Motorbikes Girls CAN Ride

One of the common questions asked by girls who are new to motorcycling is "What bikes can I ride?"

As we girls are generally smaller than guys, finding a bike we can physically fit on can be difficult at times and some girls believe they will be limited in their choice if they are of small stature.

In a bid to try and answer this question I have posted the question on a few female motorcycle forums and compiled a list of motorbikes that girls are riding now. As you can see from my list, some of the girls have kindly supplied information about how the bike was adjusted, eg lowered, suspension adjusted, seats carved out, etc, to make it a bit smaller for them so they could ride it.

Please note the list is NOT recommendations on which bike you should buy, its a list showing the different bikes the girls who responded to my question are riding.

For the most part female bikers arn't bothered if they can't get both feet flat on the floor, as long as they can ride the motorbike of their choice. I know there are other considerations such as inside leg measurement, weight of bike, etc., to be taken into account when choosing a motorbike and I will cover those in other posts to the blog.

As and when I get any further information I will add it to the entry so that it is kept up to date. If you are a female rider and you are riding a bike which isn't shown in the list, please feel free to add a comment telling me and I will quite happily add it to the list.

If you are new to riding take a look at these products which will help you pass your theory, hazard perception tests and motorcycle tests.

For those who have already passed it here are a few recommendations to help you improve your riding.

Under 5’ Tall
Suzuki GSF400 Bandit -
Honda CBR400RR -
Yamaha R6 2004 -
Honda CB400T -

5’ Tall
Yamaha R6 (2002) - No adjustment but couldn’t flat foot
Suzuki GSX 600F - No adjustment but couldn’t flat foot
Kawasaki GPZ500 -
Suzuki GSXR1000 K6 - Suspension lowered, forks dropped slightly
Ducati Hypermotard - Suspension lowered, ride height adjuster on lowest setting
Honda CBR600RR -
Suzuki GSX-R600 K8 - lowered
Suzuki GSX-R600 K6 - - no adjusment but on balls of feet/tiptoes
Honda CBR600F -
Suzuki SV650S -

5’1” Tall
Kawasaki Ninja - Suspension lowered and on tip toes

5'2 Tall
Honda CBR 600 F - Hyperpro lowering kit, front forks dropped.
Honda CBR400RRN - No adjustment
Kawasaki ZZR600
Honda Shadow 750
Suzuki GSX-R600 K6
Honda CBR600F
Suzuki SV650S
Suzuki 400 Bandit
Kawasaki 750 Zephyr
Suzuki SV650 - Lowered but feet still not flat on the floor
Kawasaki ZXR400 - No adjustment
Yamaha Virago 535 - No adjustment and both feet flat on floor
BMW F650GS - No adjustment but on balls of the feet

5’3” Tall
Honda CBR 929 RRY Fireblade - No adjustment, but only one flat foot
Honda CBR400RR - No adjustment
Honda CBR400 - No adjustment
Suzuki GS500F
Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat - lowered
Yamaha R6 - Lowered
Suzuki SV650S - Suspension and forks lowered, but still on balls of feet
Ducati Monster 695 - No adjustment and on balls of feet
Kawasaki ER5 - Lowered suspension, carved out seat
Ducati 749s - No adjustment
Yamaha FZS600
Suzuki SV650 - No adjustment but on balls of feet
BMW R1200 ST

5'4” Tall
Honda CBR600fx - Bike lowered, can almost flat foot.
Suzuki GSR600 - No adjustment but on tip toes
Suzuki Bandit - No adjustment
Kawasaki ER6f - No adjustment, almost flat foot
Honda RVF 400 - No adjustment
Yamaha Diversion 600
BMW F650GS
Honda Transalp - Seat lowered
Suzuki VZ800 Marauder - No adjustment
Honda CBR600fx - No adjustment but on balls of feet
Suzuki GSR600 - No Adjustment
Suzuki Bandit 400 - No adjustment
Kawasaki ER6f - No adjustment
Honda CBR 600 - No adjustment
Suzuki XF650 Freewind - Bike lowered
Suzuki Bandit 600 - Suspension lowered
Triumph Street Triple - No adjustment but on balls of the feet

