6 Tips If You Can’t Touch the Ground on a Motorcycle

CHOOSING THE RIGHT MOTORCYCLE WHEN YOU’RE “PETITE” ISN’T THAT SIMPLE. SOMETIMES FEMALE RIDERS FEEL INADEQUATE ON A MOTORBIKE DUE TO THEIR HEIGHT, BUT THERE ARE SOME VALUABLE TIPS THAT CAN HELP US OVERCOME THIS OBSTACLE.

“Better get a custom, that’s low, you know?…” that’s what they told me when I asked for advice on which motorcycle to buy. However, while I appreciate the rebellious allure of Harley-Davidson and the like, it wasn’t my style. Now, many will point you towards smaller bikes, probably naked and maybe 300cc, just to get the hang of it, but don’t take anything for granted. Although it’s valuable advice to start with a less powerful and lighter bike, don’t be misled by taller, heavier, more powerful, or larger bikes, especially if you’ve already covered a lot of ground and gained some experience. I started with a 700cc, for example, and never even rode a scooter before.

Here are some tips that I hope will be useful in finding the perfect bike without being stopped by height.

1. THE DREAM BIKE IS OFTEN NOT THE FIRST BIKE

Let’s start with a very basic suggestion: when buying a motorcycle, choose it according to your physical characteristics. This is especially true for beginners who need to rack up many kilometers before getting comfortable on a bike. If you can touch the ground with both feet, maneuvers when the bike is stationary will be easier and you will feel more confident. Unfortunately, with an average height of 164.6 centimeters, we Italian women are a bit disadvantaged, but as we’ll see in the next points, there’s no need to despair. Over the years, I’ve heard many instructors say this prophetic phrase: “Often the bike of your dreams won’t be the same as your first bike.” This means it will be really tough (but not impossible!) for a woman to ride, for instance, a large-displacement supersport as a first bike. That’s why many recommend starting with naked bikes, generally lower, lighter, and with better handling. But this shouldn’t be a limit. Once you’ve gained confidence and done some miles with the bike, you can opt for something you like more (see point 5). Another crucial thing is to measure the seat height. YOU MUST ALWAYS TRY THE BIKE. Just looking at the technical specs and measuring the horsepower isn’t enough. The decisive factor will also be the width of the seat, which could take away even 3-4 cm. Go to the dealership and sit on it. This online tool might help, setting your measurements and selecting the bike, it will show you an outline to understand the dimensions on the seat.

2. BUY APPROVED BOOTS OR SHOES WITH ELEVATION

This is a great trick for many female riders. Choosing approved and certified footwear can be an ideal solution. The heel can be internal (better) or external, but the important thing is that the ankle is protected, the sole is anti-twist and anti-slip, and the material is anti-abrasion. Here are the recommended models. It’s certainly a significant cost, but I consider it an important investment in our safety.

3. INSTALL A LOWERING KIT

Here a whole world opens up, and we’ll soon write a specific article by an expert, given the complexity of the topic. Lowering a bike essentially means also changing its handling and setup. Many female riders have had to sell their bikes because they became “unmanageable” after making this modification. Why? Firstly, bikes come out of the factory perfectly balanced. We can make small changes like altering and tilting levers or changing the handlebars, but everything will affect the setup and handling of the bike. So, often it doesn’t depend on us, but on the choice of a less competent professional who made the changes without ensuring that the handling was still appropriate. It’s crucial to:

– Understand if the model you’ve chosen has an official lowering kit that guarantees its functionality.

– Take it to an authorized dealer or a mechanic who knows how to work on the bike’s setup and handling.

In short, just installing a lowering kit isn’t enough; you need to fine-tune the bike to make it perfectly manageable. Some models also offer a lowered seat. In this case too, the advice is to try the bike because sometimes it’s not the solution to the problem. I’ve heard women try the same bike and prefer it with the higher seat.

4. MODIFY SEAT, REAR, FORKS

Another option is to modify the seat. A skilled upholsterer (an expert in motorcycle seats) can carve out the seat and give you an extra inch or two. As usual, there’s a flip side: comfort will certainly be reduced, and on a long journey, this could cause problems for your back and rear end. If many add padding or gel, there’s a reason for it. You can also lower the rear by adjusting the shock absorber. But, as we mentioned in point 3, this modification will also affect the bike’s dynamics. Lowering the rear can also be done by replacing the monoshock with a component that allows for the adjustment of the wheelbase (to be combined with an appropriate lowering of the front forks, always performed by an expert). Otherwise, you can replace the suspension linkages. Some may advise lowering the forks by working on the upper and lower triple clamps to slide the forks down a bit. It’s a risky action if not done by a professional, because the behavior of the front end could change due to a shift in weight.

5. LEARN THE CORRECT TECHNIQUE

But how on earth do short people ride tall or enduro bikes? Technique. And lots of practice, of course. The first advice I received, which was really valuable, is this: never put both feet down. One foot firmly planted on the ground is enough to be stable when you stop. And maneuvers while stationary? Here’s a great tutorial that will be very helpful.

I personally recommend a good riding course to learn how to handle your bike to the best of your ability. With a certified instructor guiding you, you can resolve all your doubts and even be led through the trickier maneuvers.

6. USE UPBIKERS

Upbikers are essentially universal lifts to wear over our boots (or shoes) to raise the front part of your foot by a few centimeters (about 4) and give you a better chance of touching the ground in case of a stop or maneuvers while stopped.

They can be a good solution, but as I mentioned in my review, not for beginners. You should already know how to ride a bike to manage the extra bulk of these lifts. For beginners, it’s better to opt for the boots.

SO IF I’M SHORT, NO BIG BIKES?

On the contrary! Never give up or be discouraged by the size of a bike. I’ve heard women say, “I could never ride a BMW GS, I’m too small!”

Try out all the bikes, climb on them, and don’t be intimidated by their size.

I’ll leave the floor to our Elena who rides a GS and isn’t even the only one in the community!

“I’m 1.61 tall and I’ve been riding an r1200Gs for three years. Before that, I had another BMW, a roadster, r1200r, and in terms of weight, we’re close to the GS. I told myself, “why not a GS?” since I liked it a lot, even though it looks big and heavy. As soon as I could, I tried it, and I understood that it was the right bike for me. Maybe, I wouldn’t recommend it to a complete beginner, you need to gain some experience to handle the power and size, and because it gives a lot of confidence both in terms of the engine and handling. But if you like a bike, even if it’s big, why not try it? Maybe, it’s the right one for you. I didn’t let people who said it was too big for me influence my decisions, and I did well! The GS is very comfortable for traveling. If your goal is to rack up miles, it’s ideal. I, with my short height, can handle the weight when stopped, and once in motion, it’s a very balanced bike. Honestly, I’ve often found myself more challenged with the Monster 696 I had before the BMW. I believe there are no bikes for women or men, there are many types of bikes, you just have to find the right one for yourself!”