Starter bike for very short rider?

[Roadstergal]

Mrs. is five foot nothing. She loved her GS500F and once she got comfortable had no problem on my Ninja 650.

Listed seat height is only one part of the equation; seat and frame width also come into play.

I wouldn't wish a Rebel or Savage on my worst enemies. Terrible motos spawn terrible habits.

Agree with every point above. I started on a GS500E at 5'1". Easy bike to ride. Ditto Ninja 650 - very narrow seat.

I had always ridden bicycles and only put my left foot down on those, so it never occurred to me that motos were any different.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Do you get taller boots?

 

[Kestrel]

It's funny that you claim to disagree with me, and then make a statement backing up my position.

And like I said to Surj, I didn't say it wasn't an issue, I said adapt. That means to learn how to deal with an issue. By your own words once they adapt it's no longer an issue.

I'm not agreeing with you - you're missing the point. A new rider who feels uncomfortable isn't going to get that experience because they are going to stop riding. I've seen it before.

Yes, with experience, that goes away... But the best way to start somebody riding is on a small, light bike that is easy to control. (Surely you'll agree there?) Part of control is being able to maintain stability of the bike at a stop.

I was working with a new rider last year. She purchased a CBR250R, and I installed some lowering links for her. She is still on the balls of her feet, but never quite got comfortable. Solution? I had her purchase an XR100. Light, easy to balance... We rode trails quite a bit, and her street riding dramatically improved as a result. After that, being on the toes wasn't so bad for her.

You've got somebody new who is trying to learn basic controls of a bike. For those who don't have manual transmission experience, trying to learn to properly slip the clutch to keep the bike from being jerky.... instability due to that jerkiness when doing slow speed turns... all while barely being able to touch? It's scary, and it makes them lose interest in riding because they don't see it as fun or exciting, but just frightening.

Too many things to worry about. Learning clutch control while being able to flat foot a bike removes some of that uncertainty.

XR100s for everyone, IMO.

 

[ratsblast]

You can get a BeLast with low miles for like 1500 bucks, they are pretty short bikes. If you dont beat the shit outta it, the blast will go about 30k miles before something fucks up.

 

[Cyclesuzy]

Agree with every point above. I started on a GS500E at 5'1". Easy bike to ride. Ditto Ninja 650 - very narrow seat.

I had always ridden bicycles and only put my left foot down on those, so it never occurred to me that motos were any different.

+1 for looking for a narrow seat in addition to lower seat height. I was not able to push a bike up off the kickstand when I had to have my legs wide apart, even when my toes hit the ground. I have successfully ridden all sorts of cruisers, a Ninja EX500, and I currently ride a lowered (by one link) CB500F. As I've said over and over again, your friend should sit on as many bikes as possible to find one they can easily get off the kickstand. If they can do that, they can ride it, two feet on the ground or no. :2cents

 

[redtail]

Too many things to worry about. Learning clutch control while being able to flat foot a bike removes some of that uncertainty.

Absolutely this.

My wife is 5'4" and rides a Grom. She loves it and it was much more confidence inspiring than the bikes she rode during the MSF course.

And there are other ways to get outta town without using the freeway...

 

[kurth83]

I am short, love small cruisers, they fit me better than any other kind of bike.

If you take the MSF/BRC, chances are you will be on a Rebel 250.

I would send her to that and let her see if she likes that bike.

The two women in my MSF both announced their intentions to buy one, and I did something similar (Yamaha 250 cruiser for me). If it was today, we all would have bought Rebel 300's.

And the Rebel 500 is a great upgrade to be more freeway capable, you know the old saying, a 500 is all you will ever need.

 

[dirty birdy]

I understand the sentiment of Tora and others. Your wife's mileage may vary.

I have been riding for about 4 years and I'm barely 5'3. It was not until recently I felt comfortable enough to ride a tall bike. My second bike was a zx6r and when I posted everyone had split ideas about whether or not I should have it lowered. When I bought my fz-07, the original owner had it lowered - I raised it back up and felt the bike was a great confidence booster with its slim tank. Now I have a new bike way taller, and I love it. But I took baby steps over a long period of time.

Let the rider decide. As he or she grows more skilled, 2 feet down will become less and less of an issue.

 

[kamaji]

Big list here.

What's the "inseam with riding boots?"

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Big list here.

What's the "inseam with riding boots?"

I'll have to inquire

 

[HadesOmega]

If it's going to be a kinda tall bike for them make sure they can pick it up =P

 

[adar]

Between the Rebel 300 and the Rebel 500 I would choose the 500 as there is practically no difference between them from the "learning to ride" point of view, and the 500 will be good for a longer time and will be comfortable for longer rides one or two years down the road.

