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2009 Friday, January 2 More for Jack who is looking for a bike that will fit his very tiny wife: Hi Jack ... At 5 ft tall with a 27" inseam, I'm not as short or as small as your wife. I've done a lot of looking for my perfect bike, so I'll throw a leg over just about anything. One of the models I considered is the Ducati Monster. It's supposed to be very easy to lower. The guys at one of my local dealerships told me they'd modified a one to fit a little person (dwarf.) It's worth discussing with your local Ducati dealer if you don't mind a sport bike instead of a cruiser. I'd be happy to pass along the name of the mechanic who told me about it if your local mechanic can't get her/his head around the concept. Good luck, Amy K. (note from Mama: an excellent message reminding folks that the right dealer is worth their weight in gold, especially when challenges appear insurmountable.) Tuesday, January 6 Even more for Jack who is looking for a bike that will fit his very tiny wife: Jack should sit his wife on a Blast with the low seat. She'll feel like she just got home. I'm 5'5" with narrow hips, and I ride with the regular seat. The low felt too low for me. Cheers, Sarah (note from Mama: the low seat option does bring this model down by 2" but they'll have to try it out to see if that's enough. In another email a reader noted that Jack's wife sounds unreal in size (are we being suckered?) but we have no reason to believe that Jack is stretching the truth as what would be gained by that?! In addition, it was noted that the Ducati Monster, even with every lowering trick in the world would probably not even fit a person at 5'1" and a 25" inseam. I would simply add that a huge heel addition (not everyone's cup of tea) could possibly help but I'm holding my breath that they find a better overall fit on a stock bike first when they go to the motorcycle show in a week or so). Tuesday, January 6 Dear VTwin Mama, 1) Boulevard S40 4'11" (150 cm) The bike is 2" narrower than
the S50, which helps with reach to foot controls Sincerely, Donna D. Dear Donna, In 2005, Suzuki renamed it's entire line of cruiser bikes under the Boulevard name. So, the Intruder 800 is now the Boulevard S50. The S40 used to be the Savage. Yes, there are some style and redesign elements, but that's the basic gist of it all. Proper fit takes in a lot of variables, including the reach to hand and foot controls, seating position and width, and the infamous leg reach to ground. All three Suzuki bikes have a seat height of 27.6". The first person is saying that the S40 is narrower in the frame/seat area than the S50 (the old Intruder) so that your thighs aren't pushed out as far before your legs stretch to the ground. The Shadow VLX (last production year was 2007) has a seat height of 25.6" (so, 2 inches lower) but for that rider the overall fit was better on the Intruder 800 (but we don't have details on exactly why). With this new view on things you're ready to take another look at the classified ads and/or visit the local dealer's showroom to sit on bikes and consider your options. Mama Tuesday, January 6 Hey there VTwin Mama, I have an opportunity to buy one of the new 2009 Yamaha VMAX bikes, but I am concerned about the seat height / width. Are any of your readers close enough to a Yamaha dealer to pop in and "try it on" for me- I'm 5ft 5, and I'd love to get the bike, but I'd hate to put money down and find I'm too short for it when it gets here! Thanks, Julie Dear Julie, From Jack who is looking for a bike that will fit his very tiny wife: No, I'm not "stretching the truth" about the little women. No reason to do that. She's 4'10" with a 24" inseam .(that might be stretching it) her pants still drag on the ground. Size 0 in women's pants. The only difference is that her hips are just about the same as her waist. So that's somewhere around a 22" to 23" waist and hips. Mostly we shop in the "boys dept" for her pants. She weighs around 90 lbs. and that's all muscle. She's a marathon runner. Runs and works out everyday. I on the other hand am 6' and 250+ lbs. As a couple, I suppose we do look "unreal." When we were younger, we were into the nudist thing. Imagine the comments we got! Sarah, I checked out the seat height on the "Blast". 27.5". With the low seat, it's still 25.5" Your 5'5". 7" taller than my wife. My wife has tried many bikes with seat heights lower than that. We've determined that she needs a bike with a seat height of no more than 20" for her to be able to touch her feet on the ground, on each side of the bike. And, depending on the width of the seat, that may not be flat footed. Amy, we've talked with lots of dealers about the modifications needed. The answer from all of them was " anything can be done for a price". As I previously mentioned, if I had the money I would just get the bike she wants and have it rebuilt for her. But unfortunately, we don't have unlimited funds. I was just hoping to find a stock bike that could be easily and cheaply modified for her. So far, it's a no go. But we are going to the motorcycle show at Javitz center in NYC in a couple weeks and talk to a lot of manufacturer's of bikes. Thanks for the info. Jack in NJ (note from Mama: we'll keep noodling out thoughts and look forward