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A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 1:42:51 PM   
GhitaAmati


Posts: 3263
Joined: 5/30/2007
Status: offline 		I've found myself in the market for a small motorcycle. I do a LOT of back and forth in town driving by myself each week and my big 4 door pick up is sucking down $80-$100 in gas each week. I haven't driven a motorcycle in close to 12 years but I think its about time to change that.

Anyway, my question is, I'm 5'1" and 125lbs. What's a good starter bike for someone my size? I'm not really interested in anything too big or with a ton of power. I'm pretty comfortable with shifting because of the 4-wheeler, but again, don't have a lot of experience on a bike and I need something fairly low to the ground for my short legs.

I'm not really the crotch rocket type but I'd be willing if a good enough deal fell in my lap, and I'm not overly attached to a particular brand name either.

Besides, I need to know what to tell Mark to show up here with! ;)



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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 1:47:38 PM   
RapierFugue


Posts: 4740
Joined: 3/16/2006
From: London, England
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quote:

ORIGINAL: GhitaAmati

Anyway, my question is, I'm 5'1" and 125lbs.


I don't know what the learner regs are where you are, but at that height (or lack thereof), I'd suggest one of the Japanese sports 400s. Very low seat height, coz the Japs aren't big fellahs.

An SV650 would be less frantic, but try one first coz I'm not sure if you could touch the deck.

Also, there are companies who put lift soles into bike boots, to give you an extra couple of inches.

It's height, not weight, that's the issue; if your technique is good you don't need heaps of strength.

Oh, and Harleys are gaylord pieces of shit - avoid :)

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 1:53:16 PM   
MaxsBoy


Posts: 766
Status: offline 		Good question!  I'm a few inches taller and just a couple pounds heavier than you, and will also be looking for a starter bike very soon.  I have never ridden ever (well, hung off the back of a Harley back in the day, but that's not the same thing) so I have no idea what to look for in a bike.  No low seat for me though, my legs are ridiculous.

< Message edited by MaxsBoy -- 6/5/2011 1:54:07 PM >

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 1:57:34 PM   
RapierFugue


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From: London, England
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quote:

ORIGINAL: MaxsBoy

Good question!  I'm a few inches taller and just a couple pounds heavier than you, and will also be looking for a starter bike very soon.  I have never ridden ever (well, hung off the back of a Harley back in the day, but that's not the same thing) so I have no idea what to look for in a bike.  No low seat for me though, my legs are ridiculous.


If you have the leg height, off-road bikes (in road trim) are excellent ways to learn - they're easy to flick, respond to minimal control inputs nicely, and generally try to keep you on, rather than spit you off.

But for someone 5' 1" their seat height would be a bit much.

And, again, the SV650 is a superb all-round first bike, if you're tall enough. Very forgiving, with a non-aggressive power profile.

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 2:23:25 PM   
0ldhen


Posts: 2221
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From: Henhouse in Trolltopia, Harleyville USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: RapierFugue


[If you have the leg height, off-road bikes (in road trim) are excellent ways to learn - they're easy to flick, respond to minimal control inputs nicely, and generally try to keep you on, rather than spit you off.

But for someone 5' 1" their seat height would be a bit much.

And, again, the SV650 is a superb all-round first bike, if you're tall enough. Very forgiving, with a non-aggressive power profile.




The perfect offroad learners bike is a Honda XR100 OR A CR100. The seat height accomadates a 4'8 to a 5'4 rider with both feet flat on the ground.

For a street bike, first check your states legal onroad cc limits. Different states have different rules. Then check to see if your local ABATE chapter provides Riders Ed. If they do, most have bikes to teach you on. Thia also gives you the advantage of working with a few different types 1st hand to see what you like.

Next go to a bike shop and look around.Everybody makes lowriders now. Honda or Yamaha are my picks for a beginners street ride.

Finally try them on, sit on them, do your feet touch with both soles flat? Can you reach the handlebars easily, are the control comfortable for you to use?

