The Short Bike List (SBL)

Short bikes for BEGINNERS

This list is intended for beginners. An advanced short rider can ride more types of motorcycles than not -- it would actually be more productive to list bikes short riders will never ride.

These classifications are only guidelines!

They cannot possibly be correct for every (any?) rider!

The emphasis is on manage, not foot. Some bikes that have higher seat heights than others are in "shorter" categories due to light weight and narrowness of seat. Also, the "taller" the categories, and the more experienced the riders, the fuzzier the boundaries. Your mileage will most definitely vary.

Vintage, unusual and Harley bikes are not on the list. Generally, if someone wants a Harley or vintage /2 BMW, they already know what bike they want. The SBL is intended to give new riders ideas.

Please also see the corresponding SBL FAQ.

List of Short Bikes

* = may be less suitable for total beginners
+ = not freeway legal in CA (< 180cc engine)

under 5'0" manage
5'0 - 5'1" flatfoot 

	+Honda CB125
	 Honda CMX250 Rebel
	 Honda CM250
	 Kawasaki KZ250 LTD
	+Suzuki GN125
	 Suzuki GN250
	 Suzuki Savage 650
	 Yamaha XV250 Route 66
	 Yamaha Virago 535
	+Yamaha YSR50

5'0 - 5'1" manage
5'2 - 5'3" flatfoot 

	 Honda CB-1 400
	 Honda CMX450 Rebel
	*Honda Shadow 500/600/700
	 Honda Twinstar CM200T
	 Honda CB250 Nighthawk
	 Honda V30 Magna 500
	 Honda VTR250 Interceptor
	+Honda XL100
	 Kawasaki Z250
	 Kawasaki KZ 250 CSR
	 Kawasaki KZ 305 CSR/LTD
	 Kawasaki 250 Eliminator
	 Kawasaki EL250HS
	 Kawasaki EX250 Ninja
	 Suzuki GSF400 Bandit
	 Yamaha SR185/SR250 Exciter
	 Yamaha SRX250
	 Yamaha XS400 Special & Special II
	 Yamaha XS400 Maxim

5'2 - 5'3 manage
5'4 and up flatfoot 

	 Honda CM400T Hawk
	 Honda CM450
	 Honda FT500 Ascot
	 Honda NT650 Hawk
	 Honda GB500 Tourist Trophy
	+Honda NX125
	 Honda NX250
	*Honda VT500 Ascot
	 Honda VT500C Shadow
	*Honda VF500 Interceptor
	 Kawasaki EX500
	 Kawasaki GPz 305
	 Kawasaki KZ440 LTD
	 Kawasaki KZ450 CSR
	 Kawasaki KZ550 LTD
	*Kawasaki KZ550 Spectre
	*Kawasaki KZ550 Zephyr
	*Kawasaki Vulcan
	*Kawasaki EN454 LTD
	 Suzuki SP250
	 Suzuki GN400
	 Suzuki GS450T
	 Suzuki GS450A (semi-automatic shaft drive?!)
	 Suzuki GS500E
	 Suzuki 600S Bandit
	*Yamaha XS550 Maxim
	*Yamaha XS650 Maxim
	 Yahama YJ600 Radian
	*Yamaha SR500
	 Yamaha XT225 Serow

5'4 - 5'5 manage
if you flatfoot, you're not short
(note: no '*' "less suitable for beginners" markings here) 

	 Honda CB450/CB550 Nighthawk
	 Honda XR200R
	 Honda XR200L
	 Honda XL250 (older)
	 Kawasaki GPz 550
	 Kawasaki KZ 650 CSR
	 Kawasaki ZX600R Ninja
	 Suzuki GN440
	 Suzuki GR650(X) Tempter
	 Suzuki GS450E
	 Yamaha Fazer
	 Yamaha RZ350
	 Yamaha Seca II
	 Yamaha XT200
	 Yamaha XZ550 Vision

	 Any of the 600cc sportbikes and sport-tourers:
	   Honda CBR600
	   Kawasaki ZX-6R, Ninja 600
	   Suzuki RF600R, GSXR600, Katana 600
	   Yamaha FZR600

