best dirtbike for 5'3 girl?

[AndrewS]

A DS 80 would be a good bike to try her out on. If she doesn't like the riding thing, it'll save you a lot of un-necessary bike looking and buying.

I'm always surprised nobody ever mentions the Kawi KLX140 when talking about small bikes. It's a bit better overall package than the other Jap sub 150cc trail bikes.
Most of the Jap manufacturers have been milking the 1970's technology they put in these bikes for far too long and asking too much for them. Drum brakes? Get serious already! Those were old tech already in the 80's. Even the cheap Chinese Baja 125 widely available here in Canada has hydraulic discs at both ends and is 1/3 the cost of the Jap bikes.

I've been looking for a KLX140 for my wife, but they very rarely come up used, and a new one is almost $4K. As I'm not sure if she's going to get into it, it's a lot of money to start.

A DRZ 125 would be a nice choice, as it's lighter, but it doesn't have e-start, which is essential. It also uses drum brakes, but I could live with that.

 

[Coffee]

I have suzuki DS 80. I want to see if she can ride that first and like it and not kill herself...

this is a theoretical discussion at this point. my wife is a girly girl..

Sounds great.

 

[columbia510]

How about a 05/06 250te.

 

[HUSKYnXJnWI]

hey thanks for helping me sell my bike but that would be too much bike for a beginner.

Yea I guess. I just didn't think she was necessarily a beginner from the description... originally. Lotsa good suggestions- any smaller lighter smooth powered bike will do. My brother bought a Yamaha TW 200 for his wife- those are super easy going bikes. comes with a plate, and seem to get bought and sold alot since people out grow their mild nature quickly.

 

[Motosportz]

A DRZ 125 would be a nice choice, as it's lighter, but it doesn't have e-start, which is essential. It also uses drum brakes, but I could live with that.

There are several models, the one I have has the bigger wheels and disk front brake. Not sure you can get a plate for one though.

 

[Motosportz]

My brother bought a Yamaha TW 200 for his wife- those are super easy going bikes. comes with a plate, and seem to get bought and sold alot since people out grow their mild nature quickly.

I had one of those. Was super fun to ride on the street to go get DVD's etc. Amazing road manners for those tires. The down side off road is the big tires are confused by normal tire ruts and it is harder to control.

 

[LawnDartMike]

I bought a KLX140L for my 5' 2" wife. I cut down the seat and it fits her great. The only issue is weight. I think a KX100 would have been a better option even if lowered. 40 lbs is a big difference to somebody that weighs less then 140 lbs.

Edit: My wife isn't 4'2".

 

[Motosportz]

I bought a KLX140L for my 4' 2" wife. I cut down the seat and it fits her great. The only issue is weight. I think a KX100 would have been a better option even if lowered. 40 lbs is a big difference to somebody that weighs less then 140 lbs.

Higher placed weight too.

 

[HuffieVA]

I bought a KLX140L for my 5' 2" wife. I cut down the seat and it fits her great. The only issue is weight. I think a KX100 would have been a better option even if lowered. 40 lbs is a big difference to somebody that weighs less then 140 lbs.

Edit: My wife isn't 4'2".

Good you caught that height mistake, my wife is 4'11-1/2" and I get nasty looks for leaving off the 1/2", if I inadvertently shortened her by a foot she would likely kill me

But she rides a KLX140 and KX80, as well as a 73 Yamaha AT1-125 and a 79 MX175 with no problems, she is more of an open trail relaxed pace rider so the vintage bikes work well for her, But the KLX is a nice overall trail bike. As far as putting plates one something some of the old Yamaha enduros are nice, relatively low seat heights and they have a bit of a following and parts aren't impossible to get.

 

[WoodsChick]

Honda CRF230L ,low and legal,and has the magic button. Almost 100mpg too go green

The CRF230L weighs 267lbs ready to ride...not too scary of a number for those of us that have lots of experience, but not a friendly number at all when trying to teach a girly girl to ride. The fun will come to a screeching halt first time she falls on it and tries to pick it up.

The XT250 weighs 291lbs and the TW200 weighs 279 (!) and I just think those are way too heavy (or is that weigh too heavy? ) for learning how to ride in the dirt. I second the opinions of the KX100. Super-lighweight bike that is far easier to ride than anyone would think, and it has real suspension and brakes and everything. It would be great for her to learn on something like this if possible and then maybe move on to something heavier and plated.

Lots of GasGas Pamperas got plated, and if you can find one of these she will probably love you forever. It's a 280cc 2-stroke trials motor in a 3/4 sized frame with full-sized wheels and weighs 200lbs. I'm 5'1" and I can almost flat-foot on it. The componentry is weird, kind of a parts bin bike, but it is a perfect learning machine and is perfect for the wife that wants to putt around camp or go out on scenic dirt roads or whatever. Easiest motor ever to deal with, will chug-chug-chug along forever on its side after crashing and will not die, idles at a walking pace, has 90 degree steering lock and can make 5-foot circles all day, has a hydraulic clutch with a featherlite pull and can be had super-cheap used. The motor and tranny have been absolutely bulletproof on mine and I've owned it for over 7 years and have thrashed it within an inch of its life...quite literally. It doesn't feel like it's going to explode while going 75 on the highway (at least, it hasn't yet and there have been many +65mph miles on mine) and always starts in one or two kicks, even after sitting for over a year with funky gas. Just something to think about

