Long Distance Biker
Long Distance Motorcycling Advice

motorcycle?

yea.. im thinking about getting a more "street sport" stlye bike but im pretty small and a couple of people told me i wouldn't be able to handle it but i always thought that if your strong enough it doesn't matter your size? what do you think? thanks! and if you do have a motorcycle what kind do you have and do you finds it handles well? or do you know of any that does? thanks!
well im about 5'3" 5'4" that was more the question am i too short ...ha! but really!

Public Comments

1. no

2. I see kids ridding bikes all the time. You can handle it

3. i got a kawasaki ninja, im small and i handle it pretty well...o yea ima girl

4. Body mass to bike mass does matter. Not always matter of strength.

When the bike is in motion it takes mass to move it. In quick moves it takes more mass.

A lighter framed person will not be able to lean the bike for such actions.

I would stay with a 250cc rice burner. 600cc and up will take you for a ride over you riding it.

5. Motorcycles suck

6. whoever told you that you won't be able to handle it is right. it's not whether or not your strong enough to handle your bike, but most bikes are built for a certian range of people, so that your grip on the bike and the holds might be different. even different enough to make it dangerous to drive the bike.

7. you can handle any bike if you are a rider , just get one you feel comfortable with .

8. Just cuz your small doesn't mean you can't handle it. I'm small and had a Honda CBR 600. Anything smaller isn't worth it. You can go to a bike shop and have the suspension lowered if you're short and you need to do that. Be sure to learn how to ride properly and be safe. It's fun but extremely dangerous. Ride safe!

9. I have a Honda CBR 600RR. It is a street bike. I love it. I am 5'6'' and weight about 128lbs. I can handle it just fine. I cannot touch both feet flat on the ground on it but that is ok. you do not have to touch flat to ride a bike. if that is the kind of bike you want go for it. If you dont like it you can always sell it and get another. There are smaller, lower to the ground bikes that you can get, shop around and ride your friends bikes to find out. go to a bike night somewhere and ask around. sit on other peoples bikes if they let you. if you can ride one type of bike you can ride ANY type of bike. they are not that different. dont let others tell you what you can and cannot do. go for it.

10. no way

11. My husband has a Honda Shadow. It is a great bike. A bit smaller than a Harley, but good. I am not as tall as he is, I am 5'7", so I would like to start on something like the Rebel. This bike is one that the Honda dealer down here likes to start people on when teaching riding lessons. It is a small bike and easy to handle. Then you can go up from there.

My brother-in-law and his wif ebothe have Harley's but I don't know what size. I just know that he has a big one and she has a smaller one.

You would also have to get on a bike and see what your heighth tells you. You have to be able to reach everything. I think once you get something you are comforatble with, know how it rides and stuff, then you can deck it out.

I would try to find someone local that gives riding lessons so you can try it out first, then see what your mind says about it. Personally I love the feel of being on a bike. I do hate that other drivers don't have respect for bikers and don't look for them on the road. Take all the necessary precautions when on a bike, you don't want to lose your head.

12. depends what kind you want long rides or short short rides rice rocket,long rides or casual 883 Harley good or smiler style ride in groups also have fun

13. I saw a lady who was only 5ft. on a Harley ( road king ) about 800 lb. When traffic stooped she leaned it over on her left leg. When we moved she shoved it back up and drooped the clutch. I was thinking she would be better off with a Low rider but she seem to do all right. I see lots of women on Harley's. Remember it's not the size of the dog in the fight, It's the size of the fight in the dog.

14. the first bike i wanted was a 1500 NINJA and people told me the same thing (that i was to small for such a big bike)
so i settled for a YZF-R6 you'll love it

15. You can handle it im 5-10 160lbs and i had a Susuki Katana 600cc,just be careful get the feel of it before you go getting crazy or showing off at a green light!!!!

