View Full Version : How do shorties test ride bikes?
hongman
28-09-10, 09:37 PM
Please, serious question. Although this IS the org...
Was down the Ace, then onto West End last Friday and sat on some bikes, some of which I could really see myself buying in a year or so.
Problem is, they are all too flippin tall. I am on the very tips on both feet on most. Mostly SS600's. CBR, GSXR, yada yada the usual.
I know you can lower bikes, but what about test riding? How do shorties do it?
:D
yorkie_chris
28-09-10, 09:38 PM
Carefully :-P
DarrenSV650S
28-09-10, 09:41 PM
Borrow short round's shoes
hongman
28-09-10, 09:47 PM
You know me YC. I'll have that bike horizontal at the first stop!
I dont know what kind of answer I'm expecting to be honest, as I know there is no real solution. lol.
cb1000rsteve
28-09-10, 09:57 PM
Not taking the **** here but adopt the Dani Pedrosa stance. As you come to a stand shift yourself on to one butt cheek and reach the floor. Simple. One of the fastest lads i rode with on the road does this as he is only about 5 ft tall. looks comical at the lights on his blade but thats the only time you see the little bug*er
hongman
28-09-10, 09:59 PM
I think what I really need is some kind soul to lend me their SS600 and see how things fare...any takers?!
benji106
29-09-10, 09:58 AM
when I were a kid before I reached my full majestic hight of 5'11" used to do as suggested above and just balance on one leg ;)
How tall are you hongman? What boots are you wearing..maybe try some thicker soled boots eg daytona gtx .
I'm not exactly tall and just about manage the sv and zx6r. I find its more to do with the centre of gravity making zx6r more manageable v sv which is a bit higher up.
Geodude
29-09-10, 10:25 AM
Not taking the **** here but adopt the Dani Pedrosa stance. As you come to a stand shift yourself on to one butt cheek and reach the floor. Simple. One of the fastest lads i rode with on the road does this as he is only about 5 ft tall. looks comical at the lights on his blade but thats the only time you see the little bug*er
+1 a mate of mine who is short used to ride an xt600e and used the same technique and never had a problem.
Shellywoozle
29-09-10, 11:13 AM
I got some Daytona ladystars, wikkid and give me just that bit more height.
hongman
29-09-10, 11:34 AM
I'm 5'3.
What about unplanned stops? Like having to touch down during filtering etc?
I can see that working on a planned stop (junctyion, lights etc) but wouldnt it be very awkward trying to shift over any other time its not "planned"?
I guess its more of a learned technique? ;)
Gabriel2k
29-09-10, 01:01 PM
The shorter you are the more forward planning you have to do.
The Guru
29-09-10, 01:09 PM
Get yourself a pair of platform Alpinestars.
http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/eddie1astroboy/ocmoto/IMG_9171.jpg
http://i963.photobucket.com/albums/ae114/eddie1astroboy/ocmoto/boots.jpg
:confused:
hongman
29-09-10, 01:11 PM
They look ghey tho :(
Gonna chomp on some miracle-gro over winter, maybe this will help :D
Gabriel, agreed. I guess after I have test rode whatever bike I can get it lowered.
i'm 5' feckall. simple answer ..you dont.. unless the shop/seller has a cut down seat your stuffed. its a nightmare looking at all the lovely bikes thinking wish i could get on that. i can just get on a standard sv but its a ballet dancing act (quite funny). supose the best answer would be pick a bike you really want do your research on lowering it then get the bits fitted.
being short is expensive.
but bikes go like feck with shorties on them :D
hongman
29-09-10, 01:17 PM
Hear hear!
How the hell does she shift up the gears ?.
Specialone
29-09-10, 01:24 PM
Not taking the **** here but adopt the Dani Pedrosa stance. As you come to a stand shift yourself on to one butt cheek and reach the floor. Simple. One of the fastest lads i rode with on the road does this as he is only about 5 ft tall. looks comical at the lights on his blade but thats the only time you see the little bug*er
+1 a mate of mine who is short used to ride an xt600e and used the same technique and never had a problem.
