31” leg isn’t short that’s at least a medium length trouser! I’m 5’ 8” with a 29” leg at a stretch, that’s a short leg. Extra 2” would make riding these ever increasing height motorcycles a lot easier.
I'm 5'8 with a 29 inside leg as well, I'd find it so much easier with a couple of extra inches of leg length but I'm used to it. I'd love an adventure bike but that's out of the question unfortunately
Exactly, I get quite excited when I see one of these videos come along only to find that their "short" people have close to average inside leg measurements. Lack of height does not make a short rider !
Sorry but those are not short legged riders. At 5'4'' with a 25" inseam, I am a short rider, made worse, by my thighs and upper arms, are the parts which make me shorter. Most bikes even with lowering kit, lowered/ thin saddle and built up boots, it hard to get a one leg out far enough to support the bike when stopped. I have tried lots of bikes and cannot get a foot on the ground even when it's still on the side stand. The other problem is that 90% of clothing the elbow and knee protectors are in the wrong place no mater what adjustment capability the manufacturer and built in. I have a CB500R with lowering kit, and Daytona built up boots, I am ok, so long as no gravel, pot holes or camber. I have to get on an off one the footpads. I also move the bike staying on the right hand side with it leaning slightly on me and the kick stand out. I have 72 years experience of being short.
No really short legs in the demonstration but if you're after a 'big' bike as I was, the RT did fitted the bill nicely. 760mm - with a low seat in low position - and the seat can be lowered a further 10mm with a Nippy Norman adaptor. This did the job for a 5'4" tall but 27" inside leg. Thanks BMW!
Some great advice in there, I'm 5'7" with a 29" inside leg and one thing I would reinforce is do not go from spec sheets, I was recently looking for a second bike for 2 up touring and on paper the Honda Pan European looked a potential option but the seat is so wide that I could barely touch the floor and the bike felt really heavy. I then went to a dealer to look at a BMW RT which was fine but still quite heavy and then there just happened to be an R1200GS stood next to it, a bike that I had completely discounted, but the seat was set on its lowest setting so I threw a leg over it and with a little tweak to the preload hey presto it worked fine so I've now bought one. I can't flat foot it with both feet but I can flat one foot or with both I'm on the balls of my feet but it's fine. I would also say that with new bike dealers it really annoys me that you loo at a bike and they say oh you can have it with a low seat as if this is going to help me make a decision but on a taller bike that may mean I can't test ride it because they never have a low seat in stock and he biggest problem is that a low seat may not be the right thing because it generally means a less padded seat which may be uncomfortable and sometimes a lower seat may mean you splay your legs more meaning it is no better or sometimes worse than managing with the normal seat. I know dealers want to make money but really with low seat options they really should have them available to try I mean you wouldn't expect to walk into a dealer and find a bike with no seat on and them say sorry we don't have a seat you can try but it'll be fine if you just order it.
As a 5ft 3 woman who is very light and a bit if a wimp, I bought the bike that fits me, which was a z400, light, low and narrow seat hight also a great engine. I also have a newer Honda Monkey and the wide seat means my feet on the floor is the same a the z400. I have fitted an ohlins rear shock, which is setup for my weight, so now it actually works, also adjustable levers.
Leonie, smashed it. And thanks to you guys. As a 46 year old newish rider trying to sell my Lass of 20 years that she should give it a go, this is exactly what we need. And much more similar content please.
My measured inseam from floor to crotch without shoes is 29.35" I'm 5-8. I own and ride a 2022 Ducati Multistrada V4S. I installed the Ducati lowering kit, replacing the rear shock and fork springs as well as the side stand. I use the pillion with luggage suspension setting when I want to use the center stand. No issues getting the bike up whatsoever. I have the Ducati lower seat and alternate between the low and high positions. When in MIN I can easily flat foot. On light off-road terrain, I never encounter clearance issues. I set up my bike for ME, not someone else. I encourage other riders to do the same. I'm a former motocross/desert/road racer and road race trainer.
I'm 5'7 and pot holes and aggressive camber has had me off a few times... that moment where the one leg you can get down starts to buckle as the bikes reached that critical angle of no return is a horrible feeling... at that point you have to concentrate on laying your bike down in a way that will do the least damage. Trying too hard to hold it up can result in an uncontrolled 'crash ' . It's often better to give up earlier, step off the bike so you don't fall and lay down the bike instead of dropping it....
It’s hard isn’t it, because you have a split second to react and don’t want to damage the bike but preserving your back, legs, ankle are more important and they’d take longer to fix too. Thanks for the comment, Michael
I'm 5'9" with a 29" inside leg. The Africa Twin even with those modifications is out of the question. I'm not interested in adapting my riding style to suit a bike that is just too tall for me. There are plenty of bikes available I can feel confident riding without needing to scan the road for pot holes, adverse camber or gravel then react accordingly. I currently ride a Ninja 1000SX with the low seat. I can just get my feet flat on the floor if the road isn't cambered, and if it is, I have no worries.
I enjoyed the video, and the topic of compatibility for shorter riders is absolutely important. I must say that after half an hour of talking, except from the obvious, I didn't find the "secrets" promised in the headline of the video. I wish that such videos will tell more about manufactures future plans to enlarge the possibilities for shorter bikers to have a lower suspension kit. Thanks anyway :)
I was intrigued by this as a 5ft6 29 1/2 inch leg female. But, rather disappointed that the testers all had what I would consider quite long legs, the shortest being 31 inches. However the tips and hints were excellent. I say this as a rider of what some people have told me is too big for me a Guzzi V100S. It took me a good 6 weeks to get used to a higher seat (I have a Guzzi V7 which I flat foot with no problem). The V100S seat height even with the standard seat is not an issue any more. Leonie is also spot on with saying no to help if you have to.
Agree, it's not your height that matters but your inside leg measurement. 31" is quite normal, I am short legged at 28.5". Of course, as Leonie says arm measurements, hand span and ability to handle weight is all part of the deal.
Great advice as always! One small piece of advice I'd add as a shorter rider with an adventure style bike, is having the bike in 1st gear and using the clutch as a brake when pushing it around. If I lean across to the brake lever I don't have the same balance and control over the weight of the bike as I do if stood up straight.
Thanks for that lady and gents, it's nice to see some representation for the smaller-statured amongst us. 🙂 A couple of things I would add. One is the horse method of getting on the bike when you have panniers on - i.e. with the bike on the sidestand, put your left foot on the left peg, then stand up and lift your right leg over to the right peg, and push your weight down to the right side to lift the bike off the stand. Reverse to get off when the pillion seat is high (I'm looking at you Multistrada V2S). The other thing I would mention is the weight characteristics of the bike are important. I've owned a Triumph Tiger 800 for example, and at 5'7" I really struggled with its top-heavy nature, whereas the BMW R1250 GS I own now, with roughly the same seat height with the lower seat option, I find much, much easier to manage, simply because the boxer twin means all the weight is down low.
