Hey didgit just took a peek at your bandit and it's gorgeous! 

Did you get that belly plate attached below the pipes?                                                                                                                                                                              

just thought i'd bung in my 2 pence worth min. i know you did'nt want another custom, and not sure why you want a restricted bike, is that something to do with having a new licence? sorry i'm not up on all these new rules n regs was'nt to much of that stuff when i did my test ermm a while back lol. but anyway one of my bikes (no not for sale) is the YAMAHA FZX 750 FAZER i'm erm a little vertically challenged as well with a 29 inch inside leg it's bit of a toy compared to my 1100 Pan but love it and even at 60 horses (restricted) it goes like stink as it has the 20 valve head etc, it uses the engine out of the YAMAHA FZ 750 GENESIS. Bit rare but a cracking bike. Anyway just a thought good luck with the search.

It's the law oldbiker54. I passed my test on a 125 so under the (new) old licence regs (which changed on January 19 this year, just after I passed my test ) I have an 'A' licence but restricted to 33 BHP for 2 years.

Don't want another cruiser cos they are a bugger to steer!

Been to look at the Divvi and it was fab. Lovely bike and affordable and only just too tall for me.

But although it is monoshock it doesn't have dogbones. The monoshock connects directly to the swinging arm so don't know if it can / how it can/ how much it will cost to be lowered....awaiting info from my personal lowering consultant

I'm getting so bloomin fed up with all of this                                                                                                                                                                              

when the right one comes along itl feel right first time you sit on it                                                                                                                                                                             

Jesus i did'nt know that what a pain in the a***...................................................................

It's the law oldbiker54. I passed my test on a 125 so under the (new) old licence regs (which changed on January 19 this year, just after I passed my test ) I have an 'A' licence but restricted to 33 BHP for 2 years.                                                                                                                                                                              

It's all changed again since January 19 2013, Oldbiker. 

I got in by just a midges whisker under the old regs cos I passed on 15 January........it's a lot harder & a lot more expensive especially for short riders to get a full license now. You have to be very determined and rich to do it now.....blahhhhhhhhhhhhh, there's been loads of discussion about it & the new regs are incredibly confusing

Now, the Direct Access license has to be done on a 600. Bike schools simply do not have 600s that someone my height can ride. If I had failed on January 15 the quickest option for me as a short rider was to buy a 600 that met the new power/weight regulations (complicated) & get all this lowering malarky done at my expense on a bike that I could only ride on lessons with an instructor....Fortunately that isn't the case for me. 

I despair for short people finding themselves in that position now cos god only knows I'm finding it damned hard finding a 400/500/600 bike that's lowerable that I can reach comfortably over the tank to the handlebars cos I've got short arms too....and feel comfortable shifting the weight about. And I've been riding for over 2 years so I'm not a complete novice by any means.....it's pants                                                                                                                                                                              

its still winter min so you have time to get things sorted for this year, by the way congrats. on passing your test                                                                                                                                                                             

Is it normal to experience grief when you sell a bike you've had for 2 and a half years?

It's 3 weeks since I sold my 125. Her new owner (who I thoroughly approve of & who will look after the bike a lot better than I ever could) is posting on facebook and I'm actually jealous

This is a bit like childbirth. I'm definitely forgetting all the bad times when I cursed when she wouldn't start, and how hard it was learning to steer the bugger round the cones for the mod 1 test.

Trying to find a tourer that I can have the adaptations done to for my height is so complicated....and potentially so expensive. 

.....I'm actually starting to wonder if a virago 535 might be a better bet after all as a first bigger bike

......blahhhhhhhhh, dither, dither....just want to be able to go out when the sunny days start coming 

                                                                                                                                                                             

  It's perfectly normal Min   To experience pangs of jealously when someone else has your former soulmate   But don't despair   THE   bike   IS   out there   You just haven't found it yet   It may yet find you when you least expect it                                                                                                                                                                                

Hiya Minnie, we could start a new site 'Bike and Biker Match'

                                                                                                                                                                             

how about an old diversion 600 Minx? Loads about in your price range and low seat.                                                                                                                                                                             

