Thumper Club Forum
Club House => Chatter => Topic started by: TOAD on March 26, 2007, 07:55:16 AM
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JUST BROWSING THE INTERNET I CAME ACROSS THIS SITE.HAVING A SMALL SINGLE (bike not malt)I FELT THE URGE TO JOIN.
HOPE I,M NOT THE ONLY LADY ON HERE.
I'M SERIOUSLY VERTICALLY CHALLENGED AND RIDE A YAMAHA SR250 AT THE MOMENT BUT WOULD LIKE SOMETHING A BIT BIGGER.MAYBE A HONDA FT500 BUT I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE SEAT HEIGHT (I'm 4ft 10ins)
ANY SUGGESTIONS? (no manure jokes please)
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Welcome. The FT500 was based upon the XL500 which had a resonably strong motor, the FT does have a poor reputation when it comes to its electric start mechanism.
The SRX monoshock has a fairly low seat height (http://www.srx600.f2s.com/srx600/photographs/images/mysrx400post_5.jpg)
and has an electric start, removing the problem of tryiing to balance a tall bike when kickstarting it. Good handling as well, the only downside is availability, the 400's come up regulalry on Ebay but 600's are a bit harder to come by.
SZR660 is fairly low as well
(http://www.thumperclub.com/photos/2005/myszr_4.jpg)
(This one has a raised seat)
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(no manure jokes please)
Hello and welcome.
Half the stuff in the jokes section could be described as "manure" (or words to that effect), but maybe that's just my sense of humour that's had a bypass (it is Monday)!
You don't mention what sort of bike you are looking for? From the stuff I've had my only suggestion would be the Bullet as the classics tend to be smaller in the frame.
If you are happy to play with the seat, don't discount some bikes with what seem like massive heights until you've tried. The width is half the batle. At 5'7"/1.7m, on paper I should really go buy a cruiser. Once you go do some sitting though I find the numbers don't make a huge amount of sense. I've owned BMW F650's and a Yamaha XT that are tall but have seats you can slide across and are narrow. I've had a BMW GS twin as a loaner and managed just fine (but wouldn't be able to ride it two up). I tried a Yamaha street fighter something or other (free ride offered by a dealer) that should have been lower than the lot and (amongst other things that wound me up) found that the wide seat made the whole show a pain in traffic. Low, wide and sticky IMHO is as bad as tall.
Andy
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The GB500 has a reasonably low seat, electric start and excellent lifespan & reliability. The Euro version, XBR, should be similar.
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Hi there and welcome.
Just out of interest - how long have you been riding for? I have never had a problem with bike being too big - too small is more an issue, but some years ago I had a lot of contact with less tall people - OK I was a M/C instructor. What we found was that most people have less and less problem the more time they spend on the bike, knew a lass of about 5 foot who had no troubles with a Tenere - but did look like Dani Pedrosa on the corners, when she was at a junction - almost totally off one side of the bike. Just a thought.
Yes the humour here can become a little male - but in the main I think we are mostly harmless, apart from Onepots farting that is.
R
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Hello Toad, welcome to the site :-)
If your looking for something small but different and sporty, but not licience threatening, why not take a look at a Suzuki goose?? All here would agree, you'll be hard pressed to find a prettier bike, just a shame I can't find a piccie of one. (Mr Stringer, got any shots of yours before you started 'playing' with it??) engine is basically the DR350, but they've stuck it into a compact chassis.