I started 2 years ago with a CB300F and I wish I had started with a 500. The 300 has enough power (for me) and it's a really cool bike, easy to ride, easy to maintain, light weight, very practical, but it is a single and at highway speeds it revs up to 7k-8k rpm which is ok for an hour or two, but not for 4. I'm 5' 7" and I wear jeans with 30" inseam.

The Grom's seat height is 30.1 and the cb300F is 30.7, and the grom is not highway capable. I would not get it as a first bike because of this limitation, as you will not even complete your newbie training without highway time. Given the height challenge I would get the Rebel 500.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Squat it up!

 

[HappyHighwayman]

Between the Rebel 300 and the Rebel 500 I would choose the 500 as there is practically no difference between them from the "learning to ride" point of view, and the 500 will be good for a longer time and will be comfortable for longer rides one or two years down the road.

I started 2 years ago with a CB300F and I wish I had started with a 500. The 300 has enough power (for me) and it's a really cool bike, easy to ride, easy to maintain, light weight, very practical, but it is a single and at highway speeds it revs up to 7k-8k rpm which is ok for an hour or two, but not for 4. I'm 5' 7" and I wear jeans with 30" inseam.

The Grom's seat height is 30.1 and the cb300F is 30.7, and the grom is not highway capable. I would not get it as a first bike because of this limitation, as you will not even complete your newbie training without highway time. Given the height challenge I would get the Rebel 500.

Thank you!

 

[sanjuro]

Buell Blast had the lowest unmodified standover height, but it is hard to find now.

 

[berth]

I've been riding a long fucking time, and still prefer to be able to get a foot down flat without too much drama, and prefer both feet if possible. I guess I'm subconscious. :laughing

I have a buddy that's pretty short and it sucks for him because he's limited in the bike selection. I watch him try to back up his bike which I'm like a monster on and he has such a hard time pushing it back or even duck walking forward with it.

It's been a long, slow road for me trying to get back in to riding after a long hiatus. Been riding a long time, but I've been off long enough that I want to rebuild my riding legs. Rebuild my sense of keeping the thing balanced while pushing it around.

I rented an RT a year or so ago, and felt stupid and clumsy in the very slow stuff. I got in to a dirt parking lot, and I didn't even "park it", I more just got off where it stopped.

So, my pursuit has been toward smaller, lighter, two feet on the ground, easy to push around, with hopes of maturing in to a larger bike for me and my wife later once I get some more hours under my belt.

Right now, the whole "the weight vanishes when you get under way" doesn't wash with me, as I have to deal with the weight, heft, balance, and "duck walk" whenever I stop and park these things. I don't need a Grom, but I don't need an RT either.

My short inseamed friend started way back on a Ninja 250, moved up to a 700 Magna, and then from there to tip toeing a CBR600 and 954R.

 

[kamaji]

There are some questions that need answering for a proper recommendation, I may have missed them and their answers, but anyway:

1. What does this person like in bikes? Is this person afraid enough of them that flat-footing is needed for a reasonable period, or is the person confident enough for "both balls of the feet on the ground?"

2. Again, it depends on the inseam. A 5' tall person with somewhat long legs could have a 30" inseam, and in that case the extra 1" for boots puts many bikes indeed within "both feet (balls) on the ground" reach, including something like the KTM 390, which has the advantage of being quite light. Average inseam (45-48% of height), probably better to stick with the recommendations so far.

What's been suggested is all fine and good, but I feel like there's more than "I'm short" to picking a first bike.

 

[kurth83]

...

I started 2 years ago with a CB300F and I wish I had started with a 500. The 300 has enough power (for me) and it's a really cool bike, easy to ride, easy to maintain, light weight, very practical, but it is a single and at highway speeds it revs up to 7k-8k rpm which is ok for an hour or two, but not for 4. I'm 5' 7" and I wear jeans with 30" inseam.

Given that, I admit I wish I had a 500 to start on, but didn't have the courage to suggest it. The Honda 500 twins are particularly forgiving, they have a nearly flat torque curve, and a gentle throttle response. My CB500X has that engine, and it is one of the sweetest engines you could ask for if forgiving is what you want in a bike.

Allow me to recommend ABS, for $300 (on the Rebels) it is worth every penny, especially for a new rider.

 

[Rob]

Honda NT650... Small enough and big enough.

I've also put wife (5' on a good day) on a messaged WR250X.
(Limited suspension travel, installed a lowering link, shaved the seat and ...turbo)

It's really light!

 

[two wheel tramp]

Vstar 250. Rebel.