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2006 (August through October) Thursday, August 3 Dear VTwin Mama,
While the bike is assembled in
China, its design is definitely Made in America, all components drafted up by
Johnny to his exacting specifications. Johnny
wanted to design a bike to American standards but have it manufactured and
assembled overseas to bring the price down to the bone and make it
accessible to about anybody. Says Johnny, “We were looking to offer a
bike that first time riders can enjoy, for people on a budget, for ladies
who want to get off the passenger seat and onto their own wheels, for
people who like to sit on a bike with their feet flat on the ground, and
for people looking for a full custom bike without the big price tag.” This June was the first shipment of full production bikes arriving at the Johnny Pag Motorcycles warehouse in Riverside, CA. Getting
attention is also one of the Spyder’s attributes. It’s got its own
personality, a peppy ride for a 250cc machine, quality design and
components plus sheer fun factor, and a price money can’t beat. It’s a
bike Johnny Pag can be rightly proud of. First
impressions. While some of the preliminary photos were good, seeing the
bike in person was, well, impressive. You get an immediate sense of a
full-sized, full-framed bike (360 lb., 73-inch wheelbase, 1000 lb. rated
load) with quality finish and no scrimping. A push on
the electric start resulted in immediate engine firing. No hesitation
whatsoever. Tapping the forward controls sent us rolling. I have to say
the first word in my head was “zippy.” Not zippyitty doodah, but
zippy! as in, hey, this 250 gets up and goes faster than I expected. The
use of dual carburetors greatly adds to the bike’s 250cc twin
cylinder’s performance with no lag or stutter, just twist the throttle
grip and go. Call that a crisp throttle response. The very smooth shifting
of the five-speed transmission added to the zippyness. In city driving,
the 250 Spyder will keep you up with the Joneses or as Johnny says, “The
bike will take you comfortably up to speeding ticket speeds.” Part of the
attraction of a smaller displacement powerplant is the matter of fuel
consumption (and also insurance rates). The 250 Spyder gets about 65 mpg
and with its 4.2 gallon tank, you can count on a good 250 miles before
you’re on fumes. And don’t try to stuff the gas pump nozzle into the
left fill cap opening. There is a filler cap and it does screw off, but
the hole is plugged and the second cap is just there to add symmetry and
balanced good looks by way of a pair of gas gaps instead of one. And those
turn signals by the way come off very easily without any unsightly
hardware left exposed if you they don’t fit in with your vision of
custom. The exhaust note is “mild” but pleasant, but we’re told
“optional” pipes will be available for those who would like to make a
louder statement. (There’s even a “performance” brake upgrade for
those who like to lock up their rear brake.) Coming off
a short-wheel based sport-oriented bike, I did need to “acclimate” to
the longer custom front end. Because of the rake, there is some getting
used to the handling at very slow speeds, but it all smoothes out once you
get up to speed. There’s compensation in the bike’s lowness, there is
no “fall over” feel you might get from a taller bike, and thus would
be a plus for a new rider or shorter rider. Even maneuvering through 180
degree turns, once adjusted to the front end presented no problems.
Because overall, the bike has a secure sense of balance. As I was
riding along I realized I wasn’t conscious of the suspension. In a good
way. Now I tip the gym scales at a few notches past 200 but the bike’s
compliance handled my weight without complaint. There was no bottoming out
although you have an adjustable seat height of a pavement hugging 20-23
inches, peachy for shorter riders and perfect for planting your feet on
terra firma when stopping. The handlebar controls were in the ergo zone,
but the cables will stretch on a brand new bike, so keep a watch on the
cable adjusters to keep everything adjusted correctly. The seat again gave
no feed back, but since I didn’t spend all day in the saddle, long term
effects are yet to be noted, but again this is an around town bike and not
intended for cross-country travel, but a great Sunday cruiser, grocery
getter and bar hopper. The
instrumentation, set up on a Harley-type gas tank chromed panel, has a
bright LED display. Moreover, the ignition switch is modeled after the
classic H-D set-up. Turning the big know allows you run with or without
your lights on. An interesting “euro spec” addition is the little
yellow button Dear Paul, Monday, August 7 Dear VTwin Mama, About three weeks ago, I bought a '06 Heritage Softail Classic. I am 5'3" and 125lbs. My feet are flat at stops and solid flat with some seat scouching forward. This bike will keep up with them, if I want to go that fast. I will ride 5 mph over at times, but shoot for the max speed, 2 over, or 5 under. I think the Vulcan had a smoother ride and stopped better, but the bigger bike is much more comfortable for a distance ride. We rode a 320 mile ride last week to Brenham, TX and back and I wasn't half as tired on the Softail as the Vulcan 800 Classic. I started riding on a Yamaha Virago 250 2-1/2 years ago and I am 55 years old now. Thanks for your website, it is enjoyed, – Deniese Dear Deniese, Sunday, August 13 Dear VTwin Mama, I just passed (barely) Basic Rider class and looking for a bike. I'm 5' tall and have found good advice for short people on various sites, including yours. BTW, I dropped my bike in class, Suzuki Eliminator, 4 times! I think I was using the front brake too strong, and now nervous about getting back on the bike. I'm determined to try and find your site so encouraging. My instructors were great. They applauded my willingness to keep trying and never made me feel stupid. I was able to flatfoot the Eliminator. I'd like a bike with the foot and brake petal more straight down and not in the forward cruiser position and having trouble identifying those bike models. Any suggestions? I found your short bike list and will compare recommendations. My riding will be twisties through the country and mountain roads. I can start nice short loops within minutes of my home and get in good 20 min to 2 hour practice runs. There are many great riding loops in the surrounding areas of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee within 3 or 4 hours of here, too. I'd like my first bike to be appropriate for two lane country roads with lots of curves. Riding speeds here average between 45 - 55 miles per hour. Right now I'm trying to make that decision about a small 125 - 250cc bike for practice, compared to a bike in the 500cc range for a more long-term choice. There's a used Buell Blast for sale in the paper and I wondered if I should take a look at it. As I think this through in writing you, it is likely that I'll have minimal time for riding, I'm a real estate agent and work many weekends. I might be on my first bike for a year or more. I do want to be able to ride with my husband who has a BMW K1200LT. But he will slow down and stay with me as my skills improve. At the present time, I'm not too worried about the look of the bike. I don't think I know enough about things to have a strong preference. Warm regards, – Joan Dear Joan, Ok, on to your first motorcycle choice. Yes, many riders like to get more practice time in on a smaller bike so that they aren't overwhelmed with the power of a bigger cc bike. I've had letters from 250cc riders who noted that they are just fine at higher speeds on highways. One of the factors is that smaller bikes are lighter weight, so easier to handle for a new rider, but any wind on the road tends to push the bike and rider around easier. I'd go for anything that is cheap, but running, and you're flat footed at a stop! Also, a new rider is less likely to be nervous on a used bike as it's likely to be in less than perfect condition (paing and chrome) and so there are less jitters in case of an oopsie drop! The typical choices are the AlphaSports GV250, Honda Rebel, Kymco Venox, Suzuki GZ250 and the Yamaha Virago 250. However, these are all typical cruiser style bikes. If you really want and need those foot controls under your hips, you're going to have to look at 250cc bikes in the sport style (think Ninja and the like). You can take a look by going to WantFacts.com, click on Research New, Motorcycles, Search By Feature, select the manufacturers you would consider, choose sport, and then change the displacement range to max out at 250.0. This will call up a list for you to look at! One of the factors thought that you'll need to consider is that there are only a certain amount of these smaller bikes listed in the classifieds . . . part of the reason is that higher gas prices have made these size bikes desirable. In terms of keeping up with hubby's 1200 . . . well . . . a 250cc bike is never going to have the range of power that a 1200cc bike does, but as long as he's matching your speed as you practice, you'll be fine. The bottom line is that at the higher speeds, that 250cc bike is going to be "wound out" in the highest gear and it's top speed . . . something I find difficult to listen to when riding longer distances. Still, given your work schedule, I'm not sure that that is the most important factor in your list of things to consider. That Buell Blast is 492cc, so falls into the beginning range of the mid-range bike choices. However, it does have the foot controls directly under one's hips as you noted you were looking for. Having ridden one while helping out a rider master her beginning challenges, I noted that the bike has what I consider to be a hair-trigger throttle and clutch lever . . . the moment you begin easing out the clutch . . . it wants to go! This is a factor of the Blast's gearing (and many of the sport style bikes) but I will add this was an older model (not sure what year) and I'm not sure if newer Blasts are geared quite as aggressively. Bottom line here is I would have hubby test ride the bike to check it's worthy of purchase and if you think it will do, then definitely get this bike to a big empty parking lot so you can work on learning the exact combination of clutch/throttle. What I found is that when you're easing out the clutch, if this bike "chatters" it simply means that you don't have enough steady throttle available. The gal I was helping, and I, spent 4 hours just working on mastering the exact combination for smooth, controlled starts every time. Well worth the practice! Again, you can use the WantFacts site to expand your view on bikes in the 500cc range that are sport style and take a look at the pictures. So, I'm hoping I've given you more food for thought.
