k bike for wife

[robsandy4123]

does anyone have a suggestion for a k series bike for the vertically challanged? Had the wife on a k75s 1994 but was about 2-3 inches too high. Her current bike has a seat height of 31" but were looking for something to travel with. Thanks

[RandallIsland]

A shorter rear shock will put her feet near the ground better, but you'll lose a little steerability.

[Beemer01]

You can also lower the front by slipping the front forks up an inch or so.

[deilenberger]

You can also lower the front by slipping the front forks up an inch or so.You won't get an inch on an S model - the bars mount over the top of the fork tubes.. about 3/16" is about all you can get. But - you can put a shorter preload spacer in the front forks which will lower it at the expense of front fork travel.

Actually - my suggestion - if $$$ aren't an issue.. have her take a ride on an R1200R with the low seat option. But don't do that unless you're ready to buy one..

[Burnszilla]

What about the low seat option on the K75? You can find the seat conversion parts on ebay.
An example of what it looks like... http://www.gingerich.net/motorcycles/bmw_k75.htm

[Kayseventyfive]

What about the low seat option on the K75? You can find the seat conversion parts on ebay.
An example of what it looks like... http://www.gingerich.net/motorcycles/bmw_k75.htm

The K75 low seat is narrower at the front, too. That makes it easier for shorter legs to reach the ground when stopped.

A K75S is too pretty to junk up with the low seat and knee pad/skirt thing.

The standard seat pan can be narrowed at the front and rewelded if you are decent at plastic welding. A vee section can be cut out of the foam at front and the gap glued together to match the narrowed pan. Then the foam can be cut a little lower with an electric carving knife before reupholstering. This will give a narrow nose, lower seat that still looks original.

[IndyGT]

We lowered my wife's 1994 K75S substantially by:

Mounting a shorter Works shock
Adjusting the forks
Changing to low-profile tires
Sending the seat back to Sargent to have some of the foam scooped out.
She said it made a huge difference in the handling and her confidence level.

[SheRidesABeemer]

A newer K bike would be better choice than the top heavy older K bikes. I love my K75, but completely discourage it for shorter riders. The GT (an RS with extra tupper wear) has superior balance and shorter in stature. 03/04 GT's are a steal since the introduction of the new style. :D

[osbornk]

I bought a pretty blue 92 K75RT that had been owned by 2 women and it had been lowered (for some reason, the bike was referred to as the Dyke bike). It was better than my K100RT but it was still difficult with the height and top heaviness. The R80RT was better but I wanted something newer that worked for me. The only BMW I could find that fit me with my short stubby legs was the R1200CLC (or R1200C if you want a naked bike). It doesn't have the power or handling of most BMWs but it makes a great long distance tourer with the bags, top case, fairing and electronic cruise control.

[bikerfish1100]

If you want a K75, go with the K75 LowSeat model as suggested by Burnszilla. It will drop the seat height from 31.9" to 29.9"
No idea if this one http://www.shaub.net/photos/K75/K75.html is still available (undated advert), but the pics give a pretty good idea of the appearance of it.

Depending upon wifey's height, there are other options (as several have mentioned)- but that particular model will proably give you everything she needs. If she's a aggressive rider, you can upgrade the suspension to more closely mimic the S model's characteristics. Or if you want the appearance of the S, you can find the parts to do that too- but that would cost a tidey little sum, I am sure.

[motoedde]

If you're looking to gain 2-3 inches...the following may get you there...

1. Drop the rear tire size from 130-90-17 to 140-80-17...that should gain you about .5-.75 inches...and depending on the tire pressure chosen, you'll get 1"...

2. Rear shock swap can be costly. You could try adjusting the preload to the lowest setting first and see if she gains 1" in travel there...

3. Lower the front tire aspect ratio similar to point number 1 above...

Trying the first two is the cheapest way to go and the most conservative...if you still need more inches...THEN go try dealing with the low seat option etc...

[larrydk]

I don't know if I missed it, but how tall is your wife? Mine is 5-8" ad fit on a k100 pretty easily.

