Does height matter?

 One of the biggest fears of a newbie rider is to tip over their newly acquired bike and to tell you honestly, it's easier to accidentally fall from a complete standstill or when doing slow speed maneuvers than when moving at speed. Why? Well, it's because not all are blessed to reach the ground comfortably and not all are capable of handling heavy machines. Don’t fret tho, it's not the end of the world or your riding career as there are tons of ways to get around being vertically challenged. In this article, we will be talking about 4 tips and tricks on how you can enjoy riding without worrying about your height. To give you guys an idea, I stand 5 feet and 6 inches tall which is the average height for Filipinos and have been riding for roughly 8 years.

Tip #1: Choose the right bike

I get it, we all have our dream bike but it's not wise to force a bike that we can’t fit in. Well, not when you're still new to riding. Forcing to handle a bike that's too tall or too heavy will just discourage you from actually using the bike and with that, you won’t grow as a rider because fear of tipping over will just take over. Instead, look for a bike that's right for you. Try mounting as many motorcycles as you can just to check which bike you feel most comfortable in. If you really want something with a high seat height or a bike with good ground clearance then pick something light and pick a bike you can comfortably put at least one foot down. Practice and get comfortable riding this bike and when you're experienced and confident enough, then you can just trade it in for the bike of your dreams.

Tip #2: Plan your route and be aware of your surroundings 

The biggest challenge when riding in the metro is traffic. Always practice defensive riding and try your best not to lose your cool. Heavy traffic means you have to go through stop-and-go traffic and to make things worse, cars and other riders aren't really pleasant when traversing through heavy build-ups. Best to plan your route accordingly and in the meantime, try to avoid busy places that tend to have traffic jams in or around the area. Another factor is terrain, being vertically challenged means that traveling through uneven roads proves to be more challenging. Planning your route can eliminate the element of surprise and will give you more time to plan how to tackle such obstacles. Old-timers will tell you to just go with it but if you can avoid scratching your new toy then, by all means, do so. Forget being macho or cool and just focus on building your skill, after all, a rider that doesn't get into trouble is a good rider. 

Tip #3: Walk your bike

The easiest way to move your bike is to sit on it and paddle with your feet BUT if you’re like me who can’t flat foot motorcycles most of the time then the best thing to do is to get off the motorcycle before moving it around. 

First things first, always remove your helmet and gloves when attempting to move your motorcycle. Wearing your helmet while doing so will just limit your vision so best be comfortable and put your gear aside first. For a smaller rider, moving a 200lbs bike is not that easy especially when moving it around slopes or bumps so don’t be shy to put your hip to it and use it as leverage to help balance the bike better. If the ground is flat and all you have to do is to move the bike forward or back, then using the side stand as a fail-safe is also a good idea. Just be careful not to trip on the stand to avoid unwanted injuries and to avoid tipping over the bike. Another trick is to put one hand on the rear part of the seat when pushing the bike backward as it's easier to see and move the bike in this position as compared to pulling the bike back from the handlebars. Knowing how to move your bike around tight spaces is a must so do yourself a favor and practice or else, moving it around becomes a chore. Once you master the art of walking your bike then surely you’d be more confident to bring your bike anywhere.

Tip #4: Wear proper riding shoes

Wearing proper riding shoes will not only give you added protection but will also add a few centimeters or even inches to your height. To be honest I’m guilty of not wearing riding shoes all of the time and the reason behind it is that most of our rides nowadays are more on the chill side. Yes, we know it's a bad excuse for not wearing proper gear BUT we let it slide as long as we wear the basics. Wearing proper riding shoes also gives you more traction and more traction equals better control. If you still don't have a pair then using boots with a good sole should suffice for the meantime. Avoid wearing sneakers or leather shoes with slippery bottoms as this will be another invitation to tip your bike over.

Always remember that no matter how tall or heavy the bike is, an experienced rider will always be able to handle it. Don’t fall for peer pressure and never get pressured to look cool around others, learn and hone your skill on your own pace. Moving your bike is as easy as 1,2, and 3. All you have to do is to know your bike. Know how it balances, where its center of gravity is, how heavy it is to push or pull, etc, etc. If all else fails, don't feel embarrassed to ask other riders for help. Most of the time, other riders will be more than willing to lend a helping hand. 

That basically sums up our 4 simple tips for shorter riders. Remember to take it easy and to just have fun. Ciao for now!