BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

lorentjd,

Sorry I threw you with the term. The English wheel is for forming curved surfaces from flat metal. Quite a device. A common usage on motorcycles is forming the curved surfaces on fabricated fuel tanks.

As Pat suggested, there are some narrowed side panels you can buy which might help. The bike is pretty wide right behind the tank because of those panels.

Anyone who has to flat-foot with only one foot rather than tippy-toeing with both...
Do practice changing from one foot to the other while stopped. There are times you need the shifter, there are times you need the rear brake. Be able to switch quickly without it being a problem.
And be careful out there, Shortsters!

About time someone posted with some common sense in this thread. I came to this site on the advise of a friend as I know a lady whom is looking to move up from her F650gs. She has 36,000+ miles under her butt, so if the bike can be lowered just a touch she should be fine. The lady in question at the beginning of this thread is on the WRONG Motorcycle. I'm a motorcycle safety instructor in Canada and can't believe you would put your wife's safety at risk by not encouraging her to actually learn how to ride before she moves to such a big bike. You don't "learn" how to ride in 1000 miles over two seasons. As mentioned I'm an instructor and I've only been riding just over 4 seasons so far. However in that time I have accumulated over 100,000km or 60,000mi and I'm smart enough to know I still can learn when on two wheels. I'm equally at ease if I'm strafing my fav curves or dodging traffic on our 12 lane highway. For the record I started on an 800cc cruiser which was totalled by a drunk after 54 weeks and it had 18,000 miles on the od. My next machine was a 1400cc cruiser which survived a 60mph impact with a deer & I managed 27,000 miles on it in 2.5 seasons & I'm currently on my way to an 18,000 mi season on a Suzuki DL650. I also managed to put aprox 2400 miles on my friends F650 which is a great machine IMNSHO

650LS wrote:Ok I'll play devil's advocate and suggest a smaller bike. I am 5'7" and currently ride a 650LS (1983). I have been riding for many years and have ridden many different bikes. I recently sold a 900SS Ducati and am in search of a new ride. I would seriously consider a GS or Triumph Tiger of KTM. However I have simply ruled these bikes out as I am too short for them. I would suggest checking out something like a Ducati 620 Monster. It is a very light and powerful enough bike and will match your wife's size much better. There are people out there 6'4" who simply feel uncomfortable on little bikes and buy the big ones. Doesn't mean we all have to have big bikes. Tell your wife to put her ego aside, get a smaller bike and then proceed to run rings around the bigger bikes. She will be much happier.

Type @ Ya'll later
Night_Wolf

Guest Too said:

“I'm equally at ease if I'm strafing my fav curves or dodging traffic on our 12 lane highway.”

I’m surprised this person is able to fit his (?) head in his helmet. Still, after four years and a massive total of 60,000 miles, I guess he has earned the right to become an Instructor and make these judgment calls. That’s a lot of strafing on cruisers.

Fossil

Under 5'6" and less than 30" inseam. My tallest bike is the Rockster w/the low seat. My favorite is my R1200C (and it is so comfortable I can ride all day long in the hard leather saddle). The VStar is my lowest bike. Both feet flat so I am comfy carrying a passenger (has a backrest); however, underpowered when 2-up if or when you need it. Even solo I have concerns about carburetors and elevation, not to mention that the cruiser feet-forward floorboards are not the most comfortable long distance riding posture. But I digress.

Every action is more deliberate on the Rock since I am up higher. I am going on 200,000 miles on BMWs and have been riding nearly 30 years. Using one foot flat has become natural, including the ability to shift from one leg to the other. Don't even have to think about it (just a little bit on the Rock). Practice. Become one with the bike (and not just a rider on a bike). You'll see.

I will probably get flammed for this, but a short woman will have a tougher time with this bike than a short man. My wife is short, 5'2" but with fairly long legs. She has owned a number of bikes, some quite heavy and some taller than the R1150R, but I know she could not handle one and she knows it too. There are quite a number of other options out there, and the new BMW's to be released next year may be better choices as well.

The R1150R is a heavy bike. It is wide and when you start doing too much to the suspension, seat, etc. it really won't handle the same as the original. If you can swing it, I would look elsewhere until BMW has something more suited to short riders.

My wife's favorite bike is her ZR7S. Plenty of power, much lighter and reasonable ergonomics. She also has an F650GS, but I like to ride it more than her. Kawasaki has a new version of the ZR7S this year...probably better.

She should have a bike she feels comfortable and confident with.

For you shorter folks who modified your seats by foam-ectomy:

How's the comfort level? Or are you just so happy to get closer to the ground it's secondary?

Hiker

Hiker13,

In my opinion, the factory seats are nothing to write home about so I didn't worry too much about making things worse. Mine is still as comfortable as any other stock seat on bikes I've had but now I can nearly flat-foot. Shave the foam flatter but leave it as wide as possible toward the back where your cheeks sit. Shave it narrow right behind the tank and cut some flare off the sides of the seat pan, that's what was keeping me from reaching the ground. Best I remember, the bike frame is wider than the painted body side panels, no need to modify those. Don't be afraid to try. Good luck. Sarah

Sorry. I'm sneaking on-line at work and forgot I need to log in. Above post is mine. Sarah

Thanks, Sarah. I'm tempted to give it a shot. I can alsways go Sargeant and start monkeying around with them if I screw up. Or I can buy a used seat and try my luck.

I'm not a guest either! I'm a paying memebr but when I log in... I need to yell at Doug (a little.)

Hiker

Seems like used seats can generally be had for $100 or so if you somehow make a bad boo-boo. Post again or PM if you get stuck. Sarah

I'm smart enough to know my limits and smart enough to know that 1000 miles over two seasons does not a rider make. Hell I had 1000 miles in my first 4 days of riding anjd I'm smart enough to know I barely knew anything I've said it before on other forums and I'll stand by my comment here too. Too many people have way too big an EGO . Why on earth would you put someone you supposedly love in such a dangerous position. Learn how to ride and ride well, then move up to a powerful machine.

Try and find anyone in just their 5th season who works full time and has basically a 5 month season with the mileage I average. I'm sure there are people like that out there, but I'm willing to bet they are few and far between. It's not bragging if you have to do it!!!

BTW it's not the bike it is the RIDER. I have seen 400cc single cylider bikes embarass 600cc supersports, because the person riding the smaller bike actually knew how to ride I know the guy on the 400cc can kick my ass all around the track. Like I said it's all about the ego

Fossil at work wrote:Guest Too said:
I’m surprised this person is able to fit his (?) head in his helmet. Still, after four years and a massive total of 60,000 miles, I guess he has earned the right to become an Instructor and make these judgment calls. That’s a lot of strafing on cruisers.

Fossil

Ype @ Ya'll Later
Night_Wolf