Products Designed for Short Women

Products Designed for Short Women

by Jan
(Oregon)

I recently bought a motorcycle and really wished I had more information about how to customize my bike more to fit a 5'2" person with small hands (me). I'd like any tips or products shared by others that works well for them. Also, riding skills and safety are always helpful to know and remind us to keep sharp with riding safely.

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Products Designed for Short Women

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Apr 04, 2011

Short SHORT Short
by: Anonymous

I just recently bought my first 2008 gsxr 600. I am 4'9 and weigh about 95lbs. I lowered my bike about 3 inches and I can reach the ground with my tip toes. I can ride the bike and feel comfortable on it but I think I could use a couple of more inches to be more confident when I make stops. Does anybody know what else I can do to get a lil more height? Maybe some riding boots or i heard of shaving my seat. Any advice would be great!! Thanks

Sep 04, 2009

I'm 4'11"
by: Anonymous

I have CBR600RR which I lowered about 2 inches using votex lowering link. I wear one size bigger shoes and stuff the toe area with insole pad. I just changed the lever to shorty levers. I am still tiptoed but I am getting used to. This is my first motorcycle and I know I will never ever have my heel touch the ground.

Before I got this bike though, I tried Gixxer which was already lowered and seat shaved. I could reach the ground so much better on it.

At first, I regretted getting CBR, but I dropped it a lot in the beginning. And if I had Gixxer, I would have burned my leg few times. CBR's muffler is under the tail. Also I was thinking I should have gotten smaller bike, but if I got smaller than 600, it will have carburetor and I would have flooded it every time I dropped my bike.

Aug 07, 2009

Height Added to Boots
by: Jan

I found a small shop shoemaker in our nearby town. He added 1/2"and put the Harley sole back on. They work great and I have been using them for almost 2 years now!

Maybe just keep asking around in your area?

Good Luck! Jan

Aug 05, 2009

Height Deprived
by: Julie

I just traded my Dyna Low for my Street Glide and love it but would love just a little more height. I have done everything done to the bike that can be done. I went to our local boot repair to see if he could add some height to any of the pairs of my riding boots and he declined and said I would probably have to buy a custume made pair. Where can a person have height put on their boots?!

Jul 02, 2009

A Happy Short Rider!
by: Jan

Great to read all the ideas for us shorties!
I now have an 08 Softail Deluxe Harley. Had a DynaLow Rider before. I just need to tweak the stock seat a little and it'll be just right for my short legs.

I can handle this bike soooo much easier,and it weights about 50 LB more...How it's built..low center of gravity, etc.

My suggestion to those seeking out a bike is to rent one for a day....

Happy riding, Jan

Jul 02, 2009

Depends on Your Bike
by: Donna

I am 5'1 and ride a Honda Shadow Aero. It's my second bike but it fit me right out of the box (to borrow a phrase from Chloe). I do wear sturdy boots that have a bit of a heel on them. There is also a company - Mean City Cycle Custom Seat Werks that will modify your seat to fit you. They can lower it or raise it. Make it so you're closer to the handlebars or further back and have several different mods at different price points to make it as soft or hard as you want. It's a lot cheaper than getting handlebar risers, lowering kits or different shocks (although all of those can be used to modify the reach). So, if you haven't already purchased a bike sit on as many as you can. You might find one you're comfortable with just as it is.

Jun 07, 2009

Yeah...More Short Riders!
by: Michelle

I was so glad to come across this thread!!! I am only 4'9" and am just dying to get my own bike! we looked at a few and I'm so excited! I am going out this week to buy my boots...hopefully I can get the ones with a little more sole, so I can reach better. I'm so glad you're all here!!! :)

May 18, 2009

Small Hands
by: Donna

Something very inexpensive I added was turn signal extenders. It sounds silly but for anyone coming across this site, it made it tremendously easier to hit the turn signal without having to shift my hand at all. Seems like they were under $10 and adhesive, so no permanent install.

Aug 26, 2008

Adjustments for Us Short Folks
by: Jan

I am 5'2" & ride a Harley Dyna Low Rider. We added Progressive shocks to lower the rear suspension. Got the Harley Reach Seat. It's very narrow in the front of the seat but it's just not enough padding for those longer rides. I then added 1" to my boot soles. Now I'm flat footed! My hands are small so I added the snap on extenders that go on the turn signals...they work great! Now the handle bars need to be closer & clutch not such a reach...I wonder if the Harley Co.is listening? Hope so!

Great to hear that other riders don't let being short hold them back!

Aug 26, 2008

I'm a 5'1
by: Chloe

I started riding my boyfriend's Suzuki GS 500e, so we shortened the kickstand using welding equipment to take out a length of it and put the foot back on; then we bought a "dogbone" kit to lower the rear suspension (just a steel bar like the original only with additional holes); and we lowered the forks further into their "casing". Then, I decided that even though it was low enough, it was still too top-heavy for me and I bought a Kawasaki Eliminator 125 which fit me right "out of the box" so to speak. It weighs 291 lbs. dry and has @ 27" seat height.

Jun 22, 2008

Short Riders
by: Laura

I too am very short, especially my legs, and I ride a 2005 V-Star 1100. My husband and I have taken my seat off and reshaped the foam and then reattached the covering, easy, easy, easy. Then he lowered the frame, time consuming, but easy, and as far as the grips and levers, there are some cables available that are really smooth and lite to pull, I highly rec those. The more you ride the easier it will all become. Also I have boots with 2" chunky heels, which really helps! Ride On Sister!!

Jun 18, 2008

Short Women
by: Jacee

I'm not sure what you would like to customize. I am 4'10" and the two most important customizations for my bike were: have the suspension adjusted for my weight, and adjust the height of the bike (suspension & forks cut) so I could reach the ground. I've had a cruiser and all I needed to adjust was to have the seat modified by an auto upholster company so I could reach the ground. Now I have a sport bike and I had the suspension lowered, the forks cut, the seat modified, and built-up boots.

Small hands: have someone who knows how adjust the clutch and brake levers so that you are comfortable with the reach. It shouldn't be a stretch to use the brake and clutch.

There are a lot of adjustments that can be made on most motorcycles to accommodate height, hand size, leg length, etc. Consult the service department at a dealership near you.

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