5’5” Tall
Suzuki GS500 - No adjustment
Yamaha Fazer 600 - No Adjustment
Honda VFR400 NC30 - No adjustment
Triumph Street Triple
Cagiva 1000
Suzuki SV650 - No adjustment
Kawasaki Z1000 - No adjustment, but on balls of both feet
Kawasaki GPZ500s - No adjustment and feet flat on floor
Ducati Monster 620sie - No adjustment and both feet flat on floor
Suzuki Bandit 400V - No adjustment
Honda VFR400 - No adjustment
Kawasaki ZX6R (G1) - Seat lowered
Moto Guzzi Breva 750
Honda CBR1000 (2008) - no adjustment, one flat foot or both toes on floor

5’6” Tall
Honda VFR700, 07
Honda CB600F Hornet
Honda CB1000R - No adjustment
Yamaha Fazer 600 - No adjustment but cant flat foot
Suzuki SV650 - No adjustment and both feet flat on floor
Kawasaki ER6 - No adjustment
Kawasaki ZX6R - No adjustment and both feet flat on floor
Suzuki GS500F - No adjustment and feet flat on floor
Honda Hornet 900 - No adjustment and both feet flat on floor

5'7" Tall
Honda VFR400 - had space between self and bike!
Honda VFR800 - balls of both feet, or one foot flat the other 'balancing'
CCMR30 - bought already lowered, same as VFR400
Honda Hornet 900 - balls of both feet, or one foot flat the other 'balancing'
Yamaha FZ1 - one foot flat, the other almost flat
KTM Duke - balls of both feet, or one foot flat the other 'balancing'
Triumph Sprint ST - balls of both feet, or one foot flat the other 'balancing'
Triumph Tiger - tip toes or one foot flat the other flailing!
Suzuki Bandit 1250GT - one foot flat, the other almost flat

5’8 and over
Triumph Street Triple
Honda CBR 600F
Ducati 916 Monster
GSXR750 Special
Honda CBR954 Streetfighter
Ducati Monster 620
Honda XRV750 Africa Twin
Ducati Monster 620
Kawasaki Z500
Suzuki SV650
Kawasaki GPZ 500s - No adjustment

Mornings...

Why is it some mornings you wake up a fresh as a daisy and others, like today for me, you wake up feeling completely shattered and as if you haven't had a wink of sleep all night? I cant remember having any dreams which disturbed my sleep, I didn't wake up in the night like I sometimes do nor do I recall anything else which may explain my tiredness. So what on earth happened last night?

I went to bed as usual last night, and fell asleep after a while and that was it until this morning when the alarm clock rudely disturbed the peace! I did ignore it I must admit and didn't crawl out of bed until I absolutely had to. I'm now sitting at my computer wishing I could go back to bed for an hour or two but that would only have 2 outcomes.

1. I would probably feel worse as a nap might not be enough to make me feel any better
2. It would make it more difficult for me to get to sleep tonight

So I'm going to have to struggle through the day, yawning my head off like I am now and just collapse when I get in from work later.

I want to go to back to bed and get some more sleep.. But I cant!

Chico's Having Lunch!

What a sweetie!!

Chico, the baby Pygmy Hippo, is a bit of a fussy eater and according to staff at Oxfordshires Heythrop Zoological Gardens have been hand feeding the hippo using a glove puppet.. The puppet named Gloria, was used as a last resort after Chico started refusing food.

He's kinda cute in a way, but I wouldn't want those teeth nibling on my fingers!!!

You can find the full story about baby Chico here at the BBC News Website

A Good And A Bad Day

The bad part of the day was waking up with a horrific headache which soon turned into a migraine. I've spent most of the day battling with painkillers trying to get it sorted out and mercifully it looks like it isn't going to be a long migraine this time, which I very glad about.

The good part of the day was as follows.

Late this afternoon I went out to buy a few bits at one of the shops in town and came away with a little bit more than I was expecting.. A JOB!!!

I've never had that before, I have gone out to buy food and come home with 2 Guinea Pigs!! They were cute and I love Guinea Pigs so bought them on the spot.. But I have ever gone shopping and ended up with a job.

It's good timing too, what with Christmas coming up and me starting to panic a little after losing my job 6 weeks ago.

It looks like Christmas may be back on in our house now.. woohoo!!

And Now For Something Completely Silly..

Ok, so I'm in a daft mood today, it must be something to do with waiting up for Sideshow Bob to come home at 2am and only having four and a half hours sleep..

I came across this Silly Name Generator and decided it had to go on my blog today (child that I am!!!)

My new name generated as Buttercup Bananasniffer

How about the rest of you?