Great point about where the bike holds its weight, it was kind of what we were talking about with fuel weight but I’m glad you’ve mentioned it, thanks!
I'm a bit dissapointed in this one, it looks like you missed a trick by not including anyone with short legs, which is the main issue. You can see from the other comments that a 29" leg seems to be quite common, so there should have been at least one person with those sort of dimensions. Perhaps an addendum video with such a person would be really helpfull.
Thanks for sharing tips, really helpful. Would have preferred actual demonstrations while explaining the technique, thus viewer can see rather than just visualising it from the description given.
Usually enjoy watching these, not this one though.... For proper short arse riders like myself, who want the comfort of adventure style bike. (If you want to go proper off road, then get an enduro bike) Get a lowering link for rear, drop the front. Bonus is that it lowers the centre of gravity of said bike. You will be glad you did....
I've got a 27 1/5 inch inside leg. I had a 2013 Triumph Trophy and bought a low comfort seat to boost my confidence. I soon sold the seat on again as it was indeed "low Comfort" . Confidence soon returned on the stock seat after that
Thank you for this great video highlighting I'm not alone. I'm about 5'5" in my right leg but my left leg is an inch and a half shorter following an RTA over thirty years ago. My inside leg is only around 28-29". Being the only one on group rides not able to paddle and having to adopt alternative strategies in difficult situations has frustrated me in the past. However, as highlighted in your video, there are many things you can do to make life easier. Only putting one foot down and becoming confident at slow speeds are probably the key ones. Turning the handlebars to the right really helps get the bike off its sidestand stand especially when there is a slight slope or camber working against you. Narrow bike seats can make a big difference despite being high. I currently ride a KTM 890 Duke R with a seat height of 835mm and am trading that in for the 1290 Super Duke R EVO tomorrow. The 1290 has the same seat height. The EVO is able to adjust the preload as well as raise and lower 10mm on either side of the standard level setting. I also had a test ride on a BMW S1000R, which despite its reasonably high seat height I could get the balls of both feet firmly on the ground! Therefore, if you desire a particular style of motorcycle, it's definitely worth going for a test ride. Also, as I discovered, a larger motorcycle can feel surprisingly stable even at very slow speeds, which played into my finally choosing the 1290.
Try some heel inserts in your boots from Ailaka, they can even up you legs a bit as they have difference heights of 1.5-3.5 cm. They are cheap, comfortable and don't interfere with the gearshifting or external look of a boot.
@@manylch7964 Thank you for that idea. I have done that with a new pair of boots I bought a few weeks ago. 3.5cm doesn't fully correct the difference but it works brilliantly 🙂 I may try and get one professionally made.
They don’t have short legs, if you’re doing an item on bikes for shorties then get some real shorties, short women usually have longer legs than short males, as a 5’2” male with a 26 inch inside leg I’m a proper shortie.
I did a day at the Dave Thorpe centre and remember being suprised how manageable the seat height was for me on the low setting of the AT. Also a bit annoyed that such an urban bike as my 2016 NC750X felt less manageable for me ! I since removed all preload on my read shock and it's now fine. A very good point they make is about avoiding stopping if possible, as my slow handling skills have improved, I find it easier and easier. Also being able to stop with the bike completely balanced means being on you toes is enough to feel sort of confortable.
One thing I don’t think you covered that is harder for shorter legged riders is getting the bike off the side stand. Fine getting on but if you can’t get the side stand up because you can’t reach it standing on your right leg you’re not going anywhere.
@@bennettsbikesocial I’d recommend someone in this position fitting a kickstand assist at a position to suit them on the side stand or, with a little practice building up to it, a rolling cowboy mount.
Interesting topic. I have been riding for well over 40 years. All sorts of bikes. And my first criteria is height. I was, in my younger years 5 ft 8 inches tall. But I am long in the body with only a 29 inch inside leg. Doesn't matter what the bike is. If I sit on it and can't comfortably get the balls of my feet down. I don't want to know. Top heavy bikes when you have to make a sudden stop. Or the ground is uneven. etc. If you can't get your feet down. Enjoy picking the thing up. Never got adventure bikes. Big ugly pointless things. The good old days of sports tourers, much better idea. If you want to play in the dirt buy a more practical dirt bike. If you can afford to buy an adventure bike and trash it off road good luck. I'd rather use a chook chaser. All bikes as standard should have adjustable levers. One of my current bikes. I pretty much have to let go of the grip to reach the levers. Why should I have to pay quite a bit of money to change them. When for minimal outlay they could originally be adjustable. All the crap on modern bikes also makes them a lot heavier than the things I grew up riding. And they carry a lot of that weight high. As a species we are getting taller in general. And I think a lot of bikes cater more for the taller rider. Now in my sixties I can't cope anymore with awkward motorcycles. Bought a cruiser. Slow, but then Australia is. With a speed camera behind every tree. I find it wobbly at maneuvering speed with the long front end. That is me after most of my life on sports bikes. But it gives you that confidence you were speaking of. You sit low. The weight is low. And the whole experience is neutral. My other bike is a Speed Triple. An old T509. I have had it for so many years. I used to be able to jump on and ride until the fuel run out. Now I am lucky to get 30K up the road before every bit of me is screaming. I envy tall riders. It definitely makes the choice of motorcycles easier. If you can ride like Chad. Then not such an issue. But for us way less skilled the selection is a lot more complicated.
interesting points Dave, thanks for commenting. Perhaps we should have had Chad demonstrate some of the points he talked about. Do cruiser style bikes work for you - Harleys, Indians, the CMX Rebel 500/1100, for instance?
@@bennettsbikesocial Certainly for me having the weight down low is a big thing these days. Cruisers just sit there. They are not trying to fall over all the time. Never thought I would ever end up with a cruiser. Die hard sports bike fan. But once you get used to them cruisers are very easy to live with. And comfortable. Like I have never known before. Would love an Indian. Harley at a push. But budget doesn't run to either. Honda Shadow.
Interesting vid. Most of which I’ve learnt very quickly at 5’7 and 29in leg. Dropped a few times now. Luckily with no one around. 3 clicks on pre load, that I will have to try. Cheers guys
Apparently, there isn't any. I'll give you some though. Lower the suspension (front and rear), if possible seat (remove some padding and get it re-covered if needed) and get some thick soled boots. Doc-Martins do some great ones. You soon get used to them but it helps if you get some lowering footpegs to help with gear changing (loads on fleabay). Might not be able to get your knee down so easily if thats what your into but for day to day riding not an issue.
