Total Motorcycle Community Forums

hi everyone, i have always really wanted to own a sport bike. i recently went to a cycle dealership and sat on some of the bikes and my feet are on tip toes when im on it. i am 5'6. i was wondering if being this short has its limits on the different kinds of cycles out there. can u still ride like a sport bike without having both feet on the ground because ive seen some people who park their cycles, they use both their feet and back up. will someone please give me some advice on what to do. thank you

As a personal rule, if I can't flat-foot a bike, I won't buy it. I've had my eye on a V-Strom 1000 for quite some time now, but after sitting on one at a dealer recently I realized that I had to tip-toe it, so the 650 version is probably the way I'll go if I can ever afford a bout of multiple motorcycle syndrome! I suggest you find a bike that fits (at 5'6" that should be easy) or one that can be lowered inexpensively.

I don't know where you live but in Cali , if you cannot sit flat footed that amounts to a big fat ticket . Not to mention that is a major safety hazzard imnsho.
Regards, Wizzard

Some models offer an optional thin seat to reduce the seated height. You can also carve most seats down and restretch the original cover if you stick with a shape that's close to stock. I've carved a stoick seat cushion with an electric turkey knife to thin the sides for a srtaighter shot to the ground, and put contour in for comfort, too. The stock cover still fits nicely without wrinkles. If you buy a used bike, you won't feel sop bad about cutting it up...if you buy a new one, you can spend some mor and have an upholsterer do it for you. 5'6" isn't that short for a motorcyclist...I'm sure you can find a solution.

I assume that you've never ridden before?

If that's the case, you'd be better off going with a smaller or shorter bike (Ninja 500, Buell Blast, Suzuki Gs500f, Nighthawk 250,etc..) until you properly learn how to ride and handle a motorcycle.

There are alot of huge bikes out there (Like the old BMW R1150GS) that I see plenty of short riders on, even though you have to be over 6-ft tall to flatfoot it. The key is getting the experience to be able to deal with this situation best. Though it will always be a controversial topic as to whether or not it's safe.

So I guess in Cali nobody under about 5'3" can ride anything but a cruiser.

I know a lady who is 5'0" and rides a GS500 and has to tip-toe it. She tried a blast and would rather tip toe her GS vs flat footing a blast (she finds the GS's higher pegs to be more comfortable)

I'm 5'2" on a Kawa Ninja 250. I was on my toes on a Ninja 500 but you should be able to flat foot that bike cause you're taller than me

I thought there was a thread somewhere on this forum I once saw about lowering bike seats and links too...but can't remember where...

Wizzard wrote:I don't know where you live but in Cali , if you cannot sit flat footed that amounts to a big fat ticket . Not to mention that is a major safety hazzard imnsho.
Regards, Wizzard

Don't know where in CA you live but that is bogus.

Probably at least 1/4 of the sport bikers out their can't flat foot their bikes.

P

What kind of effect doeas lowering the bike have regarding handling performance? Would it reduce the amount you can lean the thing over at all? Just wondering cause my friend just stiffened the suspension on his CBR929RR and it actually raised it a tad but he said it's noticably more nimble and leanable.

I'm 5'7 and can't even flat foot a Ninja 500. Maybe you wear boots with big outsoles...if that helps.