October 9th, 2017, 05:13 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Deetz
Location: North NJ
Join Date: Oct 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Yamaha YZF600R (me), 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250R (wife) Posts: 11
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New rider in North NJ
My wife just took her rider class last weekend we picked up a '05 Ninjettw for her this weekend. I've been riding for 4 years myself on a Yamaha yzf600r. Looking forward to seeing her learn on the bike!
It's a bit tall for her still so we're going to try and shave the seat this coming weekend before taking drastic measures of lowering links and the like. |
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October 9th, 2017, 05:29 PM | #2 |
Ninja chick
Name: Allyson
Location: Athens, GA
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): '13 Ninja 300 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 4
MOTM - Dec '13, Feb '15
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deetz! Glad to have you aboard...
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Sometimes it's the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination. ~Drake Check out my Appalachian Trail journal, 2015! Postwhores are COOL! ~Allyson |
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October 9th, 2017, 07:05 PM | #3 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Kerry
Location: Ventura, CA
Join Date: Jan 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja650 Posts: A lot.
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Welcome!
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October 10th, 2017, 04:30 AM | #4 |
Cat herder
Name: Gort
Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot.
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Welcome deetz!
As a shorter guy (5'7" if I eat my Wheaties) I can definitely sympathize with your wife's challenges. Good that you're looking to do seat mods instead of lowering the bike... that's the best path. Consider picking up a second seat on eBay to shave. The process is not reversible and will likely affect your ability to sell the bike. I can tell you first-hand that while it seems really scary to have a too-tall bike at first, it does get better with experience. There are a few other things she can do to help that require no mods to the bike. If she's a rank beginner, chances are she really wants to get both feet firmly on the ground at the same time... including getting a heel down. Important for confidence while learning, but not truly necessary. She might try learning to shift her butt to one side a bit so that she can get one foot, or at least the ball of the foot, firmly down even if the other is just on tip-toe. This takes some confidence that the bike isn't going to just fall over, but it certainly does work. My track bike is an R6 (seat height a few inches higher than my inseam) and I'm on tippy-toes when sitting square on the seat. Just having one toe down at a time and shifting over when I need a foot down is how I manage the bike. I will note that I did shave the seat but it's still "too tall for comfort" as they say. If I had to go with the stock height I could. Another thing is to get as tight up against the tank as possible when getting a foot down. This allows a more upright posture, which rotates the pelvis and in effect allows the legs to be "longer" Here are some pics of Dani Pedrosa. He's all of 5'4", so short his feet actually dangle a couple of inches off the ground when he's sitting square in the saddle. Check out that pic of him standing next to the bike! While he does have mechanics there to hold his MotoGP bike for him in the pits, he still has to hold it up on the grid. He does it by shifting to one side.
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I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem. |
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October 10th, 2017, 10:30 AM | #5 |
Motorcycle Hypermiler
Name: Vic
Location: Livermore CA
Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): 1999 & 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250R's Posts: A lot.
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welcome Deetz!
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235 MPG Hypermotorcycling to a better tomorrow |
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October 10th, 2017, 04:51 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Rick
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
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Hello and welcome!
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October 10th, 2017, 04:59 PM | #7 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
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Welcome!
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October 10th, 2017, 05:26 PM | #8 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Deetz
Location: North NJ
Join Date: Oct 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Yamaha YZF600R (me), 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250R (wife) Posts: 11
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Thanks all. I definitely do think as my wife gets more comfortable she'll be able to move her butt around figure out how to manage the bike a bit more. Until then, having the comfort of feet on the ground especially when dealing with hills or slippery stuff on the ground will be super helpful.
I'm going to write up my experiences at shaving the seat when I do it this weekend. If that's not enough, the next step may be lowering her with some links. |
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October 10th, 2017, 08:47 PM | #9 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Kerry
Location: Ventura, CA
Join Date: Jan 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja650 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '18, Apr '17, Apr '16
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I was noticing that my bike feels shorter now than when I first got her. Experience helps! I've seen short riders who wear built-up shoes, which helps get that little bit of "reach." Good luck with shaving the seat, and I hope it helps your wife's confidence!
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October 11th, 2017, 02:53 AM | #10 |
"a legend in my own mind"
Name: maverick9611
Location: Augusta,Georgia
Join Date: May 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2015 moto guzzi norge(brownie),2020 aprilia dorsoduro, Posts: A lot.
