I weight 160, 5'8"
2006-12-11 08:20:14 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
You can ride just about anything if you have some basic skills. My brother for instance decided his first bike would be a 2005 Road King (+/-700) pounds. After about 1000 miles he was comfortable enough to take the ride to Sturgis from Portland, OR. Then again, I rode with him for the majority of his early miles and gave him a lot of practical advice. I have been riding for nearly 30 years and have ridden just about everything. He also took a class at the local community college and earned his motorcycle endorsement. While I can't say I would learn much from such a class at this point, I think anyone with limited or no experience with a motorcycle should enroll in something like it. I would agree with some of the earlier postings in that height and weight have nothing to do with it - it's a comfort level. Whether or not you can pick up the bike has nothing to do with it - it's about mechanics. Most heavier bikes are designed or can be outfitted so they are never laying past 30 degrees from the road to facilitate standing back up. Unless crashed - in which case you probably aren't going to upright it anyway. I'm 5-8 160 pounds and ride an Ultra Classic that weighs about 830 pounds. All in all I think the level of experience and level of comfort determine what you can handle. Ultimately the rider is the judge - just use your head. If it doesn't feel right it probably isn't. Besides, bikes don't get much lighter than the one you have. Heavier bikes have a more stable feel than lighter bikes but can be a handful in real slow speed situations.
2006-12-11 10:24:58 · answer #1 · answered by Andrew C 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nope! you will get used to that real fast.
It will feel heavy at first but after a couple weeks you will feel perfectly comfortable with it.
It is a strange thing how quickly bikes shrink.
Infact, you may as well just go ahead and get the bike that you really want now even if you think it feels too big and heavy (it really isn't) or you will be trading up a lot sooner than you think because that big and heavy feeling dissappears real fast once you get used to it. and if you get a bike that is too small and light, you will soon feel like you are riding something made by Little Tikes.
As long as you can put both feet firmly on the ground while you are sitting on the bike you are good to go.
2006-12-11 17:24:38 · answer #2 · answered by The Dest 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At your weight and height, a 428 pound bike will be no problem at all. That really is not that heavy for a street bike (some weigh 650 lbs and up...way up). Piddle around with it for a while and consider taking a riders course before you take it out on the street (with a license of course).
2006-12-12 18:26:17 · answer #3 · answered by Hammer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think a 428lb bike should not be a problem, any lighter and i dont think itl be any bigger then a 250cc. Go to a dealer and sit on some bikes, see what your comfortable with. The Pa state troopers offer a motorcycle safety coarse that will give you a license and actual riding experience. See if you have anything like that around you.
2006-12-11 16:22:42 · answer #4 · answered by Drew 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would depend on the bike really. The question is more how easy it is to move it around and how comfortable you are on it. Inseam height helps as well as seat width.
My wife (120lb/5'2") could handle a Shadow VLX but she never felt comfortable on it. She's on a Ninja now. It's lighter so she's a lot more confident, especially at lights and stopsigns.
If the question is just, "can I lift it?" then it shouldn't be a problem. Smaller and lighter folks can lift heavier bikes with the correct leverage.
2006-12-11 16:28:08 · answer #5 · answered by dm_gsxr 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, unless its a Harley.
The weight of the bike is less important than your ability to sit on the bike with your feet comfortably on the ground.
2006-12-11 16:36:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on your level of comfort with bikes in general. You won't be trying to pick it up, just standing over it. so for the most part 428lbs is a very light bike.
2006-12-11 21:58:06 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i am 5'8" 190 and my bike is 580#
So i would say as long as you and stand up on it go for it.
2006-12-11 17:15:08 · answer #8 · answered by Chad H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not if it's a Harley :) I think the HD 883 weighs 490 lbs
2006-12-11 16:22:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not at all. If you haven't taken the motorcycle safety course make sure to take the course.
2006-12-11 17:56:42 · answer #10 · answered by blb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