I have a Question about being a short rider. Is there an Active Forum like this one here centered around us? I know about the SBL(Short Bike List) but when I try to subscribe to them, I get a message is delayed. Then turns out to a Message fail to be sent. And I've tried sending it about 3 times now.
There's a lot of questions to ask and a lot of tips I would love to hear from the more advanced short riders. Let me know if I should keep trying to send the subscriptions, or if there is another avenue where us, Short Riders, gather. Thanks again.
Short Riders
Well what differences are there between a tall rider and a short rider once you've gained some experience on a bike? A first bike should be appropriate so that you do set yourself up for success.
Don't be offended, I'm 5'3" and started on a 780mm seat that I had to shave 4cm. Being a 'short rider; myself, I don't really see a need for a 'short riders' forum.
Don't be offended, I'm 5'3" and started on a 780mm seat that I had to shave 4cm. Being a 'short rider; myself, I don't really see a need for a 'short riders' forum.
The reason why I asked was because I've been dropping my bike doing U turns. I can do the Left turns at a very slow speed with my foot down, but the Right turns are where it's dropping. I'm trying to re practice those U turns in the MSF classes. I did it with a 250 Cruiser but when I did mess up, I could put my foot down. My Hyosung instead just drops.
So maybe I should then shave my seat huh? Well, I haven't taken my bike out of the parking garage yet. Maybe next week or whenever, but is it possible to just pull off the seat and take it into the Motorcycle shop and have them shave it there? How long does the process take? I have only around 15 hours of riding experience total. And never road with traffic, so I'd like to have the bike brought in as a last resort.
thanks
So maybe I should then shave my seat huh? Well, I haven't taken my bike out of the parking garage yet. Maybe next week or whenever, but is it possible to just pull off the seat and take it into the Motorcycle shop and have them shave it there? How long does the process take? I have only around 15 hours of riding experience total. And never road with traffic, so I'd like to have the bike brought in as a last resort.
thanks
If you're dropping the bike during Uturns and needing to put your foot down to catch yourself then you're not applying powering out through the turn, you're not turning your head and looking all the way through, and you're not weighting the inside peg to sorta counterlean to make up for the low speed turn that requires a hint of balance.
You said going to the right you have trouble. I think that just could be the motor skill difference in working the controls on the bars (clutch left, throttle right) sometimes makes rights or lefts uneven because your arm, wrists and hands are better at it at one angle versus another.
I understand that you are having difficulty catching the bike when you get wobbly and so it drops. When I got wobbly on somethings, I was the same. I think being short and having trouble with the Uturn are two separate issues but do cause trouble sometimes when you put them together.
To fix the Uturns, first of all get your head all the way around and look where you want to go. It'll feel like you're over emphasizing it, but you're not. Use power (clutched and controlled) to get around the sticking point in the turn. Use a little body weight on the pegs to keep the center of gravity while the b ike is leaning out the other way.
For the seat, getting it shaved may be worth a shot. Take a look at your seat construction and be sure there is enough padding on the seat so you're not removing too much and making it a flat piece of board
You said going to the right you have trouble. I think that just could be the motor skill difference in working the controls on the bars (clutch left, throttle right) sometimes makes rights or lefts uneven because your arm, wrists and hands are better at it at one angle versus another.
I understand that you are having difficulty catching the bike when you get wobbly and so it drops. When I got wobbly on somethings, I was the same. I think being short and having trouble with the Uturn are two separate issues but do cause trouble sometimes when you put them together.
To fix the Uturns, first of all get your head all the way around and look where you want to go. It'll feel like you're over emphasizing it, but you're not. Use power (clutched and controlled) to get around the sticking point in the turn. Use a little body weight on the pegs to keep the center of gravity while the b ike is leaning out the other way.
For the seat, getting it shaved may be worth a shot. Take a look at your seat construction and be sure there is enough padding on the seat so you're not removing too much and making it a flat piece of board
Thanks Shorts for the Tips I'll try that. But I'm kinda afraid to lift my feet off the ground. Because all these turning are done in a small parking garage. And these Uturns are Full Locked Uturns. And once I go wobbly, it's over and the bike is going down. For I am too short to support it, or maybe too slow in stopping it before it falls.
But what you say is true. Dropping the Bike isn't because I'm short, it's lack of skill. I am looking forward to taking the bike out soon, and practicing some of the things I've learned in the MSF classes. But as for now I'm just stuck in the Parking Garage riding about 10-20mins a day. Even after I drop it. I also sprained my wrist the first time it dropped(Just Healed Up). So fear is also a factor, but the 2nd time I've dropped it, was much better. No injury.
As a beginner, should I be practicing these turns now? Or should I just refresh what I've learned from MSF and start more on the basics of turning and riding. Because it feels like an advance technique. I know in the MSF class, the U truns were the hardest to do too. I lost some points off of that one. But the others I picked up. let me know your thoughts.
But what you say is true. Dropping the Bike isn't because I'm short, it's lack of skill. I am looking forward to taking the bike out soon, and practicing some of the things I've learned in the MSF classes. But as for now I'm just stuck in the Parking Garage riding about 10-20mins a day. Even after I drop it. I also sprained my wrist the first time it dropped(Just Healed Up). So fear is also a factor, but the 2nd time I've dropped it, was much better. No injury.
