For someone your size, the most important thing to consider is seat height. You have to be able to balance the bike while stopped in traffic. Best if you can sit and put both feet flat on the ground. With a seat too high, you will only be able to put one foot on the ground. You may be forced to lean the bike to the side and can easily lose your balance and drop the bike. This could be dangerous in traffic. At the very least, it will be embarrassing. This could also be a problem when you take your motorcycle license road test.
There are lowering kits available for some bikes, but these can cause problems. They change the suspension geometry and can cause handling problems. The reduced ground clearance can cause the bike to drag the pavement in corners, which can cause loss of control. The lower suspension can cause the tire to rub the fender. The kick stand will need to be altered. You can also lower the seat height a little bit by shaving some of the cushion from the seat. However, this can cause comfort issues, especially on longer rides.
You need to know that most sport bikes have a seat height of 30" or more. This makes them unsuitable for shorter riders. Also, if this is going to be your first motorcycle a sport bike is a poor choice. Getting a sport bike for your first motorcycle is like getting a Formula 1 race car for your first car. Any decent sport bike can go from zero to deadly faster than you can say "Oh Sh**!"
On the other hand most cruiser style motorcycles will have a lower seat height. Although these bikes generally weigh more than their sport bike counterparts, they will have a lower center of gravity. This makes them easier to balance while stopped in traffic.
Honda Shadow VLX. It has a seat height of 25.6". This is a small cruiser. This is a 538 CC liquid cooled V-twin. It should have plenty of power for you. They sold new for $5500. 2007 was the last year Honda made these. You may be able to find a good used one.
If you want something more in an upscale cruiser, there is the Harley Davidson Sportster 883 Low and the 1200 Low. The 883 Low has a seat height of 25.3". They sell for about $7000. The Sportster 1200 Low has a seat height of 26.3". These sell for about $9800.
The Buell Blast is something a little different. With its optional low profile seat, it has a seat height of 25.5". These sell new for about $4795. The optional low seat is an additional $111 for a total of $4906. This bike has a 492CC air cooled single cylinder engine. It also has a belt drive for less maintenance. This is considered a sport bike. These are usually sold through Harley Davidson dealerships. This bike will be discontinued in 2010 with no replacement planned.
The Honda Shadow Aero has a seat height of 25.9". This bike is considered a cruiser. It has a 745CC liquid cooled V-Twin. It is shaft driven for less maintenance. This has a fairly large engine for a small bike. These cost about $7000.
If you want something with a smaller engine the Honda Rebel has a 234CC, air cooled, parallel twin engine. It has a 26.6" heat height. They go new for about $3400. They have been around a while so you might be able to find a good used one. This is also considered a small cruiser.
The Yamaha Star V-Star 250 might be acceptable with a seat height of 27". This is a cruiser style 250 CC air cooled V-twin engine. However, this may be pushing the limit for someone with short legs. These sell new for about $3800.
The Suzuki Boulevard S50 is considered a Cruiser. This bike has a seat height of 27.6". It has an 805CC liquid cooled V-Twin engine. It is shaft driven for less maintenance. This bike may be pushing the limit for someone with short legs. These sell for about $7200.
The Suzuki Boulevard S40 is considered a Cruiser. This bike has a seat height of 27.6". It has a 650CC air cooled single cylinder engine. It is belt driven for less maintenance. This bike may be pushing the limit for someone with short legs. These sell for about $4900.
The Suzuki GZ 250 is considered a standard bike. This bike has a 27.8" seat height. It has a 250 CC single cylinder engine. This bike may also be pushing the limits for someone with short legs. These sell for about $3800.
The Honda Night Hawk has the same 234CC parallel twin engine as the Honda Rebel, but has a higher seat at 29.3". This may be too high.
Some people might say the Kawasaki Ninja 250R. However, this bike has a seat height of 30.5". This would be a poor choice for someone with short legs. These sell for about $4000 - $4100.
