don't think I could ever wear those 'Bono' boots though

Thanks again all

skapegoat

gipi wrote: »

No, my gs hadn't been pre-lowered, it was the standard height (30.5 inches) before I lowered it. In standard bike boots I was on tiptoe on one foot before I changed it - couldn't even get tiptoes of both feet down!

Bono boots, ha ha, love it!!

I had an aprilia Pegaso before.... Same as the gs really and all was good height wise but reversing and turning at the same time was a hop off an push it situation!

Apart from that it was fine if a little top heavy.

The gs 1200 is stupid high though... I would need to be stretched!

I refuse to wear bono boots, the japs arent the tallest nation so I wonder how they get sales of taller bikes over there?

CJhaughey

Height hasn't much to do with ability when you ride a bike.
Remember the late Gaston Rahier one of the best Paris-Dakar riders ever he was only 5'4 but rode full factory BMW and Suzuki DR rally bikes better than lots of other bigger riders.
His feet weren't anywhere near the ground seated.