Ooooh was heartbroken last weekend Steve. Went to look at a 1999 diversion 600 and it was great. Ran as sweet as anything. Only done 20k miles, only just a bit too tall and reach to handlebars was fine. It all felt very manageable then my knowledgable bike guru pal noticed that it didn't have dogbone linkages. The monoshock attached straight to the swinging arm so he couldn't work out how to lower it as there are no linkages to lenthen

There seemed to be lowering kits available for older divvys & newer ones, but nothing for a 1999, and they all seem to be different. It's so confusing

I'll maybe look out for another year, but in the meantime I'm hoping to look at a honda CB1 on Tuesday so fingers crossed                                                                                                                                                                             

Oh by the way, went to visit my old bike and I've come through my period of grieving as she was so bloomin clean and polished she seemed like a totally alien bike & nothing like mine!

                                                                                                                                                                             

Try a fazer 600 (fzs 600). standard seat height about 790, lowering kits available for 30mm and 45mm from
http://www.lustracing.co.uk/suspension/yamaha-lowering-kits.html
You should be able to get a used fazer in your price range albeit with a few miles on it.

  You might be interested in one of these Min   They are quite low in the saddle    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261167214760?ssPageName=STRK:...1438.l2649   http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150994012587?ssPageName=STRK:...1438.l2649   http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121064848275?ssPageName=STRK:...1438.l2649   http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160972959535?ssPageName=STRK:...1438.l2649   http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271154175971?ssPageName=STRK:...1438.l2649   I hope you find something you like soon                                                                                                                                                                               

Thanks for the links Em 

I know the CBR 400RRs have very low saddles but I think There could be potential clashes between that humpy tank & certain podgy bits of my anatomy wanting to occupy the same space 

However, I have taken significant steps forward. Found a professionally lowered CB400 that was ace in that I could flat foot it!!!! yes, yes, yes I could, I really could....had a little tentative pootle up and down the yard & I KNOW I can ride it, YEAY!....It's very over-priced though and over my budget cos of course I've also got to have the 33BHP restrictor fitted which will be another couple of hundred quid. 

But then found another one 2 years newer & in better condition although it didn't look as tidy but half the price....although it's twin shock we know it can be lowered successfully, YEAY!

Then went to another dealers and sat on a virago 750....and my botty felt like it had come home....it felt so comfy and just right. I knew I could have ridden right out of there on that bike...all though if I do go down the Virago route it will be a 535 I'm going for

Sheesh, talk about contrary Mary, I'm getting really sick of my indecision...but I think I've narrowed it down to the CB400 or a Virago 535. Despite all the horrid things I've said about cruisers and crap handling....ooooh it did feel soooo nice and I think I may end up returning to my first love                                                                                                                                                                               

CB400 would be a good choice. Character I know ran one a few years back and loved it.
I can't picture you on a 400 race rep though! But if you do I'll get you a pair of knee sliders.
If your going for a Virago I'd say go for the 535 cos they handle much, better. Pal of mine took her's over to France with us many moons back and she wasn't one to hang about! Hers was slightly modded with flat bars and a screen.

brill that you are narrowing it down minnie chick  yayyy... and the only ohter thing i would say is that you will never or very very rarely have to ride the bike you do buy like you had to on test ie.. round darn tight cones and etc tight manoevers... you can ride how ya like now so im sure a virago would be no problem at all out there riding inj the real world  so to speak rather than test.... yeah you may come across manoevres bt you can deal with them as you want to so to speak rather than how you have to in order to pass a test... does tha make sense   well that is just my thoughts anyhow .... bt good luck chick xxx                                                                                                                                                                             

Just thought I'd throw another couple in Minnie. You can get a lowering kit for some Divvies by fitting another top mounting for the shocker. Depends on the year and how much you need to lower it. Check out Lust Racing site. 

Another option is to take advice from someone like Maxton and the like, who may be able to supply shorter shocks. Need to be careful with ground clearances if you start lowering yokes down fork legs etc.                                                                                                                                                                              

  Any progress on a new bike Min   The season grows ever nearer