Short People on Dirt Bikes

[luvtolean]

My GF is not a rider (her parents hate bikes with as much venom as mine...but she wasn't as willing to piss them off ) but worked at a dirt bike store a few years ago and has always been interested.

Trackho bought a CRF230 last year to loan people without a bike and use as a pitbike. So I went and borrowed it and we headed out to Hollister to teach her how to ride. THANKS TRACKHO!

Now, she's 5'3" or so and definately cannot flat foot it. For anyone that's ever messed with a CRF230, you know the steel frame and battery and starter don't make for a light bike. It felt almost as heavy as my CR250, and lots more dense.

My GF did drop it like the second time she tried to stop. (sorry about the clutch lever, that's why there was a new one on the seat when I dropped it off) But the rest of the day went fine and she was pretty comfortable by the end, shifting gears using front and rear brakes etc etc.

(Edit: I knew better and should've loosened the clutch perch and made sure the lever was inboard of the bar end like I do to all of my bikes)

At her Christmas party girls that were into bikes, and even some dudes asked how she could be comfortable, the bike is so big...my response was normally something around Ricky Charmichael.

So, to those of you who are not exactly tall, or ride with those who aren't, do the taller bikes bother you? If you know people that have lowered them, does this mess up the handling of the bike?

I liked the electric start of the CRF, but it's pretty porky so I'm trying to figure out a good alternative (the CRF 150 is way too weak in the motor)

The good news is, she is COMPLETELY hooked!

[ConqSoft]

The lowering link I put on Princess's CRF150 also works on the CRF230.

http://www.koubalink.com/CRF150-230.html

I also dropped the forks to level it out. I've ridden it, and it seems fine. You lose some suspension travel of course, so it won't be good for really hard riding I guess.

[luvtolean]

Originally Posted by ConqSoft

The lowering link I put on Princess's CRF150 also works on the CRF230.

http://www.koubalink.com/CRF150-230.html

I also dropped the forks to level it out. I've ridden it, and it seems fine. You lose some suspension travel of course, so it won't be good for really hard riding I guess.

Thanks. Hmmm...they have one for the CRF250X...the bike I think would be great if it was shorter.....

Being a runt I just got used to it I can't flat foot the CBR either. Of course I prefer lower but once you get rolling it doesn't matter.

EDIT: more important on a dirt bike is can she lift it up? That is more important that touching, since in a spill you need to lift or hike

[Red Rider]

Nice...a CRF230 is a pitbike!

[CBR929RE]

I'm 5'4" and I haven't ridden a dirt bike yet but they do seem really tall. When I got my first road bike I looked for something short and then when I got the 929 I knew I culd get both feet down from riding my friends but not flat foot but I didn't care that much. Then when I got mine it was a little higher than his, not sure why, probably suspension settings, maybe his shock was more worn out (his had a lot more miles than mine). But I lowered it just in the back and haven't noticed any handling issues. I let that friend take it around a parking lot (well he got on and did a couple circles without asking) and he was trying to scrape the peg but it looked like the rear of the lower cowling might touch first now. I haven't gotten to the point of scraping stuff yet so I'm happy with leaving it low but if I start to scrape I'll lift it back up some (my link is infinetly adjustable between stock and 3 inches down)

Another thing you can do is shave some foam from the seat(see it a lot at the track). It looks goofy as hell but it works. My GF is 5'5" and can't reach the ground on my CRF250R, she has become a master at it though. She can now start it on her own and get moving without me holding the rear fender. She has a tip toe method she uses that looks kinda cool when she's going from one side to the other. It'll take some time to get used to the height but once she does she'll be ok.


Dano

[Pete]

Originally Posted by ReaperAZ

She has a tip toe method she uses that looks kinda cool when she's going from one side to the other.

Just say it...you like seeing that ass sliding back and forth across that seat.

Originally Posted by Pete

Just say it...you like seeing that ass sliding back and forth across that seat.

Well, ummm, YEAH!


Dano

[luvtolean]

Originally Posted by ReaperAZ

Well, ummm, YEAH!


Dano

That's what I was thinking.

