Comments on: Big Bear Miss Behavin Chopper for Women http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/01/03/big-bear-miss-behavin-chopper-for-women/ Motorcycle News for Positive People Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:34:05 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: todd http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/01/03/big-bear-miss-behavin-chopper-for-women/comment-page-1/#comment-62702 todd Fri, 05 Jan 2007 21:20:04 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/01/03/big-bear-miss-behavin-chopper-for-women/#comment-62702 The CBR is hardly small. I guess if you compare it to the last few years of 600's, sure it's smaller. Take a look at a Hawk GT or GPZ550, those things are tiny and still handle great. The Ninja 250 I mentioned earlier was designed to be lower and smaller at the outset and despite its age is still one of the best handling sport bikes available. I agree that lowering a bike will mess with its geometry and handling but that's not the question. The point of the whole post was about why manufacturers no longer design good handling bikes for shorter people. -todd The CBR is hardly small. I guess if you compare it to the last few years of 600’s, sure it’s smaller. Take a look at a Hawk GT or GPZ550, those things are tiny and still handle great. The Ninja 250 I mentioned earlier was designed to be lower and smaller at the outset and despite its age is still one of the best handling sport bikes available. I agree that lowering a bike will mess with its geometry and handling but that’s not the question. The point of the whole post was about why manufacturers no longer design good handling bikes for shorter people.
-todd

]]> By: Dean Letorney http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/01/03/big-bear-miss-behavin-chopper-for-women/comment-page-1/#comment-62699 Dean Letorney Fri, 05 Jan 2007 20:41:04 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/01/03/big-bear-miss-behavin-chopper-for-women/#comment-62699 Check out the new Honda CBR600RR (2007)it is the smallest and most compact 600 ever. As a sales manager for a large dealership I can tell you we have been asking for a smaller sport bike for our smaller riders for as long as I can remember. The problem is that the 600 class is the industries bread and butter and they are nothing short today of a race bike with lights . The suspension of these bikes is a key part of the overall design of the bikes performance and unfortunately lowering these bikes can give them some very unsafe handling characteristics. Another good choice for a smaller person is the Ducati 748 or 749 very narrow, light and exceptional handling. I also recomend any rider buying a new 600 or any sport bike for that matter make sure your suspension is set right for your weight and if you weigh less than a 150lbs you need to change out the rear spring. Stock springs are for the avg weight rider 155 - 185, and you will enjoy your bike so much more with a softer spring, Dean Check out the new Honda CBR600RR (2007)it is the smallest and most compact 600 ever. As a sales manager for a large dealership I can tell you we have been asking for a smaller sport bike for our smaller riders for as long as I can remember. The problem is that the 600 class is the industries bread and butter and they are nothing short today of a race bike with lights . The suspension of these bikes is a key part of the overall design of the bikes performance and unfortunately lowering these bikes can give them some very unsafe handling characteristics. Another good choice for a smaller person is the Ducati 748 or 749 very narrow, light and exceptional handling. I also recomend any rider buying a new 600 or any sport bike for that matter make sure your suspension is set right for your weight and if you weigh less than a 150lbs you need to change out the rear spring. Stock springs are for the avg weight rider 155 – 185, and you will enjoy your bike so much more with a softer spring, Dean

]]> By: Joe http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/01/03/big-bear-miss-behavin-chopper-for-women/comment-page-1/#comment-62596 Joe Thu, 04 Jan 2007 21:25:55 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/01/03/big-bear-miss-behavin-chopper-for-women/#comment-62596 I agree with Todd, they build also Mini Sportbikes for kids. So there must be a possibility for a Sportbike between!! I agree with Todd, they build also Mini Sportbikes for kids.
So there must be a possibility for a Sportbike between!!

]]> By: Richard http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/01/03/big-bear-miss-behavin-chopper-for-women/comment-page-1/#comment-62587 Richard Thu, 04 Jan 2007 19:14:38 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/01/03/big-bear-miss-behavin-chopper-for-women/#comment-62587 Todd, there are several reasons why sport bikes are higher. Here are two: 1. To increase ground clearance for cornering. (The typical cruiser can lean 45 degrees, and the typical sportbike can lean 50 or more.) 2. No self-respecting sportbike manufacturer uses a dry sump lubrication system, with an external oil tank and attendant leaks. In a wet sump system, the engine contains the oil at the bottom, and this makes the bike taller. Todd, there are several reasons why sport bikes are higher. Here are two:

1. To increase ground clearance for cornering. (The typical cruiser can lean 45 degrees, and the typical sportbike can lean 50 or more.)

2. No self-respecting sportbike manufacturer uses a dry sump lubrication system, with an external oil tank and attendant leaks. In a wet sump system, the engine contains the oil at the bottom, and this makes the bike taller.

]]> By: todd http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/01/03/big-bear-miss-behavin-chopper-for-women/comment-page-1/#comment-62453 todd Wed, 03 Jan 2007 21:21:06 +0000 http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/01/03/big-bear-miss-behavin-chopper-for-women/#comment-62453 From reading those responses from women, I seem to recall the problem wasn't with choppers or cruisers but with sport bikes. I don't know what it would take to build a R6 with a low seat but then again I don't know why they have to be so jacked up high in the first place. The bike that most accentuates this trend is the new Ducati Sport Classic(s). It looks like a motocross bike in the rear and like it's tied down on a trailer in front. Maybe someone will eventually address the shorter sport bike (Ninja 250 doesn't count) problem but for now sporty shorter riders are stuck with cruisers or a single tip-toe reach. -todd From reading those responses from women, I seem to recall the problem wasn’t with choppers or cruisers but with sport bikes. I don’t know what it would take to build a R6 with a low seat but then again I don’t know why they have to be so jacked up high in the first place. The bike that most accentuates this trend is the new Ducati Sport Classic(s). It looks like a motocross bike in the rear and like it’s tied down on a trailer in front. Maybe someone will eventually address the shorter sport bike (Ninja 250 doesn’t count) problem but for now sporty shorter riders are stuck with cruisers or a single tip-toe reach.
-todd

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