Good beginner bike for 5"3" ??

[Conspiracy of One]

My fiancee' is getting ready to take the MSF course and will be wanting her own ride soon.  What bikes are easily adapted to her shorter height?
Thanks,
Ray

[bizarro]

A lowered SV650 would probably work very well.

[servicerifle]

I agree, but only if she's in it for herself and is "keyed into" learning such a thing.  If she isn't super inclined, then maybe an ex500 would be a better choice.  I don't think there's any reason an SV can't be a beginner's bike, but I do think that it requires more attention and interest than the 500 does.

[Clair]

If she's open to Cruisers ... rebel, virago, vulcan 500, V-STar 650 would all work fine, tho I'd take the Vulcan 500 over the V-Star.

Baby ninja might work, can always lower them a bit.

[stinky93071]

gs500 without the plastic.. then she can drop it and not be out but a peg or two..

[bluepoof]

5'3" is a towering giant!  

I'd also go for a used midrange (250-500cc) bike without a lot of plastic.  Course, that's the same advice I'd give a 6'0" guy, so maybe this post is pretty useless.  

[Doug Just Doug]

Have you tried this source of info? http://www.ki.org/sbl/

[Green01SprintST]

That seems to be a dead site.

[jschmidt]

Suzuki GZ 250. But you can't decide solely by height. It's inseam that matters. If even the GZ is too tall, the seat can be cut down almost two inches and will retain adequate padding.

[basco]

5'3" is a towering giant!  

Go ride your pocket bike.  

[bluepoof]

Go ride your pocket bike.  

Come back here and I'll bite you in the kneecap!  

[falcofred]

Ducati Monster in the 600cc version has the lowest seat height of any sport bike I know of. It's air cooled so it's fairly light. Has upright riding position, that is neither sport bike humped over or cruiser leaned back.
I believe a low mileage used Monster 600 would be a good choice.

[Squareman357]

Buell Blast has a very low seat height too.  I think shorter than even the Monster 600.  500cc, enough power for a beginner without being scary, belt drive so no chain maintenance.  I hear they don't need valve adjustments either, so it's gas, oil, and ride.

[Stargzrgrl]

I'm 5'4.  I started out on a '74 CB360T.  You could drop that thing off a cliff (or a parking lot) and not get too upset over it.    Good way to introduce yourself to the world of motorcycling without spending too much money.

I tend to steer most newer riders to the older UJM's because they're cost effective, easily repairable, and user friendly when they're fixed up right.  

[Russellr.1]

I thought I would chime in on this one if you don't mind. My wife is short as well. Her first bike was an xr100 to ride around the farm, then she wanted to ride with me on the street. I would recommend a nice used Honda Rebel to start with. It is light enough that she could pick it up if she had to if you were not around. You can get one reasonable to see if she is going to like it. If she does't you can get you money back if it is not damaged. After a year on the Rebel, she was disliking  the lack of power so we moved her to a 500 Vulcan. Sits about the same height as the Rebel but has the power to run with the big dogs and a much nicer seat. The 500 Vulcan is a bike she can ride for years and not have to take out a second mortgage to get one. Hope that helps.

[Cpl Punishment]

Harley Sportser, Triumph Legend, or something smaller....Moto Morini??

[bluepoof]

Triumph Legend

A wonderful and gorgeous bike, but heavy and wide.  

Remember kids, it's not all about seat height when dealing with the "vertically challenged" -- it's seat *width* too!  That's a huge problem with a lot of cruisers.

[Cpl Punishment]

A wonderful and gorgeous bike, but heavy and wide.  

Remember kids, it's not all about seat height when dealing with the "vertically challenged" -- it's seat *width* too!  That's a huge problem with a lot of cruisers.

Under 5mph perhaps...

[bluepoof]

Under 5mph perhaps...

I don't follow...  

[cbsnbiker]

My fiancee' is getting ready to take the MSF course

  to your fiancee!

and will be wanting her own ride soon.  What bikes are easily adapted to her shorter height?
Thanks,
Ray

Short answer: she should sit on a bunch of bikes and see what fits her. After she completes the course, she should go shopping again then she should buy a bike (not before the course).

Now, a somewhat longer answer:

First off, does she need to adapt a bike to her height? She is not that short, as such things go. Many of my former students are significantly more petite than that. A 4' 10" former student of mine bought an unmodified Shadow VLX 600 (see below) after completing the course, and did just great.

Do you know her leg inseam length? That's a significant factor for ascertaining whether her feet will touch the ground on a particular bike. If she's leggy, many bikes will fit her. If she's long in the torso (and therefore less leggy), her choices of bike will be a bit more limited--but they're still out there.

