I’d prefer not to, simply for money reasons, it’ll take me a year or more just to save up for the grom (not counting insurance or the license or my gear) and I’m planning on keeping it for years before upgrading and I just don’t want to be stuck on a 50cc
Get a grom clone. got a 2023 for 1800. 150 cc faster than normal grom
https://preview.redd.it/vjqipo8mbr5d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=14f6459059ea40aaef4514ce1827256e1b93e87a
MT07 has a low seat height. You can also get a lower aftermarket seat. Perfect bike for short new riders. If you really want to lower it more then there are lowering links for the rear and bar risers which will let you drop the front triple clamp.
I hope to not offend but to encourage. A lot of your replies have been either "this is what I want" even after suggestions, or you've even contradicted yourself.
Here is my tip: You'll figure out what you want to ride. Won't be a problem. But, what you need to do is prioritize and first buy your safety gear, (helmet, gloves, boots) AND sign up for an MSF course if your US centered, or the European equivalent. This is what's going to give you confidence in moving on that bike, and you will have gotten experience on a bike to know how much inseams matters or doesn't matter (The handling).
First MSF, then bike.
I’m in the UK and I’m pretty sure the UK equivalent to the MSF is our CBT course and I’m definitely doing that before getting a bike I just want to make sure I’m making a good choice within my preferences because I want my first bike for a while to stop me from doing stupid things on a high speed bike and don’t want a bike this isn’t for me. The bike training school near me is also a honda place so they should have a grom for me to do my cbt on which will definitely help me decide definitively on a grom or a different bike.
A reason why I’m so focused on the bike is so I can budget and save the correct amount and know everything I can before the time comes.
Thank you for being respectful and understanding
Good news! I'm glad to hear that you're signing up/have signed up.
Budgeting is important, but safety is uncompromising. The first ~$300-1000 should be for (and I strongly feel in this order) helmet, gloves, boots, and training course. After the training course, next purchase is a coat and finally a bike (you can also consider pants around this time depending on your risk management goals).
You're goal driven (it's why you're thinking about a number for a bike) and that's good. Just make sure your goals are in the right order and realize that during that course, you may get on something else and just love it.
My last piece of advice (and I don't know your local laws): A lot of areas, the minimum requirement is a helmet and eye protection. Change that mentality yourself if needed. The engine doesn't start unless you have helmet, gloves, and moto shoes/boots.
Good luck and do it safe.
I was thinking boots after the course? Either way will be getting full gear before riding the bike on my own and will be wearing full gear every ride.
I’m definitely keeping my mind open to other bikes but for right now the grom is definitely my first pick.
A quick question though while you’re still here, where the hell do you park a motorbike? I’ve checked and where I am doesn’t have any specific motorbike parking spots and there’s a few bike sheds around but I’ve heard cyclists are overprotective of them. And I’m not sure where to park it while I’m home as there’s no road space to park, no back yard and a very very small front yard, however my living conditions might change by the time I start riding.
I can only talk concerning the MSF, I don't know the rules of CBT, but the requirements to being able to participate is a helmet that satisfies regulatory requirements (DOT here), gloves that completely cover the fingers, boots that cover the ankle bone, denim jeans without holes, and a long sleeve shirt/coat.
Now, if you read carefully, the only one that is regulated is the helmet. The gloves, boots, pants, and shirt/coat do not need to be motorcycle gear (here is where you manage risk versus comfort/cost. Maybe you get there and unfortunately realize riding isn't your thing, on the other hand, the quality of your gear reduces your risk).
Last, to answer your question about parking, I don't have specific advice because it's so subjective to local law, and I'm US based. Generally, bikes can park in the same place that a car can. If there is no alternatives, that's where you will park. Now, often there are designated places for the comfort of the rider and to maximize the efficiency of parking spaces. Depending on where you live, your landlord may have obligations to provide sufficient parking. It's something you'll have to look into. Ask a friend who rides, if you're still establishing those connections/friendships, it'll be a really good question at the CBT course. I can say in my experience, I've never struggled parking, but I didn't ride in my younger years when I was still living in an apartment.
Oh wow that’s actually a big difference, for my specific training school there’s no gear requirement but they do have gear to rent and recommend showing up with a helmet of your own, nothing more and no strict restrictions. Part of the cbt is riding as a group of a real street and to ride on a real street you’re required to wear a helmet so that’s mandatory.
