A lot of motorcyclists don’t realize the difficulties tall seat heights present to many of us. I was not blessed with height so all of my life I have been either on my tip toes or on one foot when I was stopped on my bike. It has created many unfortunate situations for me causing me to fall over multiple times. I never got hurt but it was embarrassing as hell.
Short riders have to be aware of things like ruts, dips and slippery surfaces every time we come to a stop. Now to me, being able to at least get the balls of both of your feet on the ground is very good but being flat footed just gives you more of a sense of security and makes riding more fun.
Cyndy and I have just been in a major discussion about this because she is thinking of getting a newer Tiger 900 to replace her 2021. I keep telling her how nice it is to be flat footed and that we can lower her motorcycle. She has always been on her tip toes. Actually one time a strong wind blew her over while she was stopped on her Ducati 748R. She has frankly gotten used to tall bikes to where she feels weird if she sits on a really low bike and is flat footed. I told her once she gets used to a lower bike she will love it.
Don’t think you are stuck with the stock ride height of your bike. There are many options to fit your bike to you such as lowering links, cut down seats, shorter shocks and suspension adjustment. I know once you are moving that seat height makes no difference but it really sucks when you come to a stop and put your foot down and there’s nothing there!
Just food for thought for us shorter riders!
MOTORCYCLE NEWS
Triumph Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Evel Knievel’s Rocket Jump
Triumph Motorcycles joined the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of Evel Knievel’s legendary Rocket Jump at Twin Falls, Idaho on Sunday 1 September. The day of festivities began with a motorcycle parade and featured live music from Krysten Knievel (Kaptain Robbie Knievel’s daughter) and The Knievel Daredevil Band.
Leading the motorcycle parade, Knievel’s son Kelly rode a custom-painted Bonneville T120, alongside stunt rider Robbie ‘Maddo’ Maddison, who rode a custom Rocket 3, in tribute to the one-of-a-kind Skycycle X-2 Rocket used in the original jump. Six-time gold medal X Games champion Colby Raha also chose a Triumph to ride in the parade, opting for a Speed 400.
The matching custom schemes were inspired by Evel’s original Bonneville T120-TT ‘Color Me Lucky’, which he used to perform his legendary 141-foot jump over the Caesar’s Palace fountains in Las Vegas on December 31st, 1967. Although the crash-landing crushed his pelvis and femur, fractured his hip, wrist, and both ankles, the stunt confirmed him as the ultimate daredevil. A Bonneville T120 was also used by Knievel to promote his Canyon flight in 1972, which he fitted with wings to capture everyone’s imagination.
Márquez Gets His First Win on a Ducati
A newly paved and tricky surface at Aragón played into the Spainard’s hands.
After one thousand and forty-three days of constant uncertainty, Marc Márquez won a MotoGP event—at the just-repaved Aragón circuit, in Spain. We remember his original arm injury, his troubled recovery, Honda’s changed-for-the-worse motorcycle, and Márquez’s switch to a 2023 Gresini satellite Ducati. This season has been his time of learning, and a time to showcase his ability through that very different machine.
Jake Dixon Dominated Moto2 in The Grand Prix of Aragon, Winning from Pole
The Triumph-powered Moto2 field returned to Motorland Aragon for the first time since 2022 and Alonso Lopez topped the first three sessions in his home GP and is the new all-time lap record holder with a 1m 50.989. However, it was British rider Jake Dixon who took his first pole position of the season ahead of Brazilian rookie Diogo Moreira and Aron Canet in third. Lopez would line up on the second row in sixth behind Deniz Oncu and Tony Arbolino.
Dixon got a great start to Sunday’s race with Arbolino flying from fifth to second ahead of Moreira and Oncu. Canet got a bad start and contact with Manuel Gonzalez sent him off track. He rejoined only to crash out on the first lap.
EVENTS
SALES & PROMOTIONS
*PLEASE NOTE - THE 20% OFF SERVICE VOUCHER IS GOOD FOR ONE USE ONLY AND IS PER CUSTOMER, NOT PER BIKE.