Skyllz said:

A KDX with a Kouba link and shaved seat should allow her to easily put both feet down, and both are reversible. The KDX is a bit piggy but not as bad as the 230s IIRC.

I purchased a TTR230 for my wife and she has just about outgrown it after a year. One major thing to consider is the weight vs power ratio.  As I'm sure you know, Dirt is much, much different than pavement in that she is gonna go down at some point and need to pick up the bike. And you don't want to get her some pig of a bike that you are going to have to be waiting around every corner for her to catch up. In hindsight I would have gotten a two stroke for my wife simply for that reason. I have been looking at the KTM 144 or even the 250 2 strokers for that purpose. I borrowed a friends 250sx for my wife and she really liked the bike, the bike was just right. A little on the fast side but she really liked it. Just my 2 cents, oh and my wife is only 5'7" so regardless of her skills, I wouldn't go with a 230. Just too entry level.

skclark said:

If you go back up just a little you will see I did the exact same thing has you did...

I cant say she "outgrew" her TTR but it's definitly not the bike for her.

Thanks for your experience, it tells me I'm not the only one who tried that route

Yeah, sorry I kinda skipped a few pages in the middle.

No offense but 5'9" and on a KX100 or 105?  I'm 5'9" and it would break my back to try & ride a KX100.  My 5'7" 120 lb 13 yo daughter just inhereted our YZ125 (sold her CR80R over the winter) and it fits her perfect.  She can't flatfoot on it but she can easily one foot on it.

Give the woman a chance on a fullsize bike, there are a lot of things that are different on dirt than on street so it's all an adjustment but with any kind of riding experience and desire, she'll figure it out quickly.

Too small of a bike is not a great way to keep someone interested in riding.

bbbom said:

I will make her read the thread again tonight, she's the one that absolutely wants smaller... She's afraid of the power of the "full sized" bikes. If I could, I would stuff a 125 4 stroke in a 125 mx chassis and that would probably be the best

Something that just occurred to me, when I ride my streetbike, flatfooting is a very important factor to my riding comfort or more accurately STOPPING comfort.

I bet that is a big part of why she feels the need to flatfoot.  She needs to understand that with the lighter weight of a dirtbike, flatfooting isn't really necessary.  At least not like on a streetbike.  The weight of the streetbike is more top heavy and tippy to me.  

I started riding dirt in 1999 on a KLX300 which is a fairly low seat height for a fullsize bike and I could touch comfortably.

I moved to a CR500 in 2000 (long story) which I can not flatfoot but I can get both feet down comfortably on.  Because I started on dirt, the idea of flatfooting it never ocurred to me as important.

Once I got my streetbike though and had a few close calls at keeping it upright at stops, I am a firm believer in being able to flatfoot a streetbike.

Just another thing to consider.  Plus, riding on too small of a bike tends to keep one from being comfortable standing up to ride and forces you to ride back on the seat which drops your elbows, etc. etc. leading to bad riding position which can be a difficult thing to overcome when you do get to the fullsize bike.  Heck, read the thread on Standing Up, or Plushpuppies threads on riding form in here - it's hard enough for most of us chics to learn good form even without starting out on a cramped bike.

Minnesota Jay said:

As an owner of a TTR 250... I have to say I think she'd probably be happier on the 250F-type bike.  WR, CRFX, whatever, but likely not the race bikes... the enduro model all the way.  The TTR is SO heavy... and it is quite a 'turd'.  You CAN ride slower on the other bikes... so why pick up such a monstrosity when you fall?  I only get out to ride just a few times a year, so I never got comfortable on the heavy beast.  Oh, I'll ride it on a dual sport... we usually don't hit anything too tight trail-wise on those (put a dual sport kit on it, of course).  Mostly two tracks and gravel roads, with an occasional small section of trail.  When I ride trail, I am on a smaller, lighter bike, because I'm just not comfortable.  I think for an all around bike I'd be a LOT happier with a 250F enduro.  But it's also a LOT cheaper just to keep the two bikes I have.    And heck, I have fun.  That's what matters!

DANG, just realized this was a resurrected thread!  LOL

It's okay YM!  It was resurrected by the OP so it's still ALIVE!!!

We're a Honda family so I vote 250X, she's definitely tall enough.

