I just started riding dirt bikes, im a 5'2 guy and riding small dirt bikes planning to ride taller bikes. trying to build up my skills to ride taller bikes after getting comfortable with riding the smaller dirt bikes. I really really want to get the drz400sm for my first street legal bike.
I’m around 5 foot 8 with an XR650, it’s very tall stock but I shaved a couple inches off the seat and put a new cover on it so it kind of looks like a trials bike now but it’s fine with me still plenty of seat pad and actually feels better while riding seated, and now I can put both balls of feet down when stopped. Not flat but yep I’ve been learning to shift over to put a foot down stopped at a sign or wherever.
Unfortunately when we get older we get less flexible. I would have all kinds of pulled muscles attempting this. I buy bikes with the lowest seat height I can and then order a Seat Concepts low seat. I agree with not using lowering kits. Beta can lower the suspension without messing with the geometry, but it sacrifices suspension travel.
I've riding my G650GS for about 6 months and luckily for me, it has a centre stand when/where i can do a cowboy mount as from there to push forward onto the wheels is super easy. To get off, side stand down, stan up on the pegs, and get off to the right. Also aaaaaaaalways have it in first gear BEFORE stopping and putting the left toe down and right foot on the brake.
You didn't mention getting on with the kickstand down, putting left leg on the peg, and using that as like a step .... I think this can work really well, especially if you have a bag strapped on the back to clear. Maybe works better on the Honda's, with a stronger kickstand?
Hi Tigit. Wonderful video. I've needed this information. And, guess what, even a short (169 cm tall) 75 year old (me) can learn to ride a tall off-road m/c. I started riding on a WR250R that was lowered for me b/c I was a beginner. Initially I agreed and have ridden since with the bike this way. Lowered like this I could touch, barely, the toes of my boots touching both sides of the bike at the same time. That's not enough to allow me to dab when the going got rough so I have had to learn to stay on the pegs. When I'm finally thrown off the bike, usually in the rocks, I'm thrown off the foot pegs. Also, so far, the loss of clearance has NOT made a difference so far in what I've been able to ride. That may be because I'm not yet riding aggressively enough to max out the suspension. What has happened, though, is that I've broken two idler rollers, the top one that controls the drive chain when the rear wheel is up in the wheel well, off the bike. Apparently the geometry of the WR (a very popular bike in Australia as well as here in the US) is such that too much upward force is put on the idler roller too often when riding more aggressively over rough terrain. Question: I disagree with the lowered bike being turned into something like a cruiser and your gesture of the handlebars being high as you are sitting on the seat. The distance between the seat and the foot pegs doesn't change as a result of the bike being lowered. You can take the wheels off the bike, put it on the ground and the distance between the foot pegs and the seat will remain the same.... At least this is the case for my WR250R (I know nothing about KTMs in this regard) which has a stock seat height of 36". I have just raised my bike back to stock height b/c of the idler roller damage problem and need, now, to learn how to ride my bike when it's taller. I will check back here for your reply but if you would please reply to paulkenyonatgmavtdotnet replacing the "at" with @ and "dot" with the period.
Some bikes you can't lower the forks down the triple tree properly. Yamaha WR 450 being one of them. The forks get wider as you go down them, so the triple tree can't be lowered much. These bikes end up like cruises if you lower the bike. Same for the CRF 250L actually. KTM bikes you can lower the back and the front and it works. This was not made clear enough in the video. Thanks for the comment!
Nice tips. I'm new to dirt bikes. I bought the Honda 300L Rally and started playing with it. It's quite tall at 893mm seat height and taller than its dirt bike siblings. It's a bit tall for me as I'm only 5' 10". There are instances that I'm having trouble with muds, single tracks. Regarding the geometry, you mean to say that if I order the BMW 900 GS eduro or anything on the GS line, which they offer varying seat height adjustments, will they ruin the geometry? Edit: at 07:32, it made me smile xD
I think if the manufacturer is doing the adjustments the geometry will be fine. The point is, is lowering the seat is not always a simple fix and it very much depends on the model of bike.
I just got my CRF300 and man, after a day of trying to get the hang of it -- mounting, etc cos I'm not that tall ( i sill tip toe, for this bike) my lower back, knees and toes, can't feel them til now, it's been two days lol sooooo sore
I went to test ride a off-road bike and it was too tall. It took me 10 minutes to decide not the buy the bike I've been dreaming of since 2 months 😂. I ride a lot on the hills, and by experience I know that in hills you can't risk not being able to put both feet down.
I’m 5’3 and just picked up a 2015 yz250f. Trust me it gets easier. I can literally just barely touch the ground with just one foot. What I do is lean the bike towards the opposite side of my shifter. So if my shift is on the left side, I lean the bike onto my right. It helps me put the bike into first gear. You could also do this to kickstart it
I’m as short as the other chick in your video.. your way taller. And I barely got to see how she did anything on the bike.. so… I don’t think you apply as a short person.
It's all relative :) Compared to Jon and his KTM, everyone qualifies as short! We chose just quick clips of the training as it was the customer's first lesson on the basics. Didn't want to add to the nerves!
