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Adventure bike for short legs! Adventure bike for short legs!
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 16 Oct 2009
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Adventure bike for short legs!
My girlfriend is keen to start riding on an adventure bike, she is just 5'2" though, any ideas of bikes that can perform and carry some gear and let her toes touch the floor!!
We will not be going RTW, but hopefully could go across Morrocco next year and certainly looking at trips across Europe.
any help gratefully received

Thanks...
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  #2  
Old 17 Oct 2009
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I rode 340 miles today on my Serow. If you're happy at 60mph it'll take you anywhere and back with all your gear. A little bike with with a big soul.

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  #3  
Old 17 Oct 2009
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F650gs Lowered
My wife is the same height and under 50kg. She rides a F650gs lowered it has a seat height of about 760mm when its bare she can get half both feet on the ground, when loaded with panniers etc, she is virtually flat foot on the ground. (thats with boots on of course) however being sml in statue the weight of the bike loaded can be a bit of a problem, but I tend to take most of the heavy things on my bike. From what I can gather it is the only dual sport bike that low, the other alternatives would be a 250 yamaha (Serrow I think there called) I can not comment on them as we do not have them in OZ. I do know my wife sat on a lot of those sort of bikes before coming up with the decision of the F650 I think the comfort and height was the biggest
factors for her.

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Old 17 Oct 2009
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Just letting you know I had a laugh when I submitted my post above, as when I started it there were no replies and the flydoctor must of been doing his at the same time. In away that is the Serrow I was talking about !!
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  #5  
Old 17 Oct 2009
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Originally Posted by PaulD View Post
Just letting you know I had a laugh when I submitted my post above, as when I started it there were no replies and the flydoctor must of been doing his at the same time. In away that is the Serrow I was talking about !!
Cheers
Paul
Also have a 5ft 2in lady who rides a F 650 GS which is factory lowered with a low seat option and can flat foot it easily..also the weight is no problem..also sat on a factory lowered, low seat option 1200GS and was comfortable with the height..a bigger heavier, bike obviously..using risers also helps and the seat can be made even lower on both with some work..she also had about 1/2 inch added to her boots..go for it ..it is alot better than having them hang onto the back of you
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Old 18 Oct 2009
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I am 5' 2" and recently test rode a R1200GS which had a factory lowered suspension and low seat. I was still tiptoe when balanced equally or balls of one foot if leaned over a bit. A good seat repairer may have been able to take another inch out of the seat. When on the road, the bike is effortless to handle but stationary and in awkward road situations (adverse cambers, gravel car parks, campsites etc), may be too heavy especially when loaded up.

Today, I sat on, but didn't test ride:-
- a F650GS Single which had a lowered suspension and low seat and found this a bit too low but probably ok with just a lowered seat
- a F650GS Twin with standard seat and found myself tiptoe but the bike was quite light and I could imagine this to be a better bike so have arranged a test ride once they obtain a low seat for it

There are many second hand 650 single's about too so you could find a bargain out there.
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Old 18 Oct 2009
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Why not try a Vstrom 650, with lowering links and some seat work they are quite low.

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Old 19 Oct 2009
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Im a wee shortie and Ive ridden a honda XR250 which i lowered on a long journey and currently I ride a DRZ-250 which im in the process of lowering.
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  #9  
Old 6 Nov 2009
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Short bikes for offroad
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Originally Posted by TravellingStrom View Post
Why not try a Vstrom 650, with lowering links and some seat work they are quite low.

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I have sat on lowered F650 and it is still too high- have 25 in inseam - any suggestions????? Joanjenn
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Old 6 Nov 2009
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Have you looked at a xt250 they can go pretty low, also the X-Country have a new lower version out and apparently you can lower it further !

Hope this helps

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Old 6 Nov 2009
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Are we looking for bikes that'll go places or bikes that look like they'll go places? Serows do the job but are slow. Lowered F650's are great on the motorway but start to struggle off road to the point where a CB500, or ER-5 with knobblies can do just as well. It all depends how good you are at mods (you have to make a CB500 bash plate), what you want to spend and how bothered you are about being seen on what looks like a dispatchers cast off.

Don't believe the manufacturers, that roadbike won't explode on contact with dirt.

Andy
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Old 6 Nov 2009
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I have sat on lowered F650 and it is still too high- have 25 in inseam - any suggestions????? Joanjenn

I am not talking BMW here, I am talking about a Suzuki Vstrom DL650

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Old 6 Nov 2009
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I am 170 cm (5'6" feet) and can easly handle dl650 v-strom. if you lower it i am sure she can also handle it. it is a bit heavy thou.
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Old 6 Nov 2009
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If the bike is for going off road, you want something lightweight.

Not something that she can pull up on at the trafficlights without collapsing under the weight of it, something that she can pick up on her own, and hold leant over and bring it back upright rather than let it drop.

Sure you can off road on anything, even something way too heavy, but if you want to enjoy the experience you want something that you're physically able to dominate. If you give her a 650 she's going to be afraid of dropping it everytime she sees dirt.


Just my opinion.
Some women do happily ride long distance on bad/off road on huge bikes.
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  #15  
Old 7 Nov 2009
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Light Bike
Xt 250 (122kg)
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