Vertically Challenged Newbie...

Hello everyone. Been lurking on this site trying to find as much information as possible in the last few months. Finally registered as there is something that has been bugging me.

I'm only 5'4"

Seems most of the bikes are a little too big for me based on seat height. Lowest seat heights I can find are from the Honda Shadow or the Suzuki Boulevard S40. My problem is that I prefer the looks of a sportbike and have even been looking at Scooters! :o

I really like the new upcoming Yamaha TMAX as it appears to have the sportbike look, but more of a relaxed cruiser seating (and yes it's a scooter).

My question to you and I'm sorry if it's been covered as I searched, but may have missed it:

How tall are you and what kind of motorcycle do you have?
Thanks in advance for your answers.

Here is a link I found that may help. I while not "vertically challenged" (5'11") I only have a 30" inseam.

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/school-SectionTwoB.htm

Motorcycle Seat Height in Inches

Inches / Year / Manufacturer / Motorcycle Model

24.5 2006 Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe FLSTN/I
24.9 2006 Harley-Davidson Springer Softail FXSTS/I
25.2 2006 Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider FXDLI
25.2 2006 Harley-Davidson Softail Standard FXST/I
25.4 2006 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy FLSTF/I
25.5 2006 Buell Blast (low profile)
25.5 2006 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic FLSTC/I
25.5 2006 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail FLST/I
25.6 2006 Honda Shadow VLX
25.6 2006 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe
25.7 2006 Victory Ness Signature Series Vegas Jackpot
25.7 2006 Victory Vegas Jackpot
25.8 2006 Harley-Davidson Dyna Street Bob FXDBI
25.8 2006 Yamaha Morphous
25.9 2006 Harley-Davidson Softail Springer Classic FLSTSC/I
25.9 2006 Honda Shadow Aero
26.0 2006 Harley-Davidson Night Train FXSTB/I
26.0 2006 Harley-Davidson Softail Deuce FXSTD/I
26.0 2006 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883L
26.0 2006 Harley-Davidson V-Rod VRSCA
26.0 2006 Harley-Davidson VRSCD Night Rod
26.1 2006 Harley-Davidson Road King Custom FLHRS/I
26.2 2006 Honda Helix
26.25 2006 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200L
26.3 2006 Harley-Davidson Street Glide FLHX/I
26.4 2006 Victory Hammer
26.5 2006 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883C
26.5 2006 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200C
26.5 2006 Victory Kingpin
26.5 2006 Victory Vegas
26.5 2006 Victory Vegas 8-Ball
26.6 2006 Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide FXDI
26.6 2006 Honda Rebel
26.6 2006 Honda Shadow Spirit 750
26.8 2006 Harley-Davidson Dyna 35th Anniversary Super Glide FXDI35
26.8 2006 Harley-Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom FXDCI
26.8 2006 Kawasaki Eliminator 125
26.8 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000
26.8 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 Classic
26.8 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 Classic LT
26.8 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 Limited
26.9 2006 Harley-Davidson Road Glide FLTRI
26.9 2006 Harley-Davidson Road King Classic FLHRCI
27.0 2006 Yamaha Virago 250
27.2 2006 Honda Shadow Sabre
27.2 2006 Yamaha V Star 1100 Custom
27.3 2006 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Classic FLHTC/I
27.3 2006 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Standard FLHT/I
27.3 2006 Harley-Davidson Road King FLHR/I
27.3 2006 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883
27.3 2006 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide FLHTCUI
27.35 2006 Honda VTX1300R
27.35 2006 Honda VTX1300S
27.4 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Classic
27.4 2006 Suzuki Burgman 400
27.4 2006 Suzuki Burgman 400 Type S
27.4 2006 Yamaha V Star Custom
27.46 2006 Honda VTX1300C
27.5 2006 Buell Blast
27.5 2006 Harley-Davidson Dyna Wide Glide FXDWGI
27.6 2006 Honda VTX1800F
27.6 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic
27.6 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 1600 Mean Streak
27.6 2006 Suzuki Boulevard M109R
27.6 2006 Suzuki Boulevard M50