By the way, have you asked her what she wants, ks9mm? Does she like any of the bikes better than the others? Based on lots of experience with this kind of thing, she is going to be excited to ride with you and will look forward to it a lot more if she's excited about the actual bike she has. Take her around to look at some bikes, have her sit on them and and see what she's leaning towards. By all means, go with something used, as it is going to get scratched up and will probably be sold within the year, either due to her loving it and wanting something more appropriate once she has a better idea of what she wants, or she hates it and will never ride again. Hopefully it's the former

Good luck with whatever you decide on. Riding with my guy is one of the greatest joys of my life, and I hope this works out the same for you




WoodsChick
5'1" on a WR144

 

[ks9mm]

I like KX100... but it's not steet legal. being street legal is a requirement unfortunately

 

[ffkira]

Based on lots of experience with this kind of thing, she is going to be excited to ride with you and will look forward to it a lot more if she's excited about the actual bike she has. Take her around to look at some bikes, have her sit on them and and see what she's leaning towards. By all means, go with something used, as it is going to get scratched up and will probably be sold within the year, either due to her loving it and wanting something more appropriate once she has a better idea of what she wants, or she hates it and will never ride again. Hopefully it's the former

Good luck with whatever you decide on. Riding with my guy is one of the greatest joys of my life, and I hope this works out the same for you

I concur with WoodsChick I used to race BMX bikes and got into mt. biking. I met my honey and he is an avid single track/dual sport guy and wanted me to ride with him. I was honored that he wanted me to be apart of his sport. I'm 5'7" and we started me on a used KDX 200...yah a little scary for my first off-road bike We sold it and I bought a CRF230F and loved it. Great beginner bike but still fun. I could be flat footed so I'm sure the height would be ok. I know you need a plated bike so the 230L may be a good option. I had my 230F for 2 years and got bored and bought a TE250 that we shaved the seat down about an inch. I'm still on my tiptoes but not like when I ride my guys KTM. The auto clutch is cool on gnarly single track but I'm glad I learned without one.

 

[noairkerr]

Another great one is the Yamaha XT225, works better on the highway than the TE-250 we replaced it with. Had a wider ratio trans that worked everywhere, boingers not real great, but for starters just right.

 

[TE250Guy]

My dainty wife is a definite girlie girl at maybe 5'1 and 110 lbs (probably with gear on). Tiny with not much upper body strength. She was not enthused about riding any kind of bike and especilly did not like to be on the streets where semis squashed things for sport. Don't try to tell her that semis pretty much stick to freeways. She said if I got her a bike, she would kill me. So I got her a 2010 Kawasaki KLX 110L anyway. If it didn't work out, I only had $2k in it and the demand should be high used. It is taller than a KLX 110 and with a suspension set up to handle a 190 lb pit bike rider/jumper/sliding fool. She loves it. At about 165 lb bike weight, she can easily lift it if it falls and both feet are flat on the ground. The electric start has been essential to her lack of frustration. We ride easy trails and legal FS roads. She especially likes the desert riding on easy areas with whoops and tight turns, but no rocks and roots. With the manual clutch and 4 speed shift she can grow to the next level when she is ready. We started with the throttle limiter cranked in so it wouldn't get away from her. Good thing. The bike has a lot of pop for a little thing. It is removed now. Seeing that many Forest Service roads require street legal has tweaked her interest. Believe me, pull is far better than push. We have spent hours of enjoyable riding and sightseeing together and hours more in happy post ride recaps over a glass of wine at the campsite. Did I mention that I got the bike for my dainty, girlie girl as a birthday present? Her 65th birthday.

 

[Joe Chod]

Lots of GasGas Pamperas got plated, and if you can find one of these she will probably love you forever.

WoodsChick
5'1" on a WR144

Am picking up on tmrw for the GF. Going to replace the Husqvonda 230.
How sure are you on the "probably"?

Joe

 

[ARod2000]

..... over a glass of wine at the campsite. Did I mention that I got the bike for my dainty, girlie girl as a birthday present? Her 65th birthday.

See...that was a good write up and I was enjoying it right up until the part about "over a glass of wine". I thought you just totally dropped the ball there. But then you picked it up and finished nicely with the part about "her 65th birthday".

Good post. Sounds like your woman is a keeper

 

[Dirtdame]

Did I mention that I got the bike for my dainty, girlie girl as a birthday present? Her 65th birthday.

Gosh, I hope that I'm still on any kind of a dirt bike at that age!

 

[WoodsChick]

Am picking up on tmrw for the GF. Going to replace the Husqvonda 230.
How sure are you on the "probably"?

Joe

Right on! What year did you get? We've got a ton of experience with the bike, Joe, so if you have any questions let me know. I've broken, replaced, fixed, and/or modified damn near everything on it at one time or another so if you run into any problems I'll probably have a solution for them




WoodsChick

 

[WoodsChick]

Gosh, I hope that I'm still on any kind of a dirt bike at that age!

Me, too! That's the goal, anyway




WoodsChick

 

[TE250Guy]

See...that was a good write up and I was enjoying it right up until the part about "over a glass of wine". I thought you just totally dropped the ball there. But then you picked it up and finished nicely with the part about "her 65th birthday".

Good post. Sounds like your woman is a keeper

Not saying I didn't drop a few brewskies at the campground too, but my girl has that mixture of daring and class that makes me gladly join her in her favorite beverage, especially since she had the courage to join me in one of my favorite activities just to be with me. I see the 20 yr old I married through the bottom of that tipped wine glass. Thank you for your kind comment.