ok, i am 5'1" tall... short i guess i should say. but i am thinking of getting a cruiser, but i wonder if my legs and arms will be long enough for it... i would LOVE a Harley V-Rod or the Honda VTX1300S, but i don't even want to get my hopes up.
any ideas?
2006-09-01 03:22:50 · 18 answers · asked by That Gyrl 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
aw man... y'all KILLING a sista! a VROD is too much bike for me??? okokok...
how about a bike that will "fit" but still has some muscle to it? i think the rebel might be a little tame for me. i dont need a LOT of power, but i want that deeep RUMBLE! you know what i mean??
thanks for the info and sources...
2006-09-01 04:02:26 · update #1
The Harley Softail Deluxe is a gorgeous bike and his made for people who are inseam challenged ;) From feet to seat is only 24.5" I love the nostalgic look of this bike. Only downfall is that it is very pricey and doesn't come standard with a windshield or saddlebags. I'm 5'7" and I hovered over this bike. I decided on the Heritage Softtail Classic, which is a perfect fit for me.
I posted a link to a photo of the bike. I believe Harley started manufacturing this bike in 04
2006-09-01 18:42:00 · answer #1 · answered by Debra B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How much experience do you have?
If you're an absolute beginner, I would say your best bet would be a Honda Rebel or a Yamaha Virago 250. Those will be the easiest to handle for a short rider.
You may, however, be able to fit on a Honda Shadow VLX, one of the Sportsters with an L on the end of the name, a Suzuki Savage / S40, or a Yamaha V-Star 650 if you want something a little bigger.
If you've got some experience with other types of bikes, check out a Hyosung GV650 Avitar. It's also sometimes sold as a United Motors Cruiser. It's kind of like a 3/4 scale V-Rod. It packs a surprising amount of punch for a cruiser - it weighs less than 450 lbs, and the motor is pretty much a clone of the one in the Suzuki SV650.
Your best bet is to just walk into a motorcycle dealership and try out a few bikes. You'll want to get one small enough that you can get both feet flat on the ground while sitting on it.
2006-09-01 08:58:18 · answer #2 · answered by Mad Scientist Matt 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
if it's a Harley you want, check out the Dyna Low Rider. This bike is low to the ground, and you can have them add a lowering kit to drop it about another 3 inches or so. This gives the bike a seat height of something like 24-25 inches. They also make shorter front forks which you can have put on in place of the stock forks which brings the front end down a bit more too! It all depends on what riding position you like. But, a lot of the ladies I know have gone to this bike and love it. You get used to the power quickly and you won't need to upgrade to a bigger bike later! Here is a link to the Dyna Low Rider on the Harley Home Page!
http://www.harley-davidson.com/wcm/Content/Pages/2007_Motorcycles/2007_Motorcycles.jsp?locale=en_US&swfsection=family&swffamily=dyna
If a Harley isn't what you want, try a Yamaha 1100 V-Star or a Suzuki Boulevard M50 as a couple of metric bikes with really low seat heights!
Good luck!
2006-09-01 04:17:40 · answer #3 · answered by viclioce 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you want the Harley image & sound, why not try a Dyna Low rider? The seat height is pretty low. If you want to go with the imports, try a Suzuki Boulevard or a Honda Shadow or a Kawasaki Vulcan. Anything in the 800 cc range should have a decent seat height.
Your best bet may be to try visiting some dealers and sitting on the saddles to see how they fit. Good luck, and keep your knees in the breeze!!!
2006-09-01 05:26:09 · answer #4 · answered by Dave 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Honda Magna would be a good choice for you. It's a V4 750, and has a seat height of 28" or so. It's about 500 pounds, but it's quite well balanced.
I'm 5'3, and the Magna was my second bike. I loved it!
I don't recall the HP offhand, but I think it's around 70-80. They don't make them any longer, but you can still find pretty newish ones.
I have a freakish need for speed, so I eventually outgrew the Magna. But I never had trouble keeping up with my husband's 12R. Oh sure he could pull away from me easily, but it's not like I was put-putting along behind him! It really is fast enough for most people, and you can wind that f****r out!
I know we're not supposed to do this but.....I had my Magna lowered so the seat height is about 26". It does make for a bumpier ride, but it was so helpful to me to really get my feet on the ground. I'm selling it in Wisconsin, so if you're interested feel free to email me.
2006-09-01 05:01:31 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming that you're an American. Get an Harley Davidson 883 Sportster. in my opinion, the other cruisrs are too heavy for a beginner to handle. The reason for my asumption is there is a harley shop in every major city in the united states, and it's the smallest and lightest of all the harleys (easier to handle). If this is your first motorcycle, I highly suggest a NFS approved motorcycle safety course. The roads can be very dangerous out there unless you're properly educated.
2006-09-05 03:30:39 · answer #6 · answered by Don 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Definitely the sportster or Rebel would work. Keep in mind the wieight of the bike as another contributor mentioned. Curuisers are petty low as far as seat height compared to sport bikes, you should have several options at 5'1", but I think a V-Rod or VTX would be more of a weight issue than a height seat issue. Good luck!
2006-09-01 03:50:38 · answer #7 · answered by n600rr 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
-I'm not going to suggest a bike that will fit you. It's just like shopping for clothes. You have to try them on.
-As for the weight thing, anyone that knows the correct technique, can pick up a bike (laying on it's side or putting it on it's centerstand).
I saw a girl your size, in her 50's, pick up a 6 cyl Goldwing from it laying on it's side (not because of an accident, as a demonstration to the guys saying the bike was to big for her).
Hey Rusty - I saw it at a shop I was working at. She brought her GL1500 in for an inspection. We were all teasing her because she could just touch the ground. I asked her, "What would you do if your bike fell over?" She said "pick it up!" So of course I had to say, "This I gotta see. If you can pick up your bike, I'll change your oil for free."
-We layed the bike on it's L side.
-The F wheel was pointing R.
-The handle bars, F engine guard and R saddlebag guard were touching the ground.
-She lifted the handlebars about a foot so the F wheel was touching the ground (that's easy).
-She spun around so her butt was under the seat.
-Using her legs, started pushing backwards until the bike was up enough to kick out the side stand.
-I didn't take lunch that day to pay for the oil change.
I don't think Rusty will see this. But you will "That Gyrl". Just wanted you to know that anything's possible.
2006-09-01 05:39:12 · answer #8 · answered by guardrailjim 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
honda VLX 600 Harley 883 Huger Yamaha V Star 650
2006-09-01 14:12:39 · answer #9 · answered by HD FXDL 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check out Vento Motorcycles. They make one that looks like a Harley 'Road King' but on a scale that would be more fitting to you. They also retail new for $3,700. You're other option would be dressing out a Harley Sportster.
I'm 6'2" and have been on V-Rods and VTXs. I think both might be too tall and maybe to heavy. You have to remember that you not only have to consider how tall they are, but also if you'd be able to pick one back up if you laid it down.
Good luck. Ride on !
2006-09-01 03:31:47 · answer #10 · answered by barhopper 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