And my last comment, I am 5'2, I have owned and ridden many a Harley. But economical they are not for a 1st time rider.

< Message edited by 0ldhen -- 6/5/2011 2:24:06 PM >

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 2:31:10 PM   
RapierFugue


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From: London, England
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quote:

ORIGINAL: 0ldhen

The perfect offroad learners bike is a Honda XR100 OR A CR100. The seat height accomadates a 4'8 to a 5'4 rider with both feet flat on the ground.


Agreed but, for road riding, very small (sub-400 cc 4 stroke) bikes don't, IMHO at least, teach you anything worthwhile about road riding.

I was an instructor for quite a few years, and the people that tended to prosper were those who got a reasonable sized bike under them early and then learned, rather than starting on something too small, too light and too underpowered such that, when they eventually stepped onto something worthwhile, they got swamped.

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 2:33:52 PM   
RapierFugue


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quote:

ORIGINAL: RapierFugue

Agreed but, for road riding, very small (sub-400 cc 4 stroke) bikes don't, IMHO at least, teach you anything worthwhile about road riding.


Forgot to say ... training is everything - invest in decent training and you'll do ten times better than those that don't.

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 2:38:37 PM   
GreedyTop


Posts: 52100
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Savannah, GA
Status: offline 		RF!!!  *tacklehug*

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 2:40:15 PM   
RapierFugue


Posts: 4740
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From: London, England
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quote:

ORIGINAL: GreedyTop

RF!!!  *tacklehug*


lol. Allo you :)

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 2:53:14 PM   
igor2003


Posts: 1718
Joined: 1/1/2004
Status: offline 		If you are dead set on an actual motorcycle the best thing to do would be to go to a few dealers, sit on their bikes, do some short test rides, and see how they feel to you.  Size, manufacturer, power, etc. are all very individual to a particular riders needs. 

That said...considering your size, have you considered the thought of a step-through scooter?  Many of them have plenty of power for working your way through traffic and have the conveniences of the step-through frame, wind shield for the legs (very nice if you are commuting to work and don't want to get "messed up" on the way), many have built-in storage boxes for small trips to the grocers, etc., and can also be ridden while wearing a skirt if you are so inclined.

However, I know that many people just don't like the idea of a scooter instead of a motorcycle. 

You said you haven't ridden in 12 years, and I don't know how much previous experience you have, but some lessons or a refresher course would probably be a very good idea, as some others have mentioned.  I once read some statistics that said that in something like 90% of all accidents involving a motorcycle the MC rider had less than a year of experience (regardless of who was at fault in the accident).

Good luck and happy riding.


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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 3:34:24 PM   
pahunkboy


Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline 		...how often would you be able to use it?

Rain, wind, snow,  etc-  heavy traffic....   I would find a better car- if in fact the goal is to cut down on gas costs.   If for fun- then that is another ball game.

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 3:36:33 PM   
RapierFugue


Posts: 4740
Joined: 3/16/2006
From: London, England
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quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

...how often would you be able to use it?

Rain, wind, snow,  etc-  heavy traffic....   I would find a better car- if in fact the goal is to cut down on gas costs.   If for fun- then that is another ball game.


Nice to see you're as clueless on this topic as you are on every other one.

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 3:47:36 PM   
lizi


Posts: 4673
Joined: 2/1/2009
Status: offline 		I don't have a lot of time now but wanted to tell you that I have a 2004 Honda Rebel 250 and it was perfect for me in learning to ride and then afterward as a thing to take me around town. I love the way it fits and it's got more than enough speed, I can get up to 75 or so. I'm 5'3" for comparison purposes- I can straddle it and have my feet flat on the ground. I'll be back later to write more about it.

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/5/2011 5:04:08 PM   
GhitaAmati


Posts: 3263
Joined: 5/30/2007
Status: offline 		Thanks to everyone! My bike 12 uears ago was a honda rebel, but much older than a 04!