Yep, seen loads of vertically challenged peeps do this, weird considering most japs are bloody short anyhow so why arent they made shorter for thier market ?
I cant get both feet flat on my DRZ and im 6'1", so god knows how a native jap would ride one.
Amanda M
29-09-10, 01:37 PM
I'm ~5'2" on a good day and do the shift over to one side and been perfectly fine for years because it's all I've ever known. You just have to watch for cambers and put t'other foot down instead. Simples. Not had a bike yet that I could get both feet down on so I don't fret and realise that there are certain things I can't ride.
I'm 5'3.
What about unplanned stops? Like having to touch down during filtering etc?
I can see that working on a planned stop (junctyion, lights etc) but wouldnt it be very awkward trying to shift over any other time its not "planned"?
I guess its more of a learned technique? ;)
you shouldn't have to do anything on a motorcycle that is not planned.
Once you can ride like that, go and test ride anything you like.
hongman
29-09-10, 02:00 PM
Its good to hear there are lots of other vertically challenged people getting on just fine.
Stu, I hear you, but some stuff really cannot be planned for, or catches you unawares, be it your fault or not. Or am I in the wrong mindset?
Example: Slow filtering, and a car decides to pull out sharpish without indicating. Or about to pull out at a junction and you misjudge the speed of an oncoming vehicle. Anything like that which typically puts you off balance...
I'm sure after a while I'll be fine - I started off like this on the SV, but have since got the hang of it.
Just the thought of test riding (which I def want to do, so much choice...) - not my bike and expensive to fix ;)
Wont be til next year at the earliest though anyway. Just started this thread as a passing thought.
Milky Bar Kid
29-09-10, 02:35 PM
I'm glad I am 5ft6. Certainly wouldn't want to be any shorter when it came to riding bikes!
Well I can ride bikes that I can't get mey feet down on, and I'm a shorty. It is down to cnfidence and being sure about leaning the bike over enough when you stop to get that one foot on the floor.
Hong - if you can't test ride one, why buy one? When you can lean sideways enough to keep the thing off the ground then you can test ride one. Skill should be there before you get on the bike, not after (and I'm speaking from experience having got the wrong bike for me once)
hongman
29-09-10, 05:06 PM
Hi Sally :)
You're not that short, I think you are about average(ish) height. Dont really understand the last paragraph either despite reading it a few times :D Must be the time of day...
Like I said, I'm not really sure how why I bothered posting, as I know there is no miracle cure.
On a slight tangent, do most dealers require you to be of a certain age/license held for x years or anything like that before they'll let you loose?
Dont really understand the last paragraph either despite reading it a few times :D Must be the time of day...
Don't want to put words in Sally's mouth, but I interpreted it as, there is no point getting a bike if you don't have the confidence of ability to test ride one without dropping it.
Do you drop your SV a lot?
On a slight tangent, do most dealers require you to be of a certain age/license held for x years or anything like that before they'll let you loose?
Yes, but it varies quite a bit. I'm unable to test ride as I'm only 21, but luckily someone I knew let me loose on his GSX-R 750 K6, so I know I want one and know it fits me! :)
Don't want to put words in Sally's mouth, but I interpreted it as, there is no point getting a bike if you don't have the confidence of ability to test ride one without dropping it.
Do you drop your SV a lot?
Yes, but it varies quite a bit. I'm unable to test ride as I'm only 21, but luckily someone I knew let me loose on his GSX-R 750 K6, so I know I want one and know it fits me! :)
Yes, that is what I meant. Better put than me!
and sorry, that should've read I'm NOT a shorty! In other words I'm used to being able to get my feet down but even on very big bikes (eg TLW's) I'm Ok with leaning it sideways to get the foot down.
hongman
29-09-10, 05:53 PM
lol, gotcha. Not sure I agree though.
I used to be pretty bad on the SV for dropping it, but I seem to have gotten over that now.
Jayneflakes
30-09-10, 07:57 AM
Buy a low rider chop! Just picked up an old XJ 400/4 Maxim and even a very short friend of mine can get both feet on the floor on that.