I am tall, so I come from a position with not much understanding. However in my opinion a good rider can basically ride any bike regardless of their height. I am not saying it is easy, but practice, and lessons will get you there.
@@Tigitmotorbikes You're almost 5'9"? I'm a 5'7" male with a 28" inseam and I REALLY struggle on the new bikes (have a 2023 KTM SX-F 350 MX bike). I did a 1" lowering link professionally through a suspension shop who did the front as well. I don't ride enduro so could care less losing ground clearance. I STILL struggle with getting on the bike and getting my leg over. Been stretching for months! LOL Your student looks short but she can easily get her leg over the bike. Point being, it's not the height, it's the leg length (inseam) that matters.
Lololol you’re definitely not short 😂 you can or near flat foot one foot to the ground. We can clearly see how tall you are 😂 Most of us tippy toe on one foot by scooting half our butt off the seat just to touch one side on the ground.
A lot of people don’t like to do it, but just practice. I teach rider safety course and it’s amazing the number of people in class who THINK they have motorcycle skills, been riding a while, but have them do weaving thru a set of cones then stop on a line, they can’t do it, missing turns all over the course and can’t stop within 10 feet of where it’s marked. Slow speed skills, a lot of riders are surprisingly bad at it.
Very difficult to do a tight turn and use your boot to compensate the center of gravity. Also, very difficult to kick start a tall bike. Leaning a bike to start it is simply bad logic. Bottom line, find a bike that fits your height.
I don't get it. You're giving advice for short riders on Enduro bikes, while you're not that short yourself, and then you say "lets even out the playing field" and get on a dirt bike, you logical dumpster fire.
You lower both front and rear suspension with lowering kits and it doesn’t turn cruiser 😊
I just started riding dirt bikes, im a 5'2 guy and riding small dirt bikes planning to ride taller bikes. trying to build up my skills to ride taller bikes after getting comfortable with riding the smaller dirt bikes. I really really want to get the drz400sm for my first street legal bike.
I’m around 5 foot 8 with an XR650, it’s very tall stock but I shaved a couple inches off the seat and put a new cover on it so it kind of looks like a trials bike now but it’s fine with me still plenty of seat pad and actually feels better while riding seated, and now I can put both balls of feet down when stopped. Not flat but yep I’ve been learning to shift over to put a foot down stopped at a sign or wherever.
Thanks for the tips, I need to work on these skills!
Unfortunately when we get older we get less flexible. I would have all kinds of pulled muscles attempting this. I buy bikes with the lowest seat height I can and then order a Seat Concepts low seat. I agree with not using lowering kits. Beta can lower the suspension without messing with the geometry, but it sacrifices suspension travel.
I'm 6 ft and my YZ450 seat height is 37". I'm on my tippy toes when stopped and centered on the seat.
Think the YZ 450 is quite hard to lower because the forks get wider as they go down. Very annoying. Perhaps the new versions are better, not sure.
I've riding my G650GS for about 6 months and luckily for me, it has a centre stand when/where i can do a cowboy mount as from there to push forward onto the wheels is super easy. To get off, side stand down, stan up on the pegs, and get off to the right. Also aaaaaaaalways have it in first gear BEFORE stopping and putting the left toe down and right foot on the brake.
You didn't mention getting on with the kickstand down, putting left leg on the peg, and using that as like a step .... I think this can work really well, especially if you have a bag strapped on the back to clear. Maybe works better on the Honda's, with a stronger kickstand?
Hi Tigit. Wonderful video. I've needed this information. And, guess what, even a short (169 cm tall) 75 year old (me) can learn to ride a tall off-road m/c. I started riding on a WR250R that was lowered for me b/c I was a beginner. Initially I agreed and have ridden since with the bike this way. Lowered like this I could touch, barely, the toes of my boots touching both sides of the bike at the same time. That's not enough to allow me to dab when the going got rough so I have had to learn to stay on the pegs. When I'm finally thrown off the bike, usually in the rocks, I'm thrown off the foot pegs. Also, so far, the loss of clearance has NOT made a difference so far in what I've been able to ride. That may be because I'm not yet riding aggressively enough to max out the suspension. What has happened, though, is that I've broken two idler rollers, the top one that controls the drive chain when the rear wheel is up in the wheel well, off the bike. Apparently the geometry of the WR (a very popular bike in Australia as well as here in the US) is such that too much upward force is put on the idler roller too often when riding more aggressively over rough terrain.
Question: I disagree with the lowered bike being turned into something like a cruiser and your gesture of the handlebars being high as you are sitting on the seat. The distance between the seat and the foot pegs doesn't change as a result of the bike being lowered. You can take the wheels off the bike, put it on the ground and the distance between the foot pegs and the seat will remain the same.... At least this is the case for my WR250R (I know nothing about KTMs in this regard) which has a stock seat height of 36". I have just raised my bike back to stock height b/c of the idler roller damage problem and need, now, to learn how to ride my bike when it's taller. I will check back here for your reply but if you would please reply to paulkenyonatgmavtdotnet replacing the "at" with @ and "dot" with the period.