I sold my 2022 Rebel SE, that I could flat foot and got a new forza 350 which I have to lean or tip toe. The weight distribution controls and ride makes it much easier for me and I am more comfortable, it is quicker too so I can be out of the way before any issues occur. Loving the Honda Forza
If you don't already have Daytona M boots, an inexpensive solution that might help to add some heel inserts into your regular boots. It can give your inseam a lift of 1.5- 3.5 cm . I have a 29" inseam and they work in my touring boots to get me off tippy toes, though it can make your boots feel tighter depending on their design. Ailaka brand has a good range but there are many others out there you can try.
As a 5' 6 rider, with a 29" inside leg, I had two decades of riding big heavy cruisers, so weight wasn't an issue but anything over 28" seat height seemed huge?! I downsized to a Royal Enfield Scram, with a 31" seat height, which initially felt so alien to me. 12 months on and I rarely notice it.
Learn what works for you with a 26 1/2 inside leg flat foot on a bike hasn't happen since my Suzuki A 100 😂 the easiest for me was my 1260s multistrada because of the narrow seat and adjustability of the suspension. As for getting a pillion on especially with luggage Bike on side stand and in gear,my wife uses the peg to stand on and sits on front seat the moves back. As the suspension has now compressed its easier for me to get on. Good artic too😊
Great information I have looked at bikes and discounted on the spec sheet but not anymore.I am 5.8 with a 31 inside leg and my cb 500x is just about right and has improved over the 3 years I have owned it the suspension has lowered over time. Right foot on rear brake slower approaching a junction left foot down with with my bump cheek moved over always increases my confidence. If I park and the bike is difficult to move I will simply move the bike to level ground put my kit on and drive off with more confidence. If I try a bike in the showroom and find it to heavy to move off the side stand and push around if it feels to heavy I will still discount the bike as prefer a lighter bike to move around on my driveway and garage.
For shorter riders I would look for a seat as thin as possible. I have a Yamaha FJR 1300 and the seat is wide making it difficult to plant your feet on the ground even after the seat was modified so I lowered the bike and inch on the back and 1.2 inch in front and I can reach the ground more comfortably, but not 100%. That said I love this bike and wouldn't trade for anything.
Thanks for sharing, and the thin seat is a great tip. Nice to hear you've got a bike that you adore, is it the 5-speed or 6-geared version? I recall doing the launch of the model with 6-gears and cornering lights - Yamaha let us use the Almeria circuit at dusk to see how they worked! Cheers, Michael
Great tips! I'm 5ft4 but I have freakishly long legs and arms and a short torso - 32" inseam or 33" if I wear my riding boots. I only have a honda forza 125 right now with a 790mm seat height, but its really wide, wider than the PCX and I can't flat foot it unless I slide forward or get a cheek over. On the other hand I've gotten on someone's triumph tiger 1200 with 830mm seat height and I could almost flat foot that due to a narrower seat! My only issue is due to having a short torso, I can't really see over the dash in some bikes - especially large touring cruisers. I got on an R18 transcontinental as well as an indian chieftain and I looked like a child sitting on the bike, I could barely see the road ahead. Same thing with driving cars! I put the seat all the way up, but slide it far backwards. I wish my torso was an inch or two longer, but here we are :p
Thanks for contributing, and thankfully there seems to be a bike/car/solution for folk of all sizes. I think one of the main points from Chad and Leonie is that with practice and confidence, pretty much any machine could be ridden. But then it's a case of fitting it into your lifestyle, i.e. it's no good being able to ride an Africa Twin for 20 miles on a demo ride if you can't then see the dash clearly enough (as you say) or manoeuvre it with ease. Have you found any manufacturer accessory seats that make a difference, or even suspension settings?
This is a topic where I thought ahh I don’t need to watch this. How wrong I was. I’d say it’s up there with best one you’ve done. Chad with his wealth of knowledge The lady was very articulate and it would be great to get her involved in future videos. Group tests for example. For a different perspective. I’m sure there’s many ladies who could benefit from that advice.
Try having a 28" inseam. I'm 5'2". I lowered my CBR, I know everyone says not to. I feel soo much happier with bad cambers on the roads when coming to a stop. Its just a preference. Even when I shifted my weight off the seat it, I had to be so careful reading the road conditions and cambers. I;ve dropped it twice at a stop! I have driven the bike on track and tbf I am not good enough to know whether the handling is compromised. It felt fine round Castle Combe. I may return it to the factory setting if / when I feel comfortable to do so, Interesting comments tho.
They mention in the video about to take a little preload out of the rear shock, to make it sit lower.... and then later say its not really a good idea to change geometry settings.... As long as you lower the forks down to correct height with a lowering link, your not going to feel any difference in handling in the real world.
@@koromuri97 Yes I did lower the forks. Only real problem with that is that the grips are real close to the fairing, and at full lock a little impedance with the master cylinder touching the clock unit. But it feels fine. I'm happy with it. I've had the bike suspension set up for me by a professional. It handled just fine round CC.
Bad tip from Adam about pillion mounting .... if your sidestand is down when the pillion gets on two bad things can happen. 1) the suspension squats under the weight and suddenly you find the sidestand won't retract over top dead centre. You then have to lean the bike, incl pillion, over to the right to get the stand up, whoa ...... dicey. 2) The second problem is related but much worse, the pillion gets on, the suspension squats and because the rider is unprepared the sidestand actually pushes the bike over to the right, sudden imbalance that the rider will be powerless to prevent it !!
Oh come on people, short rider tips with not a single rider with short inside leg measurement. Short rider doesn’t necessarily mean short leg measurement which ultimately makes the difference with seat heights.
It seems the same mistake most reviewers make, basing short rider on overall height and not inside leg measurement. If you’re going to do a short rider review it’s short leg that’s important. I’m 5’8” which isn’t that short but only a 27” inside leg now that’s a problem for many bikes.
I see a sudden growth of the Royal Enfield Hunter ...by shorter older riders ....this is just my observations ...but having spoke to some of the riders ...they all said more or less the same things ...an easy bike to get in and out of the garage fast enough on our roads ...in the real world these bikes seem really popular ...as i say these are my thoughts have been to a lot of bike meets ...
While I understand it might be a bit niche I’d like one of these for us properly tall riders. I’m 6’4”, 36 inside leg and many bikes are just too small for a longer ride. Big Adventure bikes, ok, but there must be something other than that or a big cruiser that are good for the long tour.
