Hey Bossies,
My wife had a 1999 F650ST with the BMW lowering kit. This included the shorter side stand and main stand. The forks were also raised to level the bike. This was a great, low setup. After her confidence has built up significantly we have now gone to an F650GS without a lowering kit. Now she can get the 19" dirt oriented front tire.
The ST with its smaller front wheel was still OK on dirt roads and such but ground clearance became a problem in the really rough stuff. I would suggest maybe starting with the ST until her confidence has gone up enough that the height isn't a big issue. Then convert to a Funduro or get a GS. Note also that it is possible to get a lowering kit (low seat and shock) for the F650GS that really drops it too.
I'm no-one to talk (I'm 6'4") but I recently saw a photo of the Paris-Dakar winning rider from the eighties (whose name escapes me at the moment) next to his bike. The seat was at his chest level and the handlebars at about eye level. Height wasn't such a problem for him!
Ekke
__________________
Ekke Kok
'84 R100RT 141,000 km (Dad's!)
'89 R100GS 250,000 km (and ready for another continent)
'07 R1200GS Adventure 100,000 km (just finished Circumnavigating Asia)
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
www.ekke-audrey.ca
|