to hearing what you learned at the show!) Monday, January 12 More and more for Jack who is looking for a bike that will fit his very tiny wife: Hi Jack ... I had a Rebel 250 that I sold to a woman who was 5' max. She was able to ride it and get her feet on both sides. I'm 5'6" and was way too cramped on it. I was in a Honda dealership the other day and for fun stood next to the new Honda Rebel 250 they had. The seat went about up to just above my knee. She may find it doable. It is a quiet bike, and stock models don't go well over 50-55mph ... BUT if you change the back sprocket it can be geared up. You could also could try a reach type seat to lower it even more. To a small extent she could add boots with height modifying soles too. A last resort would be checking out duo-sport cycles designed to accommodate kids-preteen and teens. TTFN, Trish (note from Mama: since they'll be going to the m/c show this weekend, this is a timely suggestion!) Have you you tried a Honda Rebel 250cc? That was my first bike and it was perfect I'm only 5'1". I'm not sure of the exact seat height but when sitting on the seat my feet were flat on the ground and my knees were bent. It was a very light bike and very easy to ride. Good luck live2ryd (note from Mama: worth checking out!) Friday, January 16 Even more and more for Jack who is looking for a bike that will fit his very tiny wife: Happy New Year to all ! Jack, I am 411" tall
with short arms and legs ... not sure of the inseam though. Tuesday, February 3 Went to NYC to the Big Bike show at the Javitz Center. It wasn't very good. But they did had a few bikes from each manufacturer sitting on the floor to try out. My wife tried every one. Spent many hours looking and talked to many reps. Got some good ideas on many different bikes. Money still comes into play. Conversion is costly. So, still working on it. The best part of the trip was going out to lunch. Got the skinny on the best burger in town. A place called "Five Napkin Burger" Mmmmm good. Burgers were $15 and so were Manhattans. Lunch for 4 was $220. I could have paid for a custom lower seat. Oh well! That's life. Jack (note from Mama: I'm glad you had fun and could talk out concepts about bikes ... but it sounds like there still isn't a good, solid solution without pouring money into the effort. We'll keep our eyes peeled for additional ideas.) Tuesday, March 24 Hi there VTwin Mama, I am looking for a bike for little people, lol, I checked out the Harley Sportster Low and the Harley Dyna Low ... both are ok and were made with short people in mind, seat height, reach... but I love the style of the Harley Rocker "C". It does appear long and the reach may be a little long as well. And I am told the combination of the different size tires might cause some maneuver problems. Do you have any suggestions other than the ones I have stated? Maybe a Rocker C style but made for a 4ft 11 person? Thanks. Jan Dear Jan, Yup, that Rocker C is a beaut. But as all shorter riders know, fit does take some doing. If reach to the handlebar is the main issue, then inquire about having what's called a pullback riser installed. They come in a variety of configurations of how much it lifts up and then pulls back. It's just a small insert and easily added at very little cost. You'll want that done in such a way that you can turn the handlebar all the way to one side and still remain seated comfortably. One reliable way to get a sense of it is to sit on the bike and lift your arms into a good position without regard to the current setup ... that'll show you how much further back you need it. I've never heard that different size tires are a factor in maneuverability ... I chalk something like that up to practice, practice, practice! Any new motorcycle demands that the rider learn the specific handling characteristics and thus become one with the bike. This is best done in nearby empty parking lot with lots of room, starting with basic drills one would learn in an accredited motorcycle riding course. While we often note that a new rider shouldn't necessarily only consider one manufacturer of bikes at the start, as the first bike is rarely the dream bike (because it takes road miles to learn what's really going to make your heart sing), if you're determined to ride a Harley, then so be it. This site offers a number of charts, organized by seat height and engine cc size. You may wish to explore these to determine if there is some other make/model that might be of interest to take a look at. Mama Saturday, March 28 Dear VTwin Mama, Needless to say, after putting 5,200 miles on it within 5 months, I moved up this year to a 2009 Dyna Low Rider, which again he lowered to my advantage. He used the same 10 1/2" shocks, lowered the front forks with new springs, and changed the seat to a LePera "silhouette solo" seat, and it is just awesome!! So please tell all those riders that are having difficulties not to give up. Surely, there is always someone that knows a little trick that just may be the answer. Please feel free to give my email to those in need. Truly, Chrome Girl Dear Chrome Girl, Wednesday, April 1 Dear VTwin Mama, I've decided that I want to get my own bike so I can customize the bike to fit my needs. I'm torn between a Yamaha R6 or a Suzuki GSXR600. Which do you