i'm 5' 2" and after doing some research i know that its POSSIBLE for me to ride a sport bike. I was considering trying to import a 400cc like a yamaha fzr400rr, but found out that its not legal in the states on the streets, cause you can't register it. Does anyone know WHY its illegal?

now the main question is, whats the lowest seat height for a sport bike? I know you can shave the seat down a little, and also lower the bike, but i figure the lowest seat height from stock would be a better platform to start???

sorry for the newbie question, please help!

 

Ninja 250s and Suzuki GS500s have low seats, and are readily available. Also, the FZR400 was imported for a while. They are hard to find and most have been raced though.

 

I'm 5'5 and i ride a f4i not lowered at all if u lower any of the bikes u can be able to ride it i know plenty of girls and guys your size that ride sportbikes all u have to do is put a lowering kit on it i know for 80 bucks when u buy a new GSXR 600 u can lower the bike up to 3 inches bringing your ride height from 31 inches down to 28 inches blus riding boots or shows u'll be all set... which is lower then the ninja 250 and gs500 that both have a ride height of 29 inches...

 

thanks a lot for the info. getting more confidence to ride.

soon i'ma register for riding classes to get a liscense first.

 

good idea taking that course where u from anyways...

 

northern VA

 

i just rode a ninja 250 today. The seat is veryyyy low. Its my friends bike and he is only like 5'2"-5'3" and he rides it no problem. He can barely tippy toe my f4i.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Gixxer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">blus riding boots or shows u'll be all set</TD></TR></TABLE>

Keep in mind that racing boots will actually make it harder for you to touch the ground. So if you're on the ***** of your feet with some Timberlands, you'll barely be able to touch the ground with the tips of your toes with racing boots.

 

seat height on the 240r/ex250 is 29inches.

 

thanks for the responses!

i know about the ninja 250r, but they just look so damn gay to me,

but midgettes can't be chosers....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kwik2nec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but midgettes can't be chosers....</TD></TR></TABLE>

lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kwik2nec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i'm 5' 2" and after doing some research i know that its POSSIBLE for me to ride a sport bike. I was considering trying to import a 400cc like a yamaha fzr400rr, but found out that its not legal in the states on the streets, cause you can't register it. Does anyone know WHY its illegal?
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The FZR400 is not illegal in this country. You mentioned the FZR400rr, which I have never heard of so I don't know about the distinction.

How tall you are is irrelevant, it's your inseam measurement that matters.

There are also other measures you can take to fit a bike. You could shave the seat, lower the suspension, or both. Wear boots with thick soles, etc.

Otherwise, do your homework. Start with a Katana which has a seat height of 30.9" (on the low side for sportbikes) and see if that is to talll for you. Work your way up or down from there.

 

 

you could learn on smaller bike, then move up to 600 or so. shorter people can handle it, just at a stop they have to lean over on one foot

 

I am short, too. It isn't just the seat height, it is also the shape of the seat. Some are wider so that even if they are low, it is still too high. You just need to research, find the lowest seats, and then go and sit on them. The weight is important, too. If you are on your toes, you don't want a 600# bike.

 

I'm only 5'5" and when I ride my buddies zx6r... I'm tip toeing... But I usually stand one one foot only, so I can flat foot it no problem. Just start off on a smaller bike, learn to ride, turn, etc.. then any bike will be no problem. My buddie can't even touch the ground with both feet, and if he uses one foot, leans the bike alittle, and he still has to tip toe. But he can ride no problem.

 

all the shorties come out now, and I still win for being the smallest : p (don't quite think I should be proud of that)

 

You can probably be pretty comfortable on a f2/f3 or fzr600 if you set up the suspension for your weight and shave some foam out of the seat.

 

I'm 5'3" and my inseam's 28". I ride my F4i with pretty much no prob and a VFR before that without much problems (VFR was heavy as hell though). Mainly backing up into a parking slot's a bitch so I usually jump off and walk it.

Just keep in mind to plan ahead when coming to stops, depending on the camber of the road since you're 1 toe down with your *** hanging (like me).

I'd say start out with a CB1 or Hawk...after the MSF class, of course.

good luck.