Classifications

 Cruisers 
	Honda CX250/CX450 Rebel
	Honda VT500C/600/700 Shadow
	Honda V30 Magna 500
	Kawasaki EN454 LTD
	Kawasaki KZ250 LTD
	Kawasaki KZ 250/305/450/650 CSR
	Kawasaki KZ 250/305/440/550 LTD
	Kawasaki Vulcan
	Suzuki Savage 650
	Yamaha Route 66
	Yamaha Virago 535
	Yahama XS400/XS550/XS650 Maxim
Standards 
	Honda CB125
	Honda CB250/CB450/CB550 Nighthawk
	Honda CM250
	Honda CM200T Twinstar
	Honda CM400T Hawk
	Honda CM450
	Honda FT500 Ascot
	Honda GB500 Tourist Trophy
	Honda NT650 Hawk
	Honda VF500 Interceptor
	Honda VT500 Ascot
	Kawasaki Z250
	Kawasaki 250 Eliminator
	Kawasaki EL250HS
	Kawasaki EX500
	Kawasaki GPz305
	Kawasaki GPz550
	Kawasaki KZ550 Spectre (shaft)
	Kawasaki ZR550 Zephyr (chain)
	Suzuki 600S Bandit
	Suzuki GN125
	Suzuki GN250
	Suzuki GN440
	Suzuki GS450E
	Yamaha XS400 Special & Special II
	Yamaha SR185/SR250 Exciter
	Suzuki GN400
	Suzuki GR650(X) Tempter
	Suzuki GS450A
	Suzuki GS450T
	Suzuki GS500E
	Yahama YJ600 Radian
	Yamaha SR500
	Yamaha Fazer
	Yamaha Seca II
	Yamaha XZ550 Vision
Sportbikes 
	Honda CB-1 400
	Honda VTR250 Interceptor
	Kawasaki EX250 Ninja
	Kawasaki ZX600R Ninja
	Suzuki GSF400 Bandit
	Yamaha SRX250
	Yamaha YSR50
Dual-purpose/dirt 
	Honda NX125
	Honda NX250
	Honda XL100
	Honda XL250 (older)
	Honda XR200R
	Honda XR200L
	Suzuki SP250 ('89 and older)
	Yamaha XT200
	Yamaha XT225 Serow

Short Rider Survey

Most short riders will not need this list for their second bike. By the time you are ready for your next bike, you'll have a good idea of what you want, and seat height will probably not be the only factor anymore.

Every rider's motorcycle options vary with experience, skill, and perseverance. With experience, willingness and modifications, short riders can manage most motorcycles.

Here is a sample of what some short riders on the "short" mailing list ride. Notice we're not all riding 250s, though some of us choose to (after all, 250s are a blast!).

* = custom/modified seat (note this may be for comfort, not just lowering)
+ = custom/modified seat + other mods 

Carol Jeffries      4'11.5"    Yamaha SR250, Harley ?
Sheri Coble         5'0       *Ducati 750SS (had Suzuki GS500E)
Betty Hui           5'0       +BMW R65
Cath Konrath        5'0        Suzuki Savage 650  
Elaine Leffler      5'0       *Kawasaki Zephyr 550
Seline S. Quiroga   5'0        Yamaha SR250	
Donna Rigas         5'0        Honda VTR 250
Caron Rose          5'0        Honda 450 Rebel
Susan Lambiris      5'0.5"     Suzuki Intruder 700
Noemi Berry         5'1"      *BMW R80G/S, *BMW R65LS
Laurie Pitman       5'1"      +BMW R100GS
Karen Black         5'2"       Honda GB500, Yamaha SR250, Harley Sprint SS250
Caroline Deegan     5'2"      +BMW R80 G/S, HD XLH 883
Mia Di Giovanni     5'2"      *Honda VFR750
Jennifer Horsman    5'2"       Suzuki Bandit 600, Suzuki Intruder 1400
Sherry Katz         5'2"       Yamaha XT600, Suzuki Bandit 600 (had Katana 750)
Cat Okita           5'2"       Ducati 916 (!), Honda CB650
Paul Spencer        5'2"       BMW K1100RS
Alvian Tam          5'2"       Kawasaki ZXR 750, Honda CBX 250
Lisa Sieverts       5'2.75"   *BMW R100R (had Yamaha Radian 600)
Rose Cooper         5'3"      *Honda Gold Wing 1100
Secil Kacar         5'3"       Honda VT500 Shadow
Akkana Peck         5'3"       Kawasaki EX500, Honda XR200R
Katie Willstatter   5'3"      *BMW K100
Susan Reed          5'3.5"     BMW K75C, BMW R65
Beth Dixon          5'3.75"   *Ducati 750SS, Yamaha YSR50 (hee)
Joanne Ferreira     5'4"       Kawasaki KLR 650
Fran Lawas-Grodek   5'4"       BMW R65
Avinash Mahajan     5'4"       Kawasaki GPz550
Sarah Schilke       5'4"       Honda VFR750F
Lee Damico          5'4.5"     BMW R80/7, Ducati 900SS CR, Moto Guzzi LeMans III
Steve Gross         5'4.5"     Honda Pacific Coast (PC800)
Bonnie Petheram     5'5"       Yamaha Radian 600
Cathy Seckman       5'5"       BMW R100RT
Rick Barry          5'5.5"     BMW K75
Rich Vitale         5'6"       Yamaha YX-600 Radian

End of SBL for beginners

Back to Noemi's motorcycles.