Total Motorcycle Community Forums

sasuke wrote:
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?

Definitely not just you. I had the same troubles getting started too. As I mentioned, the shaved seat really helped alleviate this problem for me. You'd be amazed what a big difference a small adjustment like this can do.

sasuke,

grow a pair man, use more power in your turn, aren't u suppose to accelerate through a turn?

no offensive. i'm 5'4 and i'm soon to learn how to ride a motorcycle, but ur stories are kinda ruining it for me. is it really that tough for short noob riders to make a Uturn?

drunkenninjalmldl wrote:sasuke,

grow a pair man, use more power in your turn, aren't u suppose to accelerate through a turn?

no offensive. i'm 5'4 and i'm soon to learn how to ride a motorcycle, but ur stories are kinda ruining it for me. is it really that tough for short noob riders to make a Uturn?

If you've yet "to learn" then you've really got no business criticizing. The Uturn is generally the maneuver that gives many riders trouble early on, not just shorter folks.

I doubt motorcycling is ruined for you. Go take your MSF course or whatever rider's course you're taking, I'm sure you'll enjoy it just fine and forget all about this post.




Sasuke, you said you feel wobbly. To remedy that when doing low speed stuff like crawling along in traffic, be sure you use authoritative moves. Remember, the bike works on gyroscopic theory. So, move strong, control the brakes and timing, and controlling the bike becomes easier. Keep your eyes up. Don't look down or that's where you'll go.

Low speed movement in traffic takes concentration. When I'm tired I know this because I do it poorly. Feather the clutch, use your front brake, and "duck walk" on tippy toes through traffic. You need not push the bike forward with your feet, just use your feet for balance. It takes practice, but it's a necessary skill. When stopped I gear up to neutral or my hand will get really tired.

You seem to be doing the right things already, so with more practice you'll feel more confident and ride better. U-Turns take practice. U-turns on a 2 lane road are very useful and common and should be no problem because it's not that tight.

Tight lock to lock u-turns are challenging, and I've read may be unnecessary. They run the risk of dumping your bike (as you found out, ouch!), so maybe it's easier to do a 3 point turn instead. It's also not very often I need to do a lock-to-lock U-turn, so they are uncommon and they're hard to do. If you have time to practice then go right ahead, but there may be other skills that are more practical. This is just my opinion.

Keep up the good work. Short riders need to be smarter and better than the rest. This shouldn't be a surprise, as we've been doing this all our lives.

P.S. Tall riders with heavier bikes also wobble at low speed. Watch the Tuttles on American Chopper duckwalk their bikes and you'll see huge wobbling. Their seats are low, legs long and they still wobble like a bobblehead.

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?

Yeah badinfluence63 I think I'm going to shave the seat. As Shorts suggested. I kinda already feel comfortable with the way it already is. Like the SBL said, ride it for 3 weeks and then decide if you want to lower it. But I think I'm going to just shave the seat. Just so I can have a bigger stroke of confidence. Like Shorts said

A first bike should be appropriate so that you do set yourself up for success.

sasuke,

grow a pair man, use more power in your turn, aren't u suppose to accelerate through a turn?

no offensive. i'm 5'4 and i'm soon to learn how to ride a motorcycle, but ur stories are kinda ruining it for me. is it really that tough for short noob riders to make a Uturn?

I did grow a pair, that's why I'm riding safe with full gear. You know how expensive a helmet is? For a one shot deal, you don't want to be busting something like that over a silly U turn. And don't worry about my stories. They shouldn't scare you at all, because I am doing all this with Full Gear on. And if you are scared, think twice about getting your bike.

You know, when I first dropped my bike, I was scared S@#Tless. No Lie. I was like OMG it's so new and so different from the MSF classes. And the fact that I was the only one out of my friends who decided to ride. So I had no one else to turn to if I needed to ask something. And I just bought a new bike too? And, no lie, I was having 2nd thoughts about riding again.

But you know what, lucky I pulled through it. I still haven't taken her out, like I want to yet, but everywhere I go, I say, "Man, I'd love to ride down this street..." Take the MSF class and you'll see, the U Turns are hard. At the moment I suggest to you, Think twice before you get your bike. Figure out why you want to ride and if you can handle it. Because it's not some game you can pick up and put down. It's more like a lifestyle, and a commitment.

Anyways, it's really nice to know that you really don't use the Full Locked turns. The only reason why I'm doing them is I have to turn back around when I get to the end of the garage. But I think I'll just slowly walk it around. Getting good and comfortable at slow speed is what I plan to master first. Attacking my weakness head on. But these tips are very helpful and they are very encouraging coming from other Short Riders.

But about the shaving of the seats, Should I pop off the seat and just bring that in to the shop and have them shave it? or how is the procedure? If I take my seat off, I can put my bike in a gated key locked garage. But if I have to bring it in then I think I'll keep practicing till I'm good on the streets and ride down to the shop, which isn't far away.

I'm 5'0"
and the seat height is 795mm
that's like 31-32 inches
so how much should I shave?

let me know. Thanks again.

sasuke wrote: I'm 5'0"
and the seat height is 795mm
that's like 31-32 inches
so how much should I shave?

let me know. Thanks again.

I took 4cm off my 780mm seat. That came out to about an inch and a half. They also contoured the side of the seat so that it made the width narrower towards the top section. If they just shave material off the top only, it actually makes the seat a bit wider (and your stance wider and not offering any benefit) so it's good to get the upper half of the sides done too.

Again, if your seat is thicker you have enough material to get a nice advantage from seat shaving. If the seat is not thick, you'll need to be conservative in the amount you hae removed.

sasuke,

Look what I found in another part of the forum and I was thinking of you when I read it. Here it is:

http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/sbl.faq.html

I thought it seemded to have some helpful hints for you?

sasuke wrote: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.

Most turns on everyday riding will not be full lock turns. As you ride more and more you will eventually get better at turnning to where you will be able to make good tight turns. It just takes time and a lot of practice. Good luck.
BTW I am too 5'2".