[PAULBACH]

A newer K bike would be better choice than the top heavy older K bikes. I love my K75, but completely discourage it for shorter riders. The GT (an RS with extra tupper wear) has superior balance and shorter in stature. 03/04 GT's are a steal since the introduction of the new style. :D

Right On! Find a K75/3. It was made in 1995 and was a lowered model from the factory. I have one and am inseam challenged at 30." I can plant both feet squarely on the ground.

If you can find one the K75/3 might be the perfect it . And, the K75 has an excellent track record. People who have owned one usually regret the day they sold it.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/Motorcycle%20Pics/0930Adirondacks052c.jpg

[Kayseventyfive]

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g264/PaulBach/Motorcycle%20Pics/0930Adirondacks052c.jpg

Looks nice. What fairing is that?

Bars?

[crgrbrts]

I'm a little fella who's shrunk from a towering 5'7" down to 5'6" or so as I passed the 60th anniversary of my earthly matriculation and I've just found the "perfect" Beemer (for me). It's the low chassis version of the F800ST. Its 85 horses get you where you want to go in quick and nimble fashion, the handling's just great and the good looking bodywork makes for comfortable touring. Best of all, it's a BMW I can actually flat foot (a first in my experience).

As Don noted, the R1200R is wonderful, too. It's a tad taller, even with the low seat, but the power and agility of the bike are mighty seductive. The center of gravity is low and the upright seating position is very comfortable. With no wind protection, one gets buffeted a bit above 60 MPH or so, but it's so stable that it's not really bothersome on trips of reasonable length.

Still, the F800ST wins in the "value for money" category.

[brickrider]

Interestingly, I do not see a suggestion for a most obvious solution.

Take a pair of good riding boots to a shoemaker and have him install very thick soles (2" - 3"). They will likely take a bit of getting used to, but then women wear stiletto heels to great effect!

The newly altered riding boots will be right in style, too.

[SheRidesABeemer]

Interestingly, I do not see a suggestion for a most obvious solution.

Take a pair of good riding boots to a shoemaker and have him install very thick soles (2" - 3"). They will likely take a bit of getting used to, but then women wear stiletto heels to great effect!

The newly altered riding boots will be right in style, too.

Would you suggest the same for the inseamed challenged men in the audience? :rolleyes

[cayuse60]

Would you suggest the same for the inseamed challenged men in the audience? :rolleyes


Bravo Zulu ...:stick

[bikerfish1100]

Interestingly, I do not see a suggestion for a most obvious solution.

Take a pair of good riding boots to a shoemaker and have him install very thick soles (2" - 3"). They will likely take a bit of getting used to, but then women wear stiletto heels to great effect!

The newly altered riding boots will be right in style, too.

and then the next post we read can be...

"I need some HELP! Afer getting these very thick soles onto my boots, I can't seem to get my bike to upshift smoothly. Do you think my transmission output shaft is going? or maybe it's the FD?"

[brickrider]

Would you suggest the same for the inseamed challenged men in the audience?

For men? The riding boots, absolutely! Use black boots and plenty of boot polish on the soles.

The stilleto heels -- not recommended... :lol

Don't knock the idea if you haven't seen them work! Adjust the shift lever up one spline, and the boots fit in to shift no problem. Makes more sense than spending 2 Gees to alter the bike so that it has no rear shock remaining so she gets a sore butt after 50 miles (BTDT), no padding in the seat so she gets a sore butt after 50 miles (BTDT), shorter front springs so it pounds her hands and arms until her teeth chatter after 50 miles (BTDT), and squatter tires (PITA to change)(BTDT).

[kbasa]

Get her an R11RS. The adjustable seat will plunk her down where she's comfortable. Early models are in the same price zone as Kbikes.

[PAULBACH]

Looks nice. What fairing is that?

Bars?

No fairing, just a parabellum windshield which offers a lot of wind protection.

