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Petite who wants to buy the perfect motorcycle

by Candy
(Bronx,NY)

Hi, I am a petite woman. 4'11'',medium built. I am dying to learn to ride a motorcycle. But I'm afraid I wont be able to find a bike that i can manage. What do you recommend? Thanks

Comments for Petite who wants to buy the perfect motorcycle

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Nov 03, 2011

Find a bike to fit
by: Dave A

my wife is 5'1" and finds the Yamaha Virago 250 perfect for her.
As previously mentioned, try cycle shops to find a bike that you can sit on comfortably with both feet flat on the floor and not reaching too far forward to the handgrips. Cruisers usually have fatter handgrips too, so make sure you can fit your hand around them.
Please try very hard to get a bike that suits you and join us out there on the road.
Regards

Oct 30, 2011

honda shadow 125
by: paul

hiya..i recently bought a honda shadow 125 its a great little big bike, too learn on. every small person that has sat on it have had there feet flat on the ground..if your feet dont reach, the seat has so much padding on it..you could get it re-upholstered and that would give you another couple of inches.
.....my shadow follows me everywhere.....

Oct 26, 2011

TU 250
by: lois

check out the Suzuki TU 250 its a classic style bike I bought one when I got my permit and had a lot of fun with it. It was light and easy to handle low enough for me to flat foot it.

Oct 26, 2011

Picking your first bike...
by: Brian

I agree. Stay small for your first bike. Don't let some bozo guy talk you into some big asphalt burner. It doesn't matter if you're a gal or a guy... starting with 'Too Much Bike' is foolhardy. Ride what you can have confidence in yourself riding...and move up as your abilities grow. again... guy or gal... it's the SAME... Don't let some fools' testosterone mislead you... ;)

Oct 26, 2011

Beginner Rider Course
by: Joan

Congratulations on wanting to learn to ride. It's one of the best things that I've done for myself. With that being said, I would definitely recommend that you take a beginners riding course before you even think about buying a bike. This will give you the opportunity to see what it's like to handle a bike and to make sure it's really something that you want to do. After taking and passing the course, I would suggest sitting on several bikes to see which one feels right to you. When/if you find one that you like, I would then look for a good used one to start out on. Good luck and keep us posted how things go.

Oct 26, 2011

Your Inseam, NOT your height, is more important
by: Judy

Candy,

What is your inseam (leg) length. That is far more important than your height in finding a bike you can be comfortable on. Most of the Cruiser (Harley clone) style bikes have really low seat heights, about 27"-29" which may enable you to flat foot the bike on at least one side.

For you, I'd recommend a really small Cruiser style like the Kawasaki Eliminator 125cc, or there is also Suzuki and Yamaha 250cc Cruisers. I wouldn't recommend anything bigger yet, as the Cruiser styles tend to weigh considerably more and have slower steering due to their length and fork rake angle.

Go to several bike shops and see if you're able
to sit on any of them and able to get one or both feet down flat. It will help tremendously especially in slow speed maneuvering and at stoplights.

Good luck!

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