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The Lowest Of The Low The lowest seat heights on the market By Laura McCarthy, Assistant Editor 4/10/2009

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We thought it would be fun to find all the motorcycles with the lowest seat heights. Seat height is of supreme importance to most women riders because having one's feet flat on the ground is probably the most significant aspect of a motorcycle that gives a woman the confidence she needs to handle the bike. We chose 26.5 inches to be the cut-off height for our list. This is a list of the lowest of the low, but it doesn't necessarily mean these are beginner bikes either. We've ridden many motorcycles and we've found 26.5 inches is a seat height that most riders, short and tall, can handle and be comfortable on whether the motorcycle weighs 700 pounds or 400 pounds. Of course, the lighter the better. So we checked out all the major manufacturer's motorcycles and below is our list. Remember, this is a list of major manufacturers. There are lots of custom choppers and alternative import motorcycles that could have made the list.

One note: Surprisingly, Kawasaki and Suzuki did not make the list. The lowest motorcycle in Kawasaki's lineup is the Vulcan 900 at 26.8 inches. The lowest Suzuki is the entry level Boulevard S40 at 27.6 inches; actually many of the Boulevards have that same seat height. But we had to draw the line and while the S40 is under 400 pounds, that 27.6-inch seat height on a 700-pound motorcycle is a lot to handle for most women. Again, we had to draw the line -- this is the lowest of the low and I repeat not a list of beginner bikes.

Most all of Victory's motorcycles have a seat height of 26.5 inches including the big Vision Tour and Vision Street. We listed just two. Both the Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 Custom and the Sportster 1200 Custom also have a seat height below 26.5 inches, but to save space we've only included the Low models. Similarly, all the Harley-Davidson VRSC models have low seat heights, but we've only shown the lighter models.

Getting an honorable mention is the Honda Rebel with a 26.6-inch seat height, and the new Honda Fury chopper with a 26.7-inch seat height. There are certainly lots of great bikes with a seat height higher than 26.5 inches, but light or heavy, we felt 26.5 inches is a height most riders can reach the ground flat footed.

To illustrate our guide, we used pictures of women who own these bikes who've sent in their photo through our Readers' Stories and Readers' Reviews sections. The other photos are from WRN test rides. One other note, many custom chopper manufacturers make very low seat height bikes by virtue of the fact it's a chopper. We've listed only the custom motorcycles we reviewed on WRN.

The Harley-Davidson Sportster Low 883.

The Harley-Davidson Sportster Low 1200.

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 883cc Seat Height: 25.3 inches Fuel Capacity: 3.3 gallons Weight: 583 pounds Price: starts at $7,145

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1200cc Seat Height: 26.3 inches Fuel Capacity: 4.5 gallons Weight: 581 pounds Price: starts at $9,697 Read the Review

The Harley-Davidson Sportster Iron.

The Harley-Davidson Sportster Nightster.

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 883cc Seat Height: 25.3 inches Fuel Capacity: 3.3 gallons Weight: 565 pounds Price: starts at $7,899

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1200cc Seat Height: 25.3 inches Fuel Capacity: 3.3 gallons Weight: 562 pounds Price: starts at $9,695 Read the Review

The Harley-Davidson Dyna Street Bob

The Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider.

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1584cc Seat Height: 25.8 inches Fuel Capacity: 4.8 gallons Weight: 667 pounds Price: starts at $13,795 Read the Review

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1584cc Seat Height: 25.8 inches Fuel Capacity: 4.8 gallons Weight: 672 pounds Price: starts at $14,995 Read the Review

The Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail Classic.

The Harley-Davidson Softail Fat Boy.

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1584cc Seat Height: 25.5 inches Fuel Capacity: 5 gallons Weight: 750 pounds Price: starts at $17,945 Read the Reader Review

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1584cc Seat Height: 25.4 inches Fuel Capacity: 5 gallons Weight: 714 pounds Price: starts at $17,195 Read the Reader Review

The Harley-Davidson Softail Rocker.

The Harley-Davidson Softail Rocker C.

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1584cc Seat Height: 24.5 inches Fuel Capacity: 5 gallons Weight: 690 pounds Price: starts at $17,295 Read the Review

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1584cc Seat Height: 25.25 inches Fuel Capacity: 5 gallons Weight: 720 pounds Price: starts at $19,840 Read the Review

The Harley-Davidson Softail Night Train.

The Harley-Davidson Softail Deluxe.

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1584cc Seat Height: 25.2 inches Fuel Capacity: 5 gallons Weight: 682 pounds Price: starts at $15,895

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1584cc Seat Height: 24.5 inches Fuel Capacity: 5 gallons Weight: 724 pounds Price: starts at $17,445

The Harley-Davidson VRSC V-Rod Muscle.

The Harley-Davidson VRSC V-Rod.