recommend of the two? Melissa Dear Melissa, Thursday, April 16 Jack mentioned his wife needs a bike with about 20" seat height. I have come across some very very nice looking chopper-like bikes made by a company called Johnny Pag. The bike I am referring to specifically with the lowest seat height is the Spyder, with an advertised seat height of only 20-23" and thats stock! I imagine you could also shave the seat a bit and or play with the shocks to get another inch or so lower. It also looks like a very thin bike too! It's a 300cc engine, and has 6 colors to choose from... even a pink-flamed tank color! If handlebars or reach to foot controls are an issue, they can likely replace with pull back styled bars, and/or do something with the foot controls as well. They DO custom work, so I am sure you can work with them, and the best part: The bike is only 4699$ MSRP!! Only thing is, I have NEVER seen these in Canada... I don't know how how 'available' they are in the US though. Here is a link to that Johnny Pag bike's page (click spec sheet to see the dimensions). Wanda M. in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada (note from Mama: wow ... I'm soooo glad you wrote in! I actually saw this bike about a year ago and remembered thinking, "now that's a low sitting bike" and then promptly it drained out of my brain. The builder had a good reputation from what I've heard.) Saturday, April 18 Dear VTwin Mama, Now I am getting back into riding after a 5 year hiatus. I really like the VTwin look, and have been introduced to the Hyosung GV250. It's HP is almost rated to the same as the Savage 650 (supposedly due to high performance system previously only used on racing bikes) - obviously the torque will be slightly lower though, but it is still rated higher than any other 250cc cruiser. The seat height is the same as the Savage at 27.6 advertised but when I sat on it, I found the extra girth of this bike (it has a 14.7L large gas tank and wider seat) made me quite tip toed compared to the Savage where I was almost flat footed. The dealer I am buying my GV250 from is confident he can lower the shocks enough to get me a few inches lower to compensate for the extra girth. I am also going to have the seat shaved... hopefully about an inch removed in height plus try to get some of the width removed from it as well. I am willing to sacrifice riding comfort for riding safely if I can get my feet flat footed on this bike (or at least close to). The only issue I might have is reaching the foot controls. They are quite far forward on this bike. Though its not so much the actual distance, and I can reach but it feels like I am trying to stretch my short legs out around the gas tank and then back in to reach... I am hoping the shaved down seat will help, but I was already scootched as far forward as I could be in the showroom when I sat on it. Do you know if there is a way to move the controls back even by an inch or two? Or even if they could be angled slightly backward? ... The position my feet hit the front foot peg at is more like on a chopper where my leg is almost straight forward... and the peg is designed for longer leg people who can come at it bent legged, almost straight down (if you understand what I mean lol its hard to explain!). If I could get it angled pointing back towards me a bit, it would be much better I think (I know I can adjust the shifter for this position, just need to figure out the pegs). A smaller tank is not possible as that's the reason I went for this bike... to be able to go long distances with friends of mine, mostly on secondary highways where gas stations are few and far in between.... and I don't think a smaller tank is available for this bike anyway. Will the shaved seat drop my legs enough so they are below the widest part of the tank? And will shaving the sides of the seat really help that much? It IS quite a cushy seat.... Have you heard of a successful 26" inseamer riding this bike at all? I am willing to put the extra money into it to get it to fit me. I figure... it's only a 250cc... there MUST be a way! btw it IS very light, low COG, and I could stand it up and lean it over quite far even tip toed. I just want the confidence of being flat footed and want to reach the foot controls comfortably, and if I knew of another person my size successfully riding it, I'd feel 100% better! I would have gotten another Boulevard S40 but money is an issue right now as well, and the Hyosung Gv250 Aquila is very inexpensive (half that of the S40) and rated as a GREAT bike capable of long rides and great for carrying gear for camping etc. Thanks, Wanda M. Dear Wanda, However, at looking at stock photos and photos of myself on the bike, I don't see where seat shaving is going to gain anything for the reach to the foot controls ... leg reach to ground, yes, but not foot controls. And no, rarely is it possible to find something to bring foot controls back or even at an angle. And while the Hyosung bikes are gaining popularity, aftermarket companies can be slow to provide accessories and modification products to even the most popular of make/models, so I wouldn't count on them serving the Hyosung rider. That said, I would head to the KoRider site, which is a forum for Hyosung riders. My thought is you would benefit from