Happy Birthday Sideshow Bob

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUNNI

40 YEARS YOUNG TODAY

If you want to know what Sideshow Bob had to say on the subject click here

Mid-Life Crisis?!?

I've been thinking about the so-called mid-life crisis over the last few days (my other half hits the big 4-0 tomorrow!), and I've been wondering about last year. I had, according to my other half, a mid-life crisis when I turned 40 last year when I decided that I absolutely had to learn to ride a motorbike!

I had actually sat down at the beginning of last year, as it was the big 4-0 year, and written a list of all the things I had wanted to when I was younger, but had never gotten around to doing for one reason or another. And learning to ride was top of the list, above everything else!

My (logical) reasoning at the time was that I had been a pillion passenger for more years then I cared to remember and seeing as the old age clock was now ticking away faster than I would have liked, it was about time I learned or the chances were I would never do it! So taking my mid-life crisis by the horns I learned to ride. I took two attempts to pass my test and not even falling off and snapping a few bits stopped me, I was that determined! I felt so good the day I passed my test I almost kissed my examiner when he told me I had done it!

I personally don't class last year as a mid-life crisis, I've convinced myself I was just taking stock of my life and the things I've done. If I have a mid-life crisis it means I have to admit I'm getting older, and I don't want to do that!! I'm still a teenager at heart!!

Mind You, looking at these it doesn't look like I'm the only one

A Very Brave Little Girl

There is a story here in the UK today that has made me really think this morning. A young 13-year-old girl has won her battle to be allowed to die with dignity in her own home, surrounded by those who love her.

All parents want the best for their children, for them to live and be happy throughout their lives, but how would you feel if the best thing you can do for your child is to let them go. This little girl could have an operation which may save her life, but if it works she will face a lifetime on medication. She has made the decision on her own that this is not the kind of life she wants for herself, and her parents are standing by her.

I am a mum myself but cannot imagine what it would be like to face a dilemma such as this family is going through. I know deep in my heart I would do anything I could for my children to fight and live, but who’s interests would I be serving? My child’s or mine? At what point would you be able step back and put the wishes of your child before your own? It’s not a situation I’m sure I could deal with.

My thoughts are with Hannah and her family, and my heartfelt admiration goes to a very brave little girl who has made a decision I'm not sure even I could make.

Details of the story can be found on the BBC News Website.

Does My Bum Look Big In THis?

As a motorbike rider, more particularly a FEMALE motorbike rider, I have noticed something, which I must say, is starting to concern me a little.

I recently bought a fantastic pair of Hein Gerick ladies leather motorcycle trousers, which I must say are absolutely fantastic regards quality, price and protection. I cannot fault the company for their product in anyway.

Now, you may now be wondering what I have to be concerned about, regarding my leather trousers. Well, I'm going to tell you! As a woman I have a profound loathing of looking any bigger in shape or size than I am. We women have a pathological hatred of this, a fact to which practically every man on this planet can testify. My problem isn't with the trousers or the manufacturer.. It's with cows!!

Leather is a wonderful fabric for protecting motorcyclists in the unfortunate event of an accident BUT over time it stretches!! So the pair of leather trousers, which fitted you beautifully when you bought them, over time will stretch so that about 6 months later you look like your bum is half way down the back of your legs!

I personally (and I can't be the only one) don't like my bum looking like this and so I was wondering if we could 'have a word' with the cows and see if they could be persuaded to try and do something about the problem, after all the cows are the ones who provide the materials for our leather trousers.

If the cows could help with this I think there would be a huge market demand for 'Memory Leather'. I'm sure even the guys who ride motorbikes with their one-piece leather suits would appreciate it

Remembering The Fallen

Rememberence Day - 9th November 2008

In rememberence of those who gave their lives in battle in the past, and those who continue to do so to this day in conflicts around the world.. We will not forget you..

If I Should Die

If I should die, think only this of me:

That there's some corner of a foreign field

That is for ever England. There shall be

In that rich earth a richer dust concealed;

A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware,

Gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,

A body of England's, breathing English air,

Washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home.
And think, this heart, all evil shed away,

A pulse in the eternal mind, no less

Gives somewhere back the thoughts by England given;

Her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;

And laughter, learnt of friends; and gentleness,

In hearts at peace, under an English heaven.

Rupert Brooke

1887 - 1915

Thief Sends Sorry Note!

