# 600lbs bike to heavy for smaller woman? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 18, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600lbs-bike-to-heavy-for-smaller-woman/728128 "2015-08-18T00:16:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2015, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600lbs-bike-to-heavy-for-smaller-woman/728128/41 "2015-08-23T23:07:04Z")
> [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](#): > > :rolleyes: We’re in IMHO, buddy. > > Actual riders who accumulate miles and consciously seek to better their skills get new bikes frequently as they progress or want to try something new/different/better/shiny/more fun. People who just keep a bike in the garage will keep the same thing for 10+ years and never feel the need to change because they’ve never mastered what they have. > > Cite on your “too small” claim, if you feel like it. I’m a lot bigger than the OP and I love riding 250’s. Forgot to ask…since you want to talk about accumulating miles. I put on 5,000 since the snow melted in March…what about you? ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600lbs-bike-to-heavy-for-smaller-woman/728128/42 "2015-08-24T02:25:15Z")
> [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](#): > > :rolleyes: We’re in IMHO, buddy. > > Actual riders who accumulate miles and consciously seek to better their skills get new bikes frequently as they progress or want to try something new/different/better/shiny/more fun. People who just keep a bike in the garage will keep the same thing for 10+ years and never feel the need to change because they’ve never mastered what they have. > > Cite on your “too small” claim, if you feel like it. I’m a lot bigger than the OP and I love riding 250’s. I refuse to be **Scumpup** ’s cite, but I have a 250 (Yamaha V-Star 250) and it’s more or less too small for me. it was a nice, cheap, easy trainer but I’ve only had it since May and I’m ready to move on. why? 1. It’s fucking _slow._ it has all of 20 hp or so; accelerating takes most of what it has to offer and forget highway speeds; 2. even though it’s a “Cruiser” it’s not comfortable enough for long distance riding; after about an hour my ass starts to complain. contrast that with the H-D 1200 Touring I rented last weekend, I spend 7 hours on that bike and was happy as a pig dipped in shit. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600lbs-bike-to-heavy-for-smaller-woman/728128/43 "2015-08-24T02:45:23Z")
> [@Dorjan](#): > > Weight aside, in my opinion 650cc is too much power for a first bike. You really be much better off with something smaller. I’m working on my 1st bike. it’s an 85 Honda 650 Nighthawk. It’s 130 lbs lighter and 20 more hp than the Yamaha 650 in question. In 4,000 miles of biking I’ve hit gravel twice at relatively low speeds requiring me to put my foot down to stabilize the bike. Suffice it to say 450 lbs leveraged against your foot has it’s consequences. YMMV. We could discuss the dangers of riding if you like but you’re already asking the right question. How much bike is too much. I’m 5’7" and found my bike to be a good beginner weight. I’ve had it sink in wet grass and it’s easy enough to pick up. For normal riding all you have to be able to do is hold it up when it’s stopped. I would suggest you try holding the bike up and see if you can lean it a little and still feel comfortable with it. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600lbs-bike-to-heavy-for-smaller-woman/728128/44 "2015-08-24T03:20:47Z")
I’m also not really sure what **Scumpup** is exactly expecting as a cite. If there were some sort of agency that published numbers about how often individual riders buy new-to-them motorcycles on average, I’m sure it would have come up in the friendly little “no, you don’t need another vehicle” chats we have around the house here. I would suggest that the fact that most used 250’s you see for sale have pretty normal miles per year shows that people mostly aren’t just buying them and immediately getting rid of them in disgust, at least. Also to kinda re-iterate the “not all 250’s are made alike” I just got back from a 4,000 mile trip on my Ninja 250 back at the end of July. The older gen Ninjettes do about 38 HP so power-wise touring is no problem whatsoever, although the high highway RPMs do get a little tiresome on the hands. The things are cheap as hell to run too-- the trip probably would have cost me an extra $250 or so in gas and tires if I’d taken my normal 650cc ADV travelling bike. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2015, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600lbs-bike-to-heavy-for-smaller-woman/728128/45 "2015-08-24T07:21:49Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Yeah…whatever. You have nothing to back up your earlier claim. I’m sure you are the biggest, baddest 250-riding muthafucka around, though. 😛 > [@Scumpup](#): > > Forgot to ask…since you want to talk about accumulating miles. I put on 5,000 since the snow melted in March…what about you? I certainly don’t think I’m too cool to ride a 250. I’m currently looking to get rid of my second bike and get a dual sport or supermoto, I’m leaning toward the drz400sm. But oh noez! 2 small! Better get a haaabooosa! I ride year round, 10k miles give or take. I’m glad you get some miles in, even if you put your bike away for months at a time! ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600lbs-bike-to-heavy-for-smaller-woman/728128/46 "2015-08-25T01:18:24Z")
We rode Honda 250’s in my riding class and I found them poorly geared for the purpose. I really struggled with low speeds. I had to dog the engine and it wasn’t having any of it. I realize that’s what the clutch is for but even taking that into consideration I would have made 1st gear more aggressive to take the load off the engine. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600lbs-bike-to-heavy-for-smaller-woman/728128/47 "2015-08-25T01:43:07Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > We rode Honda 250’s in my riding class and I found them poorly geared for the purpose. I really struggled with low speeds. I had to dog the engine and it wasn’t having any of it. I realize that’s what the clutch is for but even taking that into consideration I would have made 1st gear more aggressive to take the load off the engine. you have the same problem I have. it isn’t the gearing; there’s no sensible gear ratios for 1st and 2nd gear which will let you do really low-speed maneuvers without either stalling the engine or having uncontrollable throttle response. It’s all clutch control. nearly all motorcycles have wet clutches which can tolerate a hell of a lot more slipping than the dry clutch of a car. If the Basic Rider course has one glaring flaw, it’s that they are better at _saying_ the words “clutch control” than they are at _teaching_ clutch control. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600lbs-bike-to-heavy-for-smaller-woman/728128/48 "2015-08-25T02:57:52Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > you have the same problem I have. it isn’t the gearing; there’s no sensible gear ratios for 1st and 2nd gear which will let you do really low-speed maneuvers without either stalling the engine or having uncontrollable throttle response. It’s all clutch control. nearly all motorcycles have wet clutches which can tolerate a hell of a lot more slipping than the dry clutch of a car. If the Basic Rider course has one glaring flaw, it’s that they are better at _saying_ the words “clutch control” than they are at _teaching_ clutch control. In the 12 hrs of course riding I couldn’t begin to make the 250 do my bidding. I have a much better time of it on my 650. The 4 cylinders are just smoother on the low end. The engine doesn’t stall so much as it just falls asleep. The 250 was like a cat hocking up fur balls. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600lbs-bike-to-heavy-for-smaller-woman/728128/49 "2015-08-25T12:20:39Z")
I keep doing double-takes when I set this post. I belong to a bicycling Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) forum and a frequent question is if a 35 lb bicycle can hold up a 600 lb person. (It can). ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2015, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600lbs-bike-to-heavy-for-smaller-woman/728128/50 "2015-08-25T15:43:39Z")
Everything I’ve read about the 250 Ninjas suggests that they’re quality bikes. It’s bigger brother, the ninja 500 doesn’t get much love, therefore available fairly cheap. [Here’s a guy who loves his](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leCNH2LcfZs). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/600lbs-bike-to-heavy-for-smaller-woman/728128.md?page=2)