Can a short girl like me ride motorcycles?

[seruzawa]

Originally Posted by bchan

It's just I've been told that I'm too small for it is all.

Stop listening to other people. Non-riders know nothing. A lot of riders know next to nothing. Look, don't listen. Go out and spend a day sitting on every bike you can. Ignore the salesmen (they are all liars) and decide for yourself.

[Kenneth_Moore]

Originally Posted by longride

Funny, Ken here at MO has been told he is too small many times also!

Will you please keep our personal lives off the website?

[seruzawa]

Originally Posted by Kenneth_Moore

Will you please keep our personal lives off the website?

You mean I can't tell that story about longride, a dill pickle and a donkey?

[sachiwilson]

Originally Posted by seruzawa

Stop listening to other people. Non-riders know nothing. A lot of riders know next to nothing. Look, don't listen. Go out and spend a day sitting on every bike you can. Ignore the salesmen (they are all liars) and decide for yourself.

For that matter, most riders don't know a damned thing about fitting a bike for a small rider. It's not just seat height; weight and length also matter. A lighter bike is much easier to control if you are short, because it won't be as hard to keep upright at a stop. As for the length of the bike, you need to be able to reach the handlebars and controls when they are fully turned. A lot of new riders (encouraged by idiot salespeople) get a bike that has a low seat height but is too long for them to control. Don't be fooled; get a bike that is small all around.

Take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course if you are in the United States. You'll get a chance to learn on a small 125 or 250 cc bike, and get an idea how they fit and handle for you. Those instructors may also give you some insights on what may work for you as your first bike.

[Kenneth_Moore]

Originally Posted by seruzawa

You mean I can't tell that story about longride, a dill pickle and a donkey?

No, what you and LR do is between you guys. Not my beeswax...

[seruzawa]

Originally Posted by Kenneth_Moore

No, what you and LR do is between you guys. Not my beeswax...

I'm surprised you didn't read about it in the papers..... we did in Utah.

[seruzawa]

Originally Posted by sachiwilson

For that matter, most riders don't know a damned thing about fitting a bike for a small rider. It's not just seat height; weight and length also matter.

I know what you are saying exactly because of trying to get bikes for my wife. But she has some experience now and can get a good idea by sitting on them and knows what to expect. I go with her and fend off salesmen. A nooby has a really tough time. But a short person can't go wrong by picking up an old CB125 or something like that and spending some time getting familiar with it. After a year on the CB125 (in L.A.) my wife learned enough to keep from getting bamboozled by the salesyakkers.

[Riza]

I am a little taller 5'1' and I tried a few bikes.
What I discovered for myself is that a point of gravity of the bike makes BIG difference.

If heavy bike has low point of gravity it is much easier to manage than light bike with high point of gravity. Remember, even light motorcycle is heavy if you are not a bodybuilder with a strong torso

[MOKE1K]

Originally Posted by Riza

I am a little taller 5'1' and I tried a few bikes.
What I discovered for myself is that a point of gravity of the bike makes BIG difference.

If heavy bike has low point of gravity it is much easier to manage than light bike with high point of gravity. Remember, even light motorcycle is heavy if you are not a bodybuilder with a strong torso

Example: Dani Pedrosa 5'2 140 pds.

[sarnali2]

Originally Posted by seruzawa

I'm surprised you didn't read about it in the papers..... we did in Utah.

Strange how fundementalists are always drawn to this sort of thing.....

Here in Seattle what a felleh does with a donkey, a jar of pickles and a few gallons of KY in the privacy of his own home is no ones business but his and his vetrinarians...