[G-Force Junkie]

I think a taller seat height is less of a detriment on a dirt bike than a street bike. They are lighter so its easier to recover if it starts to tip over. And the suspension if set right should sag about 1/3 so thats usualy several inches. As a rider, the only time tall bike are a hassle is in the very slow, tight, woods stuff, single track, etc where your "dabbing" a foot down often. Otherwise the feet are on the pegs. For teaching a new rider, the lower the seat the better, but it sounded like she did alright. If she can come to a stop and put both toes down, I say good enough. The 230 is just an upgraded version of the old XR200 which was a fantastic bike. If your looking for cheaper, ans she could kick over a 200, look for a used on of those before spending big money on a bike she may not get into. Trust me, thats how I have my XR100 pit bike...ex GF was all jazzed about riding...that lasted about 3 outings after buying the 100.

PS: It IS heavier than your 250, in fact its a tank, probaly heavier than my old XR250 with all the electric start crap.

[SomeStrangeGuy]

The nice thing about a shaved seat is that you don't have to dink with the kickstand neither. A friend of mine has used the Kouba stuff with good results on his wife's bike, but she's getting a 250X this year so the Factory Connection unit is on order for this one.

I used to run race clinics , all the way from mental prep , food to starting and racing , all the way to maintinace for the riders bikes or fathers who work on the bikes for the younger ones . In that time i have met MANY tallented short riders , who on a dirt bike can hide it well . History shows this with people like RC and Jeff Ward , both bigtime champions with pint sized frames . On the opposite side of the scale , i saw Jean- Michelle Bayle race here in 92 , at the Motocross Des Nations , and even tho he is taller and lanky , he weighed back then around the 65kg mark (143lbs) and rode a CR-500 like no man on earth maybe with the exception of Ricky Johnson or David Bailey in thier days . Amazing ....

The best method for teaching a short rider ? ... is to let a short rider teach themself about what can and cant do , and how to stop etc . Lean , your GF just needs time to teach herself how "she" likes to stop etc etc . I had a racing accident and broke my back in 92 , and in 95 i bought a CR-500 to piss my specialists off , and since i couldnt move my ankles (still cant due to paralasys) and a few other muscles from waist down , i made myself a "brick" to start form at the race track . Since i couldnt stand tippy toed , i caound start straight , hence i setup a 1" steel tube frame cube with some metal mesh ontop , and that was great for starting . Its also something your GF can use when she starts and stops near the car , or place your hanging around at .

Another thing for short people with kick starters , is its commonly easier to kick a bike standing off it , ie: start it with your left leg while your on the right hand side of the bike . That way you can lean the bike over , and your holding it up , therefore you cant fall off (as your not on the bike) but the angle is better to get power into your left leg . Awkward , but works .

Good luck .

[luvtolean]

Thanks all.

I was pretty insistent she learn how to ride a tall bike. And she got comfortable pretty quick.

I was just amazed at how many other people couldn't believe she was riding that bike.

Originally Posted by luvtolean

Trackho bought a CRF230 last year to loan people without a bike and use as a pitbike. So I went and borrowed it and we headed out to Hollister to teach her how to ride. THANKS TRACKHO!

The good news is, she is COMPLETELY hooked!

No problemo---glad she enjoyed herself---thanks for the lever-one day Ill even try to take out some preload-I'll buy you lunch since that was the one I pre-bent for you

To clarify: only cute women get to borrow it, and yes it does make a nice little pit bike--kinda gutless though--oh well---good they created 450s

That's me, I know it's old news but didn't see anything about the rings on the rear shock, on my XR650 I backed them off an inch and lowered the front tubes 3/4", reset the dampening adjusters halfway between factory settings and full hard. I'm 5,9 165 lbs. no motocross racer but do ride the trails and haul ass around corners on the road. It handles and rides excellent that way for me. Can't touch flatfooted either.

This past year I bought a CRF230 for me, a TT-R125LE for the wife, and a KLX-110 for my son. The TT-R is an electric start, is short enough to be comfortable for my wife (who is also 5'3"), and is pretty light (she can pick it up herself when she falls over). Unless you're hooked on Honda, I'd give the Yamaha a look.

Originally Posted by saf

I had a racing accident and broke my back in 92 , and in 95 i bought a CR-500 to piss my specialists off , and since i couldnt move my ankles (still cant due to paralasys) and a few other muscles from waist down , i made myself a "brick" to start form at the race track . .

**** dude you are hard as nails.