I am on the short side but trying the Ducati Scrambler, it felt immediately cramped so I see what you mean. As much as I like them, being restricted to ADV bikes must be frustrating.
@@oliviermagere I mean, it makes it easier but also a bit dull I guess? Would love a little Enfield but those things are properly made for the slightly smaller Asian market. Ironic, since the family is Thai.
Later this week we're publishing an episode of 'What Bike Next?' featuring a chap who's 6'4" and 130kg, and we succeeded in helping him. You mention adventure bikes but there are the more road focussed version available inc. Multistrada V4S, Tiger 1200, Super Adventure S, or even Gold Wing, Hypermotard, Norden 901, Ducati Scrambler 1100, Triumph Scrambler 1200, for instance. Let us know if that helps. Cheers, Michael
I have a 28/29 inside leg ridden since i was 16 now 53 i own a zx10r and zx12r tippy toes yes but virtually all bikes i have owned the same just get use to it some bikes are out of my range thats ok but .ost of them are not for me anyway
It's a fine idea, and we've actually got an episode of 'What Bike Next?' coming this week with a chap at 6'4" and 130kg, so do keep an eye out for that. What do you ride currently? Are you on the lookout for a new bike? Cheers, Michael
Why would an experienced rider suggest you need less protective equipment on a Scooter than you would on a Motorcycle. The ground doesn't care what you ride it grinds you body just the same.
Ha! That could be a good idea. We've got an episode of 'What Bike Next?' coming soon with a chap at 6'4" and 130kg, so do keep an eye out for that. What do you ride currently? Cheers, Michael
Ha! That could be a good idea. We've got an episode of 'What Bike Next?' coming soon with a chap at 6'4" and 130kg, so do keep an eye out for that. What do you ride currently? Cheers, Michael
How can you say 31in leg is short, surely a daft statement. Show bikes that are short/low seat, like for me, I've got 27in leg and I dont want a bobber/cruiser, i want all bikes accessible. Do a piece for lowering bikes, and the end results!
Uh... Goldwing vs Grom? The Goldwing is wide! Also, heavy, especially when leaned over for a shorter leg to reach the ground. This is not comparing apples and oranges; it is comparing apples and beer barrels.
Look I appreciate the struggles of the shorter rider but I’m 6ft6 with a 36” inside leg… and there is very little advice out there for me. I would appreciate a taller rider version, because I would very much like any other tip than get a GS 😂
Thanks for the comment! As luck would have it, the next episode of 'What Bike Next?' features a 6'4" chap, so do look out for that. Otherwise, these are the obvious ones that spring to mind (other than a GS): KTM 1290 Super Adventure, Triumph Tiger 1200, Ducati Multistrada V4 (and Rally), Ducati Hypermotard, Honda CRF300, Husqvarna 901 Norden, Harley-Davidson Pan America, Gold Wing. Unless you have any other specific criteria... of course it's not only about seat height/width in your circumstance, but the reach to the 'bars, wind protection and weight of the bike too. Cheers, Michael
Thanks Michael, much appreciated! Personally I want to go down the naked route, as I’d like something that I could use on track as well as the fair weather ride. But I will check out that video 👍🏻
Trying to sell the AT with these approaches is BS. It's 238kg and tall. It's a pain in the arse to manhandle particularly at the end of long days touring as you get progressively tired. Just get a low seat, lighter, KTM, RE, etc.
We were just pointing out that bikes shouldn't be immediately dismissed because of their size. Sure, an AT (particularly the AS model) might not be ideal for everyone at 5'3.5", becasue there are techniques for riding one.
Too true. As a rule, I always share my height, inside leg length and weight when reviewing - both in writing (when you can see me in photos on the bike) and in video. Cheers, Michael
And if you want a high power adventure bike? Just can't access a whole market of bike because they're short? Yours is the pov of someone who doesn't have to care.
@@dreamcrusher112 Buy a KTM Duke rather than a KTM Adv engines the same.. The MOST important thing with any bike is fit & ergonomics There are literally thousands of ‘normal’ sized bikes
31” leg isn’t short that’s at least a medium length trouser! I’m 5’ 8” with a 29” leg at a stretch, that’s a short leg. Extra 2” would make riding these ever increasing height motorcycles a lot easier.
I'm exactly the same dimensions and I would pay a lot of money for that extra 2" of leg length. It makes a huge difference.
Indeed. I’m 5’6” with a 28” inside leg. 31” would be awesome.
I'm 5'8 with a 29 inside leg as well, I'd find it so much easier with a couple of extra inches of leg length but I'm used to it. I'd love an adventure bike but that's out of the question unfortunately
Exactly, I get quite excited when I see one of these videos come along only to find that their "short" people have close to average inside leg measurements. Lack of height does not make a short rider !
Im 5’7” with 29” leg. I know what you mean.
Sorry but those are not short legged riders. At 5'4'' with a 25" inseam, I am a short rider, made worse, by my thighs and upper arms, are the parts which make me shorter. Most bikes even with lowering kit, lowered/ thin saddle and built up boots, it hard to get a one leg out far enough to support the bike when stopped. I have tried lots of bikes and cannot get a foot on the ground even when it's still on the side stand. The other problem is that 90% of clothing the elbow and knee protectors are in the wrong place no mater what adjustment capability the manufacturer and built in. I have a CB500R with lowering kit, and Daytona built up boots, I am ok, so long as no gravel, pot holes or camber. I have to get on an off one the footpads. I also move the bike staying on the right hand side with it leaning slightly on me and the kick stand out. I have 72 years experience of being short.
Can't wait for the video for short riders. I'm 5'7" with 29" leg. I'd ride absolutely anything with 31" inside leg.
Sorry, but with a 31inch inside leg, that isn't short. 5ft6, with 27in inside leg. And there are many more people who would find 31in leg to be long.
No really short legs in the demonstration but if you're after a 'big' bike as I was, the RT did fitted the bill nicely. 760mm - with a low seat in low position - and the seat can be lowered a further 10mm with a Nippy Norman adaptor. This did the job for a 5'4" tall but 27" inside leg. Thanks BMW!
RT is a good call, of course the boxer twin engine carrying its weight down low. Nice one!