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welcome from georgia
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October 11th, 2017, 06:30 AM | #11 |
Cat herder
Name: Gort
Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot.
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When seat shaving, width is, if anything, more important than height. A wide seat forces the legs apart.
The important part to shave width-wise is up near the tank. That's where the rider's pelvis is at a stop. You might even be able to trim a little width off the seat base as well. That's what I did with my R6 track bike's seat. The front part has been trimmed so that it's no wider than the sub-frame. For a really good profile in a seat that accommodates short people, look at (and try to emulate) the seat on the current GSX-Rs... (my street bike). Note how the sides are cut in near the front of the saddle, making it narrower. Contrast this with the R6 front seat. See how much broader the seat is up near the nose? You wouldn't think such a minor thing would make much of a difference, but it's HUGE.
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I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem. |
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October 11th, 2017, 12:01 PM | #12 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Deetz
Location: North NJ
Join Date: Oct 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Yamaha YZF600R (me), 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250R (wife) Posts: 11
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Quote:
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October 11th, 2017, 12:26 PM | #13 | |
Cat herder
Name: Gort
Location: A secret lair which, being secret, has an undisclosed location
Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): Aprilia RS660 Posts: A lot.
Blog Entries: 6
MOTM - Jul '18, Nov '16, Aug '14, May '13
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Quote:
Originally meant for race bikes, the adapter plates move the pegs up and back. Ideally used in conjunction with clip-ons, but not truly necessary. You need to extend the shift rod for obvious reasons (parts included with the plates). I had some on my newgen and was able to put my legs straight down. Don't know if they'll fit a pregen or not, or if there are specific parts available for your bike. But as you can see, they're pretty simple... just a pair of aluminum plates. Easy enough to make if you're moderately skilled, or a piece of cake for a machine shop. Or, you can just buy some actual rearsets. More expensive, though. Ergonomically, they put the rider's feet a bit higher up (not a problem for your diminutive wife, most likely) and the knees are more bent.
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I am NOT an adrenaline junkie, I'm a skill junkie. - csmith12 Nam et ipsa scientia potestas est. Heri historia. Cras mysterium. Hodie donum est. Carpe diem. |
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October 11th, 2017, 02:38 PM | #14 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Deetz
Location: North NJ
Join Date: Oct 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Yamaha YZF600R (me), 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250R (wife) Posts: 11
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Quote:
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October 11th, 2017, 05:41 PM | #15 |
sammich maker
Name: snot
Location: West Ohio - in the kitchen
Join Date: Feb 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2013 white 300, 09 KLX 250 SF, 09 thunder blue 250(traded) Posts: A lot.
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Welcome
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October 11th, 2017, 06:02 PM | #16 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Kerry
Location: Ventura, CA
Join Date: Jan 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja650 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Apr '18, Apr '17, Apr '16
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The pegs get in my way, too. I have had to find where to put my feet. I think in front of the pegs is slightly easier.
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October 12th, 2017, 09:20 AM | #17 |
vampire
Name: A
Location: IT
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2 many 2 list Posts: A lot.
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Where in Northern NJ?
I commute between Hoboken and Brooklyn during the weekdays, then ride back to Valley Forge, PA for the wknds... sometimes through Hunterdon County.. |
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October 12th, 2017, 11:23 AM | #18 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Deetz
Location: North NJ
Join Date: Oct 2017 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Yamaha YZF600R (me), 2005 Kawasaki Ninja 250R (wife) Posts: 11
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Cool! We actually live in Manhattan but keep our bikes near Morristown, NJ. Do you make the Brooklyn commute on a bike?
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October 12th, 2017, 11:46 AM | #19 | |
vampire
Name: A
Location: IT
Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2 many 2 list Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
Last year on my 04 Ninja 250, this year on a Burgman 650, twist-n-go, tons of underseat space. 15 miles from Hoboken to Coney Isl usually takes 35-45 min. going between car mirrors. |
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November 22nd, 2017, 01:10 PM | #20 |
????????????????
Name: T
Location: no where
Join Date: Feb 2016 Motorcycle(s): 2007 ninja 250, 14 ninja 300, 09 1125CR Posts: A lot.
MOTM - May '17
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WELCOME
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