WOMEN Riders less than 5' 3" in here please

MissHell · 12-26-2008, 01:18 PM

I am 5' 7" and my in-seam is 31". I ride an R6s, stock height. Did not shave the seat. I am on the balls of my feet, not flat-footed.

My friend is 5' and also rides an R6s which was lowered 2" for her. She has not shaved the seat.

tached1000rr · 12-26-2008, 02:05 PM

She really wants to be able to pretty much flat foot any bike she has, it's pretty "hilly" where we ride and she hates the balancing act she has to do while stopped at the top of those hills.

lauralynne · 12-26-2008, 03:05 PM

I'm 5'-6" BUT I have a very short inseam - 26". I ride my SV at the track on tipie toes - makes starts a little iffy but otherwise I manage ok. My street bike is a Honda SuperHawk, it's lowered without links - Louie did it on one of our trips after I dropped it in a gas station. I can tip toe it but have ridden enough now that it's not an issue. I started riding on a VFR800 that I couldn't even tip toe - I could touch one side with a butt slide. It comes down to what she's comfortable with. Good luck!

fnfalman · 12-27-2008, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tached1000rr

She really wants to be able to pretty much flat foot any bike she has, it's pretty "hilly" where we ride and she hates the balancing act she has to do while stopped at the top of those hills.

Get her a Honda Nighthawk 250, or the Honda Rebel 250, or that Suzuki's equivalence of the Rebel 250. After she gets comfortable with riding and balancing a bike, then get her something taller so that she can balance on one leg. Starting out with a tallish bike is do-able, but not pleasant and the learning curve is definitely a lot shallower than starting out with a bike that gives her confidence.

I'm 5ft6 with stubby inseam (29" pants, 26" actual). I can ride any bike of any weight all the way up to 34" seat inseam. After that I can't because I simply run out of leg room to even teeter on the ball of one foot. BUT I sure as hell didn't start out with an adventure bike and 33" worth of seat inseam.

MissHell · 12-29-2008, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fnfalman

Get her a Honda Nighthawk 250, or the Honda Rebel 250, or that Suzuki's equivalence of the Rebel 250. After she gets comfortable with riding and balancing a bike, then get her something taller so that she can balance on one leg. Starting out with a tallish bike is do-able, but not pleasant and the learning curve is definitely a lot shallower than starting out with a bike that gives her confidence.

Great advice!

I started on an EX250 and glad I did, it helped build my confidence to move up to a bigger bike.

Cass · 12-29-2008, 03:33 PM

30.5 inseam for me, without shoes. 1st gen SV 650, I had about half the foam shaved from the seat. What I didn't do was have the seat narrowed - that would have helped too.

I wear normal MC boots, so the sole isn't too thick - my foot-to-ground ratio is better when I wear something like Doc Martens, but I sacrifice the ankle protection. I have accepted the fact that I won't flat foot the vast majority of bikes in production today, and I'm OK with that.

If your wife is dead-set that she has to flat foot at all times, then it's not real likely that you'll be able to keep her on a sportbike without doing some modification. Get her into cruisers, or work on the suspension big-time. Like Zoomy said... boots will get you so far, and you shouldn't need to rely on them.

12-26-2008, 03:05 PM	#3
lauralynne 667:Neighbor of the Beast Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Everett WA Moto: VTR1000, SV650, FZR400, CRF150 Posts: 1,403	I'm 5'-6" BUT I have a very short inseam - 26". I ride my SV at the track on tipie toes - makes starts a little iffy but otherwise I manage ok. My street bike is a Honda SuperHawk, it's lowered without links - Louie did it on one of our trips after I dropped it in a gas station. I can tip toe it but have ridden enough now that it's not an issue. I started riding on a VFR800 that I couldn't even tip toe - I could touch one side with a butt slide. It comes down to what she's comfortable with. Good luck! __________________ WMRRA's slowest Expert! triathalete, mom, racer, rider, friend, sister, wife - all in one tidy package! Married my best friend 8/30/09

12-29-2008, 03:33 PM	#6
Cass Cassolicious! Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Austin, TX Moto: SV Posts: 1,377	30.5 inseam for me, without shoes. 1st gen SV 650, I had about half the foam shaved from the seat. What I didn't do was have the seat narrowed - that would have helped too. I wear normal MC boots, so the sole isn't too thick - my foot-to-ground ratio is better when I wear something like Doc Martens, but I sacrifice the ankle protection. I have accepted the fact that I won't flat foot the vast majority of bikes in production today, and I'm OK with that. If your wife is dead-set that she has to flat foot at all times, then it's not real likely that you'll be able to keep her on a sportbike without doing some modification. Get her into cruisers, or work on the suspension big-time. Like Zoomy said... boots will get you so far, and you shouldn't need to rely on them. __________________ Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end: then stop.

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12-26-2008, 01:18 PM	#1
MissHell Followed the crowd over. Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hawaii Moto: '07 Yahama R6 Posts: 911	I am 5' 7" and my in-seam is 31". I ride an R6s, stock height. Did not shave the seat. I am on the balls of my feet, not flat-footed. My friend is 5' and also rides an R6s which was lowered 2" for her. She has not shaved the seat.

12-26-2008, 02:05 PM	#2
tached1000rr WERA White Plate Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: NC Moto: 2009 GSXR 1300 Posts: 2,448	She really wants to be able to pretty much flat foot any bike she has, it's pretty "hilly" where we ride and she hates the balancing act she has to do while stopped at the top of those hills.