posing your question to a wider range of actual riders! Mama Tuesday, May 26 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Sue, If you look at my Fit Chart: Suzuki and scroll down, you'll see two 5'10" gals on the 2007 model. Note the reach of the leg to ground ... that's a 27.8" seat height ... so unless you're long in the leg inseam, you would probably need to lower the bike. I also see that the saddle (seat) area is very wide, not only in the seat itself, but the frame as well. A lot of times leg reach to ground can be improved by shaving the seat side, but if the frame is pushing your thighs out so much, there's little that can be done to reduce that stretch before your leg can drop down to the ground. Overall I don't see that the foot controls are too far forward, but that's something you'll need to double check by sitting on it. I also recall that when sitting on this bike that the stock handlebar was a fairly wide reach from arm to arm. If you look closely you'll see that the tall gals have a fairly stretched out arm position to reach the hand controls. And also note that this is long bike in its overall length. This means you would most likely need to get a new handlebar so the controls are closer together and then add a pullback riser to get the whole handlebar closer to you. A big clue is to sit on the bike and turn the handlebar all the way to one side. If you can't do that without lifting our of your seat, then a change has to be made or you'll never have easy control in a tight turn or parking situation ... and given the weight (over 700 lbs), you really need that! Can all of this be done? Sure. But you'll have to have a heart-to-heart chat with the dealer's sales and service departments and factor those changes in before buying the bike. It's usually less expensive to get the work done as a condition of the sale rather than after the purchase. If you're buying from a private owner, I'd still talk it out with the dealer to make sure certain options are available to you as noted. Mama Friday, May 29 Dear VTwin Mama, A while ago I was asking about the Hyosung GV650-UM Cruiser (same company). I had been looking for a first bike for several months, tried many different ones but kept coming back to the Hyosung. I am happy I did as it is well balanced, powerful enough, but not overwhelming for a newbie. The adjustable foot pegs came in real handy for my shorter legs. I will be keeping this one for a while. Ill send a picture when I get a good one. Safe riding, Karen Dear Karen, Friday, June 26 Dear VTwin Mama, I just got my new bike! The women on this site's message board have been so incredibly supportive - particularly as I started freaking out after I passed the course but realized I'd have to ride in NYC. And of course, at 5' tall, the fit information on the bikes & gals was incredibly helpful. I knew the S40 was the bike for me before I even sat on it! Anyway, wanted to make sure I sent you a pic of me on my bike (which I brought home on Tuesday :-) to hopefully help others... Rachelle Dear Rachelle, I'm soooo glad to hear that the VTwin Mama Message Board has been a helpful destination for you ... and I just love the continuing build-up of the Fit Charts, which show riders sitting on their bikes with notes about modifications and such. As you noted, it helped you visualize yourself on various makes and models, thus streamlining the research a bit. Congrats on the new Suzuki Boulevard S40 and many happy miles to you! Mama Tuesday, June 30 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Marcie, I remember the first time I saw a very short rider sitting on an Intruder (back in the late 90s) ... my immediate reaction was, "What a great fit!" Just looking at the rider I could sense the excellent seating position and balance and I have always been a fan of the 750/800 cc engine sizes (having ridden two myself; a Kawasaki 750 and a Honda Shadow 750). From what I understand they are also considered a reliable bike in terms of maintenance and longevity. Of course Suzuki renamed everything to their Boulevard line, so the Intruder 800 is now the S50. Just a point of interest ... some people love this frame size but want a bit more power after riding it awhile ... that can be done by changing to a hypercharger kit, which is also called a big air kit. More air flows to the carb(s) and thus one rejets the carb to balance the fuel component. My understanding is that at the highest gear, one gets more oomph for comfort at higher speeds. Mama Wednesday, July 8 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Danielle, If that doesn't do it for you, take a look at the VTM Motorcycles for Short Riders list page. There you will find all sorts of info on bikes, the rider's height, and the modifications they made for fit. It may spark for further research! Mama Saturday, July 18 Hi Mama, Dear Dave, Can someone be self-taught (as I was, which by the way, was a Kawi 750)? Certainly ... with your daughter's excellent balance skills (staying on a horse while barrel-racing is an art form!), and most definitely if she already knows how to drive a manual stick-shift car, some parking lot practice should get the practical handling skills learned fairly quickly with you and her brother as guides. However, not all teachers are