This series is brilliant and it's great to see a female rider this time. It was a good choice of bikes all but the suzuki, I thought the Tiger was a great choice but surprised a brand new Tracer 9 didn't make an appearance.... I think she would've enjoyed that
I really love the WBN episodes. It brings the human element to the table, making a great balance of individual needs as well as the various bikes to suit. Thumbs up from the south west coast of the island of Australia (ie, the west island of New Zealand).
Very interesting episode. I spent 11 years on a 2013 1200S GT Multistrada, I did loads of tours on it both home and abroad. I traded it in earlier this year for a 2020 R1250R SE. I've already done 2500 miles including 2 mini tours of Wales. It's superb! I'll be taking it to the Pyrenees next year. As soon as you pulled back the cover, I thought, yep, she's gonna love it! A longer test ride is probably in order...
Thanks for doing an episode that shows the problems us short riders face, I'm 5'6" but have a very short 29" inseam so when Triumph raised the seat height of the new Street triple RS to 836mm I thought my third ST was gonna be too tall, luckily Triumph gave the option of a 28mm lower seat which made the bike a much more reasonable seat height and I love the bike.
I've had to pause after the intro and say how good it is hearing the absolute clarity and history of Leonie and what she has in mind..... I'm sure I'll enjoy seeing what bikes have been chosen for her. Back to the video, woohoo
didn't ya hear....she doesnt want & is prejudiced against jap bikes....oh ok, cya. it hurts because i want ppl to have reliability , spare parts, actual heritage , light weight ...and low cost . must be one of those prude millionaire folks. k
I love this series, very interesting, but ... I would love to see a picture of the bike the customer is currently riding. Stating it's a 'Multi box VF750DX with the Eval package' doesn't mean a thing to me without checking Google! It would make the contrast between that bike and your suggestions that much more exciting. Cheers. Keep up the good work.
Yes! Great idea. Also, I think learning about the mods/customization they’ve done to the bike would help them understand what is important to the rider. I have a GS, and I can look at another GS and get a pretty good feel for what type of riding they like to do.
Absolutely one of the BEST show ideas and entertaining series on UA-cam! Production value is phenomenal, hosts are incredible, and the riders you select are always perfect. Well done!! Please keep them coming 🇨🇦
I have a 30” inseam, and after test riding everything opted for the Suzuki GSX-S 100GT! Seat height is 810mm and my feet fully touch the floor no problem. Put it in C mode and it will pootle about on a trip to the shops, select A mode and it grows horns for a high speed bomb down the A roads. A great bike and fantastic value for money.
Great to see an episode where the seat height is a key factor. I am taller than Leonie and also like the adventure bike style and versatility but am put off by 83+ cm seat heights. The suzuki fiasco is a good illustration of the problem. In the adventure style the BMW F750GS is the only really low seat bike i know. Will be checking out the V2 that was mentioned. Great episode.
Low seat height is always good. I'm 185cm and I sat on a Transalp in the showroom, it's too tall for my liking. Lower seat and centre of gravity makes a bike more maneuverable.
I often wonder why bikes are still in the stone ago as far as rider triangle and height adjustment goes. Being short legged and long/large bodied myself I've found most sport/offroad style bikes are designed around what seems to be a 6 foot bean pole and then anyone else is left to get on with it. Great if you're 6 foot with an average leg/arm/torso length. On certain bikes it makes some sense because of the parts location but on most it seems like its simply a design decision for no other reason than most of the customers are expected to be that size. Factory options for bars, pegs and ride height wouldn't be hard to offer along with the growing number offering different seats. Considering the price of some bikes I don't think button-adjustable suspension would be much to ask either. I think three ride heights with their appropriate settings already programmed would be a lot more useful to most people than rider "modes" which really just numb the throttle and up the electronic intervention - especially on something like a GS where low may be a great set up for a motorway then medium for rough roads and high for the full go everywhere experience.
Argh... P-Strom disaster! 😂 Difficult brief, for a shorter adventure bike fan. Multi V2 might fit the bill, although I reckon that F900 XR could've been a contender... Good to see the return of WBN! Cheers 👍
Without naming bikes, I'm surprised that the second bike was one without electronic suspension (give away is the colour of the forks) I thought most versions sold in the UK came with that specced). That could have helped with the front end feel. Great video and Leonie was a fantastic guest!
My wife has a quite similar height (2 cm smaller). Maybe I missed it, but it would have been really great to see how Leonie actually fits on the bike, respectively if her feet touch the ground or not, how she stops and manouvers at low speed.
Keep an eye on the channel because you invited Leonie back after recording this to help with a ‘Top Tips for Shorter Riders’ feature. It’s coming soon!
On the Triumph the balls of my feet were just about down, it was light & nimble (paddling it backwards was possible), on the BMW it was the same - but heavier. The Suzuki I needed ladders 😂. Slow speed maneuvering is always my place to practise to learn a new bike or refresh myself on my own bike. Happy to go through a few things with your wife if she'd find it helpful
love watching these, and recently bought a bike from SBF Donington, but anyone who hasn't been and thinking about it should know the general public experience is very different, even on a quiet mid week day. at most you'll get a chance to have a good look and sit on a bike. no test ride, or even bike start/running prior to purchase. for every spotlessly clean bike there are at least two that look like they haven't been washed in months
@@dstev55 thanks. ive corrected. no complaints about SBS so far, only been to the MK branch though Harlow may be closer for me from Cambridge, if i can find it
Would have expected to see the Honda CB500X ! Adventure styling but more road based, low seat height, easy to slow speed manouvre and great for touring and commuting as well. New price around 7000 pounds if I remember correctly, so with her budget she could fully kit it out with all bells and wistles, and still have money left over to spend on a holiday. Apparently with a lowering bracket an 800mm seat height. Although maybe the engine wont excite her enough. The problems she felt with the BMW are most likely terrible suspension set up. Suspension is probably set up for a way heavier rider, and putting 500 towards a suspension specialist would go a long way.
She called the Triumph Tiger 900 bland and lacking in torque! But really she meant less engine braking than the Multistrada. Since she's used to a Multistrada I think she wants a big engine.
@@waveman1500I downsized from an ST1300 Pan European to my 500X. I’ve never missed the power or the torque, the 500X is more fun to ride and tour on on public roads, it’s a bike that you can enjoy getting the most out of every time you ride. More and more power just isn’t the answer.