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hello toad
welcome
i found a suzuki goose on the web
(http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20%20A/Suzuki%20Goose%20350%2092.jpg)
but if you are a bit short why not going for a more modern bike ..ok only 250cc but with real
20bhp and topspeed up to 80mph and so realy fast enough to ride points on your lisence , just a weekend ago had a rideout with some BIG bikes above 600cc , and they`ve been surprised how well it did for 250 , we had a realy nasty gale force headwind and the little honda cbf 250 was still managing a steady 70mph uphill on the motorway , and its light , and achieves amazing mileage ~90-100 mpg all the time
the honda cbf250 (no i dont get payed by honda`s promotion department ) here a picy of it
(http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2006/04/25/bikepics-572716-800.jpg)
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Oooo a ft500. At risk of upsetting any ft500 owners on here , dont. I had one for a few years after seeing one as a teen and thinking "cool a factory flat tracker" and although I love fourstroke singles, I hated the FT. In the end I fell off it and it hit a hidden treetrunk inside a hedgerow making its exit and suffered a bent frame and I was happy to saw it up and give my friend the engine for his XL. I never really had electric start problems but I used to take mine apart and maintain it and I didnt have 15:1 cr or a bigbore kit , but, it lacked all the charm and torque of a thumper, requiring to be buzzed along I think due to the cams and dual pipes? It certainly had less torque than my sp400 did.
And the footrests were far too low and silly, and clutch life seemed rather short. And it was just so soul-less...
The one good thing about it was it was so bad and I disliked it so much I used to park it outside the railway station when I commuted into london without fear of it not being there after work. One night someone stole my gloves, but they left the ft there unlocked with a igntion you could turn on with a penny.
Oh, and to put it sucinctly, theyre all going to be a bit knackered by now arent they? They havent made them for years and I dont know of anyone who loved one enough to rebuild it thouroughly.
Srx sounds nice, not had one o them yet, put it on my to try one day list :)
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Hiya Toad
My Missus finds my XBR a little too high for comfort and she's 5ft. I guess its all down to how confident you feel on a bike and as Rog said, experience is a factor there. The GB500 is prettier than the XBR anyway. A lot of the shorter folk I know prefer cruisers for height reasons but its down to taste really (I don't like em). That there Suzuki Goose is a lovely looking bike. I did my test on a Suzuki GS500 which is a wee bit taller than the Goose and saw a few shorter people training on them without any trouble. No shorty jokes from me, I'm only 5'7" myself and I'm the tallest of my clan.
Anyway, what do I know? I'm sure you'll sort it out.
Dave B
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Welcome to the site.
Check out the pictures section of our site. You will get a good idea of the type of bikes that are prominent in the club (and the sad old gits that ride them!). The favourites are the SRX and XBR, both of which have low seat hights, have a good 'todays' performance and spares are still readily available. Also technical problems and spares are available within the club as well as contacts for services. In the club we get around to all parts of the country to meet up and also to events over at the Monoconnection in Holland.
We will be having our annual event at Dent (Check out the site) later this year as last year it was very good. One young chap came on a KH100 and easily kept up with the group on the rideout so any bike is more than welcome.
Keep in touch
SteveD
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WELCOME!!!!!!!! TOAD ........................
Steve D,
" Also technical problems and spares are available within the club "
That explains all my technical problems !!!!!!
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HI EVERYONE.THANKS FOR ALL YOUR COMMENTS AND IDEAS. I'VE GONE OFF THE FT500,IVE HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE QUESTION ITS RELIABILITY.I LIKE THE CB250 BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GO BIGGER. SOME OF THE OTHER BIKES LOOK INTERESTING.I KNOW THE XBR IS OUT OF THE QUESTION THOUGH.
BEEN RIDING 30yrs. ALWAYS HAD TO HAVE SMALLISH BIKES,125s and 250s.BIGGEST BIKE I OWNED WAS A 1972 CB350K4. ONCE BORROWED AN XJ650 BUT HAD TO GET ON AND OFF NEXT TO A KERB AND AVOID RED TRAFFIC LIGHTS.
NOT GOOD!
THIS IS A GREAT SITE,LOADS OF INTERESTING STUFF AND FRIENDLY PEOPLE.
CHEERS.
TOAD...
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Welcome aboard Toad. May I suggest you take a look at a Sachs Roadster. You should be able to pick one up cheaply enough (even a late model). Spares shouldn't be a problem (it has a Suzuki lump) and from what I remember from the 2005 Annual Rally at Hay it wasn't at all tall (at all, at all ;-) ) Anyway, happy hunting...whereabouts are you?