27.6 2006 Suzuki Boulevard M50 Black
27.6 2006 Suzuki Boulevard C90
27.6 2006 Suzuki Boulevard C90 Black
27.6 2006 Suzuki Boulevard C90T
27.6 2006 Suzuki Boulevard C50
27.6 2006 Suzuki Boulevard C50 Black
27.6 2006 Suzuki Boulevard C50T
27.6 2006 Suzuki Boulevard S50
27.6 2006 Suzuki Boulevard S40
27.8 2006 Suzuki GZ250
27.9 2006 Yamaha Road Star
27.9 2006 Yamaha Road Star Midnight
27.9 2006 Yamaha Road Star Midnight Silverado
27.9 2006 Yamaha Road Star Silverado
27.9 2006 Yamaha V Star 1100 Silverado
27.9 2006 Yamaha V Star Classic
27.9 2006 Yamaha V Star Silverado
28.0 2006 Yamaha V Star 1100 Classic
28.1 2006 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL883R
28.1 2006 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL1200R
28.1 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD
28.1 2006 Yamaha Warrior
28.2 - 28.7 2006 Honda Big Ruckus
28.3 2006 Honda Reflex
28.3 2006 Honda Reflex ABS
28.3 2006 Honda Reflex Sport
28.3 2006 Honda Reflex Sport ABS
28.3 2006 Kawasaki 1600 Nomad
28.3 2006 Victory Touring Cruiser
28.6 2006 Buell Lightning XB12Scg
28.7 2006 Honda Shadow Spirit
28.9 2006 Honda Metropolitan
28.9 2006 Honda Ruckus
28.9 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 750
28.9 2006 Yamaha Roadliner
28.9 2006 Yamaha Roadliner Midnight
28.9 2006 Yamaha Roadliner S
28.9 2006 Yamaha Stratoliner
28.9 2006 Yamaha Stratoliner Midnight
28.9 2006 Yamaha Stratoliner S
29.1 2004 BMW R1200C Montauk
29.1 2004 BMW R1200C Classic
29.1 2006 Honda Gold Wing GL1800
29.1 2006 Suzuki Boulevard S83
29.1 2006 Yamaha Royal Star Tour Deluxe
29.3 2004 BMW R1200CL
29.3 2006 Honda Nighthawk
29.3 2006 Kawasaki Ninja 250R
29.5 low seat & 30.7 2005 BMW F650GS
29.5 2006 Suzuki Burgman 650
29.5 2006 Suzuki Burgman 650 Exec
29.5 2006 Yamaha Majesty
29.5 2006 Yamaha Royal Star Venture
29.7 2005 Aprilia Mojito Custom 150
29.7 2006 Honda Elite 80
29.7 2006 Honda Silver Wing
29.7 2006 Honda Silver Wing ABS
29.9 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan 800 Drifter
29.9 2006 Yamaha Vino 125
30.0 2006 Harley-Davidson VRSCR Street Rod
30.1 2006 Buell Lightning XB12S
30.1 2006 Yamaha V Max
30.3 2005 Aprilia Atlantic 200
30.3 2005 Aprilia Atlantic 500
30.3 2005 BMW K1200LT
30.3 & 31.5 2004 BMW K1200RS
30.5 2006 Buell Firebolt XB9R
30.5 2006 Buell Firebolt XB12R
30.5 2006 Buell Lightning XB12Ss Long
30.5 2006 Kawasaki Ninja 500R
30.7 2005 BMW F650CS
30.7 & 31.5 (low seat) OR 32.3 & 33.1 (reg. seat) 2005 BMW R1200RT
30.7 & 31.5 (low seat) OR 31.9 & 32.7 (reg. seat) 2005 BMW R1200ST
30.7 2006 Piaggio X9 500
30.9 2006 Piaggio BV250
30.9 2006 Piaggio BV500
30.9 2006 Piaggio FLY150
30.9 2006 Suzuki Katana 600
31.1 & 32.3 2004 BMW K1200GT
31.1 & 32.3 2005 BMW K1200S
31.1 & 31.9 & 32.7 2004 BMW R1150RS
31.1 2006 Honda 599
31.1 2006 Suzuki GS500F
31.1 2006 Suzuki Katana 750
31.3 2006 Honda 919
31.4 2006 Buell Lightning CityX XB9SX
31.5 2005 Aprilia Scarabeo 150
31.5 2005 Aprilia Scarabeo 500
31.5 2004 BMW R1100S
31.5 2004 BMW R1150R
31.5 2006 Suzuki SV650
31.5 2006 Suzuki SV650S
31.5 2006 Suzuki SV1000S
31.5 2006 Yamaha FZ6
31.7 & 32.5 & 33.3 2004 BMW R1150RT
31.7 2006 Honda Interceptor
31.7 2006 Honda Interceptor ABS
31.7 2006 Suzuki Hayabusa 1300 Limited
31.7 2006 Suzuki Hayabusa 1300
31.7 2006 Yamaha FJR1300A
31.7 2006 Yamaha FJR1300AE
31.7 2006 Yamaha YZF600R
31.9 2006 Honda CBR600F4i
31.9 2006 Suzuki DR200SE
31.9 2006 Suzuki GSX-R1000
31.9 2006 Suzuki GSX-R750
31.9 2006 Suzuki GSX-R600
32.1 2006 Kawasaki Z750S
32.1 2006 Yamaha FZ1
32.3 2006 Honda CBR600RR
32.3 2006 Honda CBR1000RR
32.3 2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R
32.3 2006 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6RR
32.3 2006 Kawasaki Z1000
32.3 2006 Kawasaki ZZR600
32.3 2006 Suzuki V-Strom 650
32.3 2006 Yamaha YZF-R6S
32.5 2006 Honda RC51
32.9 2004 BMW R1150R Rockster
32.9 2006 Yamaha YZF-R1
32.9 2006 Yamaha YZF-R1 LE
33.0 - 34.8 2006 Suzuki DR650SE
33.1 2005 BMW R1200GS
33.1 2006 Buell Ulysses XB12X
33.1 2006 Suzuki V-Strom 1000
33.5 2006 Yamaha YZF-R6
33.9 2005 BMW R1100S BoxerCup Replika
34.3 2005 BMW F650GS Dakar
34.8 2006 Kawasaki KLX250S
35.0 2006 Kawasaki KLR650
35.0 2006 Suzuki DR-Z400SM
35.4 2004 BMW R1150GS Adventure
36.8 2006 Suzuki DR-Z400S

