what is a good size motorcycle for a woman who is 5' tall?

See if you like the honda rebel in your class. You can pick up a used one real cheap after your course, if you like it. I own a yamaha virago 250. It is very similar to the honda rebel (I just like the looks better). These bikes are very low to the ground. There are other bikes on the market that cater to short-statured persons. The buell blast 500cc, another "starter" bike offers two seats heights to accomodate shorter person. There are a few middle class cruisers made with low seat heights by suzuki, honda, harley and kawasaki alike. I'd recommend starting with the 250cc, then go sit on a few in the dealership when you "outgrow" the 250.

note:

I started with a 750cc Kawasaki vulcan. Big mistake: you see I own a 250cc virago now. My motorcycle buds convinced me that a 750 cc would be ok as long as I could touch the ground with my feet. I am learning more and gaining more confidence on my 250cc than I ever did on the 750cc. Yes, I will use it and dicard it. Think of your 250cc as when you learn to ride a bicycle: would you have started on a 10 speed. Well, good luck and ride safe.

What a nice post! So much junk on this site! Kudos to you! If you like the cruiser look, You might want to look at the Yamaha Vstar 650 Silverado. I'm short, (5'6") and I can put my feet flat on the ground. I like the bike quite a bit. Plenty of power and no vibration at 60+ mph. About 50 mpg for mileage. A good bike for shorties. Someone else mentioned lowering the Harley, It's worth looking into, but if you can't do the work yourself. . . well, it could get expensive. Don't sign a contract until you have a firm quote. Motorcycling can be a lot of fun, I'm a photographer and my bike take me places I would never go in a car. And it doesn't have to be dangerous, just pick the bike, your friends, and the road with care. (But that's good advice for every part of your life!)

The Rebel is a very good starting bike. As a rule I choose Bikes I can physically fit on. Nothing too tall or off balanced. Look at all the dealers in your area, most brands carry smaller bikes for new riders. Be safe, wear your gear and have fun!

My wife is 5'1" 105 lbs and she had a Rebel for the past 3 years. She can sit flat footed on it and its as stable as you find in any bike that size. In terms of power, I've had it on I71 doing about 75 (5'10" 180lbs) and it had enough power to pull my butt down the road.

Granted its not in the same class as my ZRX1200 but my wife can stay up with me on a nice sunday ride thru the hills of southern Ohio. She might have to down shift an extra gear here and there but for the most part she stays in 5th most of the time.

I agree with an earlier person, wait until you've taken the course and then make up your mind. You might even want to go to a national bike show, the one in Cleveland, Oh is held ever Jan. Its an easy way to sit on various bikes to see how they feel. Then look for a used one on Cycletrader.com

I own a Honda Rebel...it's about as short as they come. If you want a street bike, the Ninja 250 is as short as they get. If you're 5', it won't take much motorcycle to get you around, and the Rebel gets about 70mpg. I'd go with it.

Most cruiser type bikes have very low seat height, go and look around a motorcycle showroom when you are ready and sit on a few bikes, when you find one that is the closest, they can lower the rear suspension slightly, and the seat can also be cut down, to give you lower seat height.

You need to look at getting something either between a 450 to a 600. you will have to shop around and sit on some bikes before you get one.They use the 250's so that people who have never ridden can handle them without killing themselves.

hi if u want a small sport bike i would recomend a kawasaki ninja 250, if u want a cruiser than i would recomend a suzuki gz 250

You need to be able to stand flat footed on the ground while on your cycle. I would recommend starting with a smaller bike that you can pick up if you turn it over.

Look at www.qlinkmotor.com the Legacy 250 I have one and love it you really do not need anything bigger for your size I am small too