Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hi Ya'll,

I am new here!
I have been reading this forum all day, Well I am only 4'11", 115lbs, and 23 years old and my dad has a Ninja Kawasaki 250 for me BUT i am still too short to ride!

My tip-toes touch the ground but i can't put my whole foot flat on the ground.

What can be done for me so i fit the bike so i can ride?

He suggested "shaving" the seat and/or lowering the bike, What else can be done for me to be able to fit on this bike? And what are the negatives or positives that come with these tye of adjustments??

Thanks

P.s. I cant take the MSC because they dont have a bike to fit me and everything is on hold until my bike gets fitted for me!

When you take the MSF course, they should have the Rebel 250 for you to use. That has a much shorter seat height than the Ninja 250. If you can tip toe the Ninja, you can flat foot the Rebel.

Your dad's suggestions of shaving the seat and lowering the bike are spot on. Shaving the seat may make the ride a bit more uncomfortable. Lowering the bike will also make the ride harsher because there will be less suspension travel.

Here is the short bikers list, you may find some helpful info there: http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/sbl.sbl.html

sharpmagna wrote:When you take the MSF course, they should have the Rebel 250 for you to use. That has a much shorter seat height than the Ninja 250. If you can tip toe the Ninja, you can flat foot the Rebel.

Your dad's suggestions of shaving the seat and lowering the bike are spot on. Shaving the seat may make the ride a bit more uncomfortable. Lowering the bike will also make the ride harsher because there will be less suspension travel.

Here is the short bikers list, you may find some helpful info there: http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/sbl.sbl.html

+1 above.

The Rebel will fit you perfect for class. I'm 5'3" with a 28-29" inseam and I can easily stand up a Rebel. I can stand a GPX250RII (JPN spec Ninja) but only with the front halves of my feet.

You might can get another .5" or so changing tires/wheels as well. Of course, there might be downsides to that. But, may be an option.

I'd avoid changing the tire to a smaller aspect ratio. This will screw up your odometer. Also since you will have a lower tire sidewall, the ride will be harsher but more importantly the suspension geometry will be different causing your handling to change.

WOW, Thanks for the replys....When i went to the motorcyle testing site they had no bikes to fit me i tried 2. only tip toes could touch and the bike was so heavy trying to balance on my tip toes so it would definitly have to be my own bike i bring there this was already discussed with the instructor in order for me to be in the class because they have none to fit me.............

So then i am stuck with the shaving of the seat and/or the lowering, RIGHT??

Thanks

Platform shoes?

sorry....

and Good Luck!

This probably doesn't help that much since I am 5'2....but here goes. Yes - you can try to shave the seat, however, I didn't so have no comment about that. I have m-c boots with a 1.5 inch heel so that adds some height and my ninja (Canadian model 2006 zzr250) has 5 suspension settings. It's adjusted to the lowest setting and with the boots, I am on the balls of my feet. However, as I have been trying to get more experience riding, I find that I am getting more comfortable leaning the bike to the left a bit at stops so that I am able to flat foot it with my left foot at those times. I had a 2001 ninja (sold) that had the same type of suspension settings so I was the similarly seated on that bike.

Pingel has lowering links for 88-02 Ninja 250 that will lower the rear of the bike about 2". Should be about right for you to get started on after taking the course on something like a Rebel 250. They are a bit pricey compared to the ones I recently bought for a 02 GS500, but since you already have the bike, they could be well worth the price.

http://www.pingelonline.com/lowering_links.htm

Tire changes are always worth considering but forget it for the Ninja 250, you won't find low profile tires to fit it's narrow wheels. Shaving the seat can be worthwhile though. Since you are 23 years old you won't be getting any taller, but at 73 I'm getting shorter.

The changes in handling and ride of the lowered bike will not be that significant to you as a new rider. The steering will be a bit slower but that could be a plus for a new rider and the ride will be a bit harsher but you can set the rear preload to the lightest setting Karate suggested above and it will be of little notice to you.

A friend of mine, a really big guy, recently bought a Hyabusa to add to a couple large cruisers he rides and lowered it's rear 4" for appearance reasons. I followed him thru some twisties for a couple hours and he wasn't dragging anything but his toes at a pace faster than you will probably be going for a little while at least. He later was dragging the underbody a bit and found he would bottom the top of the tire against the inner fender with his wife aboard with him and settled for 2" lower. Your light weight will be a plus on a lowered bike, we both weigh more than twice as much as you.

....one note about tires on the Ninja 250...

The bike ws designed for a 120/80 rear tire. That size rear tires are hard to find nowadays, so Kawasaki swapped in a 130/80, which raises the bike 1/2" or so. Putting on the "right" tire will lower the bike a bit and arguably improve the handling, at least for around town or twisties. The fatter tire is more stable at high speeds (freeway riding)... depending on how much freeway riding you to you may prefer the handling with the smaller tire.

16" 120/80 tires available:Pirelli MT75 and Avon AM51/AM52.

Whatever you do, have fun.