Firstly, what is your prior motorcycling experience? What engine displacement / size are we talking… 250cc? A lot of it depends on your skill level and comfort level.
Hannah Johnson (~5’3”) rides a Hypermotard with an exceptionally high seat height (33.3”). She literally jumps onto the bike as it takes off. For her, size has little to do with it. You can make changes in the bike (seat, suspension, etc) to bring it down a little bit so you can put your feet more firmly on the ground. Ninja’s are pretty light weight across the board, so keeping it upright or even picking it back up if you drop it isn’t such a big deal.
If you’ve got some experience under your belt and can responsibly ride the bike and respect it while you learn more… I say go for it. But that’s just my opinion, and I might lack real-world experience in this realm that some others can shed some light on for us. I bought a big, heavy, cheap, poorly performing motorcycle to learn on.
I also just want to mention the CBR 250 from Honda. I really loved the look of that, they’re very petite motorcycles and also very light. But again, I bought the opposite of that.
Readers, comments?
Mary McGee is a pioneer in American motorcycle racing, thanks to her untamable determination and a spirit as warm as her smile. Her excitement for motorcycling, especially racing, is contagious even in her eighties. She was the first woman to receive an FIM racing license in the United States, first woman to complete the Baja 1000, and the first woman to race the Baja 500 solo. These aren’t her only firsts, either. She was also the first woman in motocross and road racing in the States. McGee was rightly inducted into the AMA Hall of Fame in 2018.
Tags: advice, ask, contact, faq, first bike, motolady, motorcycle, motorcycles, wondergrl11
Posted on February 14, 2013 in Motorcycles by Alicia Mariah Elfving