Have fun shopping! –
Mama Monday, August 14 Dear VTwin Mama, I traded the scooter for a 250cc Lifan, which is pretty much a Chinese copy of a Yamaha Virago. It's wonderful! I was on a bike again, a real bike! The Lifan has a low seat and since I'm only 5'2" and 115lbs, I had to have a bike where I could have my feet on the ground. This was perfect. It weighs 350lbs, but because the weight is balanced so great, I have no trouble with the bike trying to tip over. The throttle is sensitive, so the bike takes off quick and I'm practicing right now so I get used to the feel. It's fast, but I haven't driven it over 40mph yet--just getting used to the gear shifting and brakes on the bike. I already love it. It has such a quick response, it has a comfortable seat, and it handles so well. I plan only to ride around on our country paved roads near my house until I get so used to the bike it becomes a part of me before I go any distances or get the bike up to speed. My husband rode it and had it up to 76mph so it can really go, but I never intend to take it on freeways anyway. I'm buying a windshield for it, and every day I go out and dust the chrome, like some crazy person in love with this machine. It's a V-twin with twin pipes and has lots of great chrome. I think that's what it takes--loving the bike, checking it out all the time, practicing on it, making it a real part of my life. I don't know why I waited so long to get back on a motorcycle. I'm 59 years old, but I'm as energetic as I was as a teen, and I'm not going to allow my age to stop me from riding again when I remember how much I loved it. I used to have an Indian and also a Ducati. Once I am riding proficiently again on this Lifan 250 (not an expensive bike, and one that won't put me out of a fortune if I lay it down), I expect to move up to a Shadow Spirit. I have wanted a Honda Shadow for some time, but I realize it would be better to start out again on a small cc bike to get my wings back. I'm glad I found this website and want to say hello to all the women out there! You're never too old to ride! You're never too small! And believe me, you're never too afraid. – Anonymous Dear Anon, Tuesday, August 15 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Kristi, Dear VTwin Mama, I would like to extend the discussion to other HD models, particularly Softails. I would like to move up from my '03 883 Hugger to a Fatboy, but I don't want to plunk down lots of dough until I know it can be made to fit. Is there any way to bring the controls back if a reach seat is not enough? I don't like the Dyna's even though they have mid controls; they feel very top heavy, harder to stand up than the Softails. Why is that? Thanks for any advice . . . – Mo Dear Mo, Of course the Fatboy is already set up with floorboards, so it doesn't look like there is a solution other a different seat as you noted. Looking at notes in the Motorcycles for Short Riders list, we have input on the FatBoy from riders who range from 5'0" to 5'4". The bikes were lowered, new seats chosen and in some cases, a pullback riser added. The issue of "top heavy" is all about a bike's center of gravity, which is where the greatest mass is, and that's the engine. The higher the engine sits off the ground, the higher the COG. When you note the ease/difficulty of standing up a bike, I'm assuming you mean moving the bike off its sidestand. Typically we park our bike with the front wheel turned to the left . . . if you simply turn the handlebar so the wheel is cocked to the right, you'll find that bikes come off their sidestand with incredibly more ease despite any COG realities. Part of that is that by turning the handlebar, you shift the bike's COG up a bit before moving the mass and the wheel position is in the direction you are moving the bike (instead of being in an opposing position) . . . but I'll also add that instead of doing the brunt of the work by pulling up on the left side of the handlebar, with positioning to the right you are able to push on the right side of the handlebar to bring it up. All of this spells an easier move from the sidestand! So, if this has been your only issue with any of the Dyna models, head back to the dealer and try that and then reevaluate. – Mama Saturday, August 19 For Mo who is considering a Fatboy but has "fit" concerns with the foot controls: I will tell you how I migrated from a Honda Rebel to a 1990 883 to a Fatboy. I practiced after taking the class, but still had to do the DMV thing because that didn't change until 1993, after I took the class (the fact that if you pass the class you can get your endorsement without doing the DMV "keyhole" thing happened in about 1993.) Anyway, I began riding my husband's Sportster in 1992 and rode it until 2001. It had a high center of gravity even though we lowered the shocks in the back. I got used to it. We rode to Sacramento several times to bug the legislators and we rode to Sturgis in 2000 from Southern California. I am 5' 4 1/2" tall with a 29" inseam and a 27" reach from the back of the shoulder to the grip of my hand. When I got my Fatboy, the center of gravity is lower - so lateral movement was less. The only change I made was I had the sides of my factory seat cut down. That gave me an inch or so more to reach the ground. My husband suggests that perhaps you could order "buckhorn" handlebars (maybe, ask the sales guy) and that would bring your controls further back toward your seat and closer to your torso. The Fatboy is a much heavier bike than the Sportster (650 lbs. vs. 450 lbs.). But, heck, we're not suppose to carry them around. My suggestion is to test ride one, unless you are 4' 9" tall and don't have any upper body strength. I have had my bike five years and recently practiced some slow maneuvers in a church parking lot - to bone up. So that is about all I can suggest without knowing your particulars. Let me know if I can help. Where do you live? We are now in Washington State and loving it. – Cecilia, aka Cee (note from Mama: thanks for the added details on how you made the Fatboy dance to your tune!) Dear VTwin Mama, I really want to ride but I'm not sure what to start on. I practiced once on my husband's Heritage and laid it down trying to turn in our back yard. I didn't hurt the bike but that was the end of that. Now my husband won't let me near it. I'm afraid if I spend $$ on a bike and lay it down I'll be sick but I really like the looks of a bigger bike. What are your thoughts? I'm 5' 5" so I sit fine on the Deluxe with my boots on. I just lost my confidence when I felt his going over. I knew when I couldn't hold it any longer and just cushioned it to the ground. I would like another female rider's opinion. Thanks, – Anonymous Dear Anon, Yes, sales people have their own agenda and I find the statement about the Deluxe hilarious. That's like saying that unless you can peel an apple in one long continuous strip, you can't eat an apple. Geez . . . So let's nibble down to some basics. First of all, if you haven't taken a riding course, it's time to sign up for one! Many HD dealers offer the Rider's Edge course, which will start you out on the Buell Blast, a mid-range bike at 492cc and 360 lbs (unlike your hubby's, which is about 700 lbs.!). If you want to take a course on a smaller cc bike, like a 125 or 250cc, then check into MSF courses in your area. Your husband may have the best intentions, but that doesn't make him a good teacher. Give that some thought. I can appreciate that you like the look of the bigger cc motorcycles, but the "dream" bike is rarely the first bike. If you decide to move forward with learning without a course, then I would look for anything 500cc and under that is used, cheap, but running. Then hop onto my Education Center page and get some training DVDs and books on the subject. Get your practice done in an empty parking lot free of distractions (school, church, etc.). Either way, you'll get your beginning learning curve started and pick up clues on what YOU think you can handle in terms of cc size and weight, reach to controls, leg reach to the ground, etc. If you want to stick to Harley, so be it. But there's a whole world of motorcycles beyond HD, so don't be shy about exploring the possibilities! This is YOUR experience, YOUR ride, and YOUR choice. I can appreciate that hubby dearest may be chomping at the bit for you to ride with him, but I doubt he started riding on a big bike . . . or just tore off down the road with perfect confidence . . . he learned step by step, some of the lessons learned the easy way (systematic practice) and some the very hard way (school of hard knocks) . . . remind him of this fact. Then choose YOUR pathway to learning! –