16. I am 5' 4" female 140 lbs. I've been riding for about 7 years. Started with a 1200 Sportster and now I'm the proud owner of a Heritage Classic. I prefer the bigger Heritage over the Sportster, any day. As for weight, the bike I now own and ride is almost a 700 lb. bike. I love the way it handles it is like riding on a Cadillac! The weight of the Heritage is lower and easier to balance than the Sportster which has the motor up high on the bike. Hope this helps.

17. You want a Ninja 250.

18. Harley Davidson Sportster Low 883
I am two inches shorter than you and I love my ride...

19. Try a cruiser with a lowered suspension, you'll be impressed. Whatever you decide, make sure you can rest both of your feet flat on the ground. Good luck.

20. I'm 5'3 also, and it hasn't stopped me! You will be fine. Don't listen to those people - they probably aren't into bikes themselves and so don't have a clue.

You should definitely take a beginner's course, such as the safety course, although there are lots of others. Just google motorcycle class and your area, and you'll find plenty.

This way you'll learn to ride and you'll find out if it's really for you. Then you'll be in a better position to decide what you want to buy.

I can personally recommend the Honda Magna (which I'm coincidentally selling on craigslist....) It has a 28" seat height, so you should be able to reach the ground quite easily. It's about 500 pounds, and while it looks quite beefy, it's actually a very mannerly bike.

Not everyone shares my need for speed and power, but if you do, this would be a good first bike for you. Not only can you continue refining your skills, but there's enough there to keep you happy for more than a few weeks.

One last thing - ignore the postings here by people who don't even have bikes. There are many regulars in this section, and those are the people who will give you the best advice. I haven't seen any of them posting yet, but it's early.....

And FWIW, I wouldn't recommend a harley as a first bike. If that's what you want then go for it, but if you're not already drooling over one, you should take into consideration the higher cost and the weight - they tend to be heavier than most.

21. Don't listen to the guy talking about using body mass to lean a bike. He obviously never learned how to steer one.
When you need to make a quick correction just use the handle bars. If you flick the bar to the right your bike will dive left & vice-versa. Have fun!

22. I'm about 5'7", and overweight, and ride a '95 Triumph 900 Sprint. A sports tourer.
Both feet flat on the ground is best, but I can't do it! But you must be able to touch ground. I don't agree with the suggestion to have suspension lowered, suspension is CRITICAL on a bike. You can have a seat modified though to get you down a bit.
Look for a bike that feels comfortable. And please, for a first bike Go for a smaller bike (we have to start on 250cc here) and move on later. I don't like the idea of 2 strokes (the power band is deadly) for a beginner, nor the 4-Cyl 250 Honda (though it's a great bike). Stick to something a bit more tractable.
You state "street sport", which in HD means a Buell - NOT for a beginner! All other HD's are cruisers.
Do whatever learner/safety courses are available to you. And don't take lessons from a friend that's a dirt-bike rider!!! Dirt and road riding are totally different.
Keep both wheels down and ride safe - remember, on a bike you're invisible.

23. My brother and I bought 2 new bikes for a summer vacation. His 1200 Bandit leaked gas and ruined the motor before it got 2000 miles. We asked Suzuki to replace the motor so we could go on vacation. They said it’s to expensive and would cost $3000. After 4 months and the vacation gone they got the motor rebuilt at a their cost of $3700. The dealer wanted to replace the motor but Suzuki squashed that. The gas stained cases and burnt exhaust pipes were not replaced. The bike got nicked and scratched all over from being apart for so long. The rep rode it and looked at it, then said it’ good as new. It ran like crap and looked worse. We called Japan for nothing, and even wrote the US CEO all for nothing. We spent $15,000 for the bikes to get Fd. We spent our vacation hassling with Suzuki, and not one person there gave a F! Beware Suzuki’s warranty is not worth the paper it’s printed on! Buy one of their lemons are get Fd like we did!

24. Ninja 250......NInja 250.......Ninja 250......