R1250rs comes with a 760mm low seat height option plus screen plus 3 piece luggage. Might have been a better shout. Might have needed a 1200 though for the price range.
Thanks very much. It's the positive comments like this that make us want to continue! We've got another episode filmed and one more to shoot soon, and hopefully the sponsors will be happy and we can continue with a minimum of one episode per month. How's that sound? Cheers, Michael
You sir, think like me. I was really hoping that the V85TT would have been hunted down for Leonie, especially when she revealed her spending budget. Maybe she'll read the comments and we'll get her thinking!
@@Jonathan-Lthe V85TT was definitely on my list & I forgot to say it when they asked. It always depends on what SBK factory have in at the time, it was a great day riding different bikes though 😊
Thanks JMJ, that was on her shortlist (pardon the pun) but SBK Factory didn’t have a suitable example to show her/let her ride. Since we recorded this episode, Leonie has bought a Multistrada V2. So you can take 1 x brownie point! Cheers, Michael
Gents and Lady, a great presentation and very very interesting. Kept my attention (a rarity on UA-cam) throughout the whole episode. An intrigue that resonated with me was that as a male who is exactly a foot taller than Leonie my experiences have all been with bikes too small, rather than too tall. A short explanation - previous bike was a 2016 BMW R1200R and it was wonderful, but.. my bum to heel distance made it just a touch too cramped. Welcome then to a 2019 BMW R1250GS; rather a large addition of cash to get the leg room I required! I can entirely sympathise at the other end of the scale and can only assume that our beloved motorcycle designers are a group of short in stature Italians. On the bonus point for me - I can reach the top shelf in the kitchen easily, just don’t ask me to scrabble around in the cupboards lower down. Again, really informative video and great to get a member of the “normal” biking brother/sisterhood giving their views on the bikes instead of the journalistic representation that feeds us most of the time.
Hi Guys, I'm surprised you didn't offer Leonie a go on a 650 V-twin Suzuki V-strom. She said V-twins are her favorite, wants grunty bottom end and not bothered about absolute power. Plus 650 stroms are touring maestros.
Love this show ! I think you may of been on the money with the f900xr …. 2 other bikes that could fit the bill our thé KTM 790/890 adv and the aprilia toureg 660 . Keep up the excellent work !!! 👌
Triumph Tiger 900 GT Factory Low, comes with cruise and luggage options for touring. Seat height 770-790 mm but slightly out of budget at £12,195 new but there must be some 2nd hand ones out there. Or a Tiger Sport 850, new £10,095, standard seat height 820-840mm but a 3D mesh technology low seat reducing that to 790-810mm. A fairly simple bike with no cruise option but in some ways a lot of bike for the money. I would definitely start with manufacturers who have dedicate low chassis models.
Great show really enjoyable, I’m always amazed at the bikes they choose, or in this case, didn’t , may be you should of let the sales assistant pick the 3 bike 😊
Thanks for that. In every other episode, we do have a 'sales expert' from Superbike Factory pick the mystery bike... but they couldn't get one involved in this episode, hence the P-Strom. Don't worry, normal service will be resumed for episode 7.
Great fun video, brilliant. Yeh nah, it is Suzuki's fault. 855 is a stupid seat height that disqualifies a range of people, including me. Other adventure bikes are similar. Unnecessary and limiting, Leonie is right, time for OEMs to change. BTW What did she pick??
I was thinking a BMW GS 1250 (not the adventure) with a low seat option (taking the ride height down to between 800 and 820mm) would have been perfect for Leonie - loads of torque and all the weight low down to inspire confidence...
@@ryanmalone2681 true...forgot about the budget.. Would have to be the GS 1200 instead (although with the 1300 coming out next month (I believe) the prices on the 1250 may drop a touch!!
I still don't understand the obsession with the T-plane crank. The Triumph triples are glorious and smooth with great linear torque across the rev range.
Wow, love this still. I did Episode 2 after my accident and needed a change (so I thought anwyay). I bought a BMW R1250R, cracking bike then did a short tour in the UK (Peak district again) and found it was a bit lacking for touring, for me anyway, and now back on the BMW R1250 RT, same engine but now happy commuting and touring again....
Hi, yes, I found the R1250R a great bike on the a and b roads, thought I had the perfect bike, then did the tour round the peaks and dales and the weather wasn't too good and found it quite lacking, I understand Leonie's comment about the front end twitch, so I ended up trading it in for the new RT, still fun to ride but gives the extra protection. Is great even on the a and b roads, really inspires confidence. Keep these coming love to see how different everyone is so choosing a bike for them is no east feat for you, say hello to everyone and tell Dom he should start using the insta 360 on the riders bike for some extra shots 🙂@@bennettsbikesocial
I am surprised that despite a request for high torque and comments on wanting strong engine braking, that you didn't include an electric motorbike among the choices. The ideal bike for her requirements (but not her budget) is made only a few miles from her Multistrada - the Energica Experia. It has amazing torgue and power and has a fairly low seat. It is designed for touring, but not off road use. The Zero DSR/X is better for off road, but it is too tall. Within half of her budget are second hand Zero DSR Black Forest models, with a low and confortable seat, very cheap for commutin. I also toured on one, around Ireland and Scotland. But I like to take lots of breaks, so those who like to ride for 4 hours without stopping won't like it. In short, don't forget to include electric bikes alongside the ones that are creating the weather extremes that spoil our rides.
Yeahh the guys are back! Can they out do the guys at the Superbike factory (or there is something different....)? Stay tuned to find out! Plus, hats off to her, she does know her stuff and riding a multistrada!
I would propose a factory low chassis BMW R1200 GS. Im just under 5'8" and ride a GS Adventure Low chassis with the seat in the standard height position and ESA Pre load on Auto & i can almost flat foot it. The GS Low chassis is a bit shorter than the GSA Low Chassis (but i have the GSA as it is wider and therefore has better weather protection). I also have bar risers fitted that bring them up and (crucially) back by about 1" because not surprisingly I have short arms as well as legs and this mod means i am not reaching to the bars and pitching forward. I've just been to Germany on it and its really comfortable, capable and nimble, oh and an absolute hoot to ride. If you don't rev it hard I wonder if the shift cam of the 1250 brings you any benefits? Also the Transalp has a low seat option, they had one the bike show last year.