Honda now makes a bike similar to the Ninja 250. It's called the Honda CRF230M. It has a 223CC single. They call it a sport bike but I think it looks more like a cross between a sport bike and a standard bike. This bike has a seat height of 31.9 inches, making it a poor choice for someone with short legs. They also sell the CRF230L, which is almos
There are lowering kits available for some bikes, but these can cause problems. They change the suspension geometry and can cause handling problems. The reduced ground clearance can cause the bike to drag the pavement in corners, which can cause loss of control. The lower suspension can cause the tire to rub the fender. The kick stand will need to be altered. You can also lower the seat height a little bit by shaving some of the cushion from the seat. However, this can cause comfort issues, especially on longer rides.
You need to know that most sport bikes have a seat height of 30" or more. This makes them unsuitable for shorter riders. Also, if this is going to be your first motorcycle a sport bike is a poor choice. Getting a sport bike for your first motorcycle is like getting a Formula 1 race car for your first car. Any decent sport bike can go from zero to deadly faster than you can say "Oh Sh**!"
On the other hand most cruiser style motorcycles will have a lower seat height. Although these bikes generally weigh more than their sport bike counterparts, they will have a lower center of gravity. This makes them easier to balance while stopped in traffic.
Honda Shadow VLX. It has a seat height of 25.6". This is a small cruiser. This is a 538 CC liquid cooled V-twin. It should have plenty of power for you. They sold new for $5500. 2007 was the last year Honda made these. You may be able to find a good used one.
If you want something more in an upscale cruiser, there is the Harley Davidson Sportster 883 Low and the 1200 Low. The 883 Low has a seat height of 25.3". They sell for about $7000. The Sportster 1200 Low has a seat height of 26.3". These sell for about $9800.
The Buell Blast is something a little different. With its optional low profile seat, it has a seat height of 25.5". These sell new for about $4795. The optional low seat is an additional $111 for a total of $4906. This bike has a 492CC air cooled single cylinder engine. It also has a belt drive for less maintenance. This is considered a sport bike. These are usually sold through Harley Davidson dealerships. This bike will be discontinued in 2010 with no replacement planned.
The Honda Shadow Aero has a seat height of 25.9". This bike is considered a cruiser. It has a 745CC liquid cooled V-Twin. It is shaft driven for less maintenance. This has a fairly large engine for a small bike. These cost about $7000.
If you want something with a smaller engine the Honda Rebel has a 234CC, air cooled, parallel twin engine. It has a 26.6" heat height. They go new for about $3400. They have been around a while so you might be able to find a good used one. This is also considered a small cruiser.
The Yamaha Star V-Star 250 might be acceptable with a seat height of 27". This is a cruiser style 250 CC air cooled V-twin engine. However, this may be pushing the limit for someone with short legs. These sell new for about $3800.
The Suzuki Boulevard S50 is considered a Cruiser. This bike has a seat height of 27.6". It has an 805CC liquid cooled V-Twin engine. It is shaft driven for less maintenance. This bike may be pushing the limit for someone with short legs. These sell for about $7200.
The Suzuki Boulevard S40 is considered a Cruiser. This bike has a seat height of 27.6". It has a 650CC air cooled single cylinder engine. It is belt driven for less maintenance. This bike may be pushing the limit for someone with short legs. These sell for about $4900.
The Suzuki GZ 250 is considered a standard bike. This bike has a 27.8" seat height. It has a 250 CC single cylinder engine. This bike may also be pushing the limits for someone with short legs. These sell for about $3800.
The Honda Night Hawk has the same 234CC parallel twin engine as the Honda Rebel, but has a higher seat at 29.3". This may be too high.
Some people might say the Kawasaki Ninja 250R. However, this bike has a seat height of 30.5". This would be a poor choice for someone with short legs. These sell for about $4000 - $4100.
Honda now makes a bike similar to the Ninja 250. It's called the Honda CRF230M. It has a 223CC single. They call it a sport bike but I think it looks more like a cross between a sport bike and a standard bike. This bike has a seat height of 31.9 inches, making it a poor choice for someone with short legs. They also sell the CRF230L, which is almos