I will definitely be tracking down some lessons

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/6/2011 3:41:11 AM   
0ldhen


Posts: 2221
Joined: 12/27/2010
From: Henhouse in Trolltopia, Harleyville USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: GhitaAmati

Thanks to everyone! My bike 12 uears ago was a honda rebel, but much older than a 04!

I will definitely be tracking down some lessons


Here ya go, call the number at the end of the paragraph.

http://www.abateflorida.com/safety_msap.php


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Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don't.

Za'beeta Regal, Et Vogo O' Lurwadra'd Wyka Go Abosh Inunsey.

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/6/2011 6:13:26 AM   
GhitaAmati


Posts: 3263
Joined: 5/30/2007
Status: offline 		Out of everything I've looked at so far, my favorite has been the harley nightster. Not entirely fond of the price tag though. And Daddy thinks 1200cc is too big for me. Something about him knowing how I am with speed. *shrug*

_____________________________

I said I was a submissive, I never said I was a GOOD submissive.


Sex without love is a meaningless experience, but as far as meaningless experiences go its pretty damn good.
~Woody Allen

(in reply to 0ldhen)
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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/6/2011 6:14:09 AM   
RapierFugue


Posts: 4740
Joined: 3/16/2006
From: London, England
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quote:

ORIGINAL: GhitaAmati

Out of everything I've looked at so far, my favorite has been the harley nightster. Not entirely fond of the price tag though. And Daddy thinks 1200cc is too big for me. Something about him knowing how I am with speed. *shrug*


Speed? Harley?

Does not compute.

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/6/2011 6:21:01 AM   
RapierFugue


Posts: 4740
Joined: 3/16/2006
From: London, England
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quote:

ORIGINAL: GhitaAmati

Out of everything I've looked at so far, my favorite has been the harley nightster. Not entirely fond of the price tag though. And Daddy thinks 1200cc is too big for me. Something about him knowing how I am with speed. *shrug*


The entry level Sportster Harleys were (the last time I looked, at any rate) pretty much identical, in "performance" terms, to the bigger stuff; the engines designs are so ancient that on a BHP-per-cc basis they're about 30 years behind the curve, ergo all you're getting with the "bigger" ones is more weight, with slightly more power, therefore in performance terms you might as well (if you have your heart set on a Harley) get a "smaller" one, assuming you fit them, then graduate to something bigger once you're used to it.

The V-Rod is the exception to that rule, and is a more modern engine design that gives more performance than most newcomers would feel comfy using. Depends on the individual, but if you're "throttle-prone" (i.e. like opening the things up) then you need something slightly less dangerous to start with.

Personally I'd get something with better handling and brakes to learn on, but if you've got your heart set then that's your prerogative.

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/6/2011 8:28:39 AM   
0ldhen


Posts: 2221
Joined: 12/27/2010
From: Henhouse in Trolltopia, Harleyville USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: RapierFugue


quote:

ORIGINAL: GhitaAmati

Out of everything I've looked at so far, my favorite has been the harley nightster. Not entirely fond of the price tag though. And Daddy thinks 1200cc is too big for me. Something about him knowing how I am with speed. *shrug*


Speed? Harley?




1990 Bonneville Salt Flats, U.S.- Dave Campos U.S.A-Ruxton Harley-Davidson-3,000 cc (180 cu in)- 322.150mph-518.450kph

Twin-engined Longest held official record, 16 years (see 20 year unofficial record)


_____________________________

Everyone crashes. Some get back on. Some don't.

Za'beeta Regal, Et Vogo O' Lurwadra'd Wyka Go Abosh Inunsey.

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RE: A question for the bikers.... - 6/6/2011 8:32:42 AM   
GreedyTop


Posts: 52100
Joined: 5/2/2007
From: Savannah, GA
Status: offline 		Rider safety classes.

Back when I still had my bike, I took the classes, then (after the beginner class literally saved my ass less than 24 hours after completion) I became an instructor.

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Waiting for my madman in a Blue Box.

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