I'm a big geezer (6"'3") and I tip my hat to Leonie handling the Multi. I love it, but it is a fatty and hard to move around. Getting it on the centre stand is workout worthy of a Power lifter. I looked around at lighter bikes to replace it because in heavy traffic it can be tiring filtering at slow speeds. I looked at the V4s Streetfigher and the v2, the Monster and Hypermotard. They are all brilliant bikes, but not comfortable if you have long legs and offer no wind protection compared to the Multi.They are all lighter but in the end, the Muliti is just so damn good I put up with the weight. The handling belies its big arse, and the engine has a second wind like Usain Bolt on that last 30m stretch. I am seriously considering the Pikes Peak version to reduce the weight and keep the rest of the benefits of the package. This is the dilemma. Naked gives you light, manoeuvrable and speedy, but no comfort for touring and long commuting. You are likely to go deaf from the wind noise. Adventure or sports tourers, give you comfort and weather protection but are heavy and sometimes too tall. What to do?
Can't believe Simons still a journo fair play ....I'm old old school and remember, Trevor Franklin, ronnie Smith, shakey Byrne , mossy micheal neaves etc . Glad someone made a living from it keep up the good work
Maybe open up this series to non Bikesocial members? So then we get more episodes? Kidding I just love this series. well done even though the sound was off at the end discussion. Well done
Awww guys you let Leoni down not getting her on a (non Evo) Gen 3 Superduke, Factory soft panniers, Puig screen, lowest suspension settings. It would blow her away. Makes even the Ducati engine feel tame.
Hmmm, I would not categorically rule out inline 4s. Many of the detuned Fireblade engines have really sweet torque, already down low in the revs. But you can still fire them off hard in the higher revs.
The Diavel was discounted because of its cruiser-style. The first bike chosen was Simon’s and surely you watched enough of the episode to see what that actually was…!
Before you even picked a bike as the owner of a new Hornet I thought new transalp straight away as there is a lower seat option and you can spec it up with everything she needs including heated grips. If I only had one bike it's what I would buy. Hope she tries one or at least tries to get on one.
Is Hornet not a good option for commuting and touring ? I am in a similar situation, lost my Tiger 900 in a bad crash so looking for a lighter all purpose bike
@@rajivbhalla3194I'm thinking of getting the touring pack for mine and doing a tour on it next year. Its fine as long as your ok touring on a naked bike
I reckon she dismissed the BMW for some minor issue that could have been as simple as tyre pressure, or even the brand of tyre (I'm a Metzeler convert!). That's not to say the tyres on the BMW weren't good or the pressures weren't set right. Most bikes (the bigger and more expensive ones) take time to get acquainted with, so a quick ride around the local area isn't the same as owning one for a few months. The BMW's shaft drive should have made it an easy choice for her.
@@Jonathan-LI absolutely wanted to love the BMW. I test rode an SE version the following weekend, I'm capable of 200+ mile days on the Multi. I managed just about 70 on the test ride, the front end geometry & suspension really pushed me physically to the extent I had nerve pain. I was out with my other half on a low seat but otherwise standard GS, I rode that back to the dealership, he rode the R. I was gutted but glad I got the experience 👍
@@13Blakeley That's interesting feedback. It just goes to prove that we should never count our chickens before they hatch with anything in life. I must admit, all the bikes I've ever bought were picked on blind impulse, and I never thoroughly tested them or any alternative rival. Since I was a kid, I've been attracted to BMW R series starting in the mid 70s and still aspire to owning one. I'm a bit reluctant to own a chain driven bike, however the cons are really only minor (cleaning & adjusting). What will be your next bike? Japanese? Italian? German? British? Other?
Tiger 900 is a great bike...light, agile and plenty of grunt - seems to have more power than the 95bhp (+/-) stated. Not sure what she's after...for what she described at the start, it's perfect. Maybe if she had a bit more budget, she should try a KTM 890
@@512460 Pirelli are super good to us but we’d need more than one sponsor to be able to increase the frequency! Don’t worry though because we’ve filmed another episode and we’re out doing another one in a couple of weeks! Cheers, Michael
Mt09 or Tracer 9. Love my GT+ 2023. HandGuards are ok, but broke several bones in the hand flipping over the bars when some old bloke pulled out on me from a side road... So not so sure!
I'd have suggested a Triumph Scrambler. Maybe the Street Scrambler, smaller, cheaper than the 1200. I haven't seen the end result here yet, still watching the video. Luggage for them is a bit of an issue but it does exist.
Great watch. Return visits to previous episodes to see final choicesvwould be interesting. Thought i might have seen a v85 this episode. But ,goid one. Ride safe, happy travels 👍
If the film is still being edited by the time the candidate has bought their next bike then I usually mention it via a voiceover at the end. In this case, Leonie is still looking. She did try another R1250R but it didn’t have the screen, she’s since looked at an Africa Twin. Stand by to see her again in another film we shot called ‘Top Tips for Shorter Riders’. Cheers, Michael
@@bennettsbikesocialAfrica Twin? That seems a very strange choice for any vertically challenged person. I would have been brave and told her to forget the hype and given her a CB500X to ride, it’s a real world bike that would be perfect for her commute and touring. It might be a bit high out of the box but they seem to work OK with a lowering link on the rear shock. Think of all the money she could have saved to spend on her next adventure too.
@@davidmatthews3093 👆This is a good idea. 500x is a great bike, will handle more ADV than it sounds like she’s doing, and it’s light and issue-free. Africa Twin is a crazy bad choice for her type of riding, not to mention if she drops it on the trail it’s probably twice as hard to pick up than my GSA.
@@ryanmalone2681 Leonie rode one in our Shorter Rider Tops using the techniques, and a lower seat height. She enjoyed it… but it wasn’t the bike she ended up with.
@@davidmatthews3093you'd be surprised! I'm really not a fan of altering the suspension - I'm a shortie but having had the Multi for years I can ride most anywhere. The engine configuration & character are most important to me 😊
Michael looked at the Diavel and the Speedmaster despite Leonie saying she didn't want a cruiser but missed the obvious of the Bonneville which isn't a cruiser but gives that very torque rich twin engine and can be modded to tour on and has a standard low seat that would allow her to get her feet firmly planted. As a shorter rider it was obvious that a 855mm seat height on a v-strom was never going to work it's as tall as an Africa Twin but I think I would have tried a KTM790 because that is a narrow bike and I only have a 29" inseam and because it's narrow and light I found that a manageable proposition. As a shorter rider it is so frustrating that manufacturers expect us to have to spend extra money on a less comfortable option because they can't design bikes that fit.
