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                       Short Bike List
                       last revision: June 4, 1993
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Short bikes for beginners
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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.  After meeting a 5'1" woman
on a Gold Wing, and a 5'4" woman who slides off the seat of a huge
Honda Africa 750 Twin, I gave up trying to list every motorcycle a
short person can ride, there are just too many.

       *** 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, the fuzzier the boundaries. 

Please also see the corresponding FAQ.

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

5'0 - 5'1" flatfoot

       +Honda CB125
        Honda CX250 Rebel
        Honda CM250
        Kawasaki KZ250 LTD
       +Suzuki GN125
        Suzuki GN250
        Yamaha Route 66
        Yamaha Virago 535
       +Yamaha YSR50

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

        Honda CX450 Rebel
       *Honda Shadow 500/600/700
        Honda Twinstar CM200T
        Honda CB250 Nighthawk
        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
        Suzuki Savage 650
        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 CB-1 400
        Honda CM400T Hawk
        Honda GB500 Tourist Trophy
       +Honda NX125
        Honda NX250
       *Honda VT500 Ascot
       *Honda VF500 Interceptor
        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
        Suzuki GS500E          <--- the KotSBL's pick for Best Beginner's Bike
       *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 CM450
        Honda FT500 Ascot
        Honda NT650 Hawk
        Honda CB450/CB550 Nighthawk
        Honda XR200
        Kawasaki EX500
        Kawasaki GPz 550
        Kawasaki KZ 650 CSR
        Suzuki GN440
        Suzuki GS450E
        Yamaha Fazer
        Yamaha RZ350
        Yamaha Seca II
        Yamaha XZ550 Vision

As an exercise in futility, the following is a snapshot of
motorcycles that experienced short riders can often manage.
Every rider's motorcycle options vary with experience,
skill, and perseverance.  With experience, willingness and
modifications, short riders can manage most motorcycles.

       BMW R65/R65LS
       BMW K75
       BMW R80 (not GS or ST)
       BMW R100R
       Ducati 750SS
       Yamaha FZR 400
       Yamaha XJ 450/550/650 Seca
       Yamaha FJ1200
       any of the 600cc sportbikes
       ....and many, many others.

Motorcycles short riders will never ride

       any ATK (most have a 37" seat)

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Classifications
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Cruisers
--------
       Honda CX250/CX450 Rebel
       Honda 500/600/700 Shadow
       Kawasaki EN454 LTD
       Kawasaki KZ250 LTD
       Kawasaki KZ 250/305/450/650 CSR
       Kawasaki KZ 250/305/440/550 LTD
       Kawasaki Vulcan
       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 GN125
       Suzuki GN250
       Suzuki GN440
       Suzuki GS450E
       Suzuki Savage 650
       Yamaha XS400 Special & Special II
       Yamaha SR185/SR250 Exciter
       Suzuki GN400
       Suzuki GS450A
       Suzuki GS450T
       Suzuki GS500E
       Yahama YJ600 Radian
       Yamaha SR500
       Yamaha Fazer
       Yamaha Seca II
       Yamaha XZ550 Vision

Sportbikes
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       Honda CB-1 400
       Honda VTR250 Interceptor
       Kawasaki EX250 Ninja
       Suzuki GSF400 Bandit
       Yamaha SRX250
       Yamaha YSR50

Dual-purpose/dirt
-----------------
       Honda XL100
       Honda XR200
       Honda NX125
       Honda NX250
       Suzuki SP250 ('89 and older)
       Yamaha XT225 Serow

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End of SBL for beginners
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