my special lady friend is actually considering getting her own bike now, i'm pushing for an iron 883 or a low because i don't think the needs anything bigger. she is 5'2 at best. was wondering if anyone else is in her shoes and can lend me their opinion on either of the bikes. thanks.

 

The gal who taught our MSF class was 5'2" and rode an Electra Glide. It's how comfortable you are the your skills and not the size of the bike. Why not get her involved in the whole process and let the decision be hers and I bet you will have a more willing riding partner.

 

My gf is 5'5" and she can touch and move my iron around pretty easy..

 

i am just more concerned with her ability to touch the ground and keep the bike up.

 

My hubby has a Super Glide and my Bro-In-Law has an 883. I have ridden both and I truly feel the Dyna was way easier to ride between the balancing and touching. However the Dyna is harder to back up, but not impossible. I have 5'4" but only have a 25" inseam or so. But she needs to like whatever she gets and she'll learn the rest.

 

Inseam is more important than height.

 

her inseam is not the longest, every pair of pants she has need to be hemmed.

 

My other concern with the Iron is that the stock seat (which gives it the lower seating position) is a plank. I've heard horror stories about how hard the stock Sporty seat is. I never thought mine was bad, but I sat on a Nightster and an Iron and it feels like HD just put some vinyl on a carved 2x8 an called it a seat.

 

My GF is 5'2 with average inseam for the height. We went shopping for bikes and with a 1200L she could touch flatfooted with a bend in her knees. Every other sporty she was on the ***** of her feet.

I'm about to try to lower my 1200R 3 inches in the back. It should be about right for her to be able to move it around safely and comfortably.

I agree take her shopping have her sit on many bikes and see what fits her then go from there. a 1200L would be a good first bike IMO if she was set on a harley. I have heard that, (dare I say it) honda shadows are lower and fit a shorter person better.

MH

 

yeah my buddy has a nightster and it was god awful i thought my seat was bad until i sat on his.