Good points raised there. I looked at the Diavel and Speedmaster as options but discounted them because they ticked some boxes but not all. Leonie’s husband has an 890 Adventure but that’s too tall for her, and since filming she’s tried a couple of Africa Twin options (lowered the seat and preload) which are now on her shortlist. No pun intended. We enlisted Leonie to help with a ‘Top Tips for Shorter Riders’ video shortly after filming What Bike Next? and that should be out very soon.
Don't know about the Tiger 900 but my Tiger 800 on the standard road throttle mapping felt sluggish. As soon as I switched the sport map it sharpened up markedly which makes it less effort to get the top end power out of the engine. Just a thought.
V strom 600 without question bullet proof not too heavy realible comfy what more do you want ???????? Either way hope she gets a bike she is happy with.. At 70 years old going through the same dilema. I have actually bought a Honda Silver wing 500 and am about to spend some hard earnt cash just getting it up to todays standards because as a bike I love it so so comfortable not too fast not tooo slow and Honda reliability but add to that the lugage capability there is no other bike to match it ?? Why they stopped making them God only knows !! Over and out !!!
Obviously unnecessarily fast, but what about a 1290 super duke GT. You get the torque (duh), wind protection, luggage (sort of) as well as it being not stupidly tall or wide. Failing that, maybe an Guzzi V100?
Tuareg 660 or 2023 KTM 890 (base model)! She might find the Tuareg underpowered and a 2023 KTM 890 might be too pricey but otherwise they might hit the mark.
Check out the other episodes in the 'What Bike Next?' series by clicking the playlist link: ua-cam.com/video/EdamqUrpc-U/v-deo.html
Love seeing female riders who’ve continued on with their training and not scared of big & tall bikes. Very cool. Respect.
“I want something lighter”
Bennetts - Here’s a 10 ton BMW
Behave, there’s only 4kg in it!
@@bennettsbikesocial I would of though if someone asked for something lighter I would be looking at around the 200KG mark.
Wet weight BMW vs dry weight Triumph moan.
KTM 890, Tracer 7 GT or F850 GS are my 3.
Nothing will beat the multistrada unless you go for weight.
if you have ridden one, you get that it doesnt feel heavy and isnt really that heavy as it's weight is fully fuelled... unlike most which are dry.
This series is brilliant and it's great to see a female rider this time. It was a good choice of bikes all but the suzuki, I thought the Tiger was a great choice but surprised a brand new Tracer 9 didn't make an appearance.... I think she would've enjoyed that
I really love the WBN episodes. It brings the human element to the table, making a great balance of individual needs as well as the various bikes to suit. Thumbs up from the south west coast of the island of Australia (ie, the west island of New Zealand).
Thanks for that, we're all chuffed if it entertains those who watch it.
Cheers, Michael
I was very suprised that the Bike that came instantly into my mind was the BMW F900XR was not a choice offered. I recon th XR would be perfect!
Very interesting episode. I spent 11 years on a 2013 1200S GT Multistrada, I did loads of tours on it both home and abroad. I traded it in earlier this year for a 2020 R1250R SE. I've already done 2500 miles including 2 mini tours of Wales. It's superb! I'll be taking it to the Pyrenees next year. As soon as you pulled back the cover, I thought, yep, she's gonna love it! A longer test ride is probably in order...
Thanks for doing an episode that shows the problems us short riders face, I'm 5'6" but have a very short 29" inseam so when Triumph raised the seat height of the new Street triple RS to 836mm I thought my third ST was gonna be too tall, luckily Triumph gave the option of a 28mm lower seat which made the bike a much more reasonable seat height and I love the bike.
Me too and looking at a Street Triple some time when Spring arives.
I've had to pause after the intro and say how good it is hearing the absolute clarity and history of Leonie and what she has in mind..... I'm sure I'll enjoy seeing what bikes have been chosen for her. Back to the video, woohoo
You could have let her try the 2020 Yamaha Tracer 9....Great series by the way.
didn't ya hear....she doesnt want & is prejudiced against jap bikes....oh ok, cya. it hurts because i want ppl to have reliability , spare parts, actual heritage , light weight ...and low cost . must be one of those prude millionaire folks. k
I love this series, very interesting, but ... I would love to see a picture of the bike the customer is currently riding. Stating it's a 'Multi box VF750DX with the Eval package' doesn't mean a thing to me without checking Google! It would make the contrast between that bike and your suggestions that much more exciting. Cheers. Keep up the good work.
Definitely ❤❤
Yes! Great idea. Also, I think learning about the mods/customization they’ve done to the bike would help them understand what is important to the rider. I have a GS, and I can look at another GS and get a pretty good feel for what type of riding they like to do.
If you don't know what a 1200 multistrada is - where the hell have you been the last 15 years!
I know right? They definitely need to ride up on their "old clunker" to start the video.
Absolutely one of the BEST show ideas and entertaining series on UA-cam! Production value is phenomenal, hosts are incredible, and the riders you select are always perfect. Well done!! Please keep them coming 🇨🇦
Thank you MM, comments like this mean a lot especially when we're planning 2024's WBN content! All the best, Michael M
The Multistrada V2S will check all of her requirements!
That's exactly what I was thinking 🤦♂️
I have a 30” inseam, and after test riding everything opted for the Suzuki GSX-S 100GT! Seat height is 810mm and my feet fully touch the floor no problem. Put it in C mode and it will pootle about on a trip to the shops, select A mode and it grows horns for a high speed bomb down the A roads.
A great bike and fantastic value for money.
Great to see an episode where the seat height is a key factor. I am taller than Leonie and also like the adventure bike style and versatility but am put off by 83+ cm seat heights. The suzuki fiasco is a good illustration of the problem. In the adventure style the BMW F750GS is the only really low seat bike i know. Will be checking out the V2 that was mentioned. Great episode.
Low seat height is always good.