Some bikes you can't lower the forks down the triple tree properly. Yamaha WR 450 being one of them. The forks get wider as you go down them, so the triple tree can't be lowered much.
These bikes end up like cruises if you lower the bike.
Same for the CRF 250L actually.
KTM bikes you can lower the back and the front and it works.
This was not made clear enough in the video.
Thanks for the comment!
All great idea's to practice. Getting a pair of boots with a taller sole on the bottom really helps as well. Grab another 1" 😊
😂
Nice tips. I'm new to dirt bikes. I bought the Honda 300L Rally and started playing with it. It's quite tall at 893mm seat height and taller than its dirt bike siblings. It's a bit tall for me as I'm only 5' 10". There are instances that I'm having trouble with muds, single tracks. Regarding the geometry, you mean to say that if I order the BMW 900 GS eduro or anything on the GS line, which they offer varying seat height adjustments, will they ruin the geometry? Edit: at 07:32, it made me smile xD
I think if the manufacturer is doing the adjustments the geometry will be fine. The point is, is lowering the seat is not always a simple fix and it very much depends on the model of bike.
If I could have found a trainer like you, I would have been able to ride the motorcycle better with my short stature :)
You need to lower the suspension front and rear , not with a lowering link.
You may be short, but you easily swung your left leg over the bike, clearling the rear of the seat - how about those who are a lot less flexible?
best start stretching
@@daspas2111😂😂 i started today, bro my hips hurt im not a woman
Scooter.
Star performer Sam🎉, nice video. Tigit employee, or guest?
I just got my CRF300 and man, after a day of trying to get the hang of it -- mounting, etc cos I'm not that tall ( i sill tip toe, for this bike) my lower back, knees and toes, can't feel them til now, it's been two days lol sooooo sore
The CRF 250/300 works well with a lowering kit. Buy one on ebay
I went to test ride a off-road bike and it was too tall. It took me 10 minutes to decide not the buy the bike I've been dreaming of since 2 months 😂. I ride a lot on the hills, and by experience I know that in hills you can't risk not being able to put both feet down.
Im 5'5" would a 250 be too tall for me?
What if your 5'3?
I’m 5’3 and just picked up a 2015 yz250f. Trust me it gets easier. I can literally just barely touch the ground with just one foot. What I do is lean the bike towards the opposite side of my shifter. So if my shift is on the left side, I lean the bike onto my right. It helps me put the bike into first gear. You could also do this to kickstart it
@@liltjay7722what if it's a heavier bike like a touring bike
I’m as short as the other chick in your video.. your way taller. And I barely got to see how she did anything on the bike.. so… I don’t think you apply as a short person.
It's all relative :) Compared to Jon and his KTM, everyone qualifies as short! We chose just quick clips of the training as it was the customer's first lesson on the basics. Didn't want to add to the nerves!
How about on a tall naked bike which is heavier? Could i ride it like and think like its a dirt bike?
I am tall, so I come from a position with not much understanding. However in my opinion a good rider can basically ride any bike regardless of their height.
I am not saying it is easy, but practice, and lessons will get you there.
@@Tigitmotorbikes you can imagine if you place a lifter on a bmw gs1250 bike so more than higher than normal can u still manage it?
Thanks. How tall are you?
175cm, but the bike in the video is pretty large!
@@Tigitmotorbikes awesome. Yeah I see. Thanks for good content
@@Tigitmotorbikes You're almost 5'9"? I'm a 5'7" male with a 28" inseam and I REALLY struggle on the new bikes (have a 2023 KTM SX-F 350 MX bike). I did a 1" lowering link professionally through a suspension shop who did the front as well. I don't ride enduro so could care less losing ground clearance. I STILL struggle with getting on the bike and getting my leg over. Been stretching for months! LOL Your student looks short but she can easily get her leg over the bike. Point being, it's not the height, it's the leg length (inseam) that matters.
@@Tigitmotorbikeswhat is your inseam
this video really helped
Lololol you’re definitely not short 😂 you can or near flat foot one foot to the ground. We can clearly see how tall you are 😂
Most of us tippy toe on one foot by scooting half our butt off the seat just to touch one side on the ground.
I feel embarrassed that she moves that bike so easy and my bike being 120 kg I can't move it at all being a man, impressive
Ye, all about technique.
A lot of people don’t like to do it, but just practice. I teach rider safety course and it’s amazing the number of people in class who THINK they have motorcycle skills, been riding a while, but have them do weaving thru a set of cones then stop on a line, they can’t do it, missing turns all over the course and can’t stop within 10 feet of where it’s marked. Slow speed skills, a lot of riders are surprisingly bad at it.
Very difficult to do a tight turn and use your boot to compensate the center of gravity. Also, very difficult to kick start a tall bike. Leaning a bike to start it is simply bad logic. Bottom line, find a bike that fits your height.
I get you mate. I ride a 500 and it's quite tall in such a way that I cannot kick it from the seat I must stand off and kick before I can ride.
I don't get it. You're giving advice for short riders on Enduro bikes, while you're not that short yourself, and then you say "lets even out the playing field" and get on a dirt bike, you logical dumpster fire.
Get a car.
@tazzjazz 🤣