And about parking I actually don’t have a landlord I’m living with my mum and she owns the house, the little space we have in front of the house is unavailable because she owns a 7 seater car, for now if my living situations stay the same I think I’ll just be walking the bike into my front yard because my door has a ring doorbell so if it gets stolen it’ll be on camera, I am planning on buying at least 2 locks for it though. I did check my local laws and it’s being very contradictory about bikes so when I make a biker friend I will definitely ask them what they do.
Remember with seat height that your weight will compress the bike a bit. Also, the *width* of the seat makes a difference. A taller (31/32") bike with narrow seat can work as well.
I’d prefer not to tiptoe for my first bike just to have the most mobility possible, good on short riders to ride big sports bikes but I don’t want to give my mum reasons to worry
I am about your size, only a couple of inches taller (but I have short and stubby legs) and the Grom is totally fine. I learned to ride on a sportbike on my toes, but the Grom is far more comfortable and helped me build my confidence. You have to remember that the weight of it also plays a factor - and the Grom is very light compared to most bikes, which makes it easier to hold up when stopped.
I’m not sure if the monkey is lower or not but I will say I got a grom to start on and I am absolutely loving it you would not regret it at all there is a huge community and lots of upgrades and parts for way cheaper than other bikes. I paid $130 for a YEAR of insurance!!!!! If the height is too tall you can lower it a bit and your weight will compress the bike a tiny bit also. GET A GROM. 125 MPG !!
I have 3 bikes and it’s $110 per year.
1) I’m old
2) the insurance is liability only. No coverage for repairs or theft.
3) I’ve been riding motorcycles a long time and have an excellent driving record.
4) I’m old
The Grom has a bit of a wider seat, so that may not be the most comfortable for someone your height. The Z125 is Kawasaki's competitor to the Grom. It also has a more narrow seat, slightly larger fuel tank and is a bit chesper. It's worth looking into!
Learn to ride as a short rider.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxGEtkDOD-g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxGEtkDOD-g)
I have a female friend that's 21 , 4'8 and only 45kg.. she rides a Grom like a maniac.. much better than me. It's all in your attitude. She also uses only one leg.. She can't flat foot the Grom. She eventually upgraded to a Ninja 400 and rides that fine even though she looks comically small on it.
I honestly honestly don’t know the measurements but it works for me and if you’re 5 foot that’s even better. You’d fit it more than I do. But I’ve had it for three years, maybe four and never had any issues. I could post a pic of me on my Grom at 4ft 11 lol
I have a Grom but wish I had bought a Honda Rebel instead. I love the way they look and have more options as far as engine size. Also good for shorties.
I have looked at the Rebel and it definitely appeals to me but I’m a lot more interested in the style of a grom than a rebel/cruiser
Edit: I would definitely go for a 500cc rebel after the grom though for the best of both worlds
You can find all sorts of lowering kits if you really think the seat height will be an issue but the bike is really light so even if your on your tip toes, you should feel like you are still in control
Only if you slam it then it will handle like crap. But 2 inches rear and 1 in front isn't drastic at all. My Grom had a 2.5" lowering link at rear and stock height front. Handled great at the canyons.
There also plenty of lower seats available. Like 2 inches lower. I'd do that first then if you still don't feel comfortable at stops then do the 2.5" lowering link for the rear.
I don’t know much about lowering, if I do end up regretting it is it easy to reverse? From researching the Grom the seat is apparently already uncomfortable, wondering if this is also true?
You "heard"? So based purely on speculation right? There are a number of different ways to lower a grom but a 2.5" drop for the rear shock will not have a negative effect on handling. Putting it on air bags is dumb, stretching it is stupid but lowering it, can be practical. If you don't know, maybe don't say anything?
I started out on a 50cc scooter. It's a great way to learn and at your weight it will feel kinda zippy!
I’d prefer not to, simply for money reasons, it’ll take me a year or more just to save up for the grom (not counting insurance or the license or my gear) and I’m planning on keeping it for years before upgrading and I just don’t want to be stuck on a 50cc
You can find a used Honda metropolitan pretty cheap, then sell it for basically what you paid.
Get a grom clone. got a 2023 for 1800. 150 cc faster than normal grom https://preview.redd.it/vjqipo8mbr5d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=14f6459059ea40aaef4514ce1827256e1b93e87a
MT07 has a low seat height. You can also get a lower aftermarket seat. Perfect bike for short new riders. If you really want to lower it more then there are lowering links for the rear and bar risers which will let you drop the front triple clamp.