I'm 185cm and I sat on a Transalp in the showroom, it's too tall for my liking. Lower seat and centre of gravity makes a bike more maneuverable.
Would the V strom 650 be lower? I'm the same height and have a CRF300 rally with the rally raid smaller wheels and it's ace!
Had a test ride on the 650xt and liked it but the seat felt high.
I am 5'8
@@waveman1500watch out for an episode coming soon - the Transalp's seat was too wide (to be comfy) but the Africa Twin was very rideable!
I often wonder why bikes are still in the stone ago as far as rider triangle and height adjustment goes.
Being short legged and long/large bodied myself I've found most sport/offroad style bikes are designed around what seems to be a 6 foot bean pole and then anyone else is left to get on with it.
Great if you're 6 foot with an average leg/arm/torso length.
On certain bikes it makes some sense because of the parts location but on most it seems like its simply a design decision for no other reason than most of the customers are expected to be that size.
Factory options for bars, pegs and ride height wouldn't be hard to offer along with the growing number offering different seats.
Considering the price of some bikes I don't think button-adjustable suspension would be much to ask either.
I think three ride heights with their appropriate settings already programmed would be a lot more useful to most people than rider "modes" which really just numb the throttle and up the electronic intervention - especially on something like a GS where low may be a great set up for a motorway then medium for rough roads and high for the full go everywhere experience.
Yep!!
Argh... P-Strom disaster! 😂 Difficult brief, for a shorter adventure bike fan. Multi V2 might fit the bill, although I reckon that F900 XR could've been a contender... Good to see the return of WBN! Cheers 👍
Yep, I thought that was was a winner. Great bike.
@@ryanmalone2681check out the comments section: it looks like that was exactly what she brought! Top marks
Without naming bikes, I'm surprised that the second bike was one without electronic suspension (give away is the colour of the forks) I thought most versions sold in the UK came with that specced). That could have helped with the front end feel. Great video and Leonie was a fantastic guest!
My wife has a quite similar height (2 cm smaller). Maybe I missed it, but it would have been really great to see how Leonie actually fits on the bike, respectively if her feet touch the ground or not, how she stops and manouvers at low speed.
Keep an eye on the channel because you invited Leonie back after recording this to help with a ‘Top Tips for Shorter Riders’ feature. It’s coming soon!
On the Triumph the balls of my feet were just about down, it was light & nimble (paddling it backwards was possible), on the BMW it was the same - but heavier. The Suzuki I needed ladders 😂. Slow speed maneuvering is always my place to practise to learn a new bike or refresh myself on my own bike. Happy to go through a few things with your wife if she'd find it helpful
Tiger 900 GT LOW works awesome for my wife's 5'3 1/2" frame. With the low suspension the bike feels incredibly light too.
Great episode, thoroughly enjoyed it 🙌🏻 - Would love to do an ‘overweight, receding hairline, midlife crisis’ episode if you fancy it lads 🤣
Cheers! If you're a BikeSocial member then do get in touch: enquiries@bikesocial.co.uk
love watching these, and recently bought a bike from SBF Donington, but anyone who hasn't been and thinking about it should know the general public experience is very different, even on a quiet mid week day. at most you'll get a chance to have a good look and sit on a bike. no test ride, or even bike start/running prior to purchase. for every spotlessly clean bike there are at least two that look like they haven't been washed in months
Yeah I don't think SBF (not SBS - don't taint their good name!) have a preparation department, they really do have some scruffy bikes for sale.
@@dstev55 thanks. ive corrected. no complaints about SBS so far, only been to the MK branch though Harlow may be closer for me from Cambridge, if i can find it
Would have expected to see the Honda CB500X ! Adventure styling but more road based, low seat height, easy to slow speed manouvre and great for touring and commuting as well. New price around 7000 pounds if I remember correctly, so with her budget she could fully kit it out with all bells and wistles, and still have money left over to spend on a holiday. Apparently with a lowering bracket an 800mm seat height.
Although maybe the engine wont excite her enough.
The problems she felt with the BMW are most likely terrible suspension set up. Suspension is probably set up for a way heavier rider, and putting 500 towards a suspension specialist would go a long way.
x2 on this, i was thinking CB500x all the time she spoke aboute the req, or the new transalp
She called the Triumph Tiger 900 bland and lacking in torque! But really she meant less engine braking than the Multistrada.
Since she's used to a Multistrada I think she wants a big engine.
Yeah she admitted to not being the fastest rider, the 500X would've suited her on all fronts really.
@@waveman1500I downsized from an ST1300 Pan European to my 500X. I’ve never missed the power or the torque, the 500X is more fun to ride and tour on on public roads, it’s a bike that you can enjoy getting the most out of every time you ride. More and more power just isn’t the answer.
R1250rs comes with a 760mm low seat height option plus screen plus 3 piece luggage.
Might have been a better shout.
Might have needed a 1200 though for the price range.
Keep trying boys. You get it right one day
Such a treat with these series guys. Keep it going.
Thanks very much. It's the positive comments like this that make us want to continue! We've got another episode filmed and one more to shoot soon, and hopefully the sponsors will be happy and we can continue with a minimum of one episode per month. How's that sound?
Cheers, Michael
Would prefer one per week but one per month is a good substitute. its an ace series.@@bennettsbikesocial
@@bennettsbikesocial Sounds good Michael. Can't wait.
The 1200 Multi is SUCH a tough act to follow as it’s so bloody good! I think the V2 (950) Multi would have been great for Leonie.
Check the comment a few up from this!!!
Just seen this young lady at Ducati Leeds she's bought a V2s multistrada 😁
Hope you asked her for her autograph!
@@bennettsbikesocial haha you guy's made her a famous 😂
i think a v85tt [v-twin, lower seat, adventure style], or a 890/790 adv s would of been the right choice here.
You sir, think like me. I was really hoping that the V85TT would have been hunted down for Leonie, especially when she revealed her spending budget. Maybe she'll read the comments and we'll get her thinking!
I love that bike but I sat on it at the dealership and didn't bother test riding it, I felt dwarfed. I am 5'8. I must have shorter legs than average
@@Jonathan-Lthe V85TT was definitely on my list & I forgot to say it when they asked. It always depends on what SBK factory have in at the time, it was a great day riding different bikes though 😊
Another excellent WBN. Surprised you didn't show Leoni a Multistrada 950 or V2S.