Mama Thursday, August 24 For Anon who is hearing first bike opinions that aren't making sense to her: In addition to what you said, that the statement about
the Deluxe was ridiculous, it was also probably very damaging. I fumed
when I saw that. Blanket statements such as that one plagued me when I was
learning and jittery and trying to take whatever next step. If you can't
ride this (second purchased) bike, you might as well give up. Or, if you
can't do this (whatever miniscule technique) now, today, it's not a good
sign. My genuinely supportive husband blew hot and cold with off hand
comments that were nothing more than impulsive, blurted opinions. It
messed with my head, which was already messed up from being so terrified
of doing something that I wanted to do so badly. Don't listen to that
generalized garbage. Everyone is different. It all depends on the person. You need to sit on several different bikes until you find the one that feels right for you. They are ALL going to be heavy. Once you get the feel for the middle gravity the bike feels like to weighs nothing at all. I started out on a Yamaha 450 Max years ago. I now ride an '06 HD Ultra Classic Screamin Eagle. I am 5'9", female and pushing 60 years old. – Love to Ride (note from Mama: shopping is good!) I know exactly how you are feeling right now. I was in your shoes almost one year ago. I went to the MSF course in September of last year. I have never ridden. I am 42 years old, went by myself and was the lone chick in the class. I was so scared. I bought a bike before going to the class to push me forward. If I didn't already have the bike after the course I was concerned down-time would interfere with my confidence to continue. I think I am right about that. The fact I had a bike to go immediately to was a form of pressure, but positive pressure. I bought a Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe. I was considering a Rebel for the confidence of really learning my way around a bike on the smaller bike. People convinced me the learning curve is so fast I would regret that decision quickly. In retrospect, for me, they were right. People were trying to convince me, including my extra supportive husband, that I should get no less than a 750 because I could handle it. I compromised with the 600 which after-the-fact was a good call for me. The 600 was terrifying to me at first. No doubt. The MSF course did not make me road ready, but it did make me parking lot practice ready with my new bike. Yes, I dropped it. Yes it makes you sick. Yes you get over it. I rode for awhile very very scared and pushed myself to continue. I sang ridiculous songs in my helmet to keep my attitude positive. Slow maneuvers were my nightmare. I was terrified sometimes, but also loved it. (Does that sound sane?) Pretty soon, I was riding around loving life but not being able to keep up with husband on his Ducati when we went on longer rides. (He rides very respectfully, they are just very different bikes.) It was time to move up so I then scouted out my dream bike and bought a "new to me" BMW R1150R. Anyway, one year later. I have my Shadow on the market (anyone interested? casualdenise@yahoo.com), it was a great starter bike. Lesson learned I wouldn't have bought new. I didn't buy my second bike new. Saved a bloody fortune because the seller hardly rode it so it was new to me but much less $$. If I was starting today I would either buy a ridiculously cheap, really used 250 to learn the ropes, immediately sell it for something in between, and then plan on the DREAM bike. Or buy a nice USED 500-600 cc bike, take on a little more fear, but know your dream bike is second. Case in point, I would have never considered my BMW as my first bike. I wouldn't have even have known to dream about it until being in the hobby longer and learning my options. If I would have bought what I thought was my "dream bike" I'd have something else entirely. DO IT GIRL. It is really life changing. – Denise (note from Mama: a nice accounting of bike purchase steps for consideration!) Friday, August 25 More for Anon who is hearing first bike opinions that aren't making sense to her: Petra has some great advise about a MSF course. The bikes are small and varied. They start you riding sllloooowly and easily with great tips and ideas that you would never think of on your own! You have an array of small bikes to try out while you are taking the course. If you don't find a bike you like during the course, at least you can see what things you like about a bike in general (do you prefer foot pegs, foot boards or forward controls?, etc.). I've been riding on and off for over 20 years and still like to take the courses. As for the HD dealer: I can see why he directed you towards the Softail Deluxe. In HIS showroom, it is the lowest bike Harley makes. I'm 5'2" and I can ride a Deluxe stock. I think maybe he meant "if you can't ride a Deluxe, you won't be able to handle any other of the higher-sitting Harleys." He's not going to tell you to go to the Suzuki store down the road. But do you have to start on a Harley? My first bike was a Suzuki 100cc. Then I went to a 250cc, 750cc, then into Harleys. The thing that most Harley bikers don't like to admit is that the majority of them learned how to ride on small metric bikes. Start with what's comfy for you! If you get on a big bike straight out of the gate and you feel uncomfortable or have a bad experience, you have sabotaged your confidence and may decide to resign yourself to hubby's backseat. Baby steps can mean the difference between success and failure. And holding on to the handlebars is sooooo much more fun than holding on to the sissy bar! : ) Good luck, – Anonymous (note from Mama: that alternative interpretation of the salesmen's statement is a definite possibility and thanks for expanding on how riders "get to" their dream bike!) Saturday, August 26 Even more for Anon who is hearing first bike opinions that aren't making sense to her: I am 58, started riding 2 years ago. Took the Abate course, then started on a 1200 Sportster. After 7-8 months, I traded the Sportster for a Softail Deluxe. Was worried about the "bike bike." Decided I would wait until the end of the day and practice riding it in the parking lot after everyone left. I rode the Deluxe once around the parking lot and was totally amazed at how easy it was to ride . . . hit the road and have never looked back. The Softail is MUCH easier to ride than a Sportster and the Deluxe, with the low center of gravity, is a piece of cake. I understand your initial hesitation . . . it would have looked really big to me in the beginning too, but is the easiest bike I have ever ridden . . . including the 250cc bikes. – Diane in Michigan (note from Mama: thanks for giving Anon more thoughts on that Deluxe!) Sunday, August 27 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Ruta, Thursday, August 31 Hi Petra, Kawasaki Vulcan 900 I'm not ready to give up Spunky yet (a GZ250) but I rode my husband's Fat Boy last weekend and there was quite a difference in the ride! – Mary Dear Mary, So, if this was me, and these were the bikes I was interested in, I'd be visiting dealers and sitting on all of these bikes! Call ahead to make sure what they've got on the showroom floor. Also, as winter approaches (ok, ok, it's a bit off, but it's coming!), motorcycle events start ramping up . . . a place to see all the manufacturers and bikes in one place! Check MotorcycleEvents.com for possible shows near you! As you've got mid-range and higher power cc motorcycles
on your list, I'm gathering you are still very much in the hunt/gather
mode of research. That's good! Let's see what input we get in regard to
your request for information (Mary is 5'4"). –
