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[Garznhogs]

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

[SPIDERMAN]

The V-Rod is the perfect model H-D for her. They are really only comfortable for shorter folks. They sit way lower to the ground than a Sportster and handle extremely well. They're fun to ride and the best part is she will not outgrow the bike. The V-Rods are hands down the fastest H-D's on the market.
    They can be found used for very reasonable prices and with a water cooled engine, mileage on the odometer is not the factor it is with an air cooled H-D.

B B

[Garznhogs]

Well now, I wonder if she's looked at the V-Rods?  Thanks for the tip, Brian, I'll surely pass that along.
Jerry

[WaSEEG]

My wife has a 26" inseam and rides a Street Glide.  She started on a lowered Heritage, went to my Road King Classic and now the Street Glide.  It's had the front lowered and she's running 11.5" Progressive 412's on the rear.  She also has a Corbin Close solo with the tongue narrowed to get those stubby legs closer together.  I just ordered Chubby 575's from Jim to get some bend in her elbows.

As for the Heritage, Mustang makes a seat that's a lot narrower in front and gets rid of that "thickness".

Dan

[ggraves427]

My wife, 5 feet 4 inches, rides a 02 Fatboy, lowered front and back with a Badlander seat, works for her.  I bet your wife could sit on it with both feet flatfooted on the ground.

[Midnight Rider]

Like B said....Vrod!!  The new Nightrod is wicked looking.  Some of the C models I've seen with the custom paint are awesome looking bikes, or find her an 06 SE V, but the new Vance and Hines 2 into 1 pipe on it so the exhaust is tighter to the frame on the right side.  If you get an 07, they have 5 gallon tanks!!  I'm 5'8", with a 29" inseam....I wouldn't say my legs are "thick", but I can sit flat footed on the Vrod without a problem.

The good thing on a V for a woman is that all the weight is low, so upper body strength is not a factor...the "tank" is just an air box as all the fuel is under the seat and behind.  The bike only weighs 600 lbs, give or take, and is not top heavy at all...handles well, and has all the power a person could ever need.  They have also come out with some nice saddlebags, etc for the bike.  Windvest windshield...she'd be good to go!!

[miker]

My better half is 5 foot nuthin and rides a FXDLi with a close reach seat.  I switch the  seat when I want to ride because it is a fun bike.

Miker

[PHAZE]

My wife is 5'-2" and when she was riding, we had an '03 Deuce with the rear end lowered, a seat for reduced reach, and we pulled the handle bars back a little.  She only goes about 120 pounds and I think the weight of the bike always intimidated her a little.  She's not riding now as she decided that she's just a lot more comfortable behind me.

I've tried to get my wife interested in the Sportster Nightster model.  I think that it would fit a vertically challenged person really well and it looks cool too.  Have you checked it out?

[harleyteam]

I know a few short and stocky women (don't want to mention my wife, she'd kill me) and they all ride fatboys with no lowering at all.

[Fired00d]

I know a few short and stocky women (don't want to mention my wife, she'd kill me) and they all ride fatboys with no lowering at all.

But what kind of bikes do they ride??? You should have known that was coming.

 
Ride Safe,
Fired00d
 

[harleyteam]

yeah,,,,,,, my wife is always tellin people she has 3 fatboys.   2 of them are Harleys

[johnnymap]

We have a lady friend that was riding a Wide Glide.  She sold it and bought an 05 Red SEEG.  She is the body type that you are describing.  She has had it about a  year and has had no problems handling it at all.

She does have considerable riding experience.

john

[SPIDERMAN]

This thread is killing me. Is there any model that someone hasn't sworn is the best for their short stocky friend ?  Oh yeah, I don't see anyone talking up Sportsters.

Bottom line, take the lady to an H-D dealership and let her sit on every model till she finds one that feels right.

B B

[PHAZE]

Spiderman,

I think you hit the nail on the head.  It can't really be what anyone else suggests.  It's got to be a bike that the rider feels comfortable with.  My wife rode a little Suzuki GZ-250 all the time and really enjoyed it.  I moved her up (notice I said "I") onto a Honda 750 and she rode it much less than the little 250.  Then I (there it is again) set the Deuce up for her to ride and she rode it less than the Honda.  I sold the Deuce and now she just rides behind me.  I've threatened to go find another little Suzuki or Honda Rebel for her, but she just doesn't want it.  I'm actually much more comfortable with her on the bike with me than I am worrying about her riding along on her own bike.

PHAZE

[greglyon]

Check the seat height of the following:
Softail Deluxe
Heritage
Fatboy

I believe the Deluxe is the lowest offered by HD.  The ladies I ride with favor one of the above.