My opinion is that it's better to choose an unmodified bike that best fits the rider, than to choose a bike that does not fit the rider then make major modifications to try to make it fit. Modifying a seat is one thing, but I eschew lowering suspensions or tire profiles (except for factory kits). It's like trying to hammer a square peg into a round hole. It causes more problems than it solves.

So, considering that she's (a) a novice, and (b) petite, she should look at smaller, lower bikes for her first bike. It's not for me to say exactly what she should choose, but I'm going to guess that bikes such as an R1150GS or ElectraGlide are probably poor choices.  

What she should consider for her first bike also depends on how well she does in the course and how high her confidence level is. If she's tentative in the course and the coaches feel that she needs a lot more work, that might be an indication that she should start with something modest, such as a Kawasaki Eliminator 125, a Suzuki GZ250, or a Kawasaki Ninja 250. OTOH, if she really kicks butt in the course, maybe a Honda Shadow VLX 600 (if she's really petite--remarkably short riders fit on it), a factory-lowered BMW F650GS, a Buell Blast, or a Ninja 500 might be in order. There are plenty of other options out there, both current and UJMs.

Ultimately, though, it should be her choice. Remember, it'll be her first bike, but it does not have to be her last bike. She can always sell or trade it in on something else when she's ready, or keep it as a backup. Better to start off on something a bit small and modest, than something big and overwhelming.

[Yankee Dog]

5' 3" is not terribly short.  Really the best thing is to mosey on down to your local motorcycle dealer and let her sit on everything.  To include the cruisers which make pretty good starter bikes.  From there head to the used market to get something similiar.  

Yankee Dog

 

[bikerfish1100]

Harley Sportser

even tho it's generally considered the "beginner bike" among those in love with The Motor Company, it's really a pretty terrible choice for a noob. it's a relatively tall seat height, high cg, heavyweight vibrator. tons of better choices- and if it must be a Motor Company product, even a Blast would be a better choice.

go have her sit on bikes, see how they feel to her. look for something in the 500cc range, +/- 150cc (650 is a pretty common offering). avoid plastic bodywork. avoid new.

[Fast Blue]

A ZZR 600 with 2" lowering links,

Also this bike is priced lower than most 600's  It's a good bang for your buck.

[FiremanBob]

My neighbor is about that height and he loves his Suzuki Boulevard C50.

[Cpl Punishment]

Ok. BMW GS 650. Just met a 5' 3" woman riding one. And she could touch the floor with both feet on my TBird.

And now we're married. Not.

[Lon]

Have you tried this source of info? http://www.ki.org/sbl/

You mean:

http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/sbl.sbl.html

The short bikers' list erroneously fails to mention the Buell Blast, because Buell is a wholly owned subsidiary of Harley-Davidson.

[Lon]

Ducati Monster in the 600cc version has the lowest seat height of any sport bike I know of. It's air cooled so it's fairly light. Has upright riding position, that is neither sport bike humped over or cruiser leaned back.
I believe a low mileage used Monster 600 would be a good choice.

I'm really not biased towards Buell here.

The XB12Scg has a 28.6" seat height compared to M620's (and 695's) 30.3" (even the base lightning XB12S is lower @ 30.1").  Also note that the Blast (*way* better for a beginner than the bigger XB12 series) is available with a *really* low 25.5" seat height (standard "tall" seat is 27.5") - not to mention an absurdly low center of gravity.

The Ninja 250R is @ 29.3", another excellent choice - but has lots of shiny plastic.

For short people who want a sporty ride, Buell is tough to beat (and you don't have to mess with the frame geometry to "fix" them).  The SBL is nuts for not listing them, but that's a fight for another day.

Now, my first bike was a Suzuki GS500, 31.5" seat height.  I'm 5'5" tall.  I tip-toed on one side, but managed.  My second bike was a Kawasaki Ninja ZX6, a 30.7-incher - which fit me a bit better (Loved that bike; not a good first-bike).  The only reason I could get away with those bikes is because I could usually catch them if they started to fall (though, not every time).

My wife is 5'8" and the GS500 is now her first bike; it was convenient that we had it.  However, she's considering selling it and getting a "second first-bike".  It's too heavy for her to get comfortable on it - despite being able to flat-foot on both sides (362lbs dry, I think).

I wouldn't recommend the typical ST.N first-bikes (GS500, EX500, SV650, usually) for a first bike for a 5'3" person unless said person is built like a truck.  I'd get something light with a low seat height.