Whilst perusing the interweb today I came across a heartwarming story. In 2001 a young drug addict noticed a shop he was passing had been broken into and taking advantage of the situation had gone in and stolen 400 cigarettes.

Come forward in time to 2008 and the owner of the shop, a Mr. Imran Ahmed, has received a letter of apology from the thief and £100 to pay for the cigarettes. In the letter the thief explains how in 2001 his life was a mess due to drug abuse but he has now turned it round and is trying to make amends for his wrongdoings in his past.

Mr. Ahmed intends donating the cash to a drugs charity, so hopefully other people with a drug dependency problem will benefit from the thief’s feelings of remorse.

To the thief I have this to say..

GOOD ON YA MATE!!

I’m glad you turned things round for yourself and I’m so glad you have the guts to admit you have done wrong in the past and you are trying to make things right..

I Hate... Fireworks Night!

Now, forgive me if I'm wrong but wasn't it Fireworks Night two days ago? And surely the 5th is only ONE day during the month of November?

If I am right in my thinking how come fireworks night seems to last a week? Round our way they started with the fireworks on Sunday evening, then apart from a few kids setting them off on Monday and Tuesday it was fairly quiet. Fireworks night itself was a tad loud, and not only because of the fireworks! Everytime we had to let the dog out into the garden to answer a call of nature he would go nuts barking at the noise and flashy things up in the sky. They stopped going off eventually and then the children actually managed to get to sleep and the dog stopped making a racket. And as for my poor cats they have barely seen the outside world this week!

Thursday was ok..

But tonight its gone nuts again!! And no doubt the same will happen tommorrow!! Our poor dog will lose his voice at this rate, and I will have two shattered children by Sunday!!

I think I may have come up with a solution to this week long fireworks night problem. I have decided the firework manufacturers should fit timers to the fireworks, set so that they will only go off between 00.01 and 23.59 on the 5th Novermber!! Then maybe my dog's voice will be fine, we can remove the cork from his bottom, I can finally let the cats out and my children can get some sleep!!

I can't see it catching on though, mores the pity!!

Under The Bed!?!

We had a wedding to go to last week, one of Sideshows work mates was getting hitched, and in the process of getting ready for said wedding I had to dig my boot boxes out from under the bed to find a pair suitable for the occasion.. Unfortunately my New Rocks, as in the picture, while fantastic boots did not go with my outfit!

I.. ermm.. had forgotten quite how many pairs of boots I had! Some of them are still fine to wear, others are a bit shabby and there are yet more which I reckon I was hanging on to for sentimental reasons!!

Now, I've been thinking about this and I'm a little concerned that I'm keeping boots for sentimental reasons! Yes, I know I loved (and still do love) those particular pairs of boots but why keep them when they are no good?

Maybe I'm just a teeny-weeny bit more odd than I thought I was!!!!

I Hate.. Winter

As a whole, motorcyclists enjoy a few hours at the weekend working on our bikes out in the garage or garden, but now ITS TOO BLINKIN COLD!!!

His nibs is working on a streetfighter and I'm supposed to be rebuilding a 28 year old Kawasaki Z650 and short of bringing them into the house (yes we have done that before!) its way too cold out there to even think about working in an unheated garage!!

I hate winter and I definately hate being cold!!

ROLL ON THE WARMER WEATHER!!

What Is It With Jaffa Cakes?

Now I can't be the only person with this problem... Have you noticed how a box of Jaffa Cakes can literally VANISH?

You must know what I mean.. You open the box, undo the wrapper and take out your first one and nibble away at it.. Sound familiar?

Well, there you are, quite happily munching away and you go to get another one.. ONLY TO FIND THE PACKET IS EMPTY!!!! You're sitting there, staring at the box thinking "Where the heck did that lot go? I can't possibly have eaten them all!! Not that quick!!"

But.. you did! You ate a whole box of Jaffa Cakes in about 5 minutes flat!

If you are anything like me you instantly go into a state of denial, and start blaming everyone from your OH to the cat for eating them, while protesting that you had nothing to do with the dissappearance of the Jaffa Cakes.. But no one will admit to anything and you eventually realise that you must have eaten said Jaffa Cakes and thats probably why you now have a tummy ache!

I've noticed there is a phone number on the side of the box for people, its the helpline for Jaffaholics Anonymous. I've considered ringing it at times, not because I have a Jaffa Cake problem (see, still in denial!) but I'm curious as to what or who is at the other end of the phone line, but I have never rung it, I daren't in case someone at the other end starts laughing at me!! I wonder if anyone has actually phoned them?