Thanks JMJ, that was on her shortlist (pardon the pun) but SBK Factory didn’t have a suitable example to show her/let her ride. Since we recorded this episode, Leonie has bought a Multistrada V2. So you can take 1 x brownie point!
Cheers, Michael
Happy to see the series continue
Missed the boat with the F900XR... she would have loved it!
I liked the XR as an option, I was close to choosing this instead of the R 1250 R.
I’m an inch shorter than Leonie and just ordered the F900XR. It’s a great choice
Gents and Lady, a great presentation and very very interesting. Kept my attention (a rarity on UA-cam) throughout the whole episode.
An intrigue that resonated with me was that as a male who is exactly a foot taller than Leonie my experiences have all been with bikes too small, rather than too tall. A short explanation - previous bike was a 2016 BMW R1200R and it was wonderful, but.. my bum to heel distance made it just a touch too cramped. Welcome then to a 2019 BMW R1250GS; rather a large addition of cash to get the leg room I required!
I can entirely sympathise at the other end of the scale and can only assume that our beloved motorcycle designers are a group of short in stature Italians. On the bonus point for me - I can reach the top shelf in the kitchen easily, just don’t ask me to scrabble around in the cupboards lower down.
Again, really informative video and great to get a member of the “normal” biking brother/sisterhood giving their views on the bikes instead of the journalistic representation that feeds us most of the time.
I would say go for a BMW F800GS, Triumph 900 Scrambler, or a V-Strom 1000. All of them good for road, light off road, and touring.
Great vid once again, thanks. I was surprised you did not bring a Tracer 9 GT to the table. BTW, I love Leonie's Bultaco T-shirt.
Hi Guys, I'm surprised you didn't offer Leonie a go on a 650 V-twin Suzuki V-strom. She said V-twins are her favorite, wants grunty bottom end and not bothered about absolute power. Plus 650 stroms are touring maestros.
love that Ducati take into consideration rider height. not all riders are 6ft.
Great to see a female rider this time. I miss this type of youtube show in Portugal.
This was the best show yet!
Keep it going.
Love this show ! I think you may of been on the money with the f900xr …. 2 other bikes that could fit the bill our thé KTM 790/890 adv and the aprilia toureg 660 . Keep up the excellent work !!! 👌
Yeah my first thought was the Tuareg 660. and the 890
Been waiting so long for this!! Love this feature!
Sorry for the delay. Another one should be dropping in a couple of weeks too!
Cheers, Michael
Love these segments. This was the best show yet!
Cheers, the more we make, the better the format hopefully becomes.
Triumph Tiger 900 GT Factory Low, comes with cruise and luggage options for touring. Seat height 770-790 mm but slightly out of budget at £12,195 new but there must be some 2nd hand ones out there. Or a Tiger Sport 850, new £10,095, standard seat height 820-840mm but a 3D mesh technology low seat reducing that to 790-810mm. A fairly simple bike with no cruise option but in some ways a lot of bike for the money. I would definitely start with manufacturers who have dedicate low chassis models.
Why so big and so much techy techy ?? Seems a CB500X would be a good option and use the money saved for many big trips.
Great show really enjoyable, I’m always amazed at the bikes they choose, or in this case, didn’t , may be you should of let the sales assistant pick the 3 bike 😊
Thanks for that. In every other episode, we do have a 'sales expert' from Superbike Factory pick the mystery bike... but they couldn't get one involved in this episode, hence the P-Strom. Don't worry, normal service will be resumed for episode 7.
Great fun video, brilliant. Yeh nah, it is Suzuki's fault. 855 is a stupid seat height that disqualifies a range of people, including me. Other adventure bikes are similar. Unnecessary and limiting, Leonie is right, time for OEMs to change. BTW What did she pick??
I was thinking a BMW GS 1250 (not the adventure) with a low seat option (taking the ride height down to between 800 and 820mm) would have been perfect for Leonie - loads of torque and all the weight low down to inspire confidence...
That would have been perfect except for the budget. That’s exact;t what I was thinking. The good ole Swiss Army knife of motorcycles.
@@ryanmalone2681 true...forgot about the budget.. Would have to be the GS 1200 instead (although with the 1300 coming out next month (I believe) the prices on the 1250 may drop a touch!!
I still don't understand the obsession with the T-plane crank. The Triumph triples are glorious and smooth with great linear torque across the rev range.
Wow, love this still. I did Episode 2 after my accident and needed a change (so I thought anwyay). I bought a BMW R1250R, cracking bike then did a short tour in the UK (Peak district again) and found it was a bit lacking for touring, for me anyway, and now back on the BMW R1250 RT, same engine but now happy commuting and touring again....
Hi Bob, good to hear from you and I'm glad you still touring and back on an RT.
Cheers, Michael
Hi, yes, I found the R1250R a great bike on the a and b roads, thought I had the perfect bike, then did the tour round the peaks and dales and the weather wasn't too good and found it quite lacking, I understand Leonie's comment about the front end twitch, so I ended up trading it in for the new RT, still fun to ride but gives the extra protection. Is great even on the a and b roads, really inspires confidence.
Keep these coming love to see how different everyone is so choosing a bike for them is no east feat for you, say hello to everyone and tell Dom he should start using the insta 360 on the riders bike for some extra shots 🙂@@bennettsbikesocial
@@boballen2932Dom says thanks for the tip!
Simon.... As my Nan would have said "Take your coat off, you won't feel the benefit"
Always ready for the ride!
... "Sponsorship" opportunity ?
I am surprised that despite a request for high torque and comments on wanting strong engine braking, that you didn't include an electric motorbike among the choices. The ideal bike for her requirements (but not her budget) is made only a few miles from her Multistrada - the Energica Experia. It has amazing torgue and power and has a fairly low seat. It is designed for touring, but not off road use. The Zero DSR/X is better for off road, but it is too tall. Within half of her budget are second hand Zero DSR Black Forest models, with a low and confortable seat, very cheap for commutin. I also toured on one, around Ireland and Scotland. But I like to take lots of breaks, so those who like to ride for 4 hours without stopping won't like it. In short, don't forget to include electric bikes alongside the ones that are creating the weather extremes that spoil our rides.