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Hi Again
Riding 30 years - well that puts me in my place! he he he
And can I ask about the political correctness of suggesting a goose to a lady!
R
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I've been on Google to look at a goose.Looks like a possibility to me but not easy to get hold of.Theres none on e bay at the moment.
Had my first bike on the road in 1977. A Fizzy. Then progressed to a CB125. CD185. x5. Loads of others.KH250 but I had to cut a big chunk out of the seat to manage that one.
Originaly an Essex girl,now living in Kent.
So how long have you all been on the road and what has been your best bike so far?
PS: How do I put a picture on the end of this post,cant work it out? Was going to show my kh with the chopped down seat,always good for a laugh.
TOAD...
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So how long have you all been on the road and what has been your best bike so far?
Riding since 1992.
Best bike would be a toss up between BMW F650, Bonneville and MZ 301. I ought to pick the F650 as it went from the North Cape to the Sahara and was near enough a proper Thumper, but the final death of my second one (by waterpump failure) has put me off. The MZ appeals to a certain (probably sick) mentality that makes me ride like a nutter but it was my first proper bike and I love my full throttle ride to work. On current form I'd go for the Bonneville, does everything well. The only thing I've known to stop it was a Blizzard this January.
Andy
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Hi there
Passed test - oh bottom just gone to check licence to see whan it ran from and cannot find it... oooops
R
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Phew - in the school Better Reading pack - why? ummmmmmm
Riding since May 83,
DT125 - DT175 - (GT250 CG125 both on loan)
RD350LC
GS750
CZ350 twin
ARE750 Triton
KH250
CD175
RD500LC
Superdream X 3
CB200
T500/GT250 hybrid - never yet run
CB350K4
DT250
XT250
Jawa 500 R
CB125/CG125
Triumph 900 Sprint
TZR250
TZR250/Jawa500 Hybrid - coming together
Best - all of them. Well superdreams were ride to work things.
Triton, RD350 RD500 and DT250 all have a particular place in the heart.
R
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AAh the venerable KH250. My first bike SGY 320R (and I dooo so wish I'd kept it) Candy red and that wonderful exhaust note. Much much better than any Yam or Suzuki of the day....and better looking. So the X7 managed the ton, but it was dull as dishwater compared to the Kwak IMHO
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Got to say my current ride is my all time favourite, a '95 Dommie :-) First bike I've kept over 2 years, and I just can't think about replacing her. Had a wide range from a fizzy to a Gixer with the odd CX thrown in for good measure. Always found something I didn't like with all of them, but Dolly does all I want, how I want it done. Content me :-)
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First starting riding (legally) in the early 80s. I don't enjoy it and only ride because I like the smell of leather and petrol.
Ridden lots of horrible bikes that were poorly maintained and unreliable (or at least they were when I'd had them a while).
I currently favour sidecars because it's not natural to lean over in corners.
I had a girlfriend who was 5' tall and she rode a 750 Bonnie with no worries (although a cut-down saddle helped).
My brother's partner rides a nice XBR that has had slightly shorter shocks fitted and the forks dropped through the yokes. A handlebar conversion helps because it makes the riding position better for keeping the bike upright at a standstill.
Here they are:
(http://www.thumperclub.com/photos/2006/thumper448c81686dd3f.jpg)
Where are you based? I'm sure all sorts of bikes could be sampled if one of our shed meets is held near to you.
Cheers
GC
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YES I HAVE CONSIDERD THE XBR.THE REACH TO THE BARS IS MORE OF A PROBLEM THAN SEAT HEIGHT ON THIS MACHINE AS IS THE CASE WITH SO MANY OTHERS. I AM IN KENT.
TOAD...
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Hi Toad
Ceck out item No 300094661364 on ebay.Ignore the kickstart part as they are electric boot,great little bikes.If you look in the projects part of the site you can see what remains of my Suzuki Goose,I decided to fit a bigger engine etc.