As a beginner, should I be practicing these turns now? Or should I just refresh what I've learned from MSF and start more on the basics of turning and riding. Because it feels like an advance technique. I know in the MSF class, the U truns were the hardest to do too. I lost some points off of that one. But the others I picked up. let me know your thoughts.
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TorontoBoy
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You have not told us what kind of Hyosung you have. If you're on the seat and can put both feet (balls of the feet or toes) down at the same time, then the bike generally fits.
It sounds like a technical riding skill issue, not a bike issue. Also note that a bike is least stable when going extremely slow, such as when you're doing a U-turn. A little gas will help. Also if you're practicing in a parking garage, is the floor made of concrete? Concrete is very slippery and may contribute to you going down. Maybe you can find a riding coach to help you out.
Don't be discouraged due to lack of height. It's not a negative. Lack of height usually means less body weight, which means for the same size bike and engine you can go much faster than someone who is 2 times your weight. Consider lack of height as a built-in bike performance enhancement.
It sounds like a technical riding skill issue, not a bike issue. Also note that a bike is least stable when going extremely slow, such as when you're doing a U-turn. A little gas will help. Also if you're practicing in a parking garage, is the floor made of concrete? Concrete is very slippery and may contribute to you going down. Maybe you can find a riding coach to help you out.
Don't be discouraged due to lack of height. It's not a negative. Lack of height usually means less body weight, which means for the same size bike and engine you can go much faster than someone who is 2 times your weight. Consider lack of height as a built-in bike performance enhancement.
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aw58
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If your shorter and lighter it can also mean you will stop quicker vs the heavys whose brakes may have to work too hard too stop in time.TorontoBoy wrote:
Don't be discouraged due to lack of height. It's not a negative. Lack of height usually means less body weight, which means for the same size bike and engine you can go much faster than someone who is 2 times your weight. Consider lack of height as a built-in bike performance enhancement.
Ade (5'4")
If you can see the tops of the mountain's it's going to rain.
If you can't - it's raining.
All Characters and events here are allegedly fictitious...Any resemblance with either dead or living is purely co-incidental
And don't ride faster than your Guardian Angel can fly
If you can't - it's raining.
All Characters and events here are allegedly fictitious...Any resemblance with either dead or living is purely co-incidental
And don't ride faster than your Guardian Angel can fly
I have a Hyosung 2008 gt250r. Well I can tip toe it okish, to the point of where I'm comfortable (in the parking garage). I know I can somewhat go at a higher speed fine. So what I do is practice my Slow Speeds. I pretend I'm in heavy traffic, and work the clutch. Letting the bike move to a few feet at a good rolling speed, then clutch in and try to slow down and balance. I get kinda wobbly, but I can manage. I'll have to test this too out on the streets (by myself of course).
But yah any slow speed tips will help for a short rider. Cause this is where Tall riders have the advantage, I think. They just put both foot down and slowly walk the bike. To were us short rider has to kinda bounce? Or is it just me? When I slowly take off I have a short wobble and I keep Both my legs down as to balance. It seems to work fine for me.
anyways, this is way way off subject, but How Easy Is It To Steal A Bike? when it's parked in 1st gear and has been turned to the Lock position? Cause I currently have the Bike in an Open Parking garage. So I don't want any dude on the streets to just steal it away. I have no locks and the parking there is Free For All, first come first serves. So is there any portable Locks I can use, because my parking is always changing.
well thanks again
But yah any slow speed tips will help for a short rider. Cause this is where Tall riders have the advantage, I think. They just put both foot down and slowly walk the bike. To were us short rider has to kinda bounce? Or is it just me? When I slowly take off I have a short wobble and I keep Both my legs down as to balance. It seems to work fine for me.
anyways, this is way way off subject, but How Easy Is It To Steal A Bike? when it's parked in 1st gear and has been turned to the Lock position? Cause I currently have the Bike in an Open Parking garage. So I don't want any dude on the streets to just steal it away. I have no locks and the parking there is Free For All, first come first serves. So is there any portable Locks I can use, because my parking is always changing.
well thanks again
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badinfluence63
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sasuke,
stealing a bike.......never let it out of your site. Lock the "poo poo" out of it. Wrap a big chain and a worthy lock around it and maybe, just maybe they won't. I just had a friend have his 18,000$ bike stolen right under his nose from a restaurant/bar he had been going to for years. In broad daylight no less and in a crowded area.
Its dangerous to have a bike where at least both tippy toes cannot touch the ground at the same time. Can you lower it a inch or 2 some how? Shorter shocks, flip flop the swing arm so the shock mounts are on the bottom of the swing arm? Thinner seat?
stealing a bike.......never let it out of your site. Lock the "poo poo" out of it. Wrap a big chain and a worthy lock around it and maybe, just maybe they won't. I just had a friend have his 18,000$ bike stolen right under his nose from a restaurant/bar he had been going to for years. In broad daylight no less and in a crowded area.
Its dangerous to have a bike where at least both tippy toes cannot touch the ground at the same time. Can you lower it a inch or 2 some how? Shorter shocks, flip flop the swing arm so the shock mounts are on the bottom of the swing arm? Thinner seat?