Motorcycle question. Sensible answers only, please!?

Question

Am only 4' 8" tall (or small depending on opinion). My dream is to have a Yamaha Cygnus X 125 in Jade. Unfortunately, it's too high. One retailer even lowered the seat by removing some of the padding. STILL too small. Anyone know of Motorcycle company that has same model for smaller legs (preferably 600mm or less) or a cheap (but not shoddy) way of getting an ordinary one and getting it adapted to fit me. No short jokes. Really want this bike . Help, please......!

P.S Have same problem with cars. Can only fit three models of car! Fed up of not being independant, though I am not ashamed of being small. Just can be nuisance.

Answer 1

Sorry to hear that! My gf is only a few inches taller than you (4'11), but she has an incredibly short inseam--25", so I bet she's about in the same shoes as you are. My recommendation is to try a Yamaha Vino 125cc, if you're stuck on the idea of a scoot. The seat height on a scooter is only half the problem...it's also the seat width! I just don't know if they sell it in your country (the uk??)

If you're willing to go into a motorcycle instead of a scoot, you might want to consider a smaller framed motorcycle, like the Honda Rebel 250. It's a cruiser-style bike, and it's got a pretty slim seat profile. That was *the only* motorcycle she could fit on. Even then, her feet barely touched the ground. But it was good enough for her to get her license with though.

Frankly, I don't trust many of the smaller scoot manufacturers. I generally stick to the large manufacturers, bcs they have a good parts and repair network.

As for mods, you can lower the scoot a little...but not much. The shocks are not as deep as a motorcycle's, so you may only buy an inch or so there by getting a softer shock or cutting a shock down. Keep in mind, if you install a softer shock, you may have to change the kickstand/centerstand, and you will not be able to carry as much weight. You can also have the seat cushion custom trimmed to lower the seat. (you can do it yourself too, with surprisingly good results). And sometimes you can find an aftermarket seat that's lower. That combination may buy you an inch or two of clearance.

But what I will say is this...everybody who who learns to ride on dirt bikes, will often be learning on the tips of their feet. Dirt bikes are tall in nature. The point I'm making is that it *is* possible* to learn and ride with only the balls of your feet touching the ground. I ride a dual-sport, which is notoriously tall (an R1150GS). The fellow who bought my previous dual sport had to shimmy his butt off one side of the bike to plant a foot firmly at stop lights. It's possible...but it's riskier. You have to be more careful. And you can't be stupid. And it'll take you a little bit to get comfortable with it and adapt.

You may want to learn on a smaller 50cc scoot before getting up to the 125cc model. I know the 50cc Vino scoot is small compared to the 125cc Vino. That way, you can get accustomed to riding a scoot on the more manageable size. When you're more confident, and can consistently keep yourself proper, try moving up to the larger scoot. My gf did exactly that. She learned on a 50cc Vino scoot, got licensed on a low 250cc honda rebel, and now rides a Vino 125 (which is actually wider and slightly taller than the rebel!). She had the 50cc scoot for all of one season. The upside of that is that you can get them cheap used (and pre-scuffed) and generally you can sell them at/near the price you got them once you're done learning. Once you have the basic skills down, you will be able to manage the larger scoot more easily.

Do they sell the Yamaha Morpheus in your country? It's a 250CC scoot! But it's really low!! It's really loooong too, which is kinda cool. It's seat is big enough for big fat folks to sit on it. but my gf can touch the ground real easy with that scoot.

G'luck!! Right Smart!! Enjoy!!

Answer 2

1) Lower the seat, a specialist will probably make a better job than the retailer, you can get some very thin custom pads.

2) Then get some riding boots with 3" heels.

3) Just lean the bike over on one side a bit more when stationary.

Voila !

Leeds to Sheffield (35ml) on a 125cc - hmmmmmmm ?

Answer 3

Honda Rebel has a low seat ht. Harley Davidson can put one down on the ground too as they all have lowering kits for their bikes .Also go to a few Bike shops that deal in customizing cause you wouldn't believe what some of these guys can do to one and at a reasonable price too, so shop around. Good Luck and hope to see ya out riden' sometime

Answer 4

Find out if there is an after market lowering kit. I know the feeling about bikes being too tall...I can't fit many. You can try some thick soles boots, lowest seat and a lowering kit...that may do it for ya, but don't be surprised if it doesn't.
I wanted a Guzzi California and it was just too wide. It was lowered and had a low seat...no luck.

Answer 5

Hi there its not the seat that you need lowered, its the suspension. Not a problem, have the dealer put a lowering link kit on the bike or have them send the rear shock out to have the spring cut to fit your size. This is common practice for motorcycle racers, to custom fit their bikes and ride height to them and the style track. If you need anymore help you can always try www.dcusracing.com and ask them in their forum too

Answer 6

Check your aftermarket catalogs for lowering kits, J&P Cycles makes a metric catalog with parts and kits.
This is the only aftermarket book I have that has metric parts in it. You can also look them up on the web www.jpcycles.com. You can also look for a short seat no pun intended I had to order a seat for short people. It really helps alot.I am 5'2" and I ride a 1990 Harley Davidson low rider which has been lowered and a special seet it really works.

Answer 7

Terry,

If you want to stick with Yamaha the Majesty 125's seat height is 774mm instead of the Cygnus X's seat height of 785mm. You may also be interested in one of these http://www.genuinescooters.com/feat/pgo-launch/buddy-factory.html
The seat height is only 29 inches.

I also recommend that you get a pair of motorcycle boots with thicker soles so that you have more stability sitting at stop lights.

Answer 8

Try a specialist motorcycle company for disabled people... I'm not taking the p*ss but you can get a nice bike with hand instead of feet controls... It's difficult i know being so short that you can't touch the ground... Have you thought about a trike or quad?

Answer 9

I hear you girl. I have the same problem. I had a marauda but it was too high for me because of the cut of the frame. now I have a intruder 800 and the frame is cut different and it is lower to the ground and much easier for me to touch. both these bikes were made by suzuki and both were 800's but the frame cut made all the difference. good luck

Answer 10

Like a couple of people said you can have it lowered for you height and get riding boots with tall heels. Also thought Id tell that a GP racer named Pedrosa, who is actually quite good, isnt much over 5' and he races a 1000cc GP bike, so dont let anyone tell you it cant be done.