Regards
Alan
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Thanks for that.I've had a look at it and think its a good possible if I could change the bars,they look beyond my reach.
Cheers! TOAD...
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A handlebar conversion on the XBR is fairly easy - aftermarket handlebar clamps that clamp to the fork legs are the easiest option.
My brother had the XBR top yoke welded up underneath to increase its thickness then drilled holoes for aftermarket (bolt through) clamps.
It may meant that some of the cable have to be extended, but this is hardly a hassle. Venhill do one-off cables.
Cheers
GC
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Hi toad................not from toad hall i hope......very bad driving record i hear barp barp
first bike...bsa bantam......1962
best bike.. difficult.... vincent comet 1979 to 1981, Velocette viper 1970 to 1975, yamaha srx6 1997 to present
love the all
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hello again i have something else you should consider
its a bike from BETA they are known for theire trailies but they also do a bike called Jonathan
looks like a chopper but handles like a supermoto , ok its only a 350cc , and the engine is from the suzuki dr350 so spare parts easy to come by if needed
they dont turn up often but if they turn up you can crab them realy cheap
(http://www.motobiz.de/fotos/17.jpg)
they also do one called EURO basically the same bike with a more compphy pillion seat
and as you can spot it seems to be very low so ideal for you i suppose
(http://www.vfmz.com/vfmz_cms/html/motor-on/mnt/motorrad_katalog/bilder/mnt_2004_beta_euro_350.jpg)
and there is one on ebay like i said cheap for what you get a 04 reg bike with 1700 miles on the clock for buy it now £1250
they are quiet rare in but the engine is good as its a suzuki engine
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BETA-EURO-Italian-Made-Cruiser-not-jonothan_W0QQitemZ300095252931QQcategoryZ424QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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Hi, im new here too, Had a full license now for ummm 18 years.
First bike, a fs1e but in mini cafe race style with rearsets, clipons and a A100 engine bored to 120cc with matched spanny the lot that I did all the proper calculashuns for valve openings and cone lengths etc in college (still said 49cc on the book though *whistle*). Used to terrorise the local 125 mob on this tiny little flea of a sports ped, until it blew up again (which it did almost weekly), and had to carry a few spare magneto woodruff keys under the side panel at all times :)
Best bike, hmm most competent bike has to be my bimota YB8, 1000 yamaha exup engine tuned a bit in a superb chassis that saved my neck during the sillier of some of my antics, so good Im almost afraid to saw it up to make it better (y'know a blower on it would be nice, but I probally will just opt for a more tuned engine) Most fun probally my kawasaki turbo when its running strong with a fresh turbo. Most lifesaving my sp400, because I had it through the lean times and the good, and in the lean times it ran very very cheap but was still good fun, Im treating her nicely now, although Im on my 3rd engine so far, its probally the bike Id part with last out of my fleet too cos of the times Ive had on it...
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Rearsets, rearsets, rearsets, dont you just love Mr Mircrosoft, or who ever. I bought a set of rearsets in Scunthorpe...
Buddy looked through the Organic chemicals in the Org lab to find the one with the highest calorific value or the like (combustability etc) knicked it and loaded it into the tank of a fizzy along with the petrol - went like a bomb up until the piston melted. Mind did run better than the one that I know of that had a load of Red Hermit5h1te put into the tank with the petrol and left running - the owner deserved all he got BTW.
R
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Hi Toad
Check this out on Ebay 270110443690
Lowered seat and possibly shorter shocks
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Hi Toad
Check this out on Ebay 270110443690
Lowered seat and possibly shorter shocks
Got possibilities.. but what a hideous fairing, and come to that a fairly hideous colourscheme!! But that's just me (chuckles). Nothing a nice big std headlamp and a repaint couldn't cure ;)
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Blimey! Hiow ugly is that?
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it says "LADY OWNER AND WELL LOOKED AFTER. - the bike or the lady owner?
R
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Hi Toad
Check this out on Ebay 270110443690
Lowered seat and possibly shorter shocks
Will certainly watch this one,thanks very much.