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1250cc Seat Height: 25.6 inches Fuel Capacity: 5 gallons Weight: 673 pounds Price: $17,199

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1250cc Seat Height: 26 inches Fuel Capacity: 5 gallons Weight: 670 pounds Price: starts $16,695

The Honda Shadow Spirit 750 C2.

The Honda Shadow Aero.

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 745cc Seat Height: 25.7 inches Fuel Capacity: 3.7 gallons Weight: 503.5 pounds Price: starts at $6,799 Read the Review

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 745cc Seat Height: 25.9 inches Fuel Capacity: 3.7 gallons Weight: 553 pounds Price: starts at $6,599 Read the Review

The Yamaha V Star 950.

The Buell Blast Low Profile.

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 745cc Seat Height: 25.7 inches Fuel Capacity: 3.7 gallons Weight: 503.5 pounds Price: starts at $6,799 Read the Review

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 492cc Seat Height: 25.5 inches Fuel Capacity: 2.8 gallons Weight: 360 pounds Price: starts $4,795

The Ridley Auto-Glide.

The Ridley Auto-Glide Chopper.

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 750cc Seat Height: 24.5 inches Fuel Capacity: 4.2 gallons Weight: 460 pounds Price: starts at $17,950

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 750cc Seat Height: 24.5 inches Fuel Capacity: 3 gallons Weight: 460 pounds MSRP: $21,500 Read the Review

The Victory Vegas Low.

The Victory Kingpin Low.

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1634cc Seat Height: 25.2 inches Fuel Capacity: 4.5 gallons Weight: 651 pounds Price: $15,999 Read the Review

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1638cc Seat Height: 25.2 inches Fuel Capacity: 4.5 gallons Weight: 676 pounds Price: $16,399 Read the Review

Big Bear Choppers Miss Behavin.

The Big Dog Motorcycles Mastiff.

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1628cc Seat Height: 19 inches Fuel Capacity: 3.8 gallons Weight: 700 pounds Price: starts at $29,900 Read the Review

Specs at a Glance: Displacement: 1917cc Seat Height: 24.25 inches Fuel Capacity: 4.6 gallons Weight: 708 lbs Price: starts at $28,500 Read the Review

Editor's Note: We can see this story really struck up a conversation judging by all the comments coming in. We appreciate your feedback. Please keep the comments coming and tell us why you like your bike and/or what you did to modify it to make it work for you.

To Diana in Athens, PA

I just got an Iron 883. The stock handlebars were just out of my comfort zone so we took the handlebars from a Sportster low, powdercoated them black, and it was perfect. I'm 5 foot 2 inches and the Sporty Low was the absolute best fit, but I just couldn't take all that chrome and shine. Now if I could just find a seat that provides more comfort. I dread a simple 30 mile ride to work. My underside is killing me.


Lisa
Lancaster, CA
5/28/2009

Sure seat height has its place as a factor in determining a comfortable bike, however, a bike like Harley's Rocker or the Fat Boy have a width issue in the primary area. Not a problem if your 5 feet 7 inches but quite an issue when your 5 feet 3 inches. I always loved the Deluxe and was convinced it was my dream bike until I decided that it was just too darn heavy for what I like to do. I tried a Fat Boy thinking I'd take advantage of one of Harley's discounts, but the width of the bike, especially at the primary, meant that I would have had to drop it down even lower to get both feet firmly on the ground.

As for the Rocker, the fat rear tire makes for an even wider primary and I couldn't get both feet on the ground without being up on my toes and that is too heavy a bike for tippy-toes. Until recently, we had my Street Bob and a Honda Spirit in the garage, and I found the Spirit's forward (unmodified) controls to be a stretch for my short legs. The point of my tale is this, seat height and weight can help you narrow down the field but you have got to sit on a bike to know what's right.

Tazer
Tulsa, OK
5/12/2009

I have an 06 Sportster 883L. I put a Reach seat on it and also had shorter shocks put on it. It lowered about an inch. I also now where an 1 1/2-inch heel that helps me get my feet flat on the ground. I am 5 feet 1 1/2 inches tall. I love riding my Sportster. I had a Honda Shadow Aero before I got my H-D. It was a great first bike for a beginner rider.

Debbie
Boynton Beach, FL
5/12/2009

I am currently taking a riders course. I would like advice on the purchase of a bike. I am torn between a Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic and the Yamaha 950. I have sat on both but have not ridden. There is quite a difference in price and I would like to know is H-D really worth the money for a beginner?

Lisa
South Holland, IL
5/4/2009
I don't think either is a beginner's bike, quite frankly.
Genevieve Schmitt, Editor

I wear Harley-Davidson boots with a 2-inch heel after my salesman recommended a taller heel. I first thought they would feel clunky but they really help. If you just need a little more reach to the ground, it's worth a try. Much easier to raise the heel than lower the bike.