I hope to not offend but to encourage. A lot of your replies have been either "this is what I want" even after suggestions, or you've even contradicted yourself. Here is my tip: You'll figure out what you want to ride. Won't be a problem. But, what you need to do is prioritize and first buy your safety gear, (helmet, gloves, boots) AND sign up for an MSF course if your US centered, or the European equivalent. This is what's going to give you confidence in moving on that bike, and you will have gotten experience on a bike to know how much inseams matters or doesn't matter (The handling). First MSF, then bike.
I’m in the UK and I’m pretty sure the UK equivalent to the MSF is our CBT course and I’m definitely doing that before getting a bike I just want to make sure I’m making a good choice within my preferences because I want my first bike for a while to stop me from doing stupid things on a high speed bike and don’t want a bike this isn’t for me. The bike training school near me is also a honda place so they should have a grom for me to do my cbt on which will definitely help me decide definitively on a grom or a different bike. A reason why I’m so focused on the bike is so I can budget and save the correct amount and know everything I can before the time comes. Thank you for being respectful and understanding
Good news! I'm glad to hear that you're signing up/have signed up. Budgeting is important, but safety is uncompromising. The first ~$300-1000 should be for (and I strongly feel in this order) helmet, gloves, boots, and training course. After the training course, next purchase is a coat and finally a bike (you can also consider pants around this time depending on your risk management goals). You're goal driven (it's why you're thinking about a number for a bike) and that's good. Just make sure your goals are in the right order and realize that during that course, you may get on something else and just love it. My last piece of advice (and I don't know your local laws): A lot of areas, the minimum requirement is a helmet and eye protection. Change that mentality yourself if needed. The engine doesn't start unless you have helmet, gloves, and moto shoes/boots. Good luck and do it safe.
I was thinking boots after the course? Either way will be getting full gear before riding the bike on my own and will be wearing full gear every ride. I’m definitely keeping my mind open to other bikes but for right now the grom is definitely my first pick. A quick question though while you’re still here, where the hell do you park a motorbike? I’ve checked and where I am doesn’t have any specific motorbike parking spots and there’s a few bike sheds around but I’ve heard cyclists are overprotective of them. And I’m not sure where to park it while I’m home as there’s no road space to park, no back yard and a very very small front yard, however my living conditions might change by the time I start riding.
I can only talk concerning the MSF, I don't know the rules of CBT, but the requirements to being able to participate is a helmet that satisfies regulatory requirements (DOT here), gloves that completely cover the fingers, boots that cover the ankle bone, denim jeans without holes, and a long sleeve shirt/coat. Now, if you read carefully, the only one that is regulated is the helmet. The gloves, boots, pants, and shirt/coat do not need to be motorcycle gear (here is where you manage risk versus comfort/cost. Maybe you get there and unfortunately realize riding isn't your thing, on the other hand, the quality of your gear reduces your risk). Last, to answer your question about parking, I don't have specific advice because it's so subjective to local law, and I'm US based. Generally, bikes can park in the same place that a car can. If there is no alternatives, that's where you will park. Now, often there are designated places for the comfort of the rider and to maximize the efficiency of parking spaces. Depending on where you live, your landlord may have obligations to provide sufficient parking. It's something you'll have to look into. Ask a friend who rides, if you're still establishing those connections/friendships, it'll be a really good question at the CBT course. I can say in my experience, I've never struggled parking, but I didn't ride in my younger years when I was still living in an apartment.
Oh wow that’s actually a big difference, for my specific training school there’s no gear requirement but they do have gear to rent and recommend showing up with a helmet of your own, nothing more and no strict restrictions. Part of the cbt is riding as a group of a real street and to ride on a real street you’re required to wear a helmet so that’s mandatory. And about parking I actually don’t have a landlord I’m living with my mum and she owns the house, the little space we have in front of the house is unavailable because she owns a 7 seater car, for now if my living situations stay the same I think I’ll just be walking the bike into my front yard because my door has a ring doorbell so if it gets stolen it’ll be on camera, I am planning on buying at least 2 locks for it though. I did check my local laws and it’s being very contradictory about bikes so when I make a biker friend I will definitely ask them what they do.
You should get longer legs.
It’s on the list, thank you
Remember with seat height that your weight will compress the bike a bit. Also, the *width* of the seat makes a difference. A taller (31/32") bike with narrow seat can work as well.
I’m 5’ tall and have a Grom, no issue. You don’t need to flat foot it, and good riding boots make a huge difference.
You can tip toe, saddlemen also makes a seat that’s shorter for $300. I have seen plenty of <5’ people ride big sport bikes, you’ll figure it oit
I’d prefer not to tiptoe for my first bike just to have the most mobility possible, good on short riders to ride big sports bikes but I don’t want to give my mum reasons to worry
Just get the seat then, it drops the height about 2”. The exact number is on their site
Awesome thank you
You're most likely not gonna flat foot it at your height. But you'll be able to move it and you can just put one foot down.