Some great advice in there, I'm 5'7" with a 29" inside leg and one thing I would reinforce is do not go from spec sheets, I was recently looking for a second bike for 2 up touring and on paper the Honda Pan European looked a potential option but the seat is so wide that I could barely touch the floor and the bike felt really heavy. I then went to a dealer to look at a BMW RT which was fine but still quite heavy and then there just happened to be an R1200GS stood next to it, a bike that I had completely discounted, but the seat was set on its lowest setting so I threw a leg over it and with a little tweak to the preload hey presto it worked fine so I've now bought one. I can't flat foot it with both feet but I can flat one foot or with both I'm on the balls of my feet but it's fine. I would also say that with new bike dealers it really annoys me that you loo at a bike and they say oh you can have it with a low seat as if this is going to help me make a decision but on a taller bike that may mean I can't test ride it because they never have a low seat in stock and he biggest problem is that a low seat may not be the right thing because it generally means a less padded seat which may be uncomfortable and sometimes a lower seat may mean you splay your legs more meaning it is no better or sometimes worse than managing with the normal seat. I know dealers want to make money but really with low seat options they really should have them available to try I mean you wouldn't expect to walk into a dealer and find a bike with no seat on and them say sorry we don't have a seat you can try but it'll be fine if you just order it.
Great advice from you too, thanks for contributing and I'm glad the GS worked out for you.
Cheers, Michael
As a 5ft 3 woman who is very light and a bit if a wimp, I bought the bike that fits me, which was a z400, light, low and narrow seat hight also a great engine. I also have a newer Honda Monkey and the wide seat means my feet on the floor is the same a the z400. I have fitted an ohlins rear shock, which is setup for my weight, so now it actually works, also adjustable levers.
Leonie, smashed it. And thanks to you guys. As a 46 year old newish rider trying to sell my Lass of 20 years that she should give it a go, this is exactly what we need. And much more similar content please.
My mom was half newish.
@@joek81981 oh mayte. I can still play the blag pipes.
My measured inseam from floor to crotch without shoes is 29.35" I'm 5-8. I own and ride a 2022 Ducati Multistrada V4S. I installed the Ducati lowering kit, replacing the rear shock and fork springs as well as the side stand. I use the pillion with luggage suspension setting when I want to use the center stand. No issues getting the bike up whatsoever. I have the Ducati lower seat and alternate between the low and high positions. When in MIN I can easily flat foot. On light off-road terrain, I never encounter clearance issues. I set up my bike for ME, not someone else. I encourage other riders to do the same. I'm a former motocross/desert/road racer and road race trainer.
Helpful video thanks. I'd like to add, do everything at you're pace, take it easy, it's not a race.
I'm 5'7 and pot holes and aggressive camber has had me off a few times... that moment where the one leg you can get down starts to buckle as the bikes reached that critical angle of no return is a horrible feeling... at that point you have to concentrate on laying your bike down in a way that will do the least damage. Trying too hard to hold it up can result in an uncontrolled 'crash ' . It's often better to give up earlier, step off the bike so you don't fall and lay down the bike instead of dropping it....
What is your inseam length?
It’s hard isn’t it, because you have a split second to react and don’t want to damage the bike but preserving your back, legs, ankle are more important and they’d take longer to fix too.
Thanks for the comment,
Michael
I'm 5'9" with a 29" inside leg. The Africa Twin even with those modifications is out of the question. I'm not interested in adapting my riding style to suit a bike that is just too tall for me. There are plenty of bikes available I can feel confident riding without needing to scan the road for pot holes, adverse camber or gravel then react accordingly. I currently ride a Ninja 1000SX with the low seat. I can just get my feet flat on the floor if the road isn't cambered, and if it is, I have no worries.
I enjoyed the video, and the topic of compatibility for shorter riders is absolutely important. I must say that after half an hour of talking, except from the obvious, I didn't find the "secrets" promised in the headline of the video. I wish that such videos will tell more about manufactures future plans to enlarge the possibilities for shorter bikers to have a lower suspension kit. Thanks anyway :)
I was intrigued by this as a 5ft6 29 1/2 inch leg female. But, rather disappointed that the testers all had what I would consider quite long legs, the shortest being 31 inches. However the tips and hints were excellent. I say this as a rider of what some people have told me is too big for me a Guzzi V100S. It took me a good 6 weeks to get used to a higher seat (I have a Guzzi V7 which I flat foot with no problem). The V100S seat height even with the standard seat is not an issue any more.
Leonie is also spot on with saying no to help if you have to.
Absolutely! A 31 inch inside leg is not short. At 5’7” I have a 29.5 inch inside leg, quite disappointing they consider they are challenged.
Agree, it's not your height that matters but your inside leg measurement. 31" is quite normal, I am short legged at 28.5". Of course, as Leonie says arm measurements, hand span and ability to handle weight is all part of the deal.
Great advice as always! One small piece of advice I'd add as a shorter rider with an adventure style bike, is having the bike in 1st gear and using the clutch as a brake when pushing it around. If I lean across to the brake lever I don't have the same balance and control over the weight of the bike as I do if stood up straight.
Thanks and that's a great point - even at 6ft, I still use that technique especially when rolling a bike backwards.
Cheers, Michael
Thanks for that lady and gents, it's nice to see some representation for the smaller-statured amongst us. 🙂 A couple of things I would add. One is the horse method of getting on the bike when you have panniers on - i.e. with the bike on the sidestand, put your left foot on the left peg, then stand up and lift your right leg over to the right peg, and push your weight down to the right side to lift the bike off the stand. Reverse to get off when the pillion seat is high (I'm looking at you Multistrada V2S). The other thing I would mention is the weight characteristics of the bike are important. I've owned a Triumph Tiger 800 for example, and at 5'7" I really struggled with its top-heavy nature, whereas the BMW R1250 GS I own now, with roughly the same seat height with the lower seat option, I find much, much easier to manage, simply because the boxer twin means all the weight is down low.
Great point about where the bike holds its weight, it was kind of what we were talking about with fuel weight but I’m glad you’ve mentioned it, thanks!
I'm a bit dissapointed in this one, it looks like you missed a trick by not including anyone with short legs, which is the main issue.
You can see from the other comments that a 29" leg seems to be quite common, so there should have been at least one person with those sort of dimensions.
Perhaps an addendum video with such a person would be really helpfull.
One of the most useful bike handling videos I've ever watched. Great job guys.
Thanks for sharing tips, really helpful. Would have preferred actual demonstrations while explaining the technique, thus viewer can see rather than just visualising it from the description given.
Usually enjoy watching these, not this one though.... For proper short arse riders like myself, who want the comfort of adventure style bike. (If you want to go proper off road, then get an enduro bike) Get a lowering link for rear, drop the front. Bonus is that it lowers the centre of gravity of said bike. You will be glad you did....