created equal when it comes to patience, and patience is an essential tool during those first lessons ... so keep that in mind and be honest about your temperament. A good DVD guide, after first doing those duck walks to get the clutch and throttle coordinated, and starts and stops smooth, is the Ride Like A Pro DVD. This will allow her to learn even more about the handling characteristics of any motorcycle purchased. And as teachers, you can run through the drills as well. Now, as to which motorcycles to consider. Since you're taking about area day rides and limited amounts, buying something used, inexpensive (but running), and that fits makes sense. The clue here is the leg inseam. Let's say your daughter's is 29". Then any motorcycle with a seat height about 27" or lower is going to allow her to straddle that bike and get her feet firmly flat to the ground (with a decent pair of riding boots with say at least a 1" sole). Sure, you can lower a bike, but the point here is to not futz around with it too much. With that type of information in mind, take a look at the VTM Seat Height charts. You'll see that sport-style bikes tend to start at a seat height of over 30". A nice standard style in a sporty look is the Buell Blast at 492cc. In the cruiser section, I see a nice mid-range 583cc bike in the Honda Shadow VLX. Now if you open your local newspaper's classifieds, you'll have a tool to get a bit of quick info so you decide if it's worth looking at. I'd like to point out that a 250cc bike could work as well ... sure, you're running at the top end of the engine when over 60mph, but then again, if you're imagining "lazy cruises" to take in the beauty of the area, it would suit. Just a thought. Mama Friday, July 24 Dear VTwin Mama, Should I continue my search for another of this size, or do you feel I should be spending some time on a 250? Is it just the matter of getting used to the feel of the cruisers? Would I be able, with practice to adapt easily enough to this size since I have no prior riding experience? I'm only 5'3" and weight 125 lbs. The fact that my feet were flat on the ground on the V-Twin made me feel in control, but the weight of the bike, or maybe the size of the tank is what made me uncomfortable. I would love any suggestions you may have. Lady Di Dear Lady Di, I'm sorry to hear that you couldn't get the title issue cleared up on the auction bike, but from what you've told me, looking for a bike in the same category would work. You mentioned surprise, but not total fear. Just like you probably started on a bicycle with training wheels before moving on, getting a feel for the weight, brakes, and clutch/throttle combo is a very necessary first step before taking on traffic and other road conditions. Onward sister ... you're headed in the right direction! Mama Saturday, July 25 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Andrew, In 2008 I begin the Fit Chart initiative ... to gather photos of riders sitting on their motorcycles and asking for inseam data, but classifying it by overall height. So those charts are fairly complete with the information ... but as always, it's an on going effort and every person who contributes really helps the next person doing research! Mama Thursday, July 30 Hi VTwin Mama, Dear JJ, At the top of my Motorcycles for Short Riders list, you'll see a number of steps to consider. Which to consider in what order? Well, financial realities can play a role as well as performance and style. But with the top 8 tips at hand you can ask good questions at the dealer's (making the trip very worthwhile) and jot down notes about associated costs. Then you can make informed decisions about getting that beastie whipped into shape just for you! Mama Wednesday, August 5 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Jacqueline, If you look at my Motorcycle Seat Height chart, you'll see that most sports bikes start with a seat height of 30" and above, making it difficult to flat foot without modification for shorter riders. The Buell, although sporty in looks, is classified as a standard. Still, this chart will help you map out your pathway for inquiries, especially if you look at the top modification tips on the Motorcycles for Short Riders list. With this info in hand you'll be able to visit dealers and/or peruse the local classified ads with a game plan in mind. Mama Monday, September 7 Dear VTwin Mama, For the 2006 Buell Blast: Dear Andy, Then there are the Fit Charts ... again, by make and model and rider height, they show riders sitting on their bikes ... this is a newer initiative and we keep collecting pictures. Last but not least, I gather all the info every year and show bikes by type and then by seat height, engine cc size, and MSRP. This way you can look at, let's say sport bikes, and then by seat height to see what you've got to work with! Mama Wednesday, December 2 Dear VTwin Mama, I now have a HD Dyna Street Bob and love every moment of riding it. My Hubby and I are planning a trip to Sturgis next summer, can't wait!! The information I found on this site was soo helpful in starting with the right type of bike and the motivation and encouragement to keep on riding is priceless. Thank You, Karen in the Pacific Northwest Dear Karen,
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