A motorcycle’s stand-over height is critical to how comfortable the bike feels when you stop or even while riding at slow speeds. Adventure riders have to factor in the height of the motorcycle or you will not love any part of your trip.
How to Know If Your Bike Height Is Right For You?
Because everybody is different there is not one set bike height depending on how tall someone is. There are a few guidelines that you can follow.
- Make sure that both feet touch the ground when you are seated!
- You should be balanced on both feet when you are stopped.
- Make sure you can reach the controls comfortably.
- Can you make adjustments to your seat height or controls?
- Check for a narrower seat which lowers the need for longer legs
Can Both Feet Touch The Ground When You Are Seated…and Stopped?
Remember, at any time you have to come to a stop, you have to put your foot down on the ground to maintain your balance. If your adventure bike is too tall, this will be a bit hard for you. You are advised to always go for a motorcycle that has the right height for you.
Adventure motorcycles come stock with seat heights ranging between 30 inches to around 39 inches.
The average adventure bike seat height is approximately 34.8 inches. The big question remains, which is the right adventure bike height for you? How will you whether an adventure bike is tall or short for you?
Are You Balanced On Both Feet When Stopped?
As you size up the adventure bike, ensure both feet touch the ground while you are seated on the motorcycle. With an upright bike, you do not feel its heaviness. It is light since it is in a balanced state.
However, when you tilt the bike, that is where things may start to go wrong, especially if the bike is heavy. If you can easily reach the ground with your feet, you can easily keep the motorcycle in an upright position where you will not feel its weight.
Some bikers, especially the experienced ones, are okay with their toes alone touching the ground.
For the newbies or anyone that is not so experienced, consider getting your feet flat touching the ground. It is the safest option to maintain stability. If you can easily put both feet flat on the ground while seated on the bike, its height is perfect.
Can You Reach The Controls Comfortably?
The other thing you have to ensure to know if the bike is perfect for you is whether you can reach the controls comfortably. Ensure both feet can work on the pedals comfortably, and you can still reach the handlebars. It is probably not the best bike for you if you are stretching to reach these or feel like you are in an awkward position while holding these elements.
Even balancing this bike, especially when moving at slow speeds, you will have an issue.
Even though as you look for the adventure bike, you will see frame size, weight, and seat height; it is advisable to get to the dealer and feel it yourself.
Can You Make Adjustments to Your Seat Height or Controls?
The most common way to adjust the bike is by changing the suspension or the seat height to lower the bike. Most adventure bikes come with easily adjustable suspension and handlebars that can be customized. As you adjust the bike to fit your height, do not forget about the stand.
Look For A Narrower Seat
Today, more and more women and men are venturing into adventure biking. The only issue is if you are an average height person with short legs, adventure bike options will be pretty limited for you.
As a rider, you also want to look for an adventure bike that does not have a wide seat. A wide seat will only increase the distance you have to cover to reach the ground. Getting a lighter-weight bike will make things easy for you, and even picking it up will be easier.
When The Rubber Hits The Er’ Road?
Picking a new adventure motorcycle is never easy. You have to make sure it is perfect for you and you can control it on your own without any external help. The first thing you want to ensure is that the bike fits you. You have to assess whether the bike height is your ideal height.
The last thing you need is to not be able to control your bike when crossing a river. If you cannot control the bike with your legs while crossing a river, you might end up risking your life and drowning your motorcycle. What’s worse, your friend may be on the other side waiting for you to cross with their camera out.
Can a Short Person Ride an Adventure Motorcycle?
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This will typically depend on how short you are. However, understand that there is no height requirement for riders. Adventure bikes come with low seat heights to accommodate short people. You can make many adjustments to help with the ease of riding and the comfort of the bike.
Also, mechanics can reduce the height of the bike to ensure this short person can easily touch the ground with their feet flat on the ground. A Great Short Adventure Bike
As a short rider, you should go for the already short adventure bikes such as the Kawasaki Versys 650, as it has a seat height of just 33.3 inches.
It is a pretty impressive adventure bike that will serve you diligently as a short rider. There are multiple short bikes that you can consider in the market. Here are a few ways you can deal with the tall factory seat heights:
Aftermarket Seats That Lower the Seat Height
Luckily, there are several aftermarket seats made by different manufacturers. These manufacturers will lower the seat height, but they also make it more comfortable, especially if you are going to use it over long distances. Their prices will vary depending on different factors such as seat pan.