The motor in it is a nightmare though, it keeps making the bike go really fast! *Sniggers*
A friend of mine has a gorgeous chop with a race tuned GSXR 750 engine, he is fine on straight line speed and can out perform similar spec race reps, however it does take a little more work in the twisties, but not that much more.
If you really struggle with a standard Race rep, a custom frame in a lower style could be your answer. You don't have to go for the Swedish Forks and Ape hangers you know, I was impressed with how good a GSXR front end looks on a chop.
yorkie_chris
30-09-10, 09:47 AM
Buy a low rider chop! Just picked up an old XJ 400/4 Maxim and even a very short friend of mine can get both feet on the floor on that.
The motor in it is a nightmare though, it keeps making the bike go really fast! *Sniggers*
A friend of mine has a gorgeous chop with a race tuned GSXR 750 engine, he is fine on straight line speed and can out perform similar spec race reps, however it does take a little more work in the twisties, but not that much more.
If you really struggle with a standard Race rep, a custom frame in a lower style could be your answer. You don't have to go for the Swedish Forks and Ape hangers you know, I was impressed with how good a GSXR front end looks on a chop.
You'd be better off with stilts!
Anyone ruining a perfectly good GSXR engine by putting it in a wheelbarrow frame needs kicking in the nuts!
rusty76
30-09-10, 09:59 AM
Hi Sally :)
You're not that short, I think you are about average(ish) height. Dont really understand the last paragraph either despite reading it a few times :D Must be the time of day...
Like I said, I'm not really sure how why I bothered posting, as I know there is no miracle cure.
On a slight tangent, do most dealers require you to be of a certain age/license held for x years or anything like that before they'll let you loose?
Most ask for 21/25 yrs and 1 year with full licence. However, you'll be amazed how flexible they'll be if they think you're serious about buying
hongman
30-09-10, 10:37 PM
Not into choppers ;)
I'm 5'7 and don't have any real problems with SS600s but i've always wanted to have a go on a BMW 1200GS just to see what all the fuss is about :)
Southport Superbikes is a BMW agent and i'm sure if I asked them they could get hold of the lowered seat (makes it 820-825mm I think which is more like it for me) but I can't bring myself to do it as I have no intention of buying! :^o
I am thinking of getting a DRZ400SM sometime in the future though and lowering 1 isn't a problem but test rides, hmmm . Dismount might be something like this....
FhH0W3TAiVI
Although not overly vertically challenged at 5'9" I've been endowed with an inside leg of 27" so it can be a problem getting my leg over ;) and equally God has decided to give me arms to match my legs. Stretching to the bars can be interesting.
However my biggest problem is the wok I've been smuggling for awhile now, i.e. I'm almost as tall when laid on my back.
Well bugger me
I've just been for a nosey on the way home in a local bike shop selling a DRZ-SM, jumped on it.....I can touch the ground! Not a chance of a flat foot but who cares! I can get the whole front of my foot down (in trainers) without even having to slide off it. Narrow seat, narrow bike and a fair bit of suspension compression even with my lithe self onboard :p
Sorry hongman doesnt really help you just felt like sharing my good news :smt026
hongman
01-10-10, 05:20 PM
Congrats?!
lol
As a 160 cm/5'3" ex-sv- using courier, unexpected SMIDSY's when leaned over, deep gutters, steep cambers or slopes, loose surfaces for your foot with unplannable stops and manoeuvres frequently led to the sv having a lie-down. The chook-chasers that other couriers favoured were just impossible at our height, regardless of shifting your bum especially taking a tall C of G into account.
And if you're having to stop a lot, the climbing off at every stop rapidly becomes tiresome. You'll just have to find a bike that's close to comfortable and manageable when you get aboard and see whether it's close enough to be within adaptable limits.
Milky Bar Kid
02-10-10, 06:42 AM
Yes, that is what I meant. Better put than me!
and sorry, that should've read I'm NOT a shorty! In other words I'm used to being able to get my feet down but even on very big bikes (eg TLW's) I'm Ok with leaning it sideways to get the foot down.
lol, gotcha. Not sure I agree though.