Yeahh the guys are back! Can they out do the guys at the Superbike factory (or there is something different....)? Stay tuned to find out! Plus, hats off to her, she does know her stuff and riding a multistrada!
The V-storm 650 is the answer to all her wishes.
And safe a lot of money in the process as well;-)
They missed a trick not including a KTM 890 Adventure here. Would have been perfect.
I would propose a factory low chassis BMW R1200 GS. Im just under 5'8" and ride a GS Adventure Low chassis with the seat in the standard height position and ESA Pre load on Auto & i can almost flat foot it. The GS Low chassis is a bit shorter than the GSA Low Chassis (but i have the GSA as it is wider and therefore has better weather protection). I also have bar risers fitted that bring them up and (crucially) back by about 1" because not surprisingly I have short arms as well as legs and this mod means i am not reaching to the bars and pitching forward. I've just been to Germany on it and its really comfortable, capable and nimble, oh and an absolute hoot to ride. If you don't rev it hard I wonder if the shift cam of the 1250 brings you any benefits?
Also the Transalp has a low seat option, they had one the bike show last year.
Wonderful episode.
I was gutted you didn't go with the triumph speedmaster! I think that would have been a winner.
F 900 XR lowered factory option would have been a good option
Love this series guys. What about Tracer 900GT. Got two height settings on the seat , comfy and practical and a triple?? 🤔🤔
Too tall
I'm a big geezer (6"'3") and I tip my hat to Leonie handling the Multi. I love it, but it is a fatty and hard to move around. Getting it on the centre stand is workout worthy of a Power lifter. I looked around at lighter bikes to replace it because in heavy traffic it can be tiring filtering at slow speeds. I looked at the V4s Streetfigher and the v2, the Monster and Hypermotard. They are all brilliant bikes, but not comfortable if you have long legs and offer no wind protection compared to the Multi.They are all lighter but in the end, the Muliti is just so damn good I put up with the weight. The handling belies its big arse, and the engine has a second wind like Usain Bolt on that last 30m stretch. I am seriously considering the Pikes Peak version to reduce the weight and keep the rest of the benefits of the package.
This is the dilemma. Naked gives you light, manoeuvrable and speedy, but no comfort for touring and long commuting. You are likely to go deaf from the wind noise. Adventure or sports tourers, give you comfort and weather protection but are heavy and sometimes too tall. What to do?
Learning to use revs will help with stability and engine breaking. Just a suggestion.
I think suzuki sv1000n it's a low seat hight v twin. Engine breaking is awesome too. And they are light.
Maybe an R9T variant?
I love my R1200R. I'd recommend it to everyone!
Can't believe Simons still a journo fair play ....I'm old old school and remember, Trevor Franklin, ronnie Smith, shakey Byrne , mossy micheal neaves etc . Glad someone made a living from it keep up the good work
Great episode, loved it!
Great episode folks👌 Well done & choose wisely Leonie🙌🤙
Thanks for the love! There are more episodes coming soon...
Maybe open up this series to non Bikesocial members? So then we get more episodes? Kidding I just love this series. well done even though the sound was off at the end discussion. Well done
Awww guys you let Leoni down not getting her on a (non Evo) Gen 3 Superduke, Factory soft panniers, Puig screen, lowest suspension settings.
It would blow her away. Makes even the Ducati engine feel tame.
Great shout but I think the seat would be too tall and wide (because the engine is huge!). The torque would have been a real treat though.
@@bennettsbikesocial my SO is Asian and 2 inches smaller. With forks dropped, shock right down, on the power parts seat it's good. Try it out Leonie!
Hmmm, I would not categorically rule out inline 4s. Many of the detuned Fireblade engines have really sweet torque, already down low in the revs. But you can still fire them off hard in the higher revs.
These are great as it looks at bikes i would have otherwise not considered . Super-bike factory looks good too 👍
Thats's the plan - to entertain and hopefully help and educate too.
Cheers, Michael
The woman said 'no cruisers' so first bike chosen a Diavel. Men don't listen:)
The Diavel was discounted because of its cruiser-style. The first bike chosen was Simon’s and surely you watched enough of the episode to see what that actually was…!
Before you even picked a bike as the owner of a new Hornet I thought new transalp straight away as there is a lower seat option and you can spec it up with everything she needs including heated grips. If I only had one bike it's what I would buy. Hope she tries one or at least tries to get on one.
I have indeed! Watch out for a video coming soon - Honda but which one 🤔😊
Is Hornet not a good option for commuting and touring ? I am in a similar situation, lost my Tiger 900 in a bad crash so looking for a lighter all purpose bike
@@rajivbhalla3194I'm thinking of getting the touring pack for mine and doing a tour on it next year. Its fine as long as your ok touring on a naked bike
I expect she would have been happier with the r1250rs with a better screen and panniers.
My thoughts exactly Brian, tried the RS a couple of days ago, loved it, surprised me, i had a Ninja 1000sx and prefered the RS to be honest
Agreed!
I reckon she dismissed the BMW for some minor issue that could have been as simple as tyre pressure, or even the brand of tyre (I'm a Metzeler convert!). That's not to say the tyres on the BMW weren't good or the pressures weren't set right. Most bikes (the bigger and more expensive ones) take time to get acquainted with, so a quick ride around the local area isn't the same as owning one for a few months. The BMW's shaft drive should have made it an easy choice for her.
@@Jonathan-LI absolutely wanted to love the BMW. I test rode an SE version the following weekend, I'm capable of 200+ mile days on the Multi. I managed just about 70 on the test ride, the front end geometry & suspension really pushed me physically to the extent I had nerve pain. I was out with my other half on a low seat but otherwise standard GS, I rode that back to the dealership, he rode the R. I was gutted but glad I got the experience 👍
@@13Blakeley That's interesting feedback. It just goes to prove that we should never count our chickens before they hatch with anything in life. I must admit, all the bikes I've ever bought were picked on blind impulse, and I never thoroughly tested them or any alternative rival. Since I was a kid, I've been attracted to BMW R series starting in the mid 70s and still aspire to owning one. I'm a bit reluctant to own a chain driven bike, however the cons are really only minor (cleaning & adjusting). What will be your next bike? Japanese? Italian? German? British? Other?