Mama Dear VTwin Mama, Anyway, I am back on the market for a used bike after not riding for 25 years. I originally owned a 1981 Honda 450 Custom that I enjoyed but noticed that it hydroplaned on the interstate due to its and my light weight. I like the lower seat of a cruiser so I can put 2 feet flat on the ground (I'm 5'6"). But now that I'm older I'm leaning to more of a standard seat because of the improved directional control at high speeds compared to a cruiser. We have a lot of deer and potential sudden events in my area. I now live at an elevation of 6,000 ft and expect to ride to 10,000 ft on trips (reduced hp at elev), drive 70mph for my commute, interstate speeds are 75mph, and drive 80 miles round trip for work. A trip to the grocery is 15 miles one way. With that said: my Civic at over 100hp and over 3,000 lbs gets 40 mpg, I think a motorcycle should get better fuel economy than my car! I would also ride the bike on long trips for vacations. I really like the looks of the Suzuki Savage and the Yamaha Seca (mid 1990's series) and was wondering your thoughts on the handling of a cruiser compared to a standard seat for almost a newbie. I know some cruisers are more "upright" than others, maybe there is a good compromise out there you can recommend. Your thoughts and any feedback is greatly appreciated. – Teresa in Colorado Dear Teresa, A standard set-up has our feet on controls directly below our hips while a cruiser is more like sitting on a kitchen chair. Local travel is easy enough on either style, but long-range travel could be less comfortable on the standard unless the motorcycle could be outfitted with a highway bar that has pegs (so you can shift your legs to another position) . . . but I'm not sure that always possible. At 5'10", and having ridden a BMW K75 (750cc) on a long trip, my only option was to cant forward and put my feet back on the passenger pegs for relief. I made due, but it wasn't my favorite. I'll admit that the bike was a bit small for me, in that initial leg room was already a bit cramped (but it was still fun to ride!). Personally, having ridden both styles, my observation is that any bike can handle quickly for emergency avoidance as long as one has taken the time to become "one with the bike." This means lots of practice, going over and over drills to master quick countersteer and braking techniques. This is where the MSF's Experienced RiderCourse is a big help . . . once you've got the basics back on your chosen bike, the ERC will fine-tune your skills on your own bike! Although the standard set-up does tend to lend itself more to a "molded" body position, meaning you are more likely to ride the bike with your body hugged to it, the same can be achieved with a cruiser model by riding with knees drawn toward the bike's body and ensuring that the handlebar isn't super wide from side to side (look for an arm position where elbows are tucked down and in . . . and remember that modifications here can be made!). I'd be a bit concerned about the altitude you're riding at. I'm pretty sure that the Civic car you have is fuel-injected. While motorcycles are jetted for the altitude they are running at, with a standard carb, the bike cannot compensate for the change in air density. That's what fuel-injection does . . . it senses the air pressure (among many things) and then injects the amount of gas needed to keep the gas/air ratio to the carb flowing for best performance. Otherwise, with a standard carb, when you increase altitude, air is less, the mixture goes "rich" (more gas in the ratio because the bike isn't getting all the air it needs), and the bike no longer runs its best (the throttle becomes less responsive, and I found riding in the Sierra Nevada mountain range that I'd have to gear down to get my "power" back, which slows down the whole ride). This can affect your "quick move" handling and gas mileage efficiency. So, give that some thought and talk it out with local
riders. If you're not really in touch with riders, consider looking for
chapters of national women's riding organizations, which can be found on
my Women's Sites page.
Introduce yourself and get some clues about the environment you'll be
riding in! –
Mama For Teresa who is wondering if a sport or cruiser style is better for long distance riding: In response to your advice to Teresa about which style of bike is more comfortable for long trips, a cruiser or a standard style, your advice is not the best. If you go to the Iron Butt Association site, you will find in the rosters of participants in the 11,000 mile 11 day rally, they rarely ride cruisers and most ride bikes with the standard seating position that Teresa is contemplating. If you read the various books about round the world travel only one, Dave Bahr, rode a cruiser and he even admits it was a bad choice. The rest all rode or ride standard style bikes including Gary Eagan who holds countless long distance travel records on Ducati Sts (and whose seminar on distance riding I recently attended). This is because the feet forward position and hands high position puts undo stress on ones lower back by straightening out the natural curve we all have. This is why newer cars all have lumbar supports and why most people (I'm betting you're one of them) when sitting at a desk or table subconsciously tuck their feet under the seat. This allows you to rotate your hips back and return your spine to its natural position. The feet forward position straightens the curve pinching the disks in the lumbar. Whenever I ride with standard bike riders we cover miles. Whenever I ride with cruiser riders we have to frequently stop so they can "stretch their legs." In reality they are trying to take the stress off their lumbar region. Respectfully, – Ann Caruso (note from Mama: thank you for sharing this interesting perspective! Iron Butt riders are truly a hearty lot, traveling long distances in short times that tests physical endurance. I can appreciate that many choose a standard seat for all the reasons you noted. However, may I point out that many riders are not interested in simply piling on miles. Yes, some riders like to do that, but others prefer to ramble the roads, drinking in the scenery as they go. It's not clear what Teresa has in mind for herself, but your input will help her clarify this point. My long hauls on a cruiser incorporate securing my gear in such a way that it provides the back support that is useful (as you note). The addition of a windshield and rider seat back support can achieve the same thing. Good physical condition is also a help as strong stomach muscles, which support the back, makes a difference! I'll simply add that my cruiser is comfortable and I don't stop more frequently because of the bike set-up, but because I think it's important to rest the mind from the road. Mental breaks are an important consideration for any level of rider, Iron Butt or otherwise. Thank you for giving us all more food for thought!) Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Janine, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Copperredd, Or is how you look on the bikes when you sit on them? One chooses a specific motorcycle for all sorts of reasons and one of them is the looks/style. I'll simply add that I will probably never really favor the look of my BMW gas tank, but the handling characteristics of the bike are so superior in my opinion that I can live with it easily! Also, when I'm bombing down a twisty road I know my confidence in the bike is high, I demonstrate good competence in handling the bike, and that together makes me look good! Maybe it's the big smile I have plastered on my face! Personally, I wouldn't go messing with the tank on a particular bike, but that doesn't mean you can't explore options at the dealer! Ask! 883's did gain a reputation for being top heavy, but in
2004, Harley started taking measures to lower the seat height and center
of gravity on the Sportys and continue to work on that. Resale value is a
fickle thing. It is dependent on so many factors, one of the biggest ones
being whether there are buyers at the time you wish to sell. That is hard
to predict but as you really are planning to ride your chosen bike for a
number of years, I wouldn't make this my chief concern. Are you a
collector or a rider?! –