I've got a 27 1/5 inch inside leg. I had a 2013 Triumph Trophy and bought a low comfort seat to boost my confidence. I soon sold the seat on again as it was indeed "low Comfort" . Confidence soon returned on the stock seat after that
Thank you for this great video highlighting I'm not alone. I'm about 5'5" in my right leg but my left leg is an inch and a half shorter following an RTA over thirty years ago. My inside leg is only around 28-29". Being the only one on group rides not able to paddle and having to adopt alternative strategies in difficult situations has frustrated me in the past. However, as highlighted in your video, there are many things you can do to make life easier. Only putting one foot down and becoming confident at slow speeds are probably the key ones. Turning the handlebars to the right really helps get the bike off its sidestand stand especially when there is a slight slope or camber working against you.
Narrow bike seats can make a big difference despite being high. I currently ride a KTM 890 Duke R with a seat height of 835mm and am trading that in for the 1290 Super Duke R EVO tomorrow. The 1290 has the same seat height. The EVO is able to adjust the preload as well as raise and lower 10mm on either side of the standard level setting. I also had a test ride on a BMW S1000R, which despite its reasonably high seat height I could get the balls of both feet firmly on the ground! Therefore, if you desire a particular style of motorcycle, it's definitely worth going for a test ride. Also, as I discovered, a larger motorcycle can feel surprisingly stable even at very slow speeds, which played into my finally choosing the 1290.
Try some heel inserts in your boots from Ailaka, they can even up you legs a bit as they have difference heights of 1.5-3.5 cm. They are cheap, comfortable and don't interfere with the gearshifting or external look of a boot.
@@manylch7964 Thank you for that idea. I have done that with a new pair of boots I bought a few weeks ago. 3.5cm doesn't fully correct the difference but it works brilliantly 🙂 I may try and get one professionally made.
They don’t have short legs, if you’re doing an item on bikes for shorties then get some real shorties, short women usually have longer legs than short males, as a 5’2” male with a 26 inch inside leg I’m a proper shortie.
I did a day at the Dave Thorpe centre and remember being suprised how manageable the seat height was for me on the low setting of the AT. Also a bit annoyed that such an urban bike as my 2016 NC750X felt less manageable for me ! I since removed all preload on my read shock and it's now fine.
A very good point they make is about avoiding stopping if possible, as my slow handling skills have improved, I find it easier and easier. Also being able to stop with the bike completely balanced means being on you toes is enough to feel sort of confortable.
One thing I don’t think you covered that is harder for shorter legged riders is getting the bike off the side stand. Fine getting on but if you can’t get the side stand up because you can’t reach it standing on your right leg you’re not going anywhere.
Fair point, and of course not all sidestands are the same. Some are far trickier to get up (or down) because of their positioning.
@@bennettsbikesocial I’d recommend someone in this position fitting a kickstand assist at a position to suit them on the side stand or, with a little practice building up to it, a rolling cowboy mount.
Interesting topic. I have been riding for well over 40 years. All sorts of bikes. And my first criteria is height. I was, in my younger years 5 ft 8 inches tall. But I am long in the body with only a 29 inch inside leg. Doesn't matter what the bike is. If I sit on it and can't comfortably get the balls of my feet down. I don't want to know. Top heavy bikes when you have to make a sudden stop. Or the ground is uneven. etc. If you can't get your feet down. Enjoy picking the thing up. Never got adventure bikes. Big ugly pointless things. The good old days of sports tourers, much better idea. If you want to play in the dirt buy a more practical dirt bike. If you can afford to buy an adventure bike and trash it off road good luck. I'd rather use a chook chaser. All bikes as standard should have adjustable levers. One of my current bikes. I pretty much have to let go of the grip to reach the levers. Why should I have to pay quite a bit of money to change them. When for minimal outlay they could originally be adjustable. All the crap on modern bikes also makes them a lot heavier than the things I grew up riding. And they carry a lot of that weight high. As a species we are getting taller in general. And I think a lot of bikes cater more for the taller rider. Now in my sixties I can't cope anymore with awkward motorcycles. Bought a cruiser. Slow, but then Australia is. With a speed camera behind every tree. I find it wobbly at maneuvering speed with the long front end. That is me after most of my life on sports bikes. But it gives you that confidence you were speaking of. You sit low. The weight is low. And the whole experience is neutral. My other bike is a Speed Triple. An old T509. I have had it for so many years. I used to be able to jump on and ride until the fuel run out. Now I am lucky to get 30K up the road before every bit of me is screaming. I envy tall riders. It definitely makes the choice of motorcycles easier. If you can ride like Chad. Then not such an issue. But for us way less skilled the selection is a lot more complicated.
interesting points Dave, thanks for commenting. Perhaps we should have had Chad demonstrate some of the points he talked about. Do cruiser style bikes work for you - Harleys, Indians, the CMX Rebel 500/1100, for instance?
@@bennettsbikesocial Certainly for me having the weight down low is a big thing these days. Cruisers just sit there. They are not trying to fall over all the time. Never thought I would ever end up with a cruiser. Die hard sports bike fan. But once you get used to them cruisers are very easy to live with. And comfortable. Like I have never known before. Would love an Indian. Harley at a push. But budget doesn't run to either. Honda Shadow.
Zzr1400 owner left footer 29 inch leg....20 years experience handle it like a 125 cc thanks to these mcn guys
Try it with 28" inside leg measurements. Heights a frightener most days. My tiger 800 and r1200rt are both on lowest seat height and tip toe 😢
Interesting vid. Most of which I’ve learnt very quickly at 5’7 and 29in leg. Dropped a few times now. Luckily with no one around.
3 clicks on pre load, that I will have to try. Cheers guys
I’m 5’6’’ with an inside leg of no more than 28’’ , so where is the advice for me?😁
Apparently, there isn't any. I'll give you some though. Lower the suspension (front and rear), if possible seat (remove some padding and get it re-covered if needed) and get some thick soled boots. Doc-Martins do some great ones. You soon get used to them but it helps if you get some lowering footpegs to help with gear changing (loads on fleabay). Might not be able to get your knee down so easily if thats what your into but for day to day riding not an issue.
I sold my 2022 Rebel SE, that I could flat foot and got a new forza 350 which I have to lean or tip toe. The weight distribution controls and ride makes it much easier for me and I am more comfortable, it is quicker too so I can be out of the way before any issues occur. Loving the Honda Forza
If you don't already have Daytona M boots, an inexpensive solution that might help to add some heel inserts into your regular boots. It can give your inseam a lift of 1.5- 3.5 cm . I have a 29" inseam and they work in my touring boots to get me off tippy toes, though it can make your boots feel tighter depending on their design. Ailaka brand has a good range but there are many others out there you can try.
Iam 5ft 6 in with a 27 inch inside leg help
As a 5' 6 rider, with a 29" inside leg, I had two decades of riding big heavy cruisers, so weight wasn't an issue but anything over 28" seat height seemed huge?! I downsized to a Royal Enfield Scram, with a 31" seat height, which initially felt so alien to me. 12 months on and I rarely notice it.
