It’s not simple to choose the finest bike for ladies. Adventure Bikes are made to be tall. Having enough ground clearance is essential for any off-road obstacles you may come across, such as fallen trees, big boulders, roots, or anything else you may need to jump over. Some of us, nevertheless, have inseams that are shorter than thirty inches. For those of us who want to receive at least a toe on each side, this narrows the bike market. After testing three different bikes myself, I’ll weigh the benefits and drawbacks and provide a list of comparable models that are suitable for shorter riders. As new motorcycles are released on a regular basis, this is only the beginning of your research! Tell us which bikes are the finest for women in your opinion.
The Yamaha XT 225: Is it the ideal bike for ladies?
top bike for female riders
A street-legal dirt bike with a single engine is the Yamaha XT 225. Despite being the biggest bike I’ve ever owned, the 31.9″ tiny saddle allows for toes on the ground because of how thin the seat is. Compared to larger adventure bikes, the bike’s lean angle is easier to control since it is so light. For this bike, there are a ton of aftermarket modifications available.
As my first and third adventure bike, I really put this one to the test. Being someone who often falls off trails, I can attest to the fact that this bike is essentially unbreakable. Most of the damage I could do to it could usually be fixed with a hammer and some zip ties. With a few modifications, it could reach speeds of more than 70 mph on the interstate and ride on black diamond dirt bike trails due to its lightweight design. The XT has a lively personality as well; it gave me the impression that I was riding my dirt bike on the road and encouraged me to go up sidewalks, over curbs, and onto grassy knolls. One additional benefit of the XT was its modest weight, which allowed me to hold it in almost any posture. This bike is very simple, but I learnt a lot about working on motorcycles.
I rode this bike 4,00 miles (one thousand miles off road) across Oregon, Nevada, Utah, and Idaho. This was such a wonderful bike! If you want it to, the little engine will run at 70 mph all day on the interstate, although it does start to shake a little. Off road, it was a small snow machine that carved its way through 3-foot drifts and enjoyed the mud and rocks. The disadvantages of riding the XT on a big expedition were that we had to adjust the jetting each time we changed elevation, that I was unable to keep up with my husband’s KLR and that the bike slowed down even more when I carried my share of our adventure gear. We upgraded the stator before to the trip since I prefer to use a heated jacket and the standard stator was not a good choice.
New adventure riders and solo riders who want to feel like they can tackle any terrain and self-rescue from almost any crisis should definitely check out this bike. This bike is also excellent for riding to the trails, riding all day, and riding back home.
Advantages: compact, lightweight, robust, highly customizable, and many aftermarket choices.
Cons: 17 horsepower, 70 mph peak speed, weight sensitivity, sensitive carburetor, wobbling speed, and stator output.
Similar Bikes: WR 250 (which has a significantly higher seat height but can be reduced), Super Sherpa, and XT 250
BMW G650GS
top bike for female riders
One-cylinder adventure bikes like the G650GS come with a low seat height option right out of the factory. Even though this bike was last produced in 2016, there are still comparable models available. Of course, you may also buy them secondhand. The seat is 30.3″ low.
For me, this bike fulfilled the role of a fantastic city and commuter bike. For a 650 single, the power is really smooth and linear. It enjoyed locating vast sections of high-speed roads and sculpting bends. The GS performed well on gravel roads and was capable of handling challenging 4×4 and quad tracks. The heated grips that come with it are really a life-changing event. With its broad seat and excellent suspension, it was reasonably comfortable for extended journeys. Additionally, the center of gravity on this bike is remarkably low; at stop lights, I felt as if it practically balanced itself without my assistance. The back gas tank kept the weight down low, which I really liked. Additionally, it has ABS, which is useful for rainy commutes.
As someone with a 27″ inseam, the bike’s height was an issue. I had to shave the seat an additional fraction of an inch since the breadth of the saddle prevented me from putting a toe down on both sides of the bike at the 30.3″ seat height. Additionally, I discovered that even with the wide footpegs modified, the air box (where the gas tank goes on other motorcycles) was rather broad; my legs would wear out much quicker while standing up off road than they would on a smaller bike since they were stretched wider than they would be in a regular squat. This made it difficult to reach the back brake while standing as well. To assist with this problem, I would upgrade to the longer rear brake pedal. It’s also worth noting that replacement components are often more costly than they were on previous bikes I’ve owned. In comparison to previous bikes I’ve had, it was also far more difficult to work on, but it was ultimately a fantastic learning opportunity.
Advantages: heated grips, ABS, smooth power, low center of gravity, comfy, and a respectable peak speed
Cons: large seat, difficult to work on, costly repairs, difficult to use off-road, hefty. Similar Bikes: Suzuki DR 650, BMW F 650 GS, BMW F700 GS, BMW G 310 GS
top bike for female riders
Another 650 single cylinder motorbike is the Suzuki DR 650, which I now ride. Given that the seat height is 34.8″, one may ask why it is included in my list of bikes suitable for shorter persons. The bike has a factory option to lower the rear shock, and you can lower the bike to 33.8″ by raising the forks. It is possible to buy a low seat that is 32.8″ low. Additionally, it has a descending link that lowers it to roughly 31.8″, which when paired with the thin seat, allows you to place at least a few toes on the ground—and with little lean, as the photo illustrates, a whole foot!
At 324 pounds, the bike is surprisingly light for a 650, making it seem like riding a larger, more powerful XT225. I can play in the twisties, ride tight and twisting off-road routes, jump logs, and make safe passes on the interstate. Since the bike hasn’t changed much in a long time, there are a ton of aftermarket components available, including an 800cc conversion kit. The DR is feisty and fun; it can sprint up high and tractor down low. The bike can pass any automobile on the winding mountain routes while carrying all of my camping equipment. The Swiss Army Knife of bikes is this one. It is quite capable of doing anything, has always been completely dependable, is simple to maintain (I’ve gotten better and dropped it less, but it has still taken some hits), pleasant to drive, and highly strong.
The only drawbacks I can think of are a few factory-fresh problems that need to be fixed, but they are well covered online. Upgrading the default tires is highly recommended, particularly for off-road usage, since they are not very good. For most people, that’s a quick improvement since the standard seat feels like concrete even when you’re not lowering it. Furthermore, the stock suspension is rather meager. I replaced my front suspension with intiminators, which instantly altered the bike’s behavior in turns and off-road. That’s an early improvement that I suggest. I’m now working on an update since the stator is also a touch weak for the heated grips I installed and my heated jacket lining. Be ready to lower the kickstand as well if you decide to lower this bike. With all the lowering choices, even the short kickstand has to be shorter.
Advantages: lightweight, cozy, excellent on trails, twisty roads, and highways; peak speed of 100 mph
Cons: To be really excellent, it requires a few factory improvements.
Comparable Motorcycles: Although I have seen people lower the XR650 and KLR 650, the other motorcycles in this class, I am not aware of any simple ways to lower them.
The Versys-X, Africa Twin 750, and CBR500x are possible further choices. It seems like there are more possibilities every year in this expanding industry.
Hopefully, if you are short on height, this will be a useful place to start. Say “yes” to everybody who offers to let you ride their bike! Tell us which bike works best for you.