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**djdaredevil** · 06-26-2012, 04:18 PM

To answer some of the questions yes for the right price it can be
lowered Tmod is our resident suspension guru and and can tell you
more about that and costs.
We have a few female members on the forum that ride Kats and love them.
Maybe have your wife become a member and talk to some of the ladies
herself so she can get a female to female perspective of it, she
might feel more comfortable that way.

**DaneG320U545** · 06-26-2012, 04:38 PM

I think your wife would do great on the Kat. I got it as my first bike and love it. Very forgiving and power is tame but plenty enough once you let her rip. As far as being too short, you can lower it but performance will be crappy = crappy ride (at least from what I heard but might depend on how low it really is). As long as she has strong legs and feels comfortable on the bike while at a stop, I think she can manage the weight and being short. Just have to keep toes on the ground or balance left to right constantly to make sure she doesn't cramp her legs up. That is just my two cents. But hey, what do I know, I've only been riding since april lol. But I've heard stories and seen some of my shorter friends ride their bikes and seen the ways the handle taller bikes. But definitely have your wife join the forums and speak to the ladies about it!

**C-Fos** · 06-27-2012, 07:45 AM

Thanks for the feed back. I know she really wants one. I'm thinking of surprising her with it as an anniversary gift. We took the course together and would love to be able to ride together.

If I do get it for her, than she'll be joining the forum too.

Thanks again.

...OMG!!! Just noticed the dancing bacon...

**steves** · 06-27-2012, 07:55 AM

Seat height and the abiltiy to flat foot are really personal options.

You do have some choices which include lowering the bike or shaving the seat.

**Slofuze** · 06-27-2012, 08:36 AM

Have her sit on your bike and see how she likes it, then, as Steve mentioned, would lowering it or shaving the seat help.

**C-Fos** · 06-27-2012, 08:41 AM

I've had her sit on mine. That's how I know she can barely touch the ground. She's a little intimidated by the size, I think. I'm also I wee bit worried of her laying mine down, if I give it to her to try out.

I think I'm going to have to trust her and let her ride it to see for sure.

**kayakkermit** · 06-27-2012, 09:21 AM

Originally posted by C-Fos View Post

She's a little intimidated by the size, I think. I'm also I wee bit worried of her laying mine down, if I give it to her to try out.

Reallistically, there is likely your answer. A rider who either is intimidated by their bike or cannot stand flat footed is generally in an unsafe position. That is normally brought up in every motorcycle course, and I know it was when my wife took hers a few months back. We found her a bike that she fits properly, and that she was comfortable riding, and she is learning well.
IMO, riding is difficult and dangerous enough without exasperating the conditions.

**chrisx2** · 06-27-2012, 09:48 AM

Suppose you could always get her a better sized starter and she could move up to a kat, but that's at a cost. If you go with a kat, consider some of the frame sliders presented in this forum to save the plastics just in case. good luck.

**Rican Katgrl** · 06-27-2012, 09:51 AM

I'm 5' on a good day and about 135lbs. I had a 2001 Kat 600 and it was lowered 2 inches and I was only on the balls of my feet. It's all about comfort and confidence. I didn't like the 500lb beast being on the balls of my feet, however it was a great starter bike for me. I dropped it a few times sure, and had to even pick it back up by myself. But I took the msf course before even trying to start any bike. Now I have the gsxr and couldn't be happier. And I still have confidence issues with my gsxr. It's lowered I think 1.25" and I can flat foot it with no issues. However I want to put it back to stock height but I loose the confidence of having to use the balls of my feet again.

Get her a little used ninja 250 for her to start on then she can move onto the kat.

Oh and it really doesn't take much to lift the kat up off of its side stand and once you are moving you can't feel the weight imo. I just didn't like that 500lbs of girth between my legs!

**C-Fos** · 06-29-2012, 02:47 PM

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I brought up the subject of a smaller bike, like a 250 and she'll have none of it. She wants the 600.

The search is on.

**numus** · 06-30-2012, 08:45 AM

When I bought my bike my friend's (now wife) was surprised she could flat foot it... We took a look and sure enough... There were lowering links on it.. Had the dealership remove them for stock links but didn't notice much of a difference in performance (suspension is a little better now that the springs aren't being compressed by the links all the time)... They didnt lower the front so the geometry probably wasn't that great but not bad at all...

**Kreylyn** · 06-30-2012, 08:53 AM

Originally posted by C-Fos View Post

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I brought up the subject of a smaller bike, like a 250 and she'll have none of it. She wants the 600.

The search is on.

Tmod can set up her Kat so that not only is it lower, but the suspension is 10X better.

PM Badfaerie... Tmod did an awesome job of setting up her bike, 1.75" lower.

Krey

**yngveny** · 07-01-2012, 05:23 AM

Saw the title and wondered if you were looking for a trade.....

**ratgti** · 07-02-2012, 02:22 PM

thats a good idea. ninja 250's are on craigslist all day long for cheap. let her get some rididng confidence then look at a KAT. just my 2 cents .

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