Bike for a short girl...

Bike for a short girl...

by Tom
(Long Island, NY, USA)

My gf and I really want to learn how to ride, she is 4'11 and every bike she has sat on, she can't reach the ground..... If anyone could help me out a suggest a road bike to look into that has a lower seat for her it would be much appreciated....or can you get a lower seat for a bike.....we are interested in road bikes......thanks!!!!

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Bike for a short girl...

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Oct 04, 2010

Size Matters Specially for Girls
by: Terrie

Bike for a short girl: I have a S40 Suzuki Boulevard , the hubby has a Honda Dual Sport Bike. Mine gets more looks, cause it pretty but more importantly its the perfect fit for me. Cause I'm short. I find out of all the bikes I have ridden this maneuvers the best. One of the girls I was riding with in July has a C50 next size up. And I don't know how many times she almost fell over because the bike was just too big.

Aug 22, 2010

Bike for Short Girl
by: Irish

I am 4' 10" and have a Yamaha V Star 650 Silverado. I had the 1 1/2" lowering kit put on it. It is a great bike for me. No problem keeping up with my husbands HD.

Aug 06, 2010

Hyosung
by: Connie

I am now coveting a 2010 Hyosung GV250. Sharpest looking little cruiser bike I've ever seen and it's getting good reviews. Look it up! I am 5'2" and have a Honda Rebel - and it's a great fit for me.

Aug 01, 2010

V Star
by: Robin C

Take a good look at the V Star line! I am 5'2", and ride a 650 Classic. Perfect fit for me. One of my girlfriends is 4'11" and also rides the 650 Classic. Love the bike, the look, the reliability and the fact that it lines up with the "big bikes" and doesn't look like a small girls ride :) It's a big enough bike for long trips, has more than enough power to keep up with my husbands 1600 Roadstar, and yet it's small enough for a beginner to start on. The 1100 is wider at the seat, and I can almost flat foot that one, but it's not as comfortable as the 650 is for me. The 950 is also "just right" and has a different look to it, not quite as "old school cruiser", more of an updated modern look. Bottom line, she needs to find the right fit, as well as the right look for her.

Jul 31, 2010

Take a look at the Suzuki Boulevard S40
by: Belinda

I am also very short and this bike works great for me. I am 5'1" and I have no problem flat footing this bike. It also has a narrow seat which helps with our short inseams and the bike weights less than 400 lbs. Great balance and agility. It is worth a look! Good Luck!

Jul 28, 2010

Yamaha V Star 250
by: Carolyn

Hi, I am short too (4 ft 9") and not that strong. I just got my beginner license. I found out Yamaha V Star 250 is perfect for me. The seat height is 27 inch. I can flat foot it & it weighs 323 lb. HD Sportster 883 L has seat height of 25.3 inch but the weight is 583 lb. Honda Rebel 250 cc is also good for beginner. The seat height is 26.6 and weighs 331 lb. Good luck for finding one!!

Jul 28, 2010

Bike for Short Girl
by: robin

Hi, I am almost 5'1" and have a Ridley with a seat height of 24 and 1/2 inches. It is perfect. Check them out online.

Jul 27, 2010

Low Seat Height
by: Raijen

I have a 1100 VStar Custom and I am 5'2" and the seat height is perfect for me. The new VStar 950 also has a low seat height. Both these bikes are cruisers. I can also touch, but on my toes. on my daughters Ninja 650R (which can be lowered), if you are looking for a sportbike.

Jul 27, 2010

It can be done...
by: Sandra

I know there are many ways to make the bike "fit" a person better...starting with a shorter bike and working down from there (lowering kits, custom seats) is obvious. But most of us probably have little experience in just what to do because we didn't HAVE to...

I also know that being both feet flat footed is a safety goal, but not absolutely necessary. Once we've mastered the basics of riding, we are told to make our stops with left foot down and right foot staying on the peg near or covering the brake for best control. Backing up and duck walking are a bit more awkward, but with a properly weighted bike to rider and mastering skills of extreme slow turns with brake/clutch manipulation and mastering tight maneuvers this can be overcome...with patience and practice and determination and desire...

All that said, alterations to the machine are expensive, especially for the beginner who just is not SURE how badly she wants this. I would probably personally start quizzing dealerships and asking to sit on bikes already altered (perhaps there's something being serviced, even if not for sale, that would show you what's available); hang out at bike shows and learn to make quick friends and ask questions, again asking if sitting on a lowered bike is okay w/the owner, and if you find a fit, asking exactly how the lower height was achieved.

Personal desire will be your best guide!

Jul 27, 2010

5'2" on a Ninja
by: Anonymous

I am 5'2" and I had a heck of a time finding a bike, too. We ended up going online a lot looking at seat heights, and also had a dealership help us do some research. When we finally went in, we tried a whole slew of possibilities. The closest ended up being the Ninja 500R. I could touch with my toes. Then the dealer had it lowered 2" for me. Now I can almost flat-foot it if I have my boots on. Only problem is you have to be careful with bumps, holes, etc. I've scraped the center stand before whilst bottoming out on a dip in the road. I would avoid speed bumps, too.

Jul 26, 2010

Bike for a Short Girl
by: Terri

Most bikes can be lowered. Also, you can find seats that are more narrow. Some guys I know have even had the seat carved out to fit them.

A smaller bike...but not small on speed and fun... is a Yamaha Vmax Fazer. Might be good for a first bike.

I'm only 5' 3". I have a '01 Vulcan 800 Classic - it was my first bike and I also have a '90 Yamaha VMax. The VMax had to be lowered. The Fazer is aka the "baby VMax" it's a cool bike! I've seen a couple gals on them at Thunder and other rallies.

Good Luck!
vmaxchic@gmail.com

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