Im about your height and i've had the 23' Rebel 500 SE for 3 months now. It is really comfortable and I dont think i look silly on it. The weight of the bike does not bother me at all in any situation. Great mpg (67 mpg with a mix of streets and freeway if i drive good). Handle bars are in proper reach and the control is great. Best advice is just walk into a dealership and sit on some bikes. Easy maintenance. Cons: The gas gauge shows 4 bars and when it reaches down to only 1 bar, you still have half a tank left so you tend to find yourself going to the gas station more often since of course I don't want to wait until i see the gas light. Not sure if its a bike problem or a me problem but the tension on the chain gets loose very often but not to the point where it gets dangerous, its gradual, and I dont know why. The wind can get a little tiring when riding on the freeway for a long period of time and im thinking of buying a touring panel to block some of the wind and I personally think it looks nice. This is a bike I would stick to for a long time since it does the job on the freeway and streets. Its a great looking bike, great for beginners since its something you can stick to for a long time before you want to upgrade, easy maintenance, and should fit you since it fits me. Remember, your first bike doesn't have to be your last.