Hey guys this is my first post here, even though I've been anonymously reading around for a while! I searched this question (on Kawasakiforums and the rest of the web) and found no answer so hopefully someone here could give me a pretty good answer...

I am seriously considering saving up over the winter time to purchase a 08 or possibly 09 250r to learn to ride around the time spring starts. I am only five foot five and weigh about 140lbs ( I know...such a little guy right?) and I want to know if I can plant both of my feet flat on the ground on this bike.

I went to the motorcycle store today and wouldn't you know it they had sold out and had to order more which is gonna take a few weeks so I was only able to sit on the ZX-6/10R and they were okay but I don;t think i'd be terrible comfortable leaning to one side in traffic. So some guys who are closer to my sized tell me if you are able to sit comfortably on this bike during stops in traffic.

Thanks
-BTG

 

you can get bikes lowered or even shave the seat...the 250 does sit a little lower than the ZX-6/10...

 

Leaning at a light isn't all that uncomfortable, I find myself doing it often... but then again I got 4" on ya.

 

Welcome To K.F.
Odimus nailed it! If your going to the Dealer. Make them set the bike up just for your needs. Good Luck

 

Welcome to KF.

As mentioned, allow any respectable dealership help you on setting up the bike. But still may have to live with the fact that you are short (like me) and tip toeing with your riding style is ok. Not many things are perfect ya know?

 

Welcome to the Kawi Family!!!

there is a surgery where they will break your legs...insert some metal rods...and every day you give them a little twist until desired height is achieved

 

I'm just the same size as you... 5' 5" and a couple of pounds short of 140. I ride a 2007 ZZR600 and although I'm "almost" tip-toed, it never was a problem to me. My buddy rides a 2008 ZX-6R and the riding stance on this bike is not for me. The seat height is higher and the clip-ons are lower. Mind you though, Kawi never mentions anything about comfort on their ads for this model. My other buddy's wife rides a 250R and when I sat on it, both my feet are flat on the ground... and it's very light too! I see it as a great bike for beginners.

 

The bike will be fine for you.

If you can't flat foot it it doesn't matter. You only need to get the ball of one foot on the ground, leaning the bike a little if you need to. In fact, if you're riding properly you should never have both feet down at the same time. Your left foot should always be covering the brake except when you need to shift between first gear and neutral.

This might sound a little daunting. It isn't. It's a question of skill (a little) and confidence (rather more). Take a basic MSF course on one of their bikes. A little 125 is ideal for learning and practising the basic skills and getting the confidence that you need for the 250, and you'll be doing this in a controlled environment where falling off at the very slow speeds you'll be doing is something to laugh about, and you don't really want to scratch up your own new bike anyway.

You really won't have a problem.

Rob

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the gear shift on the left pedal and the rear brake on the right pedal?

 

Yes, Thats the way it is on my bike. But for some reason. I'm thinking the old Bultaco where set-up that way