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[Talon]

Probably the best way is to go in a sit on different models of bikes, the seat hight is one thing, but the width of the seat will affect your leg reach to the ground also. Also should make sure she's confortable with the controls too.
Below are some seat heights from HD unladen.


883 Low            26.3
Dyna Lowrider    26.8
V Rod               27.1 - 31 
  Nightrod Spec  26.3
Softail Deluxe      25.9
Softail Std         26.1
   

[Gettinold]

A lady friend of ours loves riding, loves Harleys, has 883 Sporty that is not comfortable, wants a new bike.
She is very short, like 28 inseam, with, as she put it, "big" legs. So she needs a low seat, and narrow, but also is concerned about things like the battery box rubbing her inseam.

Does anyone know of someone with these dimensions who has beaten this problem?  She thinks she'd like a Dyna Low Rider if it was lowered! Her husband has a Heritage Classic that she says is "too thick in the middle." (Bike, not husband.)

Any and all suggestions are welcome!

Thank you kindly,
:-Jerry

JERRY
IF ANYONE HAD THE CORRECT ANSWER, IT WOULD COME FROM THE ONE AND ONLY "MRS WECVO"

[Garznhogs]

Well, despite it sounding like every bike has been mentioned (I think they have), there's all good info here, and I thank each and every one of youse.

(Gettinold knows it isn't my wife I'm talking about... she's happy on her 04 RK.    )

And I DID tell the lady to get her butt to the dealership and sit on 'em.  But, I promised I would ask the most knowledgeable group I've ever known, and I done fulfilled that promise!  Wife and I both ride Mustang seats, and, yep, the horn is narrower and I think they sit lower. And, yeah, a LOT of ladies ride the Deluxe. And, and,
Thanks, all!

:-Jerry

[ccr]

If I was reccomending a bike for the shorty stockier folks, I'd be saying start out with a Deluxe.  It is low to the ground, the handle bars let you sit in an upright position, the bike comes with floor boards and heel toe shifter, easy to add windshield and bags and it is still very narrow.  The fat boy and the heritage are much wider.  Now that I am riding the SEEG however, and I definately fit into that shorter stockier category, I can't imagine riding anything else.  I have two pics that tell the story.  First one, taken of me holding my bike up in a stopped position, talking to Barry. 

[ccr]

Second one shows there is not much bend to the knee, but I can still ride this bike with the greatest of ease, just hate parking lots and backing up.

[ccr]

I've never had the privilege of riding a V-Rod, it would have to be one of those without the forward controls.  But whenever I have sat on them it still seems to me that the rider has quite a forward sitting position, and without having tried it, it puts me off a bit as I like the sitting in the lounge chair position better.  Just me, of course. 

[Garznhogs]

Thanks for the input Mrs We!   I will pass it along. The difference, tho, is that you are much more experienced than my friend. She just doesn't seem to be coming along as everyone expected. She's been riding over a year, but still seems afraid.  We all hope that getting on an easier-to-ride bike will make a difference. 

:-Jerry

[Gettinold]

Thanks for the input Mrs We!   I will pass it along. The difference, tho, is that you are much more experienced than my friend. She just doesn't seem to be coming along as everyone expected. She's been riding over a year, but still seems afraid.  We all hope that getting on an easier-to-ride bike will make a difference. 

:-Jerry

JERRY IM CONSIDERING ON SELLING OUR FATBOY SOON. ALREADY BITCH READY, LOWERED, BAGS, WINDSHEILD AND MAKES ALOT OF NOISE. ITS A 2003 FATBOY INJECTED, ALL BLACK AND ONLY 3K MILES. IF SHES INTERESTED I CAN BRING IT DOWN OR BRING HER UP. LETS MAKE A DEAL.

                                           DAVE 

[SPIDERMAN]

If I was reccomending a bike for the shorty stockier folks, I'd be saying start out with a Deluxe.  It is low to the ground, the handle bars let you sit in an upright position, the bike comes with floor boards and heel toe shifter, easy to add windshield and bags and it is still very narrow.  The fat boy and the heritage are much wider.  Now that I am riding the SEEG however, and I definately fit into that shorter stockier category, I can't imagine riding anything else.  I have two pics that tell the story.  First one, taken of me holding my bike up in a stopped position, talking to Barry. 

Candy
          You may tippy-toe in the parkin lot, but you sure do hot foot out on the road 

B B

[Smiler]

Low Rider with Low profile suspension, V-Rod and what about the Nightster?

[Garznhogs]

JERRY IM CONSIDERING ON SELLING OUR FATBOY SOON. ALREADY BITCH READY, LOWERED, BAGS, WINDSHEILD AND MAKES ALOT OF NOISE. ITS A 2003 FATBOY INJECTED, ALL BLACK AND ONLY 3K MILES. IF SHES INTERESTED I CAN BRING IT DOWN OR BRING HER UP. LETS MAKE A DEAL.

                                           DAVE 

Uh oh... Politically-Incorrect-Dave.    
  She wants red. But, it's got bags and windshield... Hmmm, Paint it, and let's talk.

[Ironhorse]

During one of the Ride Like a Pro classes I taught this weekend, one of the students was a lady about 5'5".
She was riding a yellow RoadGlide, and was doing fine.

Here is a picture of her on her bike. The bike was stripped down and padded up for the class.



Anyway she said her bike was lowered, and she had lifts in her boots too.

Mark

[nidan]

My wife is "inseam challenged"  and has a slammed 883 but was never happy with it , she got a 1200 Custom and loves it. The other one she really liked was the Deluxe , which is just a dropped Heritage.

[ccr]

My wife is "inseam challenged"  and has a slammed 883 but was never happy with it , she got a 1200 Custom and loves it. The other one she really liked was the Deluxe , which is just a dropped Heritage.

It is similar to a dropped heritage.  True.  But not the same. 

Besides the different look in the front and in the rear, no bags or windshield or sissy bar (at quick comparison) the seat height is lower, the seat position is further forward and the width of the entire bike is narrower.  My leg cannot get around the aircleaner on a heritage or a fat boy, but it can the Deluxe.  Must be more than just a dropped heritage.  And I had a dropped Road King and it had all kinds of clearance problems, but I have the right out of the box SEEG and have none of the same clearance problems, like left corners etc. I rub the aircleaner with my right leg, but don't have a problem with wrapping around it like I do the softails. Don't know much, but I do like the Deluxe. 

[Garznhogs]

Thank you all for great input. I copied and gave the info to the young lady. She promptly ignored everything and fell in love with a '06 Dyna Low Rider. Because it was red.  Aw, well, it did have lots of extras on it and 8k miles.  As she got it she touches the ground with just tippy-toes. She's ordered the lower shock set, and thinks that'll be fine.

Again, thanks for great input (as usual)

:-Jerry