Is the ST10 too big for me?

[DaveW]

I am wandering if there are many shorter people out there riding ST10's. I am 5'7" and 165 lbs. and aged 63 and would love to hear from other short riders as to how they find the ST. I have not had a chance to ride one as of yet (still winter around here) but have spent much time sitting on one in the showroom. My past bikes include KLR (lowering link) Vstrom, ST1100 and 1300 and Ural Gear up.

Thanks for any assistance and yes I know I need to ride one for myself come the spring but right now I am just looking for rider feedback.

DaveW
London, Ontario

 

[The Ferret]

I'm 5'5". I lowered my rear suspension by 30mm and dropped the forks 13 mm. I use the standard seat. The bike is slower than stock into corners but not bad. A lowering seat would help

 

[Doug C]

5'7" 170 lbs. Low seat in low position not quite flat footed at stop. No problems other than that. I've seen a few other vertically challenged riders who ride the wheels off it.

 

[oilfield_trash]

I'm about 5' 8-1/2". I can't flat foot it even with the lowered seat on. I can still manage it with the regular seat on in low position. Off camber situations can be tricky.

 

[Donk]

I'm 5'7" with a 30" inseam, 59 yrs of age. I ride with the seat in the low position. I can't flat foot the bike but I've never had a problem. My feet are down enough so I always feel secure and I have backed the bike uphill out of parking spots sitting on it.

 

[markjenn]

I suspect you can handle it, but it is a very large and very heavy bike so you might want to consider something smaller/lighter unless you have an overriding need for a bike like the S10. Although I'm 6-2"/220-lbs and a reasonably fit 61-yo, I'm downsizing to something sub-500 lbs as I just don't feel very confident man-handling the bike anymore, especially off tarmac. Don't let anyone tell you that "above X, weight doesn't matter" or that any bike "carries its weight so well, it doesn't matter" - because it does. Higher weight may be an acceptable tradeoff to get other things you want, but it always matters.

- Mark

 

[dandil726]

I'm 5'6" about 165 lb. I have a lowering link and got an inch in the back; slid the front forks up about 1/2 in and removed foam from the stock seat (always in the low position). I think I'm down to about a 31 inch seat height. Not problem now. Last year was the first year I had the bike after 7 years riding a Road King so I shed about 225 lb. of bike switching to an S10...I'm happy.

 

[Yamaray]

Hi Dave
I'm about the same height as Donk and a couple of years older, I had no problem on the test ride standard seat low position ::008::
On my toes but it didn't feel unstable, I get my new bike Friday ::013::

yamaray

 

[cakeboy]

i,m 5ft 8inch and i have the seat on the lowest setting and manage the bike fine. i also take my wife away with me on tours as well as loaded up with luggage . i had a 1100st and if you could handle that ok the S10 will be a doddle .

 

[Tenerester]

I am 5'6", 159lb with a 29" inseam and ride the S10 in stock form with the seat set to low position. I have no issues at all. Bike's COG is well placed and feels light once you sit on it. Of course your confidence level also matters.

 

[AVGeek]

I'm 5'9" with a 30" inseam, and the only way I can flat foot is sliding off to one side or the other. Now granted I do ride with the seat in the high position for better knee comfort, and usually switch to the low position when hitting the dirt.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

My wife is 5'6". Her Tenere has one inch lowering links, the OEM lower seat, and the fork tubes have been raised in the clamp. She also wears boots that give her an extra inch. Can't flat foot the bike, but she always shoots me down when I talk about getting her a more appropriately sized bike.

 

[Sckill]

5'7", 30" inseam with a sargeant seat in the low position, 185 lbs with stock rear suspension set at max preload. I can usually get the balls of my feet down at a stop, but I've gotten used to just leaning over a bit and using one leg at a stop. I tried both the stock and the OEM low seat, but the very forward tilt gave my lower back issues after riding, even after I shaved some foam off to level it. The sargeant seat I have now is a bit higher than stock, but coming to a stop doesn't present any issues. You'll be fine with the bike once you get used to it.

 

[BravoBravo]

Greetings from a fellow Londoner, Dave! I am 62 years old, 5'9" with a 30" inseam. My 2012 Super Tenere has the factory low saddle and I ride with it in the low position. I don't have any issues with the height of the bike. It's a great machine! ::26::

Cheers,

Bruce