Paula
Ann Arbor, MI
5/1/2009

I just traded in my 07 XL 883L for an 09 Softail Deluxe. Love it! I'm 5 feet 6 inches and loved the 883L but the ride was a bit rough. The Softail Deluxe is a little lower, which helps with the wider seat. I wasn't sure I'd like the forward controls, but got used to them after five minutes. The Deluxe is balanced so well that it makes it so easy to handle--when in motion. Yes, it's a bit heavier than the Sportster, but the ride is so much smoother!

What a great article! I didn't know there were so many options out there for us.

Lee
Milwaukee, WI
4/24/2009

I am really curious about HD 1200L. I am 5 feet 2 inches and have been contemplating this bike. Anyone out there with a vote for or against it?

Nancy
Burlington, Ontario
4/21/2009
Read our review of that bike here:
http://www.womenridersnow.com/PublicFiles/DepartmentViewer.asp?DepartmentID=3&ArticleID=36
Genevieve Schmitt, Editor

I have always been 5 foot, 4 inches, but at a health screening last year I was told I was 5 feet 3 inches. I ride a '07 Dyna Super Glide, which is my very first bike that I purchased at the age of 52. I had the Reach Seat installed before the bike was delivered. I still wasn't totally flatfooted. I dropped my bike a couple of times while stopped, and my friends gave me the nickname of Tilt. The Reach Seat helped some, but the bike needed to be lower more.

I had a Harley dealer install a lowering kit on it, which include low profile shocks. With my Dyna lowered, and more riding time and experience, and very good riding friends/teachers, my ride and comfort level has gotten much better. I couldn't tell that it rode any different, regarding to the play that was mentioned earlier. But I surely keep the rubber side down and the shiny side up now.

I will most definitely refer to this article when I am ready to purchase my second bike. Great article.

Earnie
Dover, DE
4/21/2009

I'm 5 feet and I picked my older Suzuki Savage 650 because it was a good beginner bike for a short woman. I can put both feet flat on the ground and reach the shifter and hand grips comfortably. It was also good to learn on because it didn't stall at low speeds. Now I am looking for a bigger bike with more guts. Any suggestions?

Dana
Bowling Green, OH
4/21/2009

I have ridden a Star 1100 Custom for years and it is a great bike for women. It's big enough for longer rides and easy to handle in stop and go traffic. It is a really fun bike to ride. Bought risers and pullback handlebars to make the reach more comfortable and it brought me back to a better riding position. I really don't have any complaints about this bike.

Melody Matoza
Bishop, CA
4/20/2009

I am 5-feet-2 and I ride a '95 Yamaha Virago 1100, which unfortunately they do not make any more, and I can flat foot it easily. It is lightweight, has a narrow but comfortable seat and easy to handle. I haven't had any modifications to it as I can reach every thing. I have had other bikes in the past and sat on quite a few but they don't seem to "feel" just right to me. If you're looking for a bike make sure you are comfortable on it and ride safe out there.

Heidi
Bunker Hill, WV
4/20/2009

It's an interesting article but I'm one of the gals who find cruisers woefully uninspiring. I began riding in the late 70s (Honda CB650 - I never was into the cruiser mode even as a young thing). I gave it up when we had our kids. Now that they are all grown and gone, we decided to pick up the hobby again a couple of years ago. I tried being a pillion on the back of my husband's BMW LT but it was beyond boring to look at the back of a helmet for hour after hour so I spent months doing research, finding the right bike for me.

It was downright frustrating to learn the motorcycle industry STILL builds bikes to the the average man. At 5 feet 4 inches tall, I found my options were severely limited. I think manufacturers assume (salesmen sure do) women will gravitate towards the cruisers because the rest of their bikes have seat heights that are too high for a lot of women (a lot of guys too). Call me a rebel but I wasn't willing to settle.

In spite of my obvious vertical challenge, my ride is a 2008 Yamaha FJR - 1300cc super sport touring perfection. I haven't had it quite a year yet but I've put more than 14,000 miles on it already. How did I make a bike that size work? Two things: Yamaha's overall design has a low center of balance so it doesn't feel like a heavy bike to begin with, and I had it lowered. It was a simple suspension link, cost me under $100 including labor. The bike still rides smooth as silk at low speeds (down to 3 miles an hour and will drive a straight line without any difficulty) and it gobbles up highways and byways at higher speeds without a second thought. Now my feet aren't totally flat on the ground when I'm stopped but it's close. I've never had a bit of problem in tight corners or in parking lots. Even on those obnoxious ramps on the highways where they slope and traffic comes to a halt, it's no problem. I'm in control and I love it.

If you are like me and cruisers don't speak to you, no worries, there are options out there for you!