Bored? Fancy A New Project?

OK, picture this.. Its the weekend, you're bored.. You have a couple of motorbikes/scooters knocking about out in the garage and you decide to go out and do a bit of tinkering.

As the day progresses the sound of hammering, sawing and drilling eminate from your garage.. The neighbours complain but you carry on regardless.. and when you ride out of your garage you are riding THIS!!!





Now, seeing the scale of such a project a few thoughts pop into my head... (as seems to be happening quite a bit these days!!)

1. Considering its difficult enough as it is to communicate between the rider and pillion.. HOW THE HECK WILL YOU MANAGE ON THIS????

2. How long would that throttle cable need to be?

3. Is there any kind of delay when using the rear brake?

4. I bet it corners like a pig! and forget counter steering!!

And last of all

5. WHY??????

You can read more in the Grantham Journal about the man who decided a record breaking attempt was a good idea and look here if you want to see the bike in motion.

Photo from the Grantham Journal

Heading For A Midlife Crisis

This Year I Hit the big four-OH. And I’m getting worried!

In the wee small hours, I have spotted the age fairy skulking in the shadows preparing to sneakily chisel on more wrinkles and staple on grey hair when I am not looking! During the day I have to keep going out to avoid the middle-age-spread delivery. My body has decided to start packing up and plays silly beggars. I may still have my hair, but the addition of long curly locks sprouting out of my ears and from my nose aren’t welcome! Neither is having to get up 3 times a night to empty a bladder containing no more than a teaspoon full of liquid! Shop assistants have started politely asking “Can I help you SIR” instead of pointing me out to security.

My first thought was to take it gracefully and slip happily into pre-senile dementia..

The idea of waving my stick at young whippersnappers, meaning anyone younger than me (be it 40 years or 4 minutes!) and muttering how “we never behaved like that in my day” have appealed to me for a long time and I’m seriously looking forward to the day when I can do it. Although I don’t currently find cardigans appealing, and nobody’s bothered to tell me where you buy those special old man trousers (the ones that do up just bellow the nipples) and the councils refusal to issue me with a free bus pass! Seems to suggest it’s not time for this yet. Additional thoughts like smelling of wee, being mildly confused all the time and getting lost in cupboards, have their merits, but currently serve to convince me I am not ready… yet!

All this makes me want to fight back beat the age fairy into a bloody pulp and knee the next polite shop assistant in the nuts just before I steal the security guards wallet. Wearing a hoodie and muttering incoherently, like all good teenagers, calling everyone ‘doood’ appeal. My new hair growth can be hidden in a ponytail and henceforth wrinkles will be referred to as laughter lines.

So I’ve decided to have a Mid-life crisis

but now I have another problem.. What shall I do for my midlife crisis?

Having always had bikes, I can’t just go out and buy one, as surely it wouldn’t qualify as part of the midlife crisis.
An 18-year-old girlfriend is appealing but a severe beating, missing body parts, and a long stay in hospital was the result of suggesting to my current GF I trade her in for newer model and have convinced me otherwise!
A Ferrari would be nice, but I’m not ready to drive that slowly, besides. I can’t afford one.
Growing my hair, having a tattoo and dressing like an aged rock star are ALL out of the question because it’s more like a description of the past 25 years.

Oh well..

ANOTHER BIKE IT IS! But, what Bike?!?

Small Chested Female Riders In Vietnam To Be Banned

OK.. Now this is one of the weirdest snippets of news I’ve come across in the last few days.

Its been reported that in a rather bizarre move to try and reduce the accident rate the ruling Communist Party in Vietnam is to ban female motorcycle riders with a chest measurement less than 71cm from riding a motorbike. The rather odd idea, which came from their Ministry of Health, is that small chested people cannot be healthy and therefore should not be riding around on a motorbike!!

Now, I have a couple of thoughts on this,

Firstly, in a nation of small slightly built people, does this mean that virtually all women will be banned from riding.

Secondly, will there be a sudden boom in the breast enlargement industry in Vietnam?

And lastly, how the heck are they going to enforce this? Are they going to introduce chest measuring as part of the licencing procedure? Are the Vietnamese police officers now going to carry tape measures round with them? Will there be roadside chest measuring going on now to try and catch anyone flouting the new law?

How bizarre!!!