Most important: have her go sit on a range of different bikes.  She must be comfortable on the bike - make it her decision, not yours.  Maybe she'll fall in love with a Monster 620 or an SV650... who knows?

[steve.ski]

HOnda Hawk GT. Low seat height, narrow, and no plastic down below.

You can find them in the classies for $2k and less. Great bike...

That said, if you have a bit more dough to play with go SV650.

[GooseMan]

The Bandit 400 is another good beginner bike with a low seat height. I will be picking mine up next week. I'm about 5'8", but when sitting on the bike, I have plenty of room for a few more inches of seat height.

[dinolee]

I think the bike on the left here would be perfect.

[cbsnbiker]

The Bandit 400 is another good beginner bike with a low seat height. I will be picking mine up next week. I'm about 5'8", but when sitting on the bike, I have plenty of room for a few more inches of seat height.

That's it, tease us with info about a bike not available in the U.S.  

Let us know what you think of it. Enjoy!

[GooseMan]

The Bandit? It IS (was) available in the US!   From '89 to '93! Same in Canada....

It was a bitch to find tho

[jschmidt]

That Bandit is a very pretty bike and a cool frame design. But as I remember, it was riddled with reliability problems.

[cbsnbiker]

The Bandit? It IS (was) available in the US!   From '89 to '93! Same in Canada....

It was a bitch to find tho

It was? I completely missed it.

Bummer.

[Crankitup]

My recommendation is Kawasaki's ER-6F (Ninja 650). At 30.9" it is at least 1/2 an inch lower than the SV650, and a great bike.

[ctfz1]

Ninja250 or 650.

[JTM]

I am 5'4" with a 30" inseam.

Personally I would recommend the EX500 over the GS500, the GS feels a little more top heavy (atleast for me it did). People will recommend the EX250 all day long, hey if she likes it then it is a great choice.

As far as the HD Sportsters go, you really have to sit on all of them. There are several different 883s out there and they all sit differently, some of the 1200s are low enough.

More importantly find what she likes. You are the one marrying her.

You are luck to find someone who will ride with you.

[Flat-Out]

Buell Blast has a very low seat height too.  I think shorter than even the Monster 600.  500cc, enough power for a beginner without being scary, belt drive so no chain maintenance.  I hear they don't need valve adjustments either, so it's gas, oil, and ride.

Yup really considering the Blast for my better half -- 28 inchish seat heat and low low low center of gravity  -- low maintenance, handles well, unique look.

[GooseMan]

be aware that it has THE touchiest clutch I've seen!

[bikerfish1100]

be aware that the Blast has THE touchiest on-off switch masquerading as a clutch I've ever experienced!

fixed it for ya.

[Flat-Out]

be aware that it has THE touchiest clutch I've seen!

not adjustable

[GooseMan]

yup....and I have my test at the DMV next week....and we gotta use the Buell!   It's a small, parking lot test, with tight turns etc....which, the Buell is great for, but I know I'm gonna be stalling all over the place. Especially with these tight situations, where you gotta slip the clutch alot.

[Flat-Out]

not adjustable at all???  Or is it the clutch itself?

[bluepoof]

I'm not sure what it says about me that I rented a Buell Blast for 2 weeks once while visiting my parents in Wisconsin and I never had any trouble with the clutch.  



Only time I've ever flatfoot anything in my life!  

[GooseMan]

bluepoof--your website is very informative...especially the fitness section for motorcyclists! I've been wondering what excercises would be good for riding, so you hit the nail on the head! Good stuff!    

[colt45]

Assuming she's 20+ years old, look at a Honda Ascot, either of them, but especially the VT500.  Also a GS500, EX500, EX250, VTR250 (if you can find one), 250 Nighthawk.  I almost forgot!  Any Triumph Bonneville, especially the cheaper ones with the smaller 790cc engine.  The new Speedmaster has a 28.3" seat height.

Buy used.  She'll drop it, we all did, and you don't want a new one that's $$$$ to fix.  Plus, if she takes to it, she'll want something faster pretty soon.  

I love Ducatis and you'll not find a more controlable engine, not better handling bike, but be prepared for a bit more maintenance cost for the valve train.  It's not a lot more expensive, but it is some.  Other than the valve train, they are utterly conventional.  

[bluepoof]

bluepoof--your website is very informative...especially the fitness section for motorcyclists! I've been wondering what excercises would be good for riding, so you hit the nail on the head! Good stuff!    

Aww, thanks! I didn't see your comment til just now.

