I’m 5’5” and been riding since the early 80’s and your correct. But it does effect your overall experience on a bike if it’s really tall like an adventure bike which I have now. I can barely touch with one foot and I just have to use my experience to know where I can and can’t stop etc. But at my age I’m getting tired of dealing with the super tall bikes. Which is why I’m getting a road glide next year.
Your right. Great video. I'm 5'6" ride streetglide, i know exactly what your saying. Wet pavement of any type your foot will slowly slide. Happened to me not long ago. Going on a ride early in the morning got in a hurry because i was running a little late that big mass of iron just slid down my leg. Good thing no damage to engine gaurds or bags. Called the guy i was riding with to help pick it up 825# is a lot of iron. Moral of story dont get in a hurry.
Thank you for making this video, I just got a new Street Glide and I’m 5”6 and 175lbs this video definitely boost my confidence everybody keeps saying get a smaller first, than go to the Street Glide. Well I didn’t, I got the Street Glide. But after watching you that made me wanna ride my new bike 🏍 be safe and take care
Thank you for this. I think I am 5 foot 7inches. And I have been thinking about the Road King Special for a while as my primary vehicle. I've been so hesitant because of the things you mentioned. But thank you for showing this. It's encouraging. Fuel is so expensive now and I remember how economical my motorcycle was compared to my motorcycle at the pump.
I'm in the same height as you, I have a longer inseam than most, so I actually bend my knee a little. BTW, I ran into a 5'1" girl who worked at House of Thunder in San Jose, she was awesome on Roadglide. She moved the bikes in and out of the showroom with ease.
I’m 5’4”. The 3” difference between us is huge. I do ride with Danner boots. I also have the same Saddleman seat as yours. I have no issues riding even though my 2019 road Glide Special Stage 4 cams is heavy. Where I have an issue is with parking, putting down my stand when on an incline (even a little one), sandy or unpaved surfaces. Nothing for my upper foot to bite into. I just keep going. Ride safe all
I'm 5'7" and ride a street glide. I've found if you learn to come to a stop with just your left leg down it never gets wobbly. If you wear MC boots the heel gives an extra .5 to 1 inch of reach. Some guys wear 2 inch heeled boots. The main issue I have being short is backing the bike sometimes.
The sound of your pipes never gets old!! Harleys sit lower than Indians which I have and I’m 5’10. When I changed my seat I feel like I loss an inch. I can just flat foot.
Thanks. I'm 5.9. I put on a lower profile seat it helped me out a lot. Yeah my 2016 road glide is no joke a heavy beast. I dropped mine coming out of my bank about one mph hit the front brake like a dummy and fell over. Luckily had some help picking it up. Couldn't have done it on my own. No damage to the bike. Definitely stay off the front brake.
On the flat road you’ll be fine but when you go on a uneven road or a parking lot and or trying to back the MC that’s where you’ll have a problem especially if your gonna raise the MC with the shocks
So true, uneven pavement is the reason I dropped my bike the last time. I stopped at a stop sign when I was up in the mountains and went to put my left foot down but the ground was a little further than I’m use to and all that 900 pounds was too much to hold up and down it went. 🤬
I am inseam challenged at 30" and it's why I got a 15 Limited Low, the bike is originally 12" rear but I had to change them out to 13" b/c they were horrendous when riding two-up with my g/f but it wasn't bad going up 1". The other challenging thing about at stop is when the ground is uneven when to the right is lower while your left side is higher. But I been riding for a every long time so I have adapted to different grounds at stops.
Dope video bro 👌 I think seat width also plays a role, I sat on the 2017 Dyna Low rider S at a dealership and couldnt really flat foot it, cause the previous owner had a hella wide seat on
you should look into air ride suspension, that way when you stop you con lower the bike and raise it up once you move. I don't remember the name of the airline system that does it on its own all you have to do is set it up once and the bike will lower once you slow to a certain speed. I'm 5ft 6. and I've been looking into it a little.
It’s mostly technique…. But it is certainly much better when both feet are planted securely on the ground with legs having a bit of a bend ….no getting around that
I find it hard to believe people being too short for a bagger/cruiser.... only option after that is moped. Everything else is higher than a bagger/cruiser.
I just looked up the seat height on this one (25.9)and maybe for a short guy (5’6”) I just have a longer inseam and shorter torso than MK. My bike has a 27.8 and I flat foot. My biggest concern on the big baggers is the weight and that’d be what I would need to ride and experience to see if I’m going to have any issues.
im 5 8 and test drove a 23 road glide limited. It was a bit tall for me. Im hoping the road glide special will be sufficient for me. My understanding is the limited sits higher than then the special. Do you know if thats accurate? The Road Glide special im looking at will have the king tour pack and lowers as well....so very similar to a limited in a lot of ways.
That is a nice bike bro, I would put some saddle bag guards on it. I know they’re a little pricey from Harley but they are worth it. And the ones from Amazon I heard are made from thin pipes so I don’t know. Just putting it out there.
Having upper body strength helps a lot but at 5'5" when I've met with uneven pavement let's just say it's unpleasant... Oh and backing up on uneven pavement it's like playing hopscotch 😭
Bro, you're driving me batshit crazy with this rain on the floor or oil on the floor! Is it raining in your house?! Or oil in your house?! When it's outside, it's the GROUND!!
Sad to say l dropped my Road Glide 4hrs after taking delivery ☹..I'm same height as you..always have to concentrate when stopping etc as you say once it leans to far...over she goes..will try boots as you suggest thanks for the video 😃👍
Must be your seat. I’m a short rider too at 5’7 and I can flat foot a bagger. Height just be more in my legs for me. Either way I always wear boots on motorcycles for safety, comfort and yeah height.
Harley says the bike is 27.4” as it sits and 25.9 laden. I have a hard time believing the oem shocks travel 1.5” do you have any idea what the real seat height is with an average person on it ?
@marvelkid87 The height never concerned me on the big baggers but the weight does (stopping and slow speeds). I’m a lighter guy (155 lbs) at 5’6”: what’s your experience on how this might be for smaller stature folks both height and weight?
Those bikes cost too much, even used, to drop. Wear BOOTS! Take them to a shoe store and have a thicker sole put on them (1/2 inch, 1 inch ) whatever you need to flat foot that bike. You're not on a light weight sportbike anymore. And you need to put BOTH feet flat on the ground.
I ride a Indian chief. A much better bike for 5.6 and up. I’m 5.8 and flat foot my chief all day. It’s a 111cu/1800cc and is a amazing bike. Check me out
Being able to flat foot has Nothing to do with height. It has everything to do with inseam size which is the distance from your crotch down your leg to the ground and your seat height. You can be 7 foot tall with a 25 inch inseam and struggle to ride any bike depending on seat height. Or you can be 5 foot tall with an inseam of 30 inches and have no trouble riding any bike. Most seat heights are between 27 and 32 inches as this is an average height for most riders. I studied this because I'm 5 foot 3. I had to custom mod my seat height to 26 inches. (150cc scooter not a bagger) I also wear boots that give me a lil more height as opposed to my sneakers. I don't flat foot but can get 3/4's of my feet down, leaning I can flat foot just one.
Never ever and I mean never ever do I recommend anyone ride a motorcycle with sneakers on. My brother you should be ashamed of yourself for doing a You Tube segment with that foot gear. Hopefully younger riders are not taking your advice or watching you break unwritten rules. Good Luck sir and Ride Ez.
Ashamed …. Ill ride with whatever I want to ride and so will thousands of others …. I never advised anyone to wear sneakers my guy if you herd me correct I said I recommend riding in boots. But thanks for your pointless input 🙂