Mama Tuesday, September 5 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear RedStreak, Tuesday, September 5 For Copperredd who is looking at HDs but concerned about some of the larger tank sizes: I have similar dimensions (height and weight) and have been riding a HD Low Rider for 2 years now. I had started riding on a Buell Blast, so the upgrade in size was about double. The size of the bike (and tank) is something you get used to quickly with practice and miles under your belt. I still absolutely love my bike. I often refer to it as it my hot bowl of porridge - it's just right! – Michele E. (note from Mama: what a fun analogy!) I had thought I wanted a Low Rider, too. However, the thing that put me off was not the tank, but the width of the engine and chassis. I found the Sportster's narrower frame and engine a lot more comfortable in that respect, and I'm 6', so a shorter person must find it even more of a stretch on a big twin. Sportsters tend not to keep the higher resale value that other Harleys do, but they're not that bad, either. I haven't tried the Sportster Lows, but I've never found my 1200 Custom top heavy. I think that's just another Sportster myth, like that they're "chick" bikes. I see way many more guys on them than I do women! – Li in Florida (note from Mama: thanks for adding some interesting details!) From Copperredd: first let me say a loud THANK YOU - for taking your own time to help all of us. People like you are needed more and more! [you are welcome and I agree!] I am a rider. There are no HD shops where I live so I have to travel about two hours to get to any of them. That is the main reason it has been so hard finding the "right" bike for me. I am really interested in finding a bike that I can keep for a couple/few years, I do tend to get sentimental :-) I know that this is going to sound to funny, but with the gas tank issue, it was more the size of the tank and being worried that it looked way larger than the 883's, all I have ridden before was the "smaller" tanked bikes and I was/am worried about not being able to handle the bike as well with that large of a tank. I wondered if having that large of a tank between your legs really mattered. From what you are saying though, I will get use to whatever I am riding right? Thanks again for all your time listening to me try to describe my worries, so glad to have you on my side! Trying to explain this or even talk to the HD dealers in my part of the world (Panhandle of FL) as a women is a real task . . . the men here seem to think that women should be ridin' not driven'. – Copperredd (note from Mama: we have heard that at some dealers it's hard to get salespeople to tune into women and if the question is not usually asked by men, they see it as a woman's concern, when in fact, it's just a question! You have a legitimate question . . . does a larger tank affect handling, and yes it does, but can it be learned . . . yes . . . as I often counsel, no matter how new or experienced you are, any time you choose a new motorcycle to ride, it's extremely important to take that bike to a safe practice zone and put yourself through all the drills so that becoming one with the bike begins with the basics. One thing I like about the HD site is that a 360º rotating view can be found (the 2007 models have the "Walk Around" view, with zoom!) and I click through the rotation looking at the positioning of everything and imagine the rider on the bikes. Depending on your sense of urgency in buying your next bike, I'm wondering where the next big motorcycle show will be in your general area . . . I don't see that the 2006-2007 winter schedule is posted anywhere, but these shows are a great place to sit on lots of bikes and take notes and make decisions! That may be worth waiting for and traveling to!) Thursday, September 7 Dear VTwin Mama, I just want to thank you and all those that have offered techniques and real life experiences for newbies like myself. You are truly a breath of fresh air. I ride every chance I get now. Thanks so much, – Pat Dear Pat, My hearty congratulations to you for using the Internet
to find solutions . . . and glad you landed at VTM! I can just see your
smile as you typed "I ride every chance I get now." WOW! I'm
soooo proud of you! So, when do we get to see a picture of you and your
VStar?! –
Mama Tuesday, September 12 Dear VTwin Mama, Also I am a vertically challenge rider (4'10" in height ). I have a 883L Sportster and it wasn't low enough. We found a lowering kit from Hellbent Hogs in Tennessee and put it on the bike and it works. I also had to change the stock seat to a Brawler seat, which also helped. My feet finally touch the ground! and I can ride my Sportster safely. – Girlee Rider Dear Girlee Rider, I know I've had interesting input on decals that go
beyond the basics, but these letters are scattered throughout my site. So,
if you go to the bottom of my Home Page, you'll find a Google search tool
. . . click on vtwinmama.com search, then type in decal, and you'll find
the pages where previous letters are posted! One suggestion was the StreetGlo
site, where you can search to your heart's content! –
Mama Dear VTwin Mama, I want a HD, and I am really torn between a 1200L Sportster, or a Dyna Lowrider. I am not going to be taking any really long trips, not more than 200 miles or so, but I don't know what my deciding factors are. I cannot go and rent any bikes (there are no places near me) the closest - two hours away - requires you to have ridden a "heavy cruising" bike for at least a year before renting to you. (I don't want to lie to them either). Any suggestions would be really helpful. – Copperredd Dear Copperredd, One nice feature of the HD site is that you can call up to three different models and have the picture and specifications shown in side-by-side columns. So, I called up the specs on the 2006 1200 Sporty, then click on Tools For Ownership: Compare Motorcycles, and choose the Dyna Lowrider. Here's what I saw. The Dyna has a slightly lower seat height (makes a difference for shorter riders), a bit more ground clearance (can be a factor if you're an aggressive curve leaner), a tad larger gas tank (0.2 gal isn't much!), is about 95 lbs. heavier (useful for windy days), the Twin Cam engine (latest engine), has 1442cc vs. 1199cc, has fuel injection (great for changing altitude riding), has a 6th gear, and a tach as standard equipment. The "style look" of course if highly individual, but I like the slightly longer wheel base and length, the bike doesn't look as scrunched up, and I like the low-slung seat look. Of course, then there is the price. That Sporty is about 60% the cost of the Dyna. Honestly, I don't know how to narrow it down further for
you. You're going to have to decide on the ratio of the fit vs. the
features vs. the price. –
Mama Wednesday, September 13 For Copperredd who is deciding between a 1200L and Dyna Lowrider: Hello! I too was torn between choosing a Sportster or another model but after a test ride between a 1200 Sporty and a Dyna LR (5 speed 2005), the extra 40% in cost was well worth it. The low seat, nice center of gravity, and fuel injection sold me! I'd never ridden prior to this year and purchased the Dyna in June. I've since logged in about 2,000 miles and have been loving every minute of it! Congratulations on passing your test and good luck with your decision Copperredd! – Kimberly (note from Mama: thanks for sharing!) Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Confused Newbie, One of two things is going to happen when you take your course. You could fly through with relative ease and be ready to transition to a mid-range motorcycle (think 500-900cc) immediately (with practice!). Or, you'll find you need something smaller to start with (think 250-500cc). No matter what happens, shopping right now is absolutely fine . . . I know you're jazzed to begin the process of checking the possibilities. Start by looking at my Motorcycles for Short Riders list . . . this list is built from actual rider input, noting the make/model, rider's height, and modifications made for fit. At the top of the page is a list of options to lower a bike if necessary. So, with some basic thoughts now revealed, visit every dealer in the area even though you are not in the market for a new bike . . . they don't know that! Sit on bikes for clues on size, weight, reach to controls and leg reach to the ground. Take notes. Have fun! At the same time, keep your eye out on every motorcycle being advertised in the 250-900cc range that fits into your budget. With the dealer "sits" you'll find it easier to research and narrow down to the ones for serious consideration. Once you've taken your course, you'll have gut instinct into what size range you want to be on, but with the continuing research, you'll be in position to pounce on a used bike listing! There are plenty of riders who are on the smaller 250cc bikes for day cruises (think many hundreds of miles) . . . so you can successfully commute on even this smaller size. A bigger heavier bike may prove to be more comfortable day in and day out as they don't get pushed around in higher winds and truck traffic as easily. Start your research, take the course, and then buy.