[jstanco]

I have a 93 K75 and thanks to all of you for the suggestions on how to take the bike down an inch or so.. I am 5'6" tall with a 31 inch inseam and i can just put both balls of my feet on the ground with the bike stood up straight. Now if I lean it to one side i can put one foot completely on the ground. I don't want to lean it over at every stop. My confidence level needs help and since it is a "brick" and I AM still new to it, the last thing i want is to drop it. These are just the suggestions that I was looking for. Thanks ya'll........

You guys and girls are the best!!!

[jcridge]

My wife is in the same situation being a new rider and short inseam. The K75 with the factory low seat option is the best bike for the money. With the factory shock at its lowest setting and the front clamp lowered 1.5" to match the rear is a perfect setup without spending money. Her bike has the factory Metzeler's
I personally like the VStrom from Suzuki, it fits me like a glove and that bike with a lowering link would be a possibility, but my wife tried the VStrom and she said beyond a doubt the K75 was lighter and easier to handle. I ride a K75 as well, and can't say enough good things about it. I doesn't hurt to look at other bikes, just don't take the K when you do it.

So how did you make out?

John

[BuddingGeezer]

I have a 1987 K100LT & K75. Both have aftermarket seats and I can not quite flatfoot either bike with both feet. Yesterday at the BMW dealership I sat on K1200GT, R1200 RT, F800 ST, R1200R, K1200RS and I had no troble flatfooting any of those bikes, even though the spec sheets had a higher seat height than the older Ks.

Has the ruler changed? I suggest to sit on the new ones if $$$ is no object.

Ralph Sims

[michaellarsen]

I am 5'6" tall and have a K75S, which is my first bike. My father recommended it to me as a good starter bike and a bike I could ride forever anywhere. Starting out with the stock height I was totally discouraged, I dropped it a couple of times from not being able to stand on two feet, and eventually I was at the point of quitting motorcycles all together, great fustration! After a while of reflecting why I really wanted to ride a motorcycle I regrouped and started looking at ways to lower the bike. In the end I ended up buying a new works shock that was an inch or so lower than the stock height, I combined my "C" bars with bar backs and lowered the front forks about 3/4"-1", and I bought a crappy stock solo seat off of ebay cheap. In the beginning I was on my tippy toes and had trouble balancing the bike and none-the-less learning how to ride. Lowering the bike gave me so much more control and was night and day with my ability to learn to ride. Now that the bike is lowered I am almost flat footed and most of the time end up just balancing on one side on one foot at stops. More recently I have put my stock comfort seat back on the bike (whoa, the solo seat hurts your butt on long rides!) and I still usually balance the bike with one foot on one side at stops, but still have the ability to use both feet. My advice for people looking towards the low seat for their k75: it's not much lower than you would think. You have to change around some of the stuff under the seat and take off the side covers (which totally takes away from the bike's look) to mount the seat. The stock solo seat is lower than the low seat and is just as thin if not thinner up front between your legs. Looking back I am so glad I persisted to make the bike conform to my body size. I LOVE the bike and love riding. It made all the difference in learning how to ride by lowering the seat to make things more comfortable.

good luck

[deilenberger]

I have a 1987 K100LT & K75. Both have aftermarket seats and I can not quite flatfoot either bike with both feet. Yesterday at the BMW dealership I sat on K1200GT, R1200 RT, F800 ST, R1200R, K1200RS and I had no troble flatfooting any of those bikes, even though the spec sheets had a higher seat height than the older Ks.

Has the ruler changed? I suggest to sit on the new ones if $$$ is no object.

Ralph SimsThe ruler didn't change - the seat shape did. The K bike seat is WIDE due to the two frame rails that run directly under the seat. The seat can never be narrower than the two rails.

The newer R bike seats (and I'd assume K) are narrow at the front end towards the tank.. where your legs end up when you're straddling the bike. Your legs head more directly towards the ground - effectively making them longer.

And the new R bikes are not at all as top-heavy as the early K bikes were. In my experience - they are much less of a challenge to handle at walking/parking-lot speed or at stops. And I have a shorter inseam than apparently most of the US male population since no one makes pants in my inseam size anymore.

As you said - if inseam challenged don't sit on them if $$$ are going to be an issue, you're very likely to leave with one.