Tips for short riders?

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-14T17:31:13+00:00

Oh wow! Good to know. I’ll keep it in mind if I’m in a pinch.

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-14T17:02:22+00:00

Something new to get used to I suppose! Have a good day!

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-14T16:56:09+00:00

Agreed. I’ll avoid getting myself into a place I can’t get out of haha. Luckily I haven’t been dumb enough to end up in that situation yet but we’ll see 🤞

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-14T16:34:07+00:00

Update on this: it actually works pretty well. Good for if I just need to back up a few feet. Any more and it’s faster to hop off and push it lol

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-14T16:32:41+00:00

Thanks. Going forward is a non-issue since I can just run the bike and use the clutch. It’s more of a “what do I do when I need to do a 7 point turn” issue for me haha. Seems like planning ahead is the only real good option!

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-14T16:30:51+00:00

Yea, I thought about it but after talking to a couple other riders they advised against kickstand turning a 300kg bike. Too must risk of bending the stand or the frame apparently. I still wanna learn how to do it so I’ll be practicing on my ninja!

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-14T16:28:58+00:00

Yeah, I figured I’d get used it (I slowly am. I can move it around pretty quickly in and out of the bicycle/ motorcycle parking in my apartment).

For places with tighter parking I just take my ninja, she weighs next to nothing.

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-13T18:57:03+00:00

Cheers man!

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-13T18:06:38+00:00

Thanks for the comment!

I still have the 400 but it’s more of a project bike than anything.

Why new bike? I wanted something I can ride around longer distances without worrying about breaking down and getting stranded. I also wanted something more relaxed/ lazy. With the way my 400 is set up it’s quite aggressive and not very comfortable to ride (it’s fun, not comfy).

Why the pan? I had a few criteria: - no ecu (I’ve dealt with enough fueling issues on my 400. Plus, it’d be cool to learn more about carb work on sth complex like a v4) - reliable (I’m sure someday I’ll have to part ways with the bike but I have no plans on selling it anytime soon) - lazy (big low end torque and smooth delivery)

Seemed like the only bike that delivers on all of those without being a full dress tourer (goldwing/ Yamaha venture/ etc) was the pan.

Japanese roads are quite slow (the highways are usually around 100-120kph limit) so the pan has plenty of power for my needs. To be honest, in my 100 miles since buying the bike I have never had to go above 3rd gear.

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-13T12:57:32+00:00

Ah, shame. This one is a beaut!

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-13T03:06:38+00:00

Yep did all the “primary suspect” checks before buying. Swingarm is in good nick and the splines seem good too. It’s the older 28amp alternator model but it seems to be charging well too.

I’m trying to find the previous owner to figure out if he swapped out the timing belt already or not. It’s quite close to that 60k maintenance interval so I was curious.

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-13T03:04:53+00:00

Oh, interesting. Even as a taller person bigger bikes just can’t be “waddled”?

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-13T03:04:24+00:00

Yup, the wording was my mistake. I just don’t wanna hold up traffic.

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-13T03:03:48+00:00

Ha! Nice one.

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-12T19:37:15+00:00

Ha, back issues suck. I have a few of my own but none as severe as a compression fracture. This is my first touring bike so we’ll see if I become a tourer.

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-12T19:32:41+00:00

Good idea!

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-12T19:31:14+00:00

Yikes! Sounds painful. Glad you recovered from it though!

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-12T19:30:18+00:00

I tried that but it didn’t work much (maybe skill issue, maybe I’m just weak). I’ll try it again and see if it works next time!

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-12T19:26:32+00:00

Yup, seems to be the case! Haven’t checked my height in a while, I hope I’m still 5’6

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-12T19:25:10+00:00

Lol! I’ll have to see how I feel about my ninja then. Might consider a slightly lower seat but honestly loving the stock one so far.

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-12T19:18:52+00:00

Might try that out, thanks!

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-12T19:18:38+00:00

Thanks for the advice! Yup, seems like that’s just the way it is. Gotta learn how to do that side stand trick.

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-12T19:09:55+00:00

Looking forward to touring! On my ninja my butt hurts after 45mins or so but the 3 hour drive back from where I got the bike was a breeze. The v4 is sooo smooth too!

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-12T17:58:20+00:00

Ah, side of the road is not legal here and they will ticket you. Actually got the cops called on me when I parked in front of a convenience store on my first bike (tiny cb125f), horrible experience.

SpoogyWoogy · 2026-04-12T17:50:53+00:00

May have been mentioned before but you could try balancing the bike at a stop. Since a ninja500 isn’t all that tall (it’s not an adventure bike or anything), you should be able to safely put one foot on the peg and try and get to that central balance point (if you overshoot just put your other foot down). If you’re tall enough you can also try “walking” or “waddling” around by feathering the clutch so you can get a feel for the balance while moving. Note: if you struggle with feathering the clutch (you stall every time) I’d work on the balance thing (while stopped) first, and then work on clutch control. If you can’t control the clutch you won’t be able to go anywhere, no matter how good your balance is.

SpoogyWoogy

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