That's my advice. –
Mama Friday, September 15 For Confused Newbie who is researching her first bike buy: Congrats on your first bike. I have been riding for about 2 years now and love it. If you commute about 1 hour a day I really don't recommend a Ninja, better known as a crotch rocket, because they tend to it uncomfortable. I have a cruiser and a Ninja I use the Ninja for running around town and short trips but I use the cruiser for trips longer than 1 hour or so. Some might disagree with me about the Ninja but I find it uncomfortable for me . . . num hands and butt after a while. Get the bike YOU want and the one YOU feel comfortable with, not the one everyone wants you to get. You are the rider!!!! I agree, start out on 250 or 500, not any bigger, and as you get better you can move up. But remember practice makes perfect. I went out when I was beginning and worked on one thing at a time. For instance, I decided to work on cornering so I practice that till I was comfortable, then I practiced shifting and braking, etc My hubby was a great supporter. Don't let people push you into things you are not comfortable with when you begin riding . . . only you know what you feel comfortable with. Take care, good luck, and you will love it. – Zoe (note from Mama: thanks for offering up your warning on smaller crotch rockets . . . I remember a neighbor who started out likewise and noted that when he went up in cc size for that style, the comfort level increased greatly.) Monday, September 18 Hi VTwin Mama, I'm NOT ready (in terms of both skill and finances!) for a new bike - however, I know eventually I will want to upgrade. Here's the catch: I'm 4'11", 100lbs with a 28" inseam. AND I really want a standard ride, not a cruiser. My (tall) girlfriend who rides a BMW 650GS is convinced that the BMW 650CS with a lowering kit would work for me. My concerns (of course) aren't just managing a bigger bike on the road, but (more) managing parking, walking it around, etc. The 320 lb Honda is already a challenge for me because I have to move it on the balls of my feet. I have to really watch for pavement level, etc. What do you think? And, BTW, you're my hero for creating this site. Where else could a 4'11" female rider get such support?! Thanks a million. – Laura Dear Laura, Yes, at your height, a standard (often referred to as sporty) style motorcycle is a challenge on lowering options. In looking at that BMW 650CS, I noted that the seat height is 30.7" but there is a seat option to bring you down to 29.5". Still, that's awfully high for a rider of your height and inseam. As I can't find the seat height spec on that Honda you have, I'd center the bike, measure things up (lay something flat across the seat and get a level measure), see what you would need to modify in the seat to get you flat footed, and then compare that to the BMW at 29.5". Yes, if there is a lowering kit for the BMW, great, but exactly how much will it lower you? Is it going to be enough? I don't have the immediate answer. While I'm glad to hear that your girlfriend is enjoying her 650GS, you may wish to open up your eyes on available models, and the corresponding seat heights, weight, and lowering options. Shop! I find a quick(er) way to do that is to go to the WantFacts site and use their search engines to call up lists! You've got time! You may also wish to hop over to women's sites that
cater specifically to sporty riders. Those can be found by visiting my Women's
Sites page. I do have some sport bikes listed on my Motorcycles
for Short Riders page that could be of help also. –
Mama Tuesday, September 19 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Copperredd, Monday, October 2 Hi VTwin Mama, By the way, I know that a Sportster is not the easiest bike to ride, but it's not impossible! I only weigh 100lbs and the only time it feels heavy is when I'm trying to park the bike. Many times I have been on your website and cringed after reading the recommendations (to buy a Fat Boy or Softail) because I ended up buying my Sportster before I even took a rider course. And, after I took the rider course, I even tipped the bike over twice. I considered trading the bike in for a Softail or Fat Boy but I just didn't have the heart to do it (maybe it was because I had already invested $8K and wasn't about to just throw it away). So, with a lot of determination and practice (on an old '81 Honda CMT200), I learned to practice honing the skills before taking up the Sportster. And, my husband said, "If you can ride the Sportster, you can ride any Harley Davidson bike." So, here I am . . . I'm riding my Sportster and having a blast. Would I trade my bike in now? Not yet. I'm having too much fun. – Joji in Idaho Dear Joji, Hey Mama, I'm 5'5" and want to make sure I don't get something that's too big for me. I can't even pick the one up that I'm riding now! The 600 is great but I always feel like I need to shift to another gear once I get into 4th. What do you suggest? You've always had good answers! Thanks, – Muffin in Sedley, VA Dear Muffin, 1) 750s typically have 5 gears (rather than the 4 you
have now) So, here we can see that a modification to your current bike could be made and that a change to a 750 will produce a change as well. How significant . . . well, my thought now is that since you have a good amount of riding time in, that you're a good candidate for test rides (when possible at the dealer) or renting a bigger bike you might be interested in. I did two long-distance trips on 750s and was comfortable both times. I never felt under-powered. Why not test/rent a 750 and see the difference for yourself?! Now, as to going even bigger than 750 given your weight
concerns. There are plenty of letters on that this site that note while
more weight can sound scary, when a bigger and weightier bike is
well-balanced, it's actually very easy to handle. There are other letters
that argue that if you can't pick up a bike, you should step back and give
that good consideration. The final answer lies within yourself. I'd pursue
the test/rent rides of 750s as a first step and see what the gut is then
telling you! –
Mama Tuesday, October 3 For Muffin who wants to move in cc size, but how much is enough?: Generally, a bigger engine will get you more top end, and get you there more quickly. With any vehicle, it all comes down to power-to-weight ratios. If you've got a powerful engine in a light vehicle, you're going to move very quickly. At the same time, if you have your final ratios set up for high acceleration, (big rear gear, small front) you'll out accelerate a bigger bike, but he'll pass you when you hit redline, because your gear ratios are for tractor pulling, not high speed stuff. 5 gears don't mean more speed necessarily, but they do have some influence on acceleration. So, any engine has a powerband in which it works best. If you want to take advantage of the RPMs that the engine likes the most, you build a transmission that gets your bike to work in that range as much as possible. A five-speed will allow you to stay in the "right" RPMs better than a 4-speed. You'll be able to shift into the ranges your engine likes with more precision than a 4-speed. You'll note that many bikes now are being produced with 6-speeds. That's what it's all about. Stay in the "good" RPM range and your bike will be more responsive. If there's a choice, I would always take the tranny with more gears. – Hiwayman (note from Mama: ok, I think this gives us some understanding to work with!) Hi, I just wanted to pass along my input on your situation. I just moved up from a Rebel to a Honda Aero 750 and I love it! I am 5' 3" with a 26" inseam and I can flat foot this bike! The center of gravity is low and this bike is very easy to get comfortable on. I want to thank everyone who contributes to this site, because even though I have ridden bikes all my life, I still love to hear other peoples suggestions and thoughts before I make a purchase. Thanks VTwin Mama for all you do for us!! – Anonymous (note from Mama: