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At 5'3" you should not have a problem on a virtually any cruiser styled 250. The sportie 250's have higher seats and won't fit.

I run Basic Rider courses. I have riders at your hieght who successfully ride Suzuki GZ250's, Kawasaki BN125's and the like. It's NOT a problem unless you are 5'3" and one of those people with a LOOONG body and itty bitty short legs.

The Rebel will fit. It would NOT be my choice for your first bike. The 250 cc cruisers are excellent in-town commuters but really are a little underpowered for highway work. While they can get it done, there is a lot of shifting, high revving, accompanying noise and vibration, etc. These little engines are simply working pretty hard to move these bikes at 65 mph.

The one bike I REALLT like for smaller statured riders is Suzuki's S40. This bike seems easier to handle than many 250s. The seat hieght is darned near identical, and the bike is very narrow. You don't use up leg length trying to get around the tank. The bike is also quite light. While it is a 650, its only 40 lbs heavier than many 250 cruisers. Its also relatively inexpensive ($4300 new, compared to $4000 for many 250s), and a damned good looking bike. I like it enough I bought one for Mrs. (she's 5'4"). We looked at every bike on the market: Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda, Harley. Nothing seemed to offer the same mix of light, narrow, low and easy to ride like the S40 did.

I am a MSF rider coach. I run the course on little 125s and 250s 16-20 times a year. I ride these little bikes a LOT. The S40 handles every bit as easy (I think it EASIER to ride), but its FAR more capable at highway speeds. Thee wife rides hers on trips frequently. It's easily carry by 240lbs at 70 mph all day.

It does have two 'faults":
1) They backfire on hard deceleration. Not a huge deal. Its a characteristic of this bike

2) It has no gas gauge. Gas up every 100 miles.

On the positive side it low maintenance, and has a belt drive. No chain cleaning!!!

I do like the s40 over the honda VLX 600. The VLX comes with a four speed gearbox, compared to the S40s five speed. And the chain drive on the VLX is a pain to clean. SOme smaller people also find the S40 is narrower, making it easier to flat foot.

Long a short of it: The 250 cruisers a a tad too small for 73 mile long 70 MPH commutes. Look closely at the s40.

did anyone notice that HD has one of the lowest seat heights.

I am 5'3" with a 27" inseam.
But for the most part I think the right bike will find you.

I too am quite short, 5'2". I found the best way to find the bike for you is to sit on aLOT of bikes.

I really had my heart set on a Harley, but when I went shopping, none of them were comfortable. Not necessarily because of height, but because of the center of gravity. For me, the Harley Center of gravity is just to high. When I tried out the V-Star 650 classic, it felt like it was built under me. I love it, and hope I have it for many years.

sparkingurl wrote:I too am quite short, 5'2". I found the best way to find the bike for you is to sit on aLOT of bikes.

I really had my heart set on a Harley, but when I went shopping, none of them were comfortable. Not necessarily because of height, but because of the center of gravity. For me, the Harley Center of gravity is just to high. When I tried out the V-Star 650 classic, it felt like it was built under me. I love it, and hope I have it for many years.

That's great I am glad you found your fit, that is very important. Enjoy yourself for the many years to come and be safe.

As far as HD goes I prefer it because I like where the center of gravity is and I can stand flat footed, however my old sporty was a bit more top heavy so I do understand what your concerns were, I suppose over the years I just became accustomed to it.

sparkingurl wrote:I too am quite short, 5'2". I found the best way to find the bike for you is to sit on aLOT of bikes.

I really had my heart set on a Harley, but when I went shopping, none of them were comfortable. Not necessarily because of height, but because of the center of gravity. For me, the Harley Center of gravity is just to high. When I tried out the V-Star 650 classic, it felt like it was built under me. I love it, and hope I have it for many years.

to TMW.

I also have a 650 Classic. It's a decent bike for beginners and all kinds of riding.

bulok wrote:I'm signing up for the MSF in my local community college to see if this is something I can really do. Being a short 5'3" I've been very hesitant although I've always wanted to ride.

Initially I thought of getting a Honda Rebel to learn and practice with but my commute is 73 miles one way and most of it is highway with a speed limit of 70mph , and with gas prices as they are I'm really looking for a more fuel efficient method of travel hence seriously considering using a bike for my commute. So now I've been looking at the Honda VLX 600 since it may better handle the highway travel.

I'm just wondering if anyone knows how good they are for vertically challenged folks like me and or if there are any alternative cruisers for beginners.


Thanks!

A solution would be to get some leg extenders, any orthopedic surgeon worth a knob of goat dodo will be able to install some of those.

Or

Ya could knock up some strap on stilts.

Or

Trike

Or

Sidecar outfit

Or

Get some loose fitting boots and build up the inside of them using inner soles, this will add 1/2 to an inch.

Or

Take some foam outa the seat, this will add 1/2 inch to ya, combined with the boots ya could get inch n a 1/2.

Or

Do a lowering mod on the bike...expensive but doable.

Or

a combination of all of them and ya could get 3-5 inches, but if ya do that becarefull cause the oxygen levels at a normal persons height is quite different and you may be a little unsteady on ya feet for a while until ya adjust.



good luck.





I am so low, I could parachute out a snakes arsehole and still get in 10 secs of free fall.










.

Pay no mind to shane-o. He's been on the underside of the world so long we're not sure what's happened to his brain circulation. He's kind of a good egg on the inside, but a bit rotten on the outside. Or, like some expensive, smelly French cheeses: definitely an acquired taste.

Like it's been said: take the MSF, sit on lots of bikes before and after the class, read the sticky on short bikes (see Ladies Lounge, too), and eventually, you and your bike will find each other. You'll know what fits you when it fits you.

And to TMW!