She should step on the left footpeg when stepping on the Afrika Twin. That way the pannier or topbox wouldnt be in their way.
Learn what works for you with a 26 1/2 inside leg flat foot on a bike hasn't happen since my Suzuki A 100 😂 the easiest for me was my 1260s multistrada because of the narrow seat and adjustability of the suspension. As for getting a pillion on especially with luggage
Bike on side stand and in gear,my wife uses the peg to stand on and sits on front seat the moves back. As the suspension has now compressed its easier for me to get on.
Good artic too😊
Great information I have looked at bikes and discounted on the spec sheet but not anymore.I am 5.8 with a 31 inside leg and my cb 500x is just about right and has improved over the 3 years I have owned it the suspension has lowered over time. Right foot on rear brake slower approaching a junction left foot down with with my bump cheek moved over always increases my confidence. If I park and the bike is difficult to move I will simply move the bike to level ground put my kit on and drive off with more confidence. If I try a bike in the showroom and find it to heavy to move off the side stand and push around if it feels to heavy I will still discount the bike as prefer a lighter bike to move around on my driveway and garage.
For shorter riders I would look for a seat as thin as possible. I have a Yamaha FJR 1300 and the seat is wide making it difficult to plant your feet on the ground even after the seat was modified so I lowered the bike and inch on the back and 1.2 inch in front and I can reach the ground more comfortably, but not 100%. That said I love this bike and wouldn't trade for anything.
Thanks for sharing, and the thin seat is a great tip. Nice to hear you've got a bike that you adore, is it the 5-speed or 6-geared version? I recall doing the launch of the model with 6-gears and cornering lights - Yamaha let us use the Almeria circuit at dusk to see how they worked!
Cheers, Michael
@@bennettsbikesocial It is a 6 speed (2019). Handling is great.
Great tips! I'm 5ft4 but I have freakishly long legs and arms and a short torso - 32" inseam or 33" if I wear my riding boots. I only have a honda forza 125 right now with a 790mm seat height, but its really wide, wider than the PCX and I can't flat foot it unless I slide forward or get a cheek over.
On the other hand I've gotten on someone's triumph tiger 1200 with 830mm seat height and I could almost flat foot that due to a narrower seat!
My only issue is due to having a short torso, I can't really see over the dash in some bikes - especially large touring cruisers. I got on an R18 transcontinental as well as an indian chieftain and I looked like a child sitting on the bike, I could barely see the road ahead.
Same thing with driving cars! I put the seat all the way up, but slide it far backwards. I wish my torso was an inch or two longer, but here we are :p
Thanks for contributing, and thankfully there seems to be a bike/car/solution for folk of all sizes. I think one of the main points from Chad and Leonie is that with practice and confidence, pretty much any machine could be ridden. But then it's a case of fitting it into your lifestyle, i.e. it's no good being able to ride an Africa Twin for 20 miles on a demo ride if you can't then see the dash clearly enough (as you say) or manoeuvre it with ease. Have you found any manufacturer accessory seats that make a difference, or even suspension settings?
This is a topic where I thought ahh I don’t need to watch this. How wrong I was. I’d say it’s up there with best one you’ve done. Chad with his wealth of knowledge
The lady was very articulate and it would be great to get her involved in future videos. Group tests for example. For a different perspective. I’m sure there’s many ladies who could benefit from that advice.
Thanks very much and I'm glad it helped.
All the best, Michael
Nice to see Leonie back, great presenter definitely seems to know what she is talking about. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
We agree! It made perfect sense to invite her along after her What Bike Next episode.
Cheers, Michael
Yet again another good and informative video 👍👏
5'6" with a 31" leg. Right, you should join the Rockettes
Thank you so much for the helpful tips.
I lowered mine and I am happy with it
Try having a 28" inseam. I'm 5'2". I lowered my CBR, I know everyone says not to. I feel soo much happier with bad cambers on the roads when coming to a stop. Its just a preference. Even when I shifted my weight off the seat it, I had to be so careful reading the road conditions and cambers. I;ve dropped it twice at a stop! I have driven the bike on track and tbf I am not good enough to know whether the handling is compromised. It felt fine round Castle Combe. I may return it to the factory setting if / when I feel comfortable to do so, Interesting comments tho.
They mention in the video about to take a little preload out of the rear shock, to make it sit lower.... and then later say its not really a good idea to change geometry settings.... As long as you lower the forks down to correct height with a lowering link, your not going to feel any difference in handling in the real world.
@@koromuri97 Yes I did lower the forks. Only real problem with that is that the grips are real close to the fairing, and at full lock a little impedance with the master cylinder touching the clock unit. But it feels fine. I'm happy with it. I've had the bike suspension set up for me by a professional. It handled just fine round CC.
Well done Michael. Great content as usual. Nice to see Leonie back, and always enjoy Chad’s knowledgeable and trusted insights.
Bad tip from Adam about pillion mounting .... if your sidestand is down when the pillion gets on two bad things can happen. 1) the suspension squats under the weight and suddenly you find the sidestand won't retract over top dead centre. You then have to lean the bike, incl pillion, over to the right to get the stand up, whoa ...... dicey. 2) The second problem is related but much worse, the pillion gets on, the suspension squats and because the rider is unprepared the sidestand actually pushes the bike over to the right, sudden imbalance that the rider will be powerless to prevent it !!
Oh come on people, short rider tips with not a single rider with short inside leg measurement.
Short rider doesn’t necessarily mean short leg measurement which ultimately makes the difference with seat heights.
Let me ask you then, did any of these FREE tips, hints or pieces of advice help?
Im not saying the hints and tips aren’t helpful, all hints and tips help, they help everyone regardless of height.
I’m 5”9 and own a Ducati multi 1200 enduro, love the bike but still struggle with the hight of this bike
It seems the same mistake most reviewers make, basing short rider on overall height and not inside leg measurement. If you’re going to do a short rider review it’s short leg that’s important. I’m 5’8” which isn’t that short but only a 27” inside leg now that’s a problem for many bikes.
Excellent
Good video, but I agree with most of the comments. 31" is not a short leg! I am 5'6" with 29" leg.
None of these have a small inside leg!
I see a sudden growth of the Royal Enfield Hunter ...by shorter older riders ....this is just my observations ...but having spoke to some of the riders ...they all said more or less the same things ...an easy bike to get in and out of the garage fast enough on our roads ...in the real world these bikes seem really popular ...as i say these are my thoughts have been to a lot of bike meets ...
The joys of it all , 5'11 with 29" legs and bad knees adventure bikes are not for me , R1250RS with lowered pegs fits a treat .
