Starter bike for very short rider?

[ThumperX]

Depending on your friend's budget and confidence there are a lot of choices. I'm 5'2" and have to say seat shape and center of gravity have far more to do with comfort than seat height.

I love the old XT225s for a lot of reasons. The 225s are 6 speeds and handle the freeway OK. The seat isn't so narrow as to be uncomfortable but narrow enough so the legs don't splay out. The bike is light and is easy to pick up when dropped.

The new Rebels are phenomenal bikes. I'm in the 500 camp as well.

Nothing wrong with getting a bike lowered but along with seat height there's a lot of other issues. I used to have a Gen 6 VFR regardless of me being able to reach the ground (couldn't) the bike was top heavy and the handlebars were far far away from the seat. It was a ridiculous bike for me.

My old 599 is for sale at Marin Speed shop. This is a confidence inspiring machine that a rider need never grow out of. Under 5k RPMs it's a kitten.

 

[HMan510]

I put together a top 10 motorcycles for short riders over the summer. Overall, I'd recommend a CBR300 or Grom since I'm not a big fan of cruisers. That said, the HD Street 500 has an even lower seat height than a rebel, and better suits "the lifestyle" if that is something one values as part of their riding experience.

 

[russ69]

I'm a big fan of starting small. I think the Kymco Like 200 is a good starting place. Ride that for at least a year until you have mastered riding and anticipating the traffic. It has plenty of performance for the new rider and at 2500 bucks brand new it's very budget friendly.

 

[LittleBigGirl]

I am 5'2" and started on the 2010 Ninja 250.

Edit 2: Daytona Ladystars Boots will give height and confidence!!!

Edit: Got it for $2,400 in the month of December (2014). Sold it 3 years later for the same amount this past summer.

 

[russ69]

I am 5'2" and started on the 2010 Ninja 250.
Edit: Got it for $2,400 in the month of December (2014). Sold it 3 years later for the same amount this past summer.

:thumbup

 

[moto-rama]

My Shortish-Rider opinion is to start on anything that can build confidence during the first few months.
I don't think you can hypnotize or convince someone that is short of leg that they can ride anything, even if they could.
I have a 29" inseam so there are a lot of bikes that "feel" too tall, but aren't a problem (For me) to ride. In fact I haven't ridden or owned very many bikes that were "just right".

Weirdly, the bikes that "fit me" the best were made for bodies that don't exist. My 916 a great example, with a 33" seat height, felt kind of cramped in some ways, but at the track I never had to put my feet down for anything, and oddly enough, it was perfect.
The other one, a GS800, with a towering seat, that I had to slide my ass all the way off, and leave it in gear at stops, but it was the best commuter I have ever had.
Now I have a Too Short , the '07 Bonneville, and a Too Tall & Too Heavy, the FJR.
Come to think of it, the standard Booneville is a very easy going, not very tall bike your friend might be ok on.

The others I like that are short, HawkGT 650, or the late 70s Moto-Guzzi V50s. Neither are particularly easy to find these days, but both are solid. good bikes.

Plenty of search results for "Best Bikes for Short Riders"