Tiger 900 is a great bike...light, agile and plenty of grunt - seems to have more power than the 95bhp (+/-) stated. Not sure what she's after...for what she described at the start, it's perfect. Maybe if she had a bit more budget, she should try a KTM 890
Love these episodes!!
Thanks very much, we love making them so it’s a win-in! There’s at least another two to follow.
Cheers, Michael
I enjoy this series just wish it was more frequent like weekly or at a push Daily loool
@@512460 Pirelli are super good to us but we’d need more than one sponsor to be able to increase the frequency! Don’t worry though because we’ve filmed another episode and we’re out doing another one in a couple of weeks!
Cheers, Michael
@@bennettsbikesocial I understand. Well at least you know the content is great and enjoyed.
Keep it up guys.
Love this channel when buying bikes for the average joe.....Next would be great to see 6k budget superbike.
I love these episodes! big fan from here in kansas.
Should have tried a KTM 890 adventure masses of power light weight low down more exciting to ride than the tiger. Seat height would be low enough too.
Mt09 or Tracer 9. Love my GT+ 2023. HandGuards are ok, but broke several bones in the hand flipping over the bars when some old bloke pulled out on me from a side road... So not so sure!
She’s very eloquent
Well done Lads, just a very nice production which is always enjoyable ( though why an X-ADV wasn't on your list, it would have blown Leonie away!!!)
My guess is that they are limited to what is on sale in the dealer at the time of filming otherwise the whole thing doesn't work.
@@terenceokeeffesmotorcyclestuff Salient point, thank you!
I'd have suggested a Triumph Scrambler. Maybe the Street Scrambler, smaller, cheaper than the 1200. I haven't seen the end result here yet, still watching the video. Luggage for them is a bit of an issue but it does exist.
Great reviews Leonie!!!
Yes I love this series keep it up.
Given what she said at the start is anyone else surprised a Tracer wasnt in the mix somewhere?
Great watch.
Return visits to previous episodes to see final choicesvwould be interesting.
Thought i might have seen a v85 this episode.
But ,goid one.
Ride safe, happy travels 👍
If the film is still being edited by the time the candidate has bought their next bike then I usually mention it via a voiceover at the end. In this case, Leonie is still looking. She did try another R1250R but it didn’t have the screen, she’s since looked at an Africa Twin. Stand by to see her again in another film we shot called ‘Top Tips for Shorter Riders’.
Cheers, Michael
@@bennettsbikesocialAfrica Twin? That seems a very strange choice for any vertically challenged person. I would have been brave and told her to forget the hype and given her a CB500X to ride, it’s a real world bike that would be perfect for her commute and touring. It might be a bit high out of the box but they seem to work OK with a lowering link on the rear shock. Think of all the money she could have saved to spend on her next adventure too.
@@davidmatthews3093 👆This is a good idea. 500x is a great bike, will handle more ADV than it sounds like she’s doing, and it’s light and issue-free. Africa Twin is a crazy bad choice for her type of riding, not to mention if she drops it on the trail it’s probably twice as hard to pick up than my GSA.
@@ryanmalone2681 Leonie rode one in our Shorter Rider Tops using the techniques, and a lower seat height. She enjoyed it… but it wasn’t the bike she ended up with.
@@davidmatthews3093you'd be surprised! I'm really not a fan of altering the suspension - I'm a shortie but having had the Multi for years I can ride most anywhere. The engine configuration & character are most important to me 😊
Michael looked at the Diavel and the Speedmaster despite Leonie saying she didn't want a cruiser but missed the obvious of the Bonneville which isn't a cruiser but gives that very torque rich twin engine and can be modded to tour on and has a standard low seat that would allow her to get her feet firmly planted. As a shorter rider it was obvious that a 855mm seat height on a v-strom was never going to work it's as tall as an Africa Twin but I think I would have tried a KTM790 because that is a narrow bike and I only have a 29" inseam and because it's narrow and light I found that a manageable proposition. As a shorter rider it is so frustrating that manufacturers expect us to have to spend extra money on a less comfortable option because they can't design bikes that fit.
Good points raised there. I looked at the Diavel and Speedmaster as options but discounted them because they ticked some boxes but not all.
Leonie’s husband has an 890 Adventure but that’s too tall for her, and since filming she’s tried a couple of Africa Twin options (lowered the seat and preload)
which are now on her shortlist. No pun intended.
We enlisted Leonie to help with a ‘Top Tips for Shorter Riders’ video shortly after filming What Bike Next? and that should be out very soon.
Don't know about the Tiger 900 but my Tiger 800 on the standard road throttle mapping felt sluggish. As soon as I switched the sport map it sharpened up markedly which makes it less effort to get the top end power out of the engine. Just a thought.
V strom 600 without question bullet proof not too heavy realible comfy what more do you want ???????? Either way hope she gets a bike she is happy with.. At 70 years old going through the same dilema. I have actually bought a Honda Silver wing 500 and am about to spend some hard earnt cash just getting it up to todays standards because as a bike I love it so so comfortable not too fast not tooo slow and Honda reliability but add to that the lugage capability there is no other bike to match it ?? Why they stopped making them God only knows !! Over and out !!!
Obviously unnecessarily fast, but what about a 1290 super duke GT. You get the torque (duh), wind protection, luggage (sort of) as well as it being not stupidly tall or wide. Failing that, maybe an Guzzi V100?
Brilliant show, and this time with someone I actually know lol
Hey Adam 😊
Great series!
Great show! Love knowing ladies like Multistradas! Curious if she went with a V2?
She did
Everyone and their Grandma needs to get on a Honda XR150L. Over 120mpg and rugged enough to take you anywhere for mega cheap!
Without knowing her budget and having only seen the intro I would say Tiger 900 would be perfect.
Surprised by no tracer. Light, enough tech, seat height is low and could probs get a 2023 T7 or a slightly used T9 or a T900 GT and money for a tour.
I would have suggested smaller bikes. Especially for commuting a light bike is essential. Maybe a traycer 7, F850, vstrom 650.
Can’t watch this yet, but I’m commenting to help the algorithm right away!
Tuareg 660 or 2023 KTM 890 (base model)! She might find the Tuareg underpowered and a 2023 KTM 890 might be too pricey but otherwise they might hit the mark.
A 950 multistrada or Guzzi v85tt wouldve been a good choice i recon.
Definitely, but there wasn't a Guzzi in stock at SBK Factory.