But cranking down preload, could make bike unstable on AT ?
While I understand it might be a bit niche I’d like one of these for us properly tall riders. I’m 6’4”, 36 inside leg and many bikes are just too small for a longer ride. Big Adventure bikes, ok, but there must be something other than that or a big cruiser that are good for the long tour.
I am on the short side but trying the Ducati Scrambler, it felt immediately cramped so I see what you mean. As much as I like them, being restricted to ADV bikes must be frustrating.
@@oliviermagere I mean, it makes it easier but also a bit dull I guess? Would love a little Enfield but those things are properly made for the slightly smaller Asian market. Ironic, since the family is Thai.
Later this week we're publishing an episode of 'What Bike Next?' featuring a chap who's 6'4" and 130kg, and we succeeded in helping him. You mention adventure bikes but there are the more road focussed version available inc. Multistrada V4S, Tiger 1200, Super Adventure S, or even Gold Wing, Hypermotard, Norden 901, Ducati Scrambler 1100, Triumph Scrambler 1200, for instance.
Let us know if that helps.
Cheers, Michael
@@bennettsbikesocial That sounds like a video to look forwards to, especially for us with a bit of a drive to multi-brand dealerships!
Iam 5,6 with a 26 inch inside leg😢
I have a 28/29 inside leg ridden since i was 16 now 53 i own a zx10r and zx12r tippy toes yes but virtually all bikes i have owned the same just get use to it some bikes are out of my range thats ok but .ost of them are not for me anyway
Now do a video for advice for tall riders. I'm 6ft2 on my socks and i look like a giraffe on a tricycle on most bikes 😢
It's a fine idea, and we've actually got an episode of 'What Bike Next?' coming this week with a chap at 6'4" and 130kg, so do keep an eye out for that. What do you ride currently? Are you on the lookout for a new bike?
Cheers, Michael
Will see❤
Really good topic.
Picked up a couple of bits, the pillion mounting especially ,thank you. 5'9 or 5'8 after a haircut, 32" leg.
Ride safe 👍
Glad it helped, and thanks for letting us know.
Wear high heels?
Why would an experienced rider suggest you need less protective equipment on a Scooter than you would on a Motorcycle. The ground doesn't care what you ride it grinds you body just the same.
Really good, are you gonna do one for tall riders??? I'm 6ft 7inch and would be happy to be a Guinea Pig......
Ha! That could be a good idea. We've got an episode of 'What Bike Next?' coming soon with a chap at 6'4" and 130kg, so do keep an eye out for that. What do you ride currently?
Cheers, Michael
Ha! That could be a good idea. We've got an episode of 'What Bike Next?' coming soon with a chap at 6'4" and 130kg, so do keep an eye out for that. What do you ride currently?
Cheers, Michael
I'm on a 1250 bandit, bit maybe looking to go onto a 1290 gt ktm
5’3” with a 31” leg?
Im 6’3 with a 34” leg and they call me lanky
How can you say 31in leg is short, surely a daft statement. Show bikes that are short/low seat, like for me, I've got 27in leg and I dont want a bobber/cruiser, i want all bikes accessible.
Do a piece for lowering bikes, and the end results!
I’m 5 foot six with a 27 inside leg. Not one of you in the video have short legs! 31 inside leg isn’t short
Uh... Goldwing vs Grom? The Goldwing is wide! Also, heavy, especially when leaned over for a shorter leg to reach the ground. This is not comparing apples and oranges; it is comparing apples and beer barrels.
Correct! That’s the point - don’t just judge a bike by its seat height.
that CB750 hornet is a nice short bike, if anyone looking for suggestions
Nice shout! And I'm leaning against one in the conclusion. In fact, my dad has just bought one and even at 5'9" he considered an NC750X too tall.
@@bennettsbikesocial yeah I've just got one too. 5'9" with a 29" inseam, I also considered a factory lowered F650gs.
Not a good exapmle with a 31" inseam. Make another video but this time with 29" and less.
Look I appreciate the struggles of the shorter rider but I’m 6ft6 with a 36” inside leg… and there is very little advice out there for me. I would appreciate a taller rider version, because I would very much like any other tip than get a GS 😂
Africa twin is a great shout.
It’s very tall with the seat in the high position, Tiger 900 is also worth a look.
Both are comfortable for me.
Thanks for the comment! As luck would have it, the next episode of 'What Bike Next?' features a 6'4" chap, so do look out for that. Otherwise, these are the obvious ones that spring to mind (other than a GS): KTM 1290 Super Adventure, Triumph Tiger 1200, Ducati Multistrada V4 (and Rally), Ducati Hypermotard, Honda CRF300, Husqvarna 901 Norden, Harley-Davidson Pan America, Gold Wing. Unless you have any other specific criteria... of course it's not only about seat height/width in your circumstance, but the reach to the 'bars, wind protection and weight of the bike too.
Cheers, Michael
Thanks Michael, much appreciated! Personally I want to go down the naked route, as I’d like something that I could use on track as well as the fair weather ride. But I will check out that video 👍🏻
@@BaldandTyred It went live last night on our channel - hope it helps.
Trying to sell the AT with these approaches is BS. It's 238kg and tall. It's a pain in the arse to manhandle particularly at the end of long days touring as you get progressively tired. Just get a low seat, lighter, KTM, RE, etc.
We were just pointing out that bikes shouldn't be immediately dismissed because of their size. Sure, an AT (particularly the AS model) might not be ideal for everyone at 5'3.5", becasue there are techniques for riding one.
@@bennettsbikesocial and I was just pointing out the sizeable (pun intended) cons because the salesman at the dealership likely won't.
Adam child michael neevsey neeves....bike gods ...
Nice to see short riders are being considered ;) as most bike reviews it is assumed that all riders are average height.
Too true. As a rule, I always share my height, inside leg length and weight when reviewing - both in writing (when you can see me in photos on the bike) and in video.
Cheers, Michael
31" is not really that short. 🫣
Honda CTX700. Problem solved.
Never ride in trainers!
2nd
Advice for shorter riders…
Buy a smaller bike - doh!!
When did common sense disappear?
And if you want a high power adventure bike? Just can't access a whole market of bike because they're short? Yours is the pov of someone who doesn't have to care.
@@dreamcrusher112 Buy a KTM Duke rather than a KTM Adv
engines the same..
The MOST important thing with any bike is fit & ergonomics
There are literally thousands of ‘normal’ sized bikes
Comment category: Why don't homeless people buy a house...
Just buy longer legs...
@@dreamcrusher112I’m 6’4”. Small sports cars and most bikes aren’t for me. You get over it.
Manlets, when will they learn...