First Bike For her??

[cultureslayer]

My wife is about the same size and loves her 250. Asked her yesterday if she was ready to move up to a larger bike, and she said nope.

I love mine, but my brother that's 6' 2 or 3" can hit his knees with the handlebars while his feet are on the pegs.  It is quite funny to watch.

[UHOH]

sounds like VeeStrom candidate, but you gotta get over the looks.

[lionlady]

Ok,  not your typical girl.  My darling has ridden dirt bikes off road, but it's been lots of years ago.  When I say she's not your typical girl, she's really not.  First off, she has a 34" inseam, and she's about 6' tall, and strong as a bull.  She's a State Trooper and has a reputation of taking no shit from people who want to give it to her just because she's a girl.  

With that inseam, I definitely recommend a dual-sport type bike like the Wee Strom. (I don't have the overall height, but I do have the same inseam length - riding pillion can REALLY suck). As the others have said, let her sit and try the fit of whatever she can throw a leg over at your nearest motorcycle show.

AND keep an eye out for a used KLR, etc. as another "learner bike" option. Can't say enough for NOT having to shed tears when inevitable newbie drop happens. My "first" bike was a "serviceable" Suzuki GS250. My first "my" bike was the BMW f650CS - tough to find.

My Rockster has a 33.5" seat height, but its a bit too topheavy for a newb, even one "strong as a bull" (does wifey know you said that?   ).
P

[CosmicCowboy]

I love mine, but my brother that's 6' 2 or 3" can hit his knees with the handlebars while his feet are on the pegs.  It is quite funny to watch.

That's my problem when I ride it. Trap my hand when I try and do a full lock u turn.

[cultureslayer]

That's my problem when I ride it. Trap my hand when I try and do a full lock u turn.

Yup, that's what happened to him.  He wanted one because they are so cheap but it just didn't fit him.  To be fair, we both have abnormally long appendages for our heights.  Being 5'5" it means I can ride sportbikes without lowering but for him it's a problem.  He had to special order his bicycle, the largest Specialized made (of course no one stocks them).

[Papa Lazarou]

Monster.

No, I mean it.

All the pretty girls ride a Ducati Monster.

[Leanintree]

Monster.

No, I mean it.

All the pretty girls ride a Ducati Monster.

But Monsters are for the 4ft-nothing crowd, and a darn good fit. Put a 6' gal on a Monster, and you might as well tie her ankles behind her ears for all the lack of legroom there is.

But you're right, Hotties on Monsters really works... rawr...
LT

[Magnarider]

Throw in another vote for a SV650N or Wee Strom.  A dual sport or supermoto would also work well, and can be a blasty to ride on the street!

[shawn and gwyn]

with her inseam.. any of the 650 dualsports including the wee and the versys.  most dual sports can be had for less than 3k for a nice one.  and it will feel familure from her dirt ridding experiance.  the other thing you might think of is just about any of the early to mid 80s UJMs.. also cheap and reliable.. and wont feel bad about dropping it. at least not to much.  and wont have any problem keeping up with the concours.. for normal cruzing

shawn

[jsanford]

But Monsters are for the 4ft-nothing crowd, and a darn good fit. Put a 6' gal on a Monster, and you might as well tie her ankles behind her ears for all the lack of legroom there is.

But you're right, Hotties on Monsters really works... rawr...
LT

I'm 5'10" and am just fine on my Monster, thank you very much. I use their Touring seat.

Anyway, I suggest that she consider an F800ST, if the dirt riding is fairly recent and she aces the MSF BRC. With the Corbin, I'm on my toes on that bike when I back it into the garage.

[McHack]

I need to start a thread like this...

My S/O is only 4'11', & weighs around 105 lbs...   She's not fragile,  in fact,  she does fitness competitions.   She IS, however, tentative & somewhat timid to this idea.   We've already got her first bike,  a Zook GV250,  that's not the hard part.    That hard part is,  what can she proverbially "grow into"....  

[KLRchickie]

I'm 5'10" and am just fine on my Monster, thank you very much.

I'm almost 5'8" & my Monster fits me to a 'T' - like any other bike, it depends on your proportions.  I know a guy who's 6' tall who fits a Monster great, ZED at 6'2" gets a cramp if he tries to ride mine.

My S/O is only 4'11', & weighs around 105 lbs...   She's not fragile,  in fact,  she does fitness competitions.   She IS, however, tentative & somewhat timid to this idea.   We've already got her first bike,  a Zook GV250,  that's not the hard part.    That hard part is,  what can she proverbially "grow into"....  

A lot of shorter riders will tell you that with some experience, being able to flat-foot a bike is not nearly as important.  However, she needs to spend the time it takes to feel *comfortable* on the little bike before she choses to "move up".  Like everybody else, of every size & gender:  sit on every bike you (she) can wangle - see what fits & "pushes ones buttons" & go from there.

[AHD43]

How about a Tiger !!!

[Marcster]

I need to start a thread like this...

My S/O is only 4'11', & weighs around 105 lbs...   She's not fragile,  in fact,  she does fitness competitions.   She IS, however, tentative & somewhat timid to this idea.   We've already got her first bike,  a Zook GV250,  that's not the hard part.    That hard part is,  what can she proverbially "grow into"....  

Here is your thread: Bikes For The Vertically Challenged
http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,42876.0.html

[Zerosum]

I need to start a thread like this...

My S/O is only 4'11', & weighs around 105 lbs...   She's not fragile,  in fact,  she does fitness competitions.   She IS, however, tentative & somewhat timid to this idea.   We've already got her first bike,  a Zook GV250,  that's not the hard part.    That hard part is,  what can she proverbially "grow into"....  

Granted they're 20+ years old at this point, but the Honda Hawk GT is a great bike for short people - it's very low to the ground.  At 6'-0", I'm really too tall for it, but it's so much fun to ride that I kinda force it.  

It's a cult bike that people tend to take good care of, so they're not THAT hard to find.  I see a nice one pop up on Craigslist every few months.  The engines are quite long-lived as well.  30K is nothing on a well-stored, well-maintained machine.

[jeepinbanditrider]

Another vote for the SV650 naked.  When I was still married that's what we got my now ex-wife.  She loves it still has it.  I tried to get her to give it to me I liked it so much    that was a no go she wanted money for it.

[McHack]

I have an SV650S,  & there's no way an SV works w/o major surgery....  to the bike, OR her.  LOL....  

4'11" is pretty short!

[jeepinbanditrider]

I have an SV650S,  & there's no way an SV works w/o major surgery....  to the bike, OR her.  LOL....  

4'11" is pretty short!

The N is a naked bike with different Ergos than the S model SVs.  I'm about her size and I fit on the N just fine.

[GoGreen]

I don't think that you can begin to make any decision until she has a chance to shop around and sit on a lot of bikes to have an idea of how they will fit. A V-Strom or a Versys are maybe places to start. I love my 650r Ninja but as I am 5'6" I am not sure if it or a similar bike would work for her. Maybe, my legs are really long and I am comfortable on it. Everyone is built different, so get her out shopping!

[Marcster]

I don't think that you can begin to make any decision until she has a chance to shop around and sit on a lot of bikes to have an idea of how they will fit. A V-Strom or a Versys are maybe places to start. I love my 650r Ninja but as I am 5'6" I am not sure if it or a similar bike would work for her. Maybe, my legs are really long and I am comfortable on it. Everyone is built different, so get her out shopping!

I'm 6' tall with a 32" inseam and the 650r Ninjas I've sat on have been quite comfortable.