Thanks for that reference post Lefty. Very good info.

The 08 1200 Roadster has a seat height of close to 30 inches.

I'm 6' tall with a 32 inch inseam and it fits just about right.

I am wondering, since you like sport bikes, about the small Ninja, like a 250R. You might go and sit on one and see what you think.

I ride an SV 650S and am almost 5'9". Looking at the seat height is helpful, but the width and how much it squishes down when you actually get on it play a factor. My inseam is about 31-32" for example, which is the seat height of my bike. In reality my knees are bent and I am comfortably flat footed once I sit on it.

But 5'4" will be a challenge for a sport bike.

Check and see if the bike your interested can be lowered to fit you better. Ask the dealer while your trying them on for size. There's kits available to do this that are supposed to be engineered and safe to use. See if you can find the latest issue of "RoadBike" magazine. They just did a write up on lowering an SV 650. Might keep you off a scooter.

Thanks for the posts guys. I measured my inseam at 28" so it's a tad bit less than most people. Lowering kits are an option that I'll look at next time I go to the dealership, but if not I'm not entirely opposed to a cruiser (just have to work on my "tough guy" image).

I plan to take my Motorcycle safety course hopefully as early as this weekend (I'm on Stand-By), but if I don't get into that class I'm guaranteed a spot in the following class next week. Hopefully they have some different bikes that I can practice with so I can get a feel for them.

Here is a link I found that may help. I while not "vertically challenged" (5'11") I only have a 30" inseam.

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/school-SectionTwoB.htm

Motorcycle Seat Height in Inches

Inches / Year / Manufacturer / Motorcycle Model


25.5 2006 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic FLSTC/I
25.5 2006 Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail FLST/I
25.6 2006 Honda Shadow VLX
25.6 2006 Honda Shadow VLX Deluxe



The numbers sometimes do not represent how your feet reach the ground. For example, some of the Harley's show low seat heights, but the width of the seat actually makes your thigh to open a bit resulting in being hard for people of short legs to reach the ground. If the seat is narrow, it can go a bit higher. The best way is, therefor, to visit dealers and sit on as many bikes as possible to find the one you need.


http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/Akita-inu/biker%20pic%20and%20gifs/bestridesarecurvy.gif

The numbers sometimes do not represent how your feet reach the ground. For example, some of the Harley's show low seat heights, but the width of the seat actually makes your thigh to open a bit resulting in being hard for people of short legs to reach the ground. If the seat is narrow, it can go a bit higher. The best way is, therefor, to visit dealers and sit on as many bikes as possible to find the one you need.






It was the only reference I could find and it was just meant as a reference. I agree width and cushyness (if thats a word) play into the factor.

One thing you can do with the sportbikes is scoop out some of the foam from the seat to lower the standover height. It won't make a HUGE difference but if the bike is only a bit to high for you then it might help.

BTW I am 5' 6" and I ride a Suzuki GSX-R just fine. I think you should just go out and sit on a few of the sport bikes you have been looking at.