Lowering The Bike’s Suspension
Lowering the suspension of your adventure bike is something common with most bikers. If you wish to lower the suspension by an inch, you will move the forks up and drop your rear links in the first option. Note that you are switching the general architecture of the swingarm and changing how the bike performs.
Usually, lowering the seat height by 1 inch will not affect the performance of the suspension. You will spend under $200 and a few hours at the workshop to accomplish this.
The suspension specialist could tune the suspension by factoring in your weight, height, and bike load for the second option. The prices will vary depending on the specialists. Some specialists could charge more than others. If you find the potential bike having a higher seat height, like more than 4 inches, that bike is probably not suitable for you.
Three Adventure Bikes for a Short Person
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Shorter riders will find it challenging to secure the perfect adventure bike that they are comfortable riding. However, there are shorter adventure bikes that are great for shorter riders. Below are three adventure bikes that are perfect for short riders:
1. Kawasaki Versys 650
This adventure bike comes with a seat height of 33.3 inches. The twin-cylinder is fuel injected and comes with a 649cc engine. The motorcycle offers riders fuel economy and good power. Kawasaki Versys comes with a free-revving motor and precise handling.
This adventure bike comes with a short suspension travel and cast alloy wheels. Even though the bike has a 17-inch front wheel, it can easily conquer graded dirt roads with ease. If you are a short rider, this adventure motorcycle will sort you out perfectly.
2. Suzuki DR650SE
The Suzuki DR650SE comes with a net weight of just 166kg. It has a seat height of just 33.0 inches. In fact, looking at it keenly, this bike seems to be more of a dual sportbike and not an adventure bike. It is lightweight and comes with a low seat height, making it ideal for short riders.
This bike is also very reliable and has excellent fuel economy. It is a great off-road bike and can do perfectly well in diverse terrain. The adventure bike will also do excellently on the highways.
To make this bike the ideal adventure bike, you could add a larger tank, aftermarket windscreen, and luggage system.
3. Suzuki V-Strom 650 Adventure
With a seat height of around 32.9 inches, this adventure bike has a net weight of about 214kg. It comes with a 645cc and offers riders good fuel economy and reliability.
Even though heavy, this adventure bike is ideal for shorter riders. The bike comes with soft suspension, cast alloy wheels, and a 19-inch front wheel. It also has a large tank, factory panniers, and a tall windscreen.
Three Adventure Bikes for a Tall Person
Yamaha R125
Adventure bikers could be tall or short. Some manufacturers create short seat height motorcycles, which is not ideal for tall riders. Tall riders might have difficulty finding the perfect motorcycle that fits their size.
1. Yamaha R125
It is a license-compliant, novice-friendly motorcycle and made to be unintimidating for first-timers. The bike is made to suit tall riders and comes with a saddle height of about 800mm, which is great for tall riders.
Even though this bike does not have the tallest seat height, it is ideal for tall riders. The 125cc bike comes with sophisticated equipment and MotoGP styling. Even though this tall bike is not very roomy, it is great for a 125cc motorcycle.
2. BMW R1200GS
It is typically the best-selling BMW brand of bikes. The BMW R1200GS is technically made for off-road adventures. The bike is ideal for tall riders and gives you an upright seating position. It comes with an effective windscreen that makes you feel comfortable as you ride.
You will not feel too much resistance as you ride the bike. The adventure bike comes with a sophisticated engine, fuel injection, and liquid cooling technology. BMW also comes with chassis electronics that give riders the latest biking technology.
3. Yamaha FJ-09
This three-cylinder Yamaha adventure bike was introduced in 2014 when all hell broke loose. Everyone wanted a piece of the adventure bike. It comes with an agile and snappy response chassis. This tall bike is ideal for tall riders and comes with better suspension, improved fueling, and excellent legroom.
Even though the bike is heavier than other adventure bikes, tall riders can make good use of the bike. It comes with enhanced safety features that keep the riders safe at all times in whatever terrain they may be exploring.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right adventure bike for your height should never feel like rocket science. There are a few things you ought to consider as you find the perfect adventure bike that fits your size. Follow this guide to know what parameters to look at.
