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Top 10 Motorcycles for shorter riders
Every motorcycle type for the under-tall rider.
We give you the 10 best motorcycles we think would be more appropriate for people who are hesitant to buy a big bike that is too big for height. Putting your feet flat on the floor builds confidence so we came up with this list of every type of motorcycle available in the market for people who are vertically challenged.
Cruiser/Bobber
No other motorcycle can make you plant your feet on the ground as easy as a cruiser motorcycle. Most cruisers or bobbers are always inherently built with low seat height for that low-slung and relaxed riding position.
Indian Scout Sixty
The Indian Scout Sixty is the most affordable cruiser you can buy from their line up, and yet it still has a very macho look. Powered by a blacked-out, liquid-cooled V-Twin 999 cc engine capable of churning out 78 hp and 89 Nm of torque with a commanding growl, the bike takes design cues from the original Scout from the 1920s when they fiercely competed with Harley-Davidson in flat-track races. The new Scout Sixty perfectly blends its iconic look with modern tech in a comfortable cruiser package. With a seat height of 642 mm it makes it accessible to any rider no matter your height. Priced at P865,000, for a cruiser of its brand and heritage, it’s not that tall of an order.
Honda Rebel 500
If you want the same cruiser-feel but at a more affordable price, consider the Rebel 500. Introduced just a few years ago, this bike follows the same classic look of a low-slung cruiser with a blacked-out engine and round headlights for that classic look. It’s powered by a parallel-twin 473 cc engine churning 46 hp and 43 Nm, which gives you more than enough power for city cruising or quick getaways outside the city. With a seat height of only 691 mm, it’s just a little bit higher than the Indian Scout. However, it makes a big difference in its price tag of only P375,000, which makes it a prime candidate for your motorcycle short-list – no pun intended.
Naked Streetfighters
If you weren’t old enough to appreciate Sons of Anarchy when it was still running, and cruisers aren’t really your thing, perhaps a more modern motorcycle would suit your tastes more.
Honda CB650R
The CB650 however, is considered to be part of Honda’s Neo-Sports Café revolution, which gives it a more futuristic styling cue instead of making it look like an old cafe racer. It is powered by a 649cc, liquid-cooled, in-line four-cylinder engine capable of 93 hp and 64 Nm of torque. It has an exhaust note that sounds like an F1 car once that exhaust is. While its seat height is a little bit on our threshold for being a bike suitable for shorter riders, 805 mm can still make your feet plant on the ground when stopping. The CB650R is priced at P501,000, which is as high as its engine note screams.
KTM 390 Duke
Streetfighters are generally sportbikes that are stripped of their fairings to expose the engines that power them, and they feature a more upright riding position. The KTM 390 Duke is the naked version of their RC390 sportbike. Considered the “Corner Rocket’ by KTM, the 390 Duke is powered by a 373 cc engine churning out 43hp and 37Nm of torque. The 390 Duke is loaded with so much tech and features, including the “Supermoto” mode that disengages the rear ABS for drifting around corners. With its price tag of only P289,000, you get a motorcycle that can give you loads of fun. It has a seat height of 787 mm which makes it much lower than the CB650R further proving that excitement comes in all sizes.
Sport
If you’re the type of rider who likes going to the track to build your skills into improving your lap times, then maybe you’re more suited for a hunched-over sportbike. Keep in mind that retired MotoGP racer Dani Pedrosa won races standing at only 5 feet and 2 inches.
Suzuki GSX-R 1000
The GSX-R 1000 is one of Suzuki’s prime offerings for its sports bike range and it has loads of power to make you own the racetrack. With still a reachable seat height of 810 mm for knee-dragging corners — if you have the skills for it. It is powered by a 999 cc liquid-cooled engine inline-four cylinder engine churning out a healthy 199 hp and 118 Nm of torque with selectable riding modes for different power output levels. It churns out 199 hp and 118 Nm of torque mated to a six-speed transmission. The GSX-R 1000’s prices start at P955,000 – a bit of a hill to climb, but quite worth it.
Kawasaki Ninja 400
If you’re the type of vertically challenged rider who’s not ready to handle all the power of a liter sportbike, then you should consider the Kawasaki Ninja 400. This smaller package from Kawasaki’s successful Ninja sports range will still give you loads of fun around the track or on the road with its 399cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke, DOHC engine that can deliver up to 49 hp and 38 Nm of torque. With a much lower seat height of 784 mm, laying your feet on the ground is much easier than with the GSX-R 1000, with only about a third of its price at P315,000 helping ensure that your wallet doesn’t get the short end of the stick.
Adventure
After Dani Pedrosa retired from MotoGP racing, one of the first things he did was to commission Deus Customs to build him a bike. Instead of a cafe racer set up, he chose a 1985 Honda CR500 dirt bike as his bike of choice. Thus, never let your lack of height stop you from owning a dirt or adventure bike. After all, Honda Fireblade’s seat height is even higher than the two adventure motorcycles mentioned here.
Triumph Tiger 900
The Triumph Tiger 900 is the British marque’s attempt to set a new standard for adventure motorcycles and it looks amazing. It is loaded with so much tech and features to give you comfort for those long adventure rides. It is powered by a liquid-cooled 888 cc DOHC gasoline engine that can churn out a maximum output of 94 hp and 87 Nm of torque. With a seat height of 810 mm, it matches that of a typical sport bike’s height. The Triumph Tiger is priced starting at P990,000, a tall order.
Royal Enfield Himalayan 400
If you want an adventure motorcycle with a more stripped-down experience with the character of a classic motorcycle, then the Royal Enfield Himalayan is for you. This motorcycle is capable of traveling through the roughest terrain from the “Highest Motorable Road” in Khardung La, India. Powered by a 411 cc single-cylinder engine capable of an output of 24 hp and 32 Nm of torque. It has a seat lower than the Triumph Tiger by 10 mm or 800 mm. It is priced at less than a third of the Triumph Tiger 900 starting at only P299,000 – which dwarfs the former’s going rate.
Classic
If you’re the type of rider who wants to get a motorcycle that would stand the test of time and plan on keeping the unit for years to come, then you need a bike with a timeless design. Nowadays, motorcycle brands are capitalizing on the custom scene and are offering modern classics.
Triumph Bonneville Street Twin
The Triumph Street Twin is the British brand’s most affordable motorcycle from the Bonneville range. With the same iconic classic design made famous by Hollywood actors such as Marlon Brando, James Dean, and Steve McQueen, the Triumph Street Twin is a motorcycle you’ll keep for a long time. Powered by a 900cc liquid-cooled, SOHC, parallel-twin engine, the Street Twin can churn up 65 hp and 80 Nm of torque mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. With a very comfortable seat height of 749 mm, reaching the ground wouldn’t be a problem with the Street Twin. Its price starts at P670,000, a bit of a reach for most, but worth it.
Kawasaki W800
If you want to go for the same iconic silhouette of a British motorcycle, but want the reliability and more affordability of a Japanese motorcycle, the Kawasaki W800 is the right motorcycle for you. The original design of the Kawasaki W series motorcycle was made under a license agreement with BSA Motorcycles, another famous and iconic British motorcycle back in the ‘60s. The Kawasaki W800 is powered by an air-cooled 4-stroke, SOHC 773cc gasoline engine that can churn out a maximum output of 48 hp and 60 nm of torque. With a seat height of 787 mm, it is only slightly higher than the Triumph Street Twin. However, it is priced more affordably at Php 535,000, which should warrant its entry onto this shortlist.
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