DO NOT  start her on a bike with an auto clutch, you want her to learn good throttle / clutch control.

Don't forget to be encouraging and praise her!  Even the toughest trail wenches like an "atta girl" from our man at the end of the day!

Have fun

Your wife weighs the same as me with the same inseam, only difference is I’m 5’ 4.”  I have a lowered 250X.  Features I like: e-start option, the power, better suspension and it’s a tad lighter than the 230.  Previously, I had a 230, but much happier with the 250.

E start:worthy:
250X

Hi, My wife is 5'4 and had the same dilemma...  the CRF230 is slow and heavy.  After putting her on a CR85 (too peaky for her + small wheels were not much fun for racing and trails) we ended up getting her a CRF250R.  

For her to comfortably ride trails, we:
1. Lowered the suspension 1.5" with a supermoto conversion from TrackSide Engineering.
2. Trimmed the seat foam 1" - left enough foam for comfort.
3. Lowered the seat height an additional 1.5" with a subframe lowering kit from SpeedMetal Designs
4. Low bend AZONIC bar

The end result is a VERY low CRF250R.  I'm 5'10" and it feels like a small bike to me, but still a lot of fun to ride.  She races WORCS and local harescrambles, and everyone asks how she got an aluminum framed CRF230

We tried the kouba link before the supermoto conversion, but the problem with the koubalink was that it changed the rising rate and made the rear suspension harsh + caused the bike to turn funky, due to the fact we could not raise the fork tubes enough to compensate.

Thanks all for your suggestions.

Seems like re-reading the comments made her look at things differently and I got her to sit in a KX100 and a KX125 in the dealer. She understands now the tip toeing and standing part.

It started with "The KX125 is too big, I'm tip-toeing" then I made her stand up while I held the bike. Fits fine, she admitted to that.

She then sat on the KX100. "See, this fits me just has good. I prefer the smaller one". Then I made her stand on the pegs... She looked at me and I did'nt have to say anything extra.

Once I get the TTR burned down... err... sold, i'll be shopping for a 125 smoker or 250 thumper.

Thanks to the thumpettes!!!!!

Sweet! She's lucky to be as tall as she is.

Do you know anyone who has a 125 2t and 250 4t that she can test ride?

My friend is riding a TTR-125, and it's a bit small for her.  She ends up in pain from riding in bad form because it is too small.  Your wife should keep that in mind.  I'm not sure how the smaller bikes she's looking at compare size wise to the TTR-125, but I would be very uncomfortable on it, and I'm 5'9" too.

Firecracker said:

I know a few with the club I am riding, we are having a family day soon in a large field, BBQ, "the slowest wins" races and easy trails ride with kids, she will be able to try a few there.

For weight you can't beat a 125 2 smoke maybe a 200, something like the Husky WR bikes or maybe a KTM 200? Lots of easy mods to make them trail friendly. I here tell a WR125 with a 144 kit makes for a great, flickable bike. I know the huskys are tall in the seat but I've seen folks shorter than your wife, once used to the bike, have little issue with that.

Well, I'm a dual sport girl, so different choices in bikes, but it may help to know:
I lowered my bike (09 klx250s comes with a 35" stock seat height) about 2.5 inches with simple and inexpensive mods: cut about 1 1/2" out of the foam and shaped the crown of the seat down to 5.5" wide +/-. (January 08 Dirt Rider article gives great directions on how-to) I chose to do it myself, it worked great and with adjusting the sag these mods lowered the bike enough for me (5'4" with about 29" inseam), sure wish I was 5' 9". I did alot of looking before buying.
You may regret buying a lesser bike for her....there are options without spending alot, too...good luck.

Anyone try out the CRF150R?  I have a CRF230 and I really need to upgrade for a lighter faster bike!  I tried a 250X last weekend and the handlebars felt so high.  I loved the power but, the whole bike seemed awkward.  I am 5'4" about 140lbs.  I have really been looking at the KTM line up but I'm nervous about riding a two stroke on the trails.  Dune riding has become pretty boring with my clunk of metal!  Any opinions on the 150R? I started with a CRF150 but couldn't get out of my own way! So I traded for the 230.  I heard the newer 150R was much faster.  I love my happy (e-start) button, but could give it up for more power.  Any thoughts?