The Personal Blog Of
Boston Motorcycle Lawyer

Make Your Bike Fit like a Glove
February 11, 2010

Recently, I have received some emails from  bikers who are concerned about being able to handle certain makes and models of bikes. This includes emails from a few women who are concerned about handling the weight of certain bikes. I also received an email from a young man concerned about reaching the handlebars and foot pegs of a Harley Davidson Vrod Muscle. Sweet bike!

Believe me, I understand their concern.

I have been riding motorcycles for most of my adult life (about 15 years) and there was a time when my short stature was a concern. Although I am a good sized guy, I am only 5”7”. When I considered buying my first motorcycle, my size versus the size of the bike was a factor.

Here’s what I look at when I size a bike to my stature.

• Seat: I make sure to change the seat to a slimmer version. Although slimmer seats are not as comfortable on long rides, the center of gravity of the bike (while riding it) reduces by .5 to 1 full inch. This is a great help when maneuvering at slow speeds or if you have to put your feet down.

• Seat Height: If the seat height is a bit tall for my short legs, I look at lowering it by replacing the rear and/or front suspension. Progressive Suspension makes great products to lower your bike by 1-2 inches below stock. This makes handling the bike much easier; especially when power walking.

• Handlebars/Pullback: To maintain a comfortable, upright riding position, changing the handlebars is great. Handlebars with longer pull back (how far the bars come back towards the rider from the forks) can make reaching the hand controls very simple.

By taking a close look at these three factors, you can make any bike fit like a glove. Trust me, I’ve owned crotch rockets, cruisers, and big baggers and have never felt like my height was a disadvantage.