I used to be pretty bad on the SV for dropping it, but I seem to have gotten over that now.
Hong, I have to say, I tend to agree with Sally here. I think you may be trying to run before you can walk here.
An SV is not a tall bike, infact, the opposite, and yours is already lowered and you were having trouble with it 5 or 6 weeks ago. Did you not drop it 3 times in one day on the way to AR? Not being funny but I think you should be giving it a good few miles and months more without dropping it before you consider going for test rides.
Does the SV hurt you or is it uncomfortable to ride? Or do you HATE, as in properly HATE, riding it? If the answer is no to those questions then stick it out with the SV for another year or so, and when your confidence and experience is up a bit, then think about trawling the dealerships.
Just my 2p.
hongman
02-10-10, 07:08 AM
Cheers MBK, I'm 2p richer.
But re-read the first port, I'm not even considering this until at LEAST next year.
Was just a passing thought...
-Ralph-
02-10-10, 10:00 AM
Ask the lone wolf to post a picture of himself next to his horse, I mean, his KTM Adventure S. Actually on second thoughts, lets leave him out of the picture and just put a measuring stick in his place, much prettier that way ;-)
-Ralph-
02-10-10, 10:13 AM
Ask the lone wolf to post a picture of himself next to his horse, I mean, his KTM Adventure S. Actually on second thoughts, lets leave him out of the picture and just put a measuring stick in his place, much prettier that way ;-)
I found a pic of someone much prettier struggling with it's size.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs193.snc4/38013_10150264417330553_879760552_14094466_4749495 _n.jpg
And YC demonstrating the ar$e off seat technique described in this thread
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs112.snc4/35943_10150264416690553_879760552_14094438_2243298 _n.jpg
And Spiderman too (though he's cheating with the side stand down)
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs128.ash2/39754_10150264416155553_879760552_14094397_5879324 _n.jpg
Credits for the pics go to MissYC
Hong buddy,
Get to a dealership and only ask for a ride on which ever bike you CAN get both feet down, i'm sure there must be some bikes out there,
You will feal your confidence get better as soon as you can handel the bike with ease. experience comes up later..
another 2p worth.
Not taking the **** here but adopt the Dani Pedrosa stance. As you come to a stand shift yourself on to one butt cheek and reach the floor. Simple. One of the fastest lads i rode with on the road does this as he is only about 5 ft tall. looks comical at the lights on his blade but thats the only time you see the little bug*er
+1
There's no need to put both feet on the ground at the same time.
hongman
02-10-10, 12:20 PM
Thanks for the thoughts.
I'm not saying I need to get both feet down, I am fully aware that there are people much shorter than myself who live with much taller bikes no problems.
I'm not about to go out right now to get a test ride, as the SV still has more to offer - Ive only had it/been riding a few months :)
I dropped the SV a LOT in the first few weeks, mostly from stupid things (slipped paddling backwards on gravel, stopped on a steep camber and forgot stand, stalled in garage and lost balance, didnt notice side stand catching the ground when lubing chain, going backwards downhill and hitting a pot hole)
Since then I have been out on it more, experienced new situations, and not dropped it since. I dont go out to my bike now worrying that I'm going to drop it.
My confidence with the SV at least is pretty good right now.
After the Ace/West End run my mind started wandering to the newer bikes, and my next bike. Having sat on most the usual SS600's I realised that they were a lot taller than the SV, although on paper it doesnt seem too dramatic.
I really do appreciate the advice, comments, etc, otherwise I wouldnt be here. But you're all making out like I'm saying I'm off tomorrow to test ride some new bikes!
My line of thought given how confidence/experience has grown over the last few months, by next year maybe I'll be ready for a new (as in something different) to the SV, even if it is taller.
hongman
02-10-10, 12:21 PM
Hong buddy,
Get to a dealership and only ask for a ride on which ever bike you CAN get both feet down, i'm sure there must be some bikes out there,
You will feal your confidence get better as soon as you can handel the bike with ease. experience comes up later..
another 2p worth.
Tony, I can just about flat foot a CG125 on both feet!! :D
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