you are welcome and thank you for chiming in . . . together we all make a difference!) I don't know if this is useful or not since there may not be a dealer near her. I bought the GV250 in August, it just seemed to 'fit' me better & I'm more comfy maneuvering it in icky places. The GV250 would be an ideal learner bike. It's much easier to handle than the Rebel and doesn't redline till 1200, real power kicks in around 6-700. This means the beginner doesn't have to constantly be shifting. Oh yeah, on a flat road I'm past 60 mph at half throttle in third gear. But . . . In May my husband bought a bike after several years without. He too thought he wanted at least a 750 or larger. Then he found his Hyosung Avitar. It looks a lot like the V-Rod. His is 'only' a 650 but has 72 hp! It weighs a reasonable 485 lbs. It has the sexy cruiser raking and since you sit well into the bike, it has a low center of gravity and a lower seat. It is incredibly well balanced and that along w/the hp sold him. It's got plenty of power & he doesn't notice any difference w/me on the back even in the mountains in VA. It's belt driven & has a digital display. Runs around $6300. I can easily flat foot & drive it. The shifter & brake are easily adjusted shorter by about 2". He finds this the most comfortable and easiest to drive bike he's ever had. (He had Suzuki & BMW) I'm 5'2", a figure I find meaningless when talking bike seat heights. My best friend is 5'7". I have a short torso and she has a long torso. Both of our inseams are 29". My neighbor is 5'1" but she has a 27" inseam. Inseam length determines if you can flat foot a bike. However, if you are taller, you can more easily maneuver a larger bike. Gary is 5'10", with a 30" inseam. I want to point out that a taller person can maneuver a larger AND LONGER bike, two different things. Ape-hangers do not make for easier maneuvering b/c the closer your shoulders are to the grips, the less control you've got for slow/no speed maneuvering. Another short person issue. We got our bikes from American Road Motorcycles in Amissville, VA, about 15 miles from the Shenandoah NP Thornton Gap entrance. Lovely ride but a bit too far for you for service! Hyosung is a South Korean company; they had a relationship w/Suzuki for years, built Suzuki's engines, etc, but several years ago started to build & sell their own bikes. They've been in Australia, New Zealand & Europe for several years but only hit the US last year. The website http://www.prideinwhatyouride.com/ is an owners' forum & has lots of good info. The Avitar is on the left. But Gary's blue is much prettier! – Jem (note from Mama: thanks for sharing! I agree that inseam is an important measurement in tandem with overall height. I'm adding the website you note to my Help by Mfg. and Model page!) Mama, I am now looking forward to upgrading and was having an extremely hard time finding the perfect bike. I tried the Softail Deluxe - way TOO WIDE. Yea, it has a low seat height, but seat height doesn't tell the whole story. I tried the Dyna Low Rider - again, heavy and too wide. I tried the Sportster 1200L - didn't feel comfortable on that one either. I tried the Honda 750s - too high again. I wanted a bike I didn't have to lower - one I could get to fit me with just getting a custom Corbin seat. Well, I went into a dealership to try the Hondas and when the sales person saw me, he said - do you have to have Honda? I said "No, I just want something that fits me and is at least a 1100." He had me sit on a Yamaha VStar 1100 Custom. Now, if you look at seat height, it is listed at 27 inches - WAY higher than the Softail or Dyna - but guess what . . . I could lift it off the stand with NO problems and both front halves of my feet touch the ground solid!!!! I can walk that puppy around with no problems at all and it feels so light! The center of gravity is very low. I was so happy I almost cried, my husband was smiling from ear to ear (same as me) - this bike is so beautiful and fits me like a glove. I can even reach the controls with no fuss. I couldn't believe how well this bike fit me - if I had gone by seat height alone, I would never have tried it. Now, I have not purchased it yet - saving that for the spring ; ) so I can't give any rider reviews but I wanted to share my experience being a short rider and prove that seat heights are really not something a person should rely on when choosing bikes to try out.– Anonymous Dear Anon, Wednesday, October 4 For Anon who shared a perspective on seat heights and VStar 1100: To anyone looking at the Yamaha 1100 . . . Be sure to take it for a ride. I thought I would like the Yamaha VStar just sitting on it. It felt comfortable and I could reach the grips and pedals -- until I rode it. I didn't have to ride it very far to know that it wasn't a good fit. I sat on the Honda VTX 1300 Retro and knew it was the one (see picture). The bike I ended up with has 4" pull back risers, which is a must. The seat is nice and wide. It's a comfortable ride with the floorboards. The Honda is a bit heavier, but the extra weight can be welcome on a windy ride. Although it is a tad heavy, it is still easy to lift up. I'm 52 years old and have been riding for 30 years. I'm 5'4' and am easily flat footed on the Honda. I don't have much upper body strength either. Also, for anyone thinking that the 1100 or 1300 is too much for you, think again. I once thought that my Yamaha 750 was too much. I wish that I'd tried a bike over 1000cc years ago! – Carole in Springfield, IL (note from Mama: thanks for adding that while sitting on a motorcycle provides useful clues, a test ride is part of the equation. Congrats on 30 years of riding!) Wednesday, October 4 Dear VTwin Mama, I am looking for advice on what type of bike to purchase. I would like a sport bike, but nothing big or fancy. I am 5'4" and weigh about 110 lbs. Though I am not extremely physical, I can hold my own. I'm looking for something that will be good for everyday use as well as longer trips. I can drive a clutch and shift car - don't know if that matters or not. – Amanda Meyers Dear Amanda, You most definitely should check into a motorcycle course. The two biggest course providers (nationally) are the MSF and Rider's Edge. MSF is a non-profit and offers two to three levels of instruction. Typically one goes for the BRC (Basic RiderCourse), but in some states, an even more basic course is offered called the NRC (Novice RiderCourse) that provides smaller classes, more orientation to the bike time, and more time allowed for the very basic operation. You will ride a 125-250cc bike. Rider's Edge is provided through Harley-Davidson dealers and the course is based on the MSF. Here you will ride the 492cc Buell Blast. You can learn to ride on your own and prior experience with a clutch car does help to some degree in that you've mastered coordination of multiple controls. You would definitely want to go to the MSF library and download some handbooks, check your state's DMV site for their handbook, and consider books and DVDs as sources of training tools. If you are not sure which would be the best leaning pathway, I offer an 18-page Learning To Ride A Motorcycle article ($3.95) on what to consider before you get started! I am in the process of penning a Buying Your First Motorcycle article as there is much to consider as well and is a frequently asked question here at VTwin Mama! A motorcycle's fit is comprised of many components, including bike cc, weight, reach to controls and ground, and pocketbook. This is the short list! While some people are perfectly happy on 250cc bikes for long distances, I think most people would agree that 600cc and above is the more normal range. Typically the more cc, the heavier the bike. Smaller sport-style bikes are geared for aggressiveness while larger ones are for cruising and touring. A recent discussion noted that four gears can feel restrictive, while five gears offers better comfort at sustained higher speeds. You sit on bikes at dealerships to check your leg reach to ground and hand/foot reach to controls. I went to WantFacts to pull up a list by choosing Motorcycles, New, Search by Feature, limited my choices to Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha, chose Sport, entered 500-900cc and limited the weight to 600lbs. The least expensive (MSRP) was the 2006 Kawasaki Ninja 650R. This has 650cc, 392 lbs, 6 gears, but has a seat height of 30.9" Seat height gets dicey . . . at 5'4" you may have a short or long leg inseam that does make a difference! Bikes can be lowered in a number of ways and on this same page you will see input from riders on bikes, their height, and any modifications made. There are a number of sport bikes listed, some with detailed reviews, including the Honda CBF600, a Kawasaki Eliminator, KLR, ZZR600, and variety of Ninjas, and the Suzuki SV 650. Even if you'll be in the market for a used bike, getting