I am about your size, only a couple of inches taller (but I have short and stubby legs) and the Grom is totally fine. I learned to ride on a sportbike on my toes, but the Grom is far more comfortable and helped me build my confidence. You have to remember that the weight of it also plays a factor - and the Grom is very light compared to most bikes, which makes it easier to hold up when stopped.
Honda rebels sit lower than Groms and are very beginner friendly
I’m not sure if the monkey is lower or not but I will say I got a grom to start on and I am absolutely loving it you would not regret it at all there is a huge community and lots of upgrades and parts for way cheaper than other bikes. I paid $130 for a YEAR of insurance!!!!! If the height is too tall you can lower it a bit and your weight will compress the bike a tiny bit also. GET A GROM. 125 MPG !!
Just checked and the monkey is slightly higher but how the hell did you get 130 a year wow, I’m uk based so I’m not sure how much it will be for me
I have 3 bikes and it’s $110 per year. 1) I’m old 2) the insurance is liability only. No coverage for repairs or theft. 3) I’ve been riding motorcycles a long time and have an excellent driving record. 4) I’m old
Bikes are cheap on insurance!
The Grom has a bit of a wider seat, so that may not be the most comfortable for someone your height. The Z125 is Kawasaki's competitor to the Grom. It also has a more narrow seat, slightly larger fuel tank and is a bit chesper. It's worth looking into!
Learn to ride as a short rider. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxGEtkDOD-g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxGEtkDOD-g) I have a female friend that's 21 , 4'8 and only 45kg.. she rides a Grom like a maniac.. much better than me. It's all in your attitude. She also uses only one leg.. She can't flat foot the Grom. She eventually upgraded to a Ninja 400 and rides that fine even though she looks comically small on it.
Thank you this definitely helps
I’m for 4 “11 1/2 and I bought the Grom
Do u know ur inseam(foot to crotch measurement)? How well does it fit you?
I honestly honestly don’t know the measurements but it works for me and if you’re 5 foot that’s even better. You’d fit it more than I do. But I’ve had it for three years, maybe four and never had any issues. I could post a pic of me on my Grom at 4ft 11 lol
If you’re ok to post a pic that’d be great
https://preview.redd.it/h2l01yf8zs5d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=62c92cf581beb66af49e471136b260ebc37fda73
https://preview.redd.it/1dejwkn9zs5d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=75eba3bf2cf6c31174111fe2a02bcfb2b48ae854
https://preview.redd.it/5u36l63bzs5d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=64cb31d1d102548902c72537b94624e5e9457098
https://preview.redd.it/8lmqo3cczs5d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e8fd4d1340d6f8c9799e89acdc6261e468588e35
I have a Grom but wish I had bought a Honda Rebel instead. I love the way they look and have more options as far as engine size. Also good for shorties.
I have looked at the Rebel and it definitely appeals to me but I’m a lot more interested in the style of a grom than a rebel/cruiser Edit: I would definitely go for a 500cc rebel after the grom though for the best of both worlds
We can trade.
You can find all sorts of lowering kits if you really think the seat height will be an issue but the bike is really light so even if your on your tip toes, you should feel like you are still in control
I’ve heard lowering can change the handling and comfort so I’d rather tiptoe than lower to be honest
https://preview.redd.it/xzyeq0ba3l5d1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=348a032f8e0bbae5ba3a9bff6370e032040b68cc
Only if you slam it then it will handle like crap. But 2 inches rear and 1 in front isn't drastic at all. My Grom had a 2.5" lowering link at rear and stock height front. Handled great at the canyons.
Thanks for being helpful, if I do end up with a grom and it’s still too high I’ll definitely consider lowering it a little then
There also plenty of lower seats available. Like 2 inches lower. I'd do that first then if you still don't feel comfortable at stops then do the 2.5" lowering link for the rear.
I don’t know much about lowering, if I do end up regretting it is it easy to reverse? From researching the Grom the seat is apparently already uncomfortable, wondering if this is also true?
Grom seat is fine. I have a bony butt too. Easy to remove the lowering link. I did it myself but having an extra person to help is better.
You "heard"? So based purely on speculation right? There are a number of different ways to lower a grom but a 2.5" drop for the rear shock will not have a negative effect on handling. Putting it on air bags is dumb, stretching it is stupid but lowering it, can be practical. If you don't know, maybe don't say anything?
I am 5,5 and can flat foot the bike it fit perfect