The only problem with the fitness stuff is that it's addictive, and soon you wind up having normal conversations about things like supersets, V02 Max,  hypertrophy vs hyperplasia, DOMS...  But it does make riding a whole lot easier.  

[GooseMan]

Hehhee...I hear ya. And you used to have a Bandit 400 too, right? I like your taste in bikes!  

[rselin]

How many of you people recommending Buell Blasts have actually ridden one?  I have, and the only positives are the low seat height and the color-impregnated plastic.  They are extremely overpriced for what you get and underperform in all other areas compared to any other bike in the 500 cc class, and even some in the 250 cc class.  Based on my experience with the Blast, if the motorcycle market goes in the toilet Buell can switch to making farm machinery and will excel at it.

I started off on a Ninja 500 and can recommend that as far superior to a Buell Blast.  I could flat foot it at 5'5" so it might be suitable for a 5'3" person.

[BHW]

Don't forget resale value. Never buy new for a beginner, no matter how much they whine. You can pick up used Blasts for next to nothing...I see them on a regular basis for $2500 or less.

[Cpl Punishment]

Don't forget resale value. Never buy new for a beginner, no matter how much they whine. You can pick up used Blasts for next to nothing...I see them on a regular basis for $2500 or less.

Is that based upon a Buell working/ not working?

[Playinthestreet]

Is that based upon a Buell working/ not working?

Define "working"

[Cpl Punishment]

Define "working"

Doing that cycle thang. Like, going down the road, stopping and starting. For more than 300 yards.

[bikerfish1100]

Doing that cycle thang. Like, going down the road, stopping and starting. For more than 300 yards.

with or without shedding of parts? and how many chances does it get to do the 300 yd thang?

[birdrunner]

I generally like the Buell bikes, but I have NEVER heard anyone recommend buying one.  A Ninja 250 is a better bike.

My ex, at 5'3" could handle the 500 Ninja.

[Corbeau]

 -- it's seat *width* too!  That's a huge problem (...)

I'm a gentleman and learned never to comment on a lady's "seat width"...  

[SteveJones]

I think the Ninja 250 is the bargain of the century.  My 5'2" wife bought one new to learn on, and it works fine for her.  Problem is I like it too.  Funner than naked women's soccer.

[bikerfish1100]

I think the Ninja 250 is the bargain of the century.  My 5'2" wife bought one new to learn on, and it works fine for her.  Problem is I like it too.  Funner than naked women's soccer.

c'mon now. the miniNinja is a fun bike, but it's not nearly THAT fun! Even my Duc 900SS was only an also ran against that kind of competition.

[JTM]

I think the Ninja 250 is the bargain of the century.  My 5'2" wife bought one new to learn on, and it works fine for her.  Problem is I like it too.  Funner than naked women's soccer.

LIES, lies I tell, althought they are quite fun

[Kootenanny]

How many of you people recommending Buell Blasts have actually ridden one?  I have, and the only positives are the low seat height and the color-impregnated plastic.  They are extremely overpriced for what you get and underperform in all other areas compared to any other bike in the 500 cc class, and even some in the 250 cc class.  Based on my experience with the Blast, if the motorcycle market goes in the toilet Buell can switch to making farm machinery and will excel at it.

I started off on a Ninja 500 and can recommend that as far superior to a Buell Blast.  I could flat foot it at 5'5" so it might be suitable for a 5'3" person.

I've ridden a Blast, and I somewhat agree with you about it--I'd also recommend a Ninja 500 over a Blast.  However, please, don't tar all Buells with the same brush--the XBs are great bikes, hard to believe they share any DNA with the Blast...

I've also ridden a Sportster 883 Low, and it's another bike that's hard to believe has any relationship at all with my Firebolt.  That was one of the poorest handling bikes I've ever ridden, and the giant paddles they use for clutch and brake levers make it hard enough for me, an experienced rider--an inexperienced woman (with likely even smaller hands than mine) might find it very difficult to ride.  Which is ironic, because I believe that's exactly the demographic they're aiming that bike at...

As for the whole height thing, my advice is to learn to ride unmodified regular bikes rather than limiting your options to "short" bikes, or modifying the suspension on anything else.  I know that flatfooting is important to beginners, but it's a crutch they should soon discard.  Like Bluepoof, I can flatfoot the Blast, but precious else (I'm 5'4", 28" inseam).  I've never owned a bike I could flatfoot...and doubt I ever will...

[hawkeyejohn14]

My son is the same height and the Ninja 250R, roughly 30 hp, 6 speed, watercooled twin. It needs a little help with the suspension to be ridden hard, but a great beginner bike.