My wife's about your height she rides a heritage softail.. and this is her first ever motorcycle and she's going on long rides with the rest of us guys... and where we are roads aren't even as nice as yours inthe US. no problem since the seats and weight of the bike are well balanced.Are there any women Harley-Davidson Riders with advice?
The newest Sportster the Nightster is a new styling of the sportster, it's seat height is only 25.3.
I'm 5'4';, well, ok, only if I wear my boots. I have a Street Bob and the seat height is about 2'; higher than the Deluxe, but the Bob weighs about 60lbs. less so, to me, it is easier to handle (although I wanted a Deluxe I thought it was too heavy for my riding style). All models can be lowered (at a price, of course) but it is easiest to install a low profile seat, you might be surprised how much closer to the ground you seem just by changing from the stock seat.
I know everyone mentions seat height but I have found that more important than the seat height in determining reach is the width of the frame and components. By that I mean that even though it has a higher seat height on paper, the Sportster models are narrow, so your legs don't spread as far apart when you put your feet down, which means you may actually plant your feet firmly on the ground when a ';shorter'; seat height may be on a bike so wide that you can't be flat-footed, like the Fatboy for example.
I think the Deluxe gives the best ride comfort wise, but I'm of course partial to the look and feel of my Street Bob, but my opinion of the Sportster has changed (just stay away from the peanut tank) and I think you can't go wrong with the way a Sporty would fit either.
You can get very good deals on used Yamaha V-Star 650's. I know a woman of about the same size that this is her preferred bike. It has usable but not intimidating power. Nice looks for a cruiser. I've ridden one and it's a nice bike.
I'm 5'7';. I love my 2003 anniversary edition V-Rod. Perfect fit, balance, etc. for me.
Started on a Kawasaki Vulcan 750 - nice size %26amp; weight, but really learned to ride on a 250 at a motorcycle safety riding course (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED).
Next went to Indian Chief - too big.
My V-Rod - perfect.
I am 5'5'; and I tried a Sportster and would never buy one. They are smaller bikes but for some reason you sit up higher on them. I was unable to put my feet flat on the ground when sitting on it. I have a 2000 HD Deuce. The best way is to go to the dealership, tell the salesperson what you are looking for and they will hold up the bikes so you can sit on them and then put your feet back on the floor. If your feet are not flat on the floor the bike is to high. You can have the bike lowered and putting a different seat on the bike will lower you down.
In Sturgis last year I saw a female who was about 5'2'; and about 100 lbs. She rode a Roadking. I talked to her about her size and the size of the roadking and she said she has never had a problem with it.
If you haven't taken the Motorcycle safety course, sign up for it.
It's really what you are comfortable with. One last piece of advice. If you go to the dealership, go by yourself. Don't let anyone else influence what fits you!
Get a sportster 900 cc. Its the smallest one HD makes.
I am a gal 5'3'; and 115 lb. I learned to ride on a Suzuki 650 Savage...great learner bike! Then I took the MSF basic rider course which was very helpful. After a few months riding experience, I bought a 2005 HD V-Rod. I had them put on extended reach foot controls and a forward seat. Those two items made all the difference for my short legs! The V-Rod has the gas tank under the seat, so alot of the weight is under you which makes it much easier to balance! I love this bike and feel it is a great ladies bike! Good luck!
a good girls bike is a cbr 1100xx
Hey, woman or not, I am a shorty, so I choose a Harley XL883Low, awsome bike.. Check my profile and 360 for pics. I love it. I am moving up to a 1200 soon but the 883 is a awsome bike.
The sportster has a low, BLB, it does not situp higher Im 5'5 and it's a great bike for me.
I am 5'4 and after learning on a honda 650 (2 years) then to a dyna low ride convertable for 2 more years I am the proud owner of a softtail deluxe. This bike was designed for smaller/shorter profile people. In other words this bike was built for short girls! This is a big bike that handles like a small sport bike. The biggest mistake I see most girls make is buying a sportser. They do this thinking its smaller so therefore it must be much easier to ride and handle. NOT TRUE. The center of gravity on the sportser and even the lowrider is much to high and therefore more difficult to handle at a stop or a slow tight turn. And lets face it girls that is where we have our problems. I never have a problem cruising down the road, it's always when you stop! When Harley designed the softail deluxe they must have had a girl about 5'4 and about 130 lbs there to try it out because IT IS PERFECT. I put about 5000 miles a summer on my bike. We ride from the U.S. to Canada and Mexico. Evertime I get off my bike at stops along the way I tell my husband God I LOVE MY BIKE! He loves that I love my bike because it is now less work for him too. Take the proper steps before getting the bike you really want. I started on a honda - great bike for learning and if you drop it so what! Its a honda after you have practised for a while on long straight roads TAKE THE RIDERS COURSE. The riders course will improve confidence and teach you how to handle a bike, how to take sharp corners, fast stops etc. Just remember size doesn't matter (engine size that is!) but being able to put your feet flat on the ground at a stop does! HAPPY HAPPY RIDING OUT THERE. Oh, the seat is really really confortable on the deluxe, you can go for days.
at 5'10'; I'm not the typical female rider.... so I have no idea what to recommend for you... just go sit on the different bikes and see what seems to fit you best.
I like to be able to flat foot the bike when standing over the seat. That way you have the full power of your legs when pushing back instead of just your toes.
Seat height is the biggest factor. Don't be fooled by ';CHEAPER'; ';SMALLER'; bikes as the best bike for a beginner.
It's my opinion that a Sportster for example is harder to ride than a SoftTail..here are the seat heights
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 %26amp; 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 %26amp; 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 %26amp; 31.5 (low seat) OR 32.3 %26amp; 33.1 (reg. seat) 2005 BMW R1200RT
30.7 %26amp; 31.5 (low seat) OR 31.9 %26amp; 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 %26amp; 32.3 2004 BMW K1200GT
31.1 %26amp; 32.3 2005 BMW K1200S
31.1 %26amp; 31.9 %26amp; 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 %26amp; 32.5 %26amp; 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
I am 5'6'; and I ride a Fatboy. I had it lowered in the front and back. But now I am selling it (just in case you are interested!) to by the new Rocker - it is smaller In my opinion it is for girls :-)
Dont get a Harley. They are underpowered and overpriced. Always leak and about 30 years behind the times.
It has much to do with how experienced you are.
Sportsers are 200 pounds lighter than a Big Twin , very rideable and easier to hold up, back up and maneuver at slower speeds.
They are also less expensive so if you drop it you are not out quite as much.
The Big Twins are more comfortable ,especially for longer rides, but they are pretty heavy for a beginner to handle.
Typical transition is a year or 2 on a Sportster and then graduate to a big bike.
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