Are you a biker with short legs?
By Bikerchiq • 4th September 2011 • 283 viewsA friend of mine recently told me she could never ride a motorbike on account of the fact she is – er – vertically challenged! I think this is an excuse. Personally I think she is just too GC (Glamour Chick) to be a serious biker. I don’t think the ‘helmet hair’, the streaky eyeliner or the damp underwear in the rain aspect appeals to her.
Seriously though, I know many short girls who ride bikes. I am not talking your little moped type bikes either. One rides a Kawasaki LTD 450 – a custom style bike with big handlebars. Another one rides a Harley. Two of my mates have had their seats lowered professionally. I understand this involves taking a standard seat and removing the cover, the foam part is then reduced and the cover replaced. Simples!
Bike height preference also depends on how much foot/sole area you like to have on the ground. Logically the more contact you have with the ground the safer you should be. I know people who are comfortable sitting at lights with only one ball of one foot on the floor and the other on the gear pedal ready to go (SV650). Personally I wouldn’t be happy with this, should the bike start to fall you will most likely go with it and your street cred – not to mention your knees, will suffer.
Also, if you are like me and prefer to manoeuvre the bike by sitting on it and walking with your feet, you would need both feet firmly on the floor to manage it.
Luckily I have no such problem with Hector (my EN500 Kawasaki) as he is very low anyway and I have long legs. I sit at the lights with both feet flat on the floor.
Does anyone have any ideas of specific bikes which are low enough for the vertically challenged? – Perhaps I could pass these on.
Thanks.
BQ x
andyclaret1 said: On September 9, 2011
Try the ER6F/N if you are vertically challenged.
figaro said: On September 10, 2011
Obviously, most custom-style bikes have low seat heights, so pretty much all of them would be suitable for a stum…..vertically challenged person. But the majority of road bikes can be altered to suit shorter riders. Lowering kits can be purchased for most popular sports, naked and touring bikes, but even dropping the forks through the yokes and backing off the rear preload can make a significant difference for zero cash.
CupCake said: On October 25, 2011
Speaking from my own personal experience… I have short legs! I’m only 5’3″ and have always found ‘bigger engined’ bikes either too wide, too high or just too heavy because I can’t get both feet flat enough on the ground to manoeuvre around safely (and without risk of an embarrassing slip up!).
My Harley is already a low model – XL883L and it’s perfect for my height, even with it being quite a heavy lump at 563lbs (compared to your EN500 at, I think, 400lbs??). The seat height of 26″ means I have both feet flat on the ground and knees bent – very comfortable for me.
I’ve also sat on a few other Harleys and they tend to be lower to the ground than many of the sports bikes around, so despite being much heavier, the centre of gravity is lower and they are relatively easy to move around at slow speeds or walking it with your feet.
The two most comfortable Harley’s I’ve found for my height (and slight build) are the 1200 Custom Sportster and the big twin Fat Boy. Even though the big twin Harleys tend to be wider, being relatively low, I can manage easily enough.
As for sports bikes, I always found in the past that a 400 would be about my limit, but could probably now manage a lowered 600 since they are much lighter these days than they used to be years ago. Have sat on a ZX6R and was on tip-toes (being 6″ higher than my Harley), so lowered I would probably just about manage, but doubt I would be as comfy as my current bike.
David Harkness said: On November 4, 2011
yep
i’ve only short legs so got myself a Honda vt600c, and it pits me just great, i love it ;o)
saggybikerz said: On November 15, 2011
I am also short and definitely not the strongest girl in the world. I am 1.64m (4 foot 6). I have a Kawasaki Ninja ZX250R that I absolutely love. I can reach the floor without to much effort and the bike is lovely and agile. I can flick it through corners so easily. I have even ridden with a pillion a couple of times, which I wouldn’t have dreamt of before.
If you are interested in riding off road I recommend the AJP enduro bike. I have one that has been lowered and it is great fun.
Derek J Brown said: On November 15, 2011
hi there bikerchic,
just read the above and i’m 5ft 11 and i suffer with short legs 29″ inside leg when i bought my bike 11 yrs ago i looked everywhere for one i could touch the ground with both feet they adviced me to buy the bike i still ride today which is the kawasaki gpz 500s it is a well know bike for those with short legs there are plenty around and at good prices to hope this helps Derek.
michael david smith said: On November 28, 2011
speaking as the partner of a woman who is 5’2″ the fun we have with trying to get the back of my zx10r his hilarious we have to find a seat or a small wall or fence for her to climb on before she jumps on. but that hasn’t stopped her having a bike of her own she’s got vfr 400 and its standard before that she had a gpz 500 with a special lowered seat. you can get lowering kits also, so the vertically challenged can still have a bike. just depending what your friends want old or new? any of the old 400′s are good for the vertically challenged gpz 500 s suzuki gs 500 or a bandit? not up on customs so i wouldn’t know. so there’s plenty out there to choose from.
saggybikerz said: On November 30, 2011
Just noticed I put my height wrong on my blog – I am 5 foot 6 roughly (not 4 foot 6 that I put on there!!!)
Carol Robson said: On January 11, 2012
Hi Seems like there are bikes for little legs but how do you get over trying to learn to ride on a bike that is much too big for you. I have riden pillion with my husband for a long time and thought it would be great if I could have my own bike. I booked lessons with my local training place and was very dissapointed. The bikes were much too big for me I could barely reach the floor on tip toe. When I told the instructor of my problem his reply was that I would get used to it!! They had women like me and they have managed ok so I should not let that worry me!!! Insulting, Humiliating, and lots of other words I could use but ill let your imagination work on that. I did managed to pass my CBT, God knows how but the whole experience dampened my enthusiasm. Maybe a different training company will have a better attitude?
I am staying pillion for the time being. At least there is a good side my husband rides a GSXR1000 so having little legs is a bonus as it would be very uncomfortable with longer legs to ride pillion.
As they say Always look on the bright side of life.
ron swallow said: On January 12, 2012
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THE HONDA SHADOW WAS IDEAL FOR THE RIDER WITH THE SHORTER TYPE OF LEG. THAT’S IF YOU LIKE THE CRUISER MACHINE. PERSONALLY I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BLACK AND CHROME BABY (KAWASAKI VN 900). IT WAS THE BEST INVESTMENT I EVER MADE WHEN I RETIRED FROM WORK. ANYWAY IT’S PAST 10PM AND I SHOULD BE IN BED BY NOW WITH MY STEAMING MUG OF OVALTINE! NIGHT NIGHT!