Help for a short arse!

[Mav]

A couple of riding techniques:

As others have said, develop slow bike control and spend a bit more time reading the road ahead, eg: recognising camber or where curbs are so you can a) put your foot down somewhere higher, and, more importantly, b) not try to put foot down on the side that is a longer way down!

Learn to slide off the seat a little when coming to a stop, and only ever try to put one foot down - this depends a little on the planning ahead. You'll notice in this picture, I'm so far slid off, I can't even reach the footpeg... but everything is very stable:

Get on and off the bike with the sidestand up - much easier to get the bike upright when standing beside it, than when on it. I do it this way every time, in particular when getting on the bike. (I actually typically get off the bike while still on the move)

PS: I'm 5'9"... and I ride a 12 GSA with the seat on the high setting and the suspension pretty high too, and an HP2

 

[seisobs]

Great info Guy's, thanks very much.
Jake.

 

[Smug]

Gaston Rahier managed quite well and he was all of 5ft 3in tall

 

[JayC]

5 8" your a flipping giant of a man !!!

As the major GSA riding short arse on the site I'm 5 6" and 11 stone and I handle my bike with very few problems, couple of drops but nothing I couldn't pick right back up, laugh off and get back on.

I'm really tip toes, so much so I had to take off the metal toes proectors on my boots so I have at least a little grip. I ride with a BMW standard Low seat, and nothing else.

Get a side stand hoof if jayc makes a new batch makes it much much easier to get the bike up right, and fill it with less gas (about a 3rd to half way in my average).

Turn the flipping ESA off and dial in the bikes suspension to suit your height, you will need a second person to help you so you can stay in the seat. Then leave the ESA alone as I've seen people drop their ride at lights funny as hell.

NOW TOP TIP, get some of that sticky car vinyl wrap and cover the bits of your bike that hit the road, that way you don't scratch up your ride too badly.

And as I've said before IF need be put your panniers on and load them up it will give you about 2 inches. Now all you have to do is enjoy the ride and simply plan your stops a little bit better, look at the road surface a little more and remember what side you favor when stopping on hills. I live near Matlock Derbyshire so It's all hills, country lanes and mud covered roads so I do know a little about what I'm on about before people start to flame me.

Don't worry you will get used to doing it on the bike and it becomes part of your riding technique after a bit, I sometimes have to park my bike where the terrain dictates and not exactly where I want to be hey I ride a GSA bitches.

Cheers judda!

Quality advice, thank you.

I'll await your PM then!