If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above.
You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
My wife has decided that she wants to leave the cruiser behind and look for a naked sport bike. One problem, she is only 5'2. She has problems even tip toeing most of the bikes we have looked at. She tried a SV650, and could barely touch the ground. She likes the look of the Ducati monsters and they have the shortest seat height I have found, but there are no Ducati dealers even remotely nearby. (We drove 2 hours the other day only to find out the closest one went out of business last week). Anyone have any suggestions? She's not interested in any kind of fairing at all, must be totally naked. Thanks. John
Yamaha FZ6 isn't bad. You'll have a hard time finding a sportbike period that is low slung and doesn't need a drop link kit. I lucked out with my RF, but even then I still would like it to be an inch or two lower and I'm 5'4".
__________________ I didn't do it, you didn't see me do it, and you can't prove a thing!
Wow, that was fast...Unfortunately, she has already ruled out the ninja and the FZ, she doesn't want any fairing at all. Which REALLY limits the options as far as I can figure out.
Totally naked is hard to find thesze days (in bikes that is). Not sure how sport she wants - the Triumph retro bikes are cool. Here's a looong list of naked bikes:http://www.bikez.com/category/index.php?category=9
I have an FZ and love the bike but don't think the seat is particularly low. There are a ton of guys doing full naked conversions on these though - lots of parts to put a naked version together as the euro models are naked. Streetfighter FZ6
Again, please do not let seat height rule out any bike. I know these are not naked bikes, but bear with me...
A friend of mine rides an F4I. It is significantly shorter than my R6. By about 3". She wanted to get a different bike but was already on tippy toe when she sat on her F4I. She thought she wouldn't be able to handle a different bike because she was so short. She sat on my R6 and surprisingly had the same reach. Why? Because the tank and the seat are more narrow than that of the F4I. So even though the seat height is taller, the actual reach (around the tank and seat) was less.
My point is, have her sit on different bikes and not just take the published height into consideration. The size of the tanks are rarely accounted for. She will fit fine on more bikes than she realizes if she just sits on them.
Posts: 175
Casino Cash: $17312
Sportbike: '06 FZ6 Blue
In my low-heeled riding boots, I can flat foot my FZ6. I am 5'8" with fairly long inseam. So, even if you do the naked conversion (and shave the seat), I would think the FZ6 may still be too tall for her to be flat footed.
Again, please do not let seat height rule out any bike. I know these are not naked bikes, but bear with me...
A friend of mine rides an F4I. It is significantly shorter than my R6. By about 3". She wanted to get a different bike but was already on tippy toe when she sat on her F4I. She thought she wouldn't be able to handle a different bike because she was so short. She sat on my R6 and surprisingly had the same reach. Why? Because the tank and the seat are more narrow than that of the F4I. So even though the seat height is taller, the actual reach (around the tank and seat) was less.
My point is, have her sit on different bikes and not just take the published height into consideration. The size of the tanks are rarely accounted for. She will fit fine on more bikes than she realizes if she just sits on them.
I agree, you definitely need to sit on a bike to get a feel. I personally would like for her to go Honda, simply b/c I work for a Honda dealer. Its just a matter of her finding something totally naked that she likes and is comfortable enough with limited foot contact.
The Buell XB12scg has a listed seat height of 28.6 inches, its the only one I can think of that hasn't already been mentioned.
As a fellow shorty, the Monster, the 599 and the Buell the lowest out there. The SV 650 is a little taller than those and the FZ6 is taller than that. I'm not going by published seat heights but by how each bike feels. I havent sat on the older naked GS 500 but the faired one felt really wide to me so it was hard to get my feet down.
I wound up with a Monster that I love, I'd consider getting a Buell if it was 3 grand cheaper.
I really appreciate all the help. I will see if we can get out and hit up some more dealerships soon. Its a shame the closest ducati dealer is over 3 hours away...Thanks. again
Naked bike for short wife
