Is 5'5" too short to ride an IS?

[SpidyJ]

Potential buyer worried about his height.  Doesn't want to travel 4 hours and find he can't handle her.

Tell me one of y'all is 5'5" or shorter with no problems.

[Jess from VA]

I'm 5'9" (29.5 inseam), and I can ride any motorcycle on the planet.

It's not just height, it's 1) experience riding (esp on a big heavy bikes), and it's 2) strength of legs and upper body .

5'5" may be pushing it for an interstate.  On the other hand, I believe Gordon (of of the cool kids down TN way) is no more than that, and he rides an interstate like a pro.

What is his physical condition, and what is his experience with big bikes (or all bikes)?  The Valk has a lower center of gravity than all big twins, but you may still have to lift it off the guards after a whoopsy (the interstate does have fore and aft guards, keeping it from going flat, but it still takes some brute strength and technique to get one up).

An interstate can be lowered a little with shorter shocks, tires, seat and slipped forks, but not that much.  And I doubt I'd by a bike I had to do all that to to be able to ride it.

Maybe there is one close to him he can go look at and sit on and push around (even if it's not for sale) (and even if the owner won't let him ride it).  Is this buyer another FL guy, and could you get some assistance from another FL VRCCer close to him?  (just for show and tell, no riding?)

If he isn't strong and well experienced, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable letting him test ride mine (if it was for sale).  Short of full payment. (And I'm not sitting on the back for a test ride, because I sure can't reach the ground with my feet from back there) (and frankly I'm afraid to ride on the back of any bike, short of necessity)  And he better already have his MC license endorsement.

[Davemn]

98 seems to handle it just fine.

[Willow]

I'm 5'6".  I ride an Interstate among others.

The question isn't height.  Inseam? (I'm 30 inches).  Boots?  Shocks?  Rear tire on the Interstate? Saddle?

As others have said most importantly is experience and ability to handle a heavy bike.

The answer is yes and no.

[cookiedough]

I am with Willow on this, can go either way.  Willow is surely LONG 30 inch inseam for only 5'6" since most having 30 inch inseam is around 5'10" or so I think anyways?

Ask potential buyer what his inseam is more so than height.  If say 26 -28 inch inseam I would say NO unless some modding of lower seat/shocks, etc.    My wife sat on my stock I/S and held it up just fine but she was NOT comfy leaning it side to side at only 5'6" tall not quite flat footed.

as others said, NO test rides unless he can go flat footed but at only 5'5", I highly doubt it.  My neighbor let a heavy set older lady (I would NOT have let her take it) test ride his 8K worth HD full dresser in very good shape and is setup for SHORT people like himself at only 5'6" so lady about same height.  She NEVER told him she tipped it over and saw her comeback left ASAP said not interested.  HE LOOKED over his cycle AFTER she left and was dented up, leaking oil, etc. and had one heck of a time getting her to at least cough up on his cycle insurance 500 dollar deductible money to get it fixed costing several 1000 bucks in paint and parts.

[Rams]

Willow is spot on correct.

Does this rider/buyer have any experience?
Is there a Valkyrie in his local area that he might test out before making that drive?

Personally, I'd tell him to find one locally first and make his own decision.

Rams

[f6gal]

I'm 5'3" tall, with a long inseam for my height (30ish).  Admittedly, on my IS, I have 11.5" shocks, slipped forks, and a narrowed seat nose.  But all those things are easily accomplished.  Most men would beat me out in the strength department.  (Except for Rams, I could probably kick his ass... LOL  )

P.S. Parking awareness is essential.  Back into downgrades, pull forward into inclines.  So you're always backing on the downgrade.

[Rams]

I'm 5'3" tall, with a long inseam for my height (30ish).  Admittedly, on my IS, I have 11.5" shocks, slipped forks, and a narrowed seat nose.  But all those things are easily accomplished.  Most men would beat me out in the strength department.  (Except for Rams, I could probably kick his ass... LOL  )

P.S. Parking awareness is essential.  Back into downgrades, pull forward into inclines.

Probably?    

I have no doubt about it (if someone loaned you a ladder).................  

Rams  

[hubcapsc]

I'm not sure how tall Gordon is, he prefers Interstates...



-Mike

[Bighead]

I'm not sure how tall Gordon is, he prefers Interstates...



-Mike

That was my first thought Mike. And you should see him ride one I think the want to should out weigh can I. I have a very short female friend who rode a Pacific Coast. It is a tall bike and she could only get a toe on the ground on one side. She never dropped it. And rode it like she stole it.

[Jess from VA]

Things like backing uphill or picking up the bike from a drop can be avoided almost entirely by a good rider.  But they can still happen to anyone.  For me to back uphill (beyond a slight grade), I have to be off the bike crouched with my hip/back into the saddlebag rail doing baby steps pulling backward.  I will simply never stop anywhere I have to back uphill. The trick is to be able to pull a hard Uturn inside a single parking space (except you need like one more foot of width).

My only near nemesis, was having the bike get away from me (bad footing) and go over on a steep crowned road edge, so even with the guards, the bike was below level.  It was several tries and my best Vasily Alexeev impression that got it done.  But that was a long time ago.  And there was no one to ask for help anyway.



The other bad one was slowing to near stop, a hard lean to go right and up a steep apron, kicking to first, letting out the clutch only to find I was in neutral, and the bike going over pinning me to a traffic sign mounted on a 4 X 4 post.  I was pinned hard like a wiggling bug with only half my body available to push off that post.  I'd have been better off with no post there at all and going over.  That was in public and quite embarrassing.  I could not push off/up, so I kicked first and rode off, and lost some skin (and big bruises) on that post.  

Being 6'4" 220 would have helped a lot in both cases.    

[Bighead]

If that dude is 6’4” he is 325 :2funny:easy.

[Rams]

Potential buyer worried about his height.  Doesn't want to travel 4 hours and find he can't handle her.

Tell me one of y'all is 5'5" or shorter with no problems.

Not sure where your buyer is coming from but surely there's a Valkyrie in his area one of our members would let him swing a leg over to determine his ability or lack there of to handle the fat lady.   I didn't say ride...........   But, I'd be happy to accommodate him for a test fit if, he was near me.

Rams

[SpidyJ]

Potential buyer worried about his height.  Doesn't want to travel 4 hours and find he can't handle her.

Tell me one of y'all is 5'5" or shorter with no problems.

Not sure where your buyer is coming from but surely there's a Valkyrie in his area one of our members would let him swing a leg over to determine his ability or lack there of to handle the fat lady.   I didn't say ride...........   But, I'd be happy to accommodate him for a test fit if, he was near me.

Rams

He's from somewhere near Savannah and that's exactly what he is going to do!
Thanks