Bonny
Columbia City, OR
4/20/2009

I am 5 feet 3 inches and ride a '08 Softail Deluxe. I am flatfooted on it and am able to handle it fine. My first bike was a '00 Fat Boy and I was also flatfooted on that bike but my husband did put risers on the handlbars. Both of these bikes were great for me. Each had the original seat as well.

JoAnne
Greenville, PA
4/20/2009

I am 5 feet 3 and ride my Honda Shadow 750 flatfooted - your article was right on it. It had a Mustang seat when I bought it, but I switched back to the stock seat (believe it or not) because the Mustang made the seat too wide and I want my feet flat. I am also a breast cancer survivor and know a few former riders who are also survivors. They would love to get back in the saddle, but need a lighter bike. I shared this article with them and they were very excited about it and are looking forward to a review of bikes by weight.

Paula
McDonough, GA
4/20/2009

I have a 2009 Harley Super Glide Custom. I am 5 feet 7 inch and was a little tippee-toed in the showroom , mostly due to the seat being kinda wide for me. My salesperson, Donna, traded the seat for one that I liked on a Low Rider in the showroom. It was much narrower where it counted and all of the sudden it fit perfectly.


Katherine
Fountain Inn, SC
4/20/2009

Nice Article...but some of these bikes still do not help the the shorter women. As you can see by the pictures, some of these women are straight armed, which is not good, short legs, short arms. They have no strength -- their arms should have a bend to them. Reaching for the bars and leaning forward for a long ride will take a lot out of the riders. Nice to look cool, but they are shorting themselves of a great enjoyable, safe ride.


Darlene Robbins
Green Bank, NJ
4/20/2009

My first bike was a 2000 Suzuki GZ250. My new bike is a 1995 Yamaha Virago 535. Both bikes fit my really well. I'm 5 feet 2 inches who always wears petite pants (no idea of what my inseam is, though). My Suzuki was a great height. The Yamaha is a good height, but it's not perfect. I have to be careful. While my feet hit the ground perfectly, my right leg sits right against the exhaust pipe. In our current, cold weather, this isn't a problem, but in summer, it burns (and will melt rain gear).

I'm getting my seat lowered on my Virago. Well, it's not exactly being lowered. I found a company that will re-do the seats. They're taking my stock seat and re-stuffing it with better foam, and in the process, they're knocking around 1/4 - 1/2 inch off it. I'm really glad that I haven't had to deal with getting lowering kits. I've looked for bikes that I can flat foot without extra work. That being said, many folks think that 535cc is way too small to bother with. In general, this bike is the perfect size for me, and if I start speeding far beyond the speed limit, the bike shakes enough to remind me that perhaps 75+ mph when the speed limit is 55 mph is bad.

Jenny
Potsdam, NY
4/20/2009

I have a 2006 883L. I love riding my Sportster. I had my shocks adjusted up a notch. I had bottomed out a couple of times and it helped when I had them adjusted. And my feet are flat on the ground. But in all I think it's a great motorcycle.

Cheryl
Sioux City, IA
4/20/2009

I ride a 2005 Honda VTX1300R. I am 5 feet 6 inches, and I can more than easily flat foot this bike. The seat height on the spec sheet lists it at 27.4 inches, but the bike is not as wide at the seat as many of the larger cruisers so it is easier to sit flat footed, in fact my knees have a fair amount of "bend" to them. I have had several other women riders shorter than myself sit on my bike and they are pleasantly surprised how well the bike fits them and how easy it is to lift it from the kickstand.

It is very well balanced and I have added a lot of equipment to the stock bike so it is much heavier than when it came from the showroom floor. In fact my VTX is not as "top heavy" as a Harley Sportster. I have found the only Harley that even comes close to my VTX in the seat height category is the Softail Deluxe or Heritage (and my VTX is much easier on the pocketbook to accessorize). It is equally important to be able to comfortably reach the handlebars, the foot controls, etc., especially if you are on long rides. The best thing for women riders to do is go out and sit on as many bikes as possible before you buy and find out which ones "feel" the best. You will be glad you did!

Jane Cross
Blaine, MN
4/20/2009

I am 5 feet 3 inch and ride the Harley Softail Deluxe. Seat height is perfect for me, and reach is good. Only concern is I frequently scrape floorboards on corners and have bottomed out on ruts in the road which can cause the back end to flip out. Scarey when it happens, but have never lost control. I don't recommend lowering a bike for this reason. If you do a lot of riding, look at getting a lower seat instead. But I have sat on every other bike out there and have yet to find another bike with a seat this low where the bike feels that well balanced.

With the low weight distribution the bike feels very light. My second favorite was the V Star 1100 Custom for low seat height and low weight distribution making the bike feel very light as well.

Karen
Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
4/20/2009

Your thoughts on this article.