a sense of everything can start by looking at current models. Happy
learning and shopping! –
Mama Tuesday, October 10 More for Muffin who wants to move in cc size, but how does four gear differ from five gear?: Question: how does a bike's gears define riding comfort? The ratios selected at the factory are a compromise . . . they can't gear them for every rider and situation so they gear them for the intended market. Such as sport bikes (high gears for speed), dirt bike (low gears for power at slower speed), cruisers are geared for around town or urban riding. I can talk about gear ratios because I have personal experience in this area. I had a older Sportster which was a four speed 1000cc model. I used to try and upshift into a imaginary fifth gear all the time. I put a larger sprocket on the mainshaft to get a little smoother cruising, it did a little. In 1991 Harley-Davidson brought out a five speed on the Sportys. I bought a 1200, cruising at 70 in fifth was heaven. the 883's were still buzzy in '91 but they were still chain drive and the 1200 went to the new smoother belt. all got belts in '93. As a rule on belt drive Sporty, the 1200's have a 29 tooth front drive pulley and a 61 tooth rear while the 883s use a 27/61 setup. With the 27 tooth, the 883s do not cruise as smooth a 1200 with a 29 front pulley at the same speeds. Putting a 29 on an 883 in stock trim causes you to rev the bike more and makes it slower on response, but to help it cruise smoother. You can fit a 55 tooth "International" pulley and belt. This helps both the 1200 an 883. The 55 tooth is what they put on bike in Europe and some other places since you can ride faster. Hopes this helps. – Drifter (note from Mama: every bit helps and increases our knowledge!) VTwin Mama writes: As I keep delving into the subject, I keep running into the complexity of the subject! My basic observations at this point: 1) one can change ratios within the transmission (gearbox) itself or change things in the final drive gearing. By and large, as motorcycle manufacturers moved forward over the years in design, those changes of cruising comfort were made. 2) gear ratios within a motorcycle's transmission are chosen for the type of riding. From The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance, "A sportbike will also use a gearbox with closely spaced ratios to help the pilot keep the engine 'on the boil.' A touring bike will have wider spaced ratios, in part because a mildly tuned touring engine develops lots of torque over a fairly large range of rpm. A touring bike will also be somewhat over-geared in top gear, providing a relaxed pace and good gas mileage; of course, passing a truck may require a down shift or two to bring the revs up, that that's an acceptable trade-off for most of us." 3) so Muffin feels like she's wanting another gear to shift too because that older Honda Shadow 600 is geared a certain way. She can achieve the necessary speed, but it sounds like its wound out and has no place to go. This can sound annoying when cruising because the motorcycle doesn't sound like it's running "relaxed." 4) However, if one wants to take their current bike, they can also make modifications to the final drive sprockets (the front countershaft sprocket and/or the rear wheel sprocket). Again, from The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance: "If you increase the number of teeth on the rear sprocket or reduce the number of teeth on the countersharft sprocket, raising the overall ratio between the two sprockets, the gearing is 'lowered.' The engine will now turn faster for a given road speed. The acceleration will improve, but in most cases the top speed will drop. If we go the other way, that is, add teeth to the countershaft sprocket or remove teeth from the rear sprocket, lowering the ratio between the two gears, then we raise the gearing and the bike will go faster (in theory), but accelerate slower. Just remember, when dealing with gearing ratios, the higher the ratio number the lower the gearing. For example, a vehicle with a 5:1 final-drive ratio is geared lower than a vehicle with a 3:1 ratio." Yikes, did you get all of that?!?!?! So, what's the bottom line? Muffin wanted to know if moving from a 600cc bike with four gears to a 750cc bike with five gears would be that great of a difference (she didn't want to go much bigger because of bike weight issues although friends were advocating that an 1100cc bike would be the better leap). My conclusion at this point is that a 750 would deliver a more relaxed ride at top speeds without adding significant weight/size. If Muffin doesn't feel ready for something larger, the 750 or 800cc size would suit! – Drifter Friday, October 20 Hello : ), Dear N., Most motorcycles can be lowered so that the seat height is not so daunting and at a stop, one's feet can contact the ground firmly (for stability and push-back action). Typically one would inquire about a lowering kit, which might be a bracket to lower the shock position. In some cases, a shorter shock can be chosen. That leaves looking at whether the seat can be shaved out or changed, and a modification to one's riding boots (more heel or an insert). Lower profile (smaller) tires can also make a difference, but I'd be wary there. The point of superbikes however is the cornering ability . . . and in lowering this type of bike, you may run into problems with scraping the footpegs or body fiberglass pieces on curves. Still, it really boils down to exactly how much you need to lower any particular motorcycle of interest to you. I would head back to the dealer showrooms and make more direct inquiries. Although this site does have a number of sport-style rider readers, you may also wish to go to my Women's Sites page where you'll find very specific women's sport/racing sites linked. I saw a number of shorter women racers at the AMA Women & Motorcycling Conference this year, so there must be solutions! – Mama Mama, Unfortunately, I can't ride it. I am going to take the ABATE class in the spring as it is now cold out in Indiana. I would like to take it to a Harley shop and have them lower it and any thing else that might make it rideable. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis but am not in bad shape at all; I still work full-time as a nurse. However, my wrists are very weak and I find the clutch to be too stiff. The bike has a beautiful Mustang seat, but it puts me way up in the clouds. I am 5'4" and 116 pounds. What do you advise me to do? I am a very stubborn and determined lady! Thanks! – April Dear April, On this page, as well, you'll find shorter rider kindred spirits who have offered up their favorite motorcycles, their height, and the modifications they made! Those earlier 2000-era Sporty models did sit higher, but you'll find the seat suggestions from a number of aftermarket manufacturers for consideration. So, I think a little research and a call to the HD
service department will prove quite fruitful for you! Meanwhile, order in
some aftermarket catalogs (free!)
for brrrr-winter shopping happiness! –
Mama |
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