IMHO, you ought to become familiar with and practice learning how to pick your motorcycle up, see: Internet BMW Riders - How To Pick Up A Fallen Motorcycle

When I got my new '11 Wee, I immediately installed SW-Motech crashbars/engine guards and Pelican side hardbags Caribou Luggage Systems with the idea of protecting ME in the event of a crash or tipover.

I've dropped my Wee, twice, while astride the bike at a dead stop and the bars/bags kept the bike off my leg. The worst part of those experiences has been my self-imposed humiliation.

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2013 Northeast V-Strom Rally!

2011 pearl white DL650A
58 y.o.
6'2", 270 pounds

Lowering is certainly a good idea for now but realize you are still going to have the bike fall over on occasion.

I'm 6"2 and a big guy. I'm 56 and have ridden bikes since I was 13. I did over 125,000 miles on my 2006 DL650. I got my new 2012 DL650 last year and have over 25,000 miles on it. With all that experience I still dropped my new Strom twice.. Once in my gal's driveway and once this January after hitting some ice in my driveway. It happens!

My gal is about 6 inches shorter than you and fairly petite. Last year she got her bike license and got herself a Gladius after getting her license. (She dirt biked years ago.) Being small she still needed to Lower the bike. In her first few months she dropped it many times; one time sounded just like what happened to you. She ended up doing about 12,000 miles last year and didn't drop it for probably the last 8,000 miles.

Don't get discouraged.. Bikes fall over! It will happen less as you get more experience but it will probably still happen now and then.

..Tom

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Road Toads Charter Member - 2006 V-Strom DL650: 202,000 km 125,500 miles, 2012 DL650 New March 2012 50,000 km


Why Cars don't see bikes (SMIDSY)
SMIDSY detailed report

A drop is something that happens to everyone at some point...except me. (Ha!) Seriously, it happens to us all, don't fret over it. I too agree with the suggestion that you might want to lower your bike. Depending on your build and overall strength, you will be much better off if you can flat foot both feet on the ground. Even then, gravel on asphalt or other unstable footing situations will challenge anyone.

Congratulations to you both, best wishes!

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"Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans"

Ani, good advice above to both lower the bike and those pics of picking up the bike. You can also remove the rubber bumpers under the seat and have the seat foam cut down. You need to be able to support yourself with some flex in your leg so you can straighten the leg for the needed correction. Do buy real motorcycle boots with good support, good traction, and good protection.

Our stroms certainly feel top heavy at first. After a few thousand stops & starts it'll feel nimble at all speeds. You'll learn the feel of it when it is balanced and when it is 1° out of balance and starting to get away from you. You'll like the bike...guaranteed.

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2007 DL650A Whee! (SV cam transplant)

Manage the unavoidable.
Avoid the unmanageable.

My wife dropped hers while doing a sharp u-turn on damp grass. Our next purchase was the optional lower seat (3/4"). As someone suggested earlier you could also cut down the rubber blocks the seat rides on to gain a bit more. Then different boots? But lowering it sounds like your best bet. My wife's inseam is nearly 34" and she is as strong as many men. Even so she found the lower seat and resulting ability to flat foot a big confidence builder. It's not as well padded however so its gonna be temporary.

You seen to have an outstanding attitude. Be patient and ride within your comfort zone, which will grow on its own in time.

Dave

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Motorcycle.com Free App

I just moved to New Tampa area, looking for anyone to ride with! Great to read this and see that you like the bike. The drop and scuff, ehh it happens practice and enjoy it!

i'm about 5'6" with a 32ish inseam. i opted not to lower but have had mc experience.

like mentioned, crash bars. i have cruiser pegs on my crash bars (i prefer the politically incorrect tag, instead of engine gaurd) which saved my vee from major damage when my husbands concours rolled into the vee's rearend and tipped it over while parked. note to self: put your bike in gear when parked, even if you think it's on a flat surface. exception being, probably, your garage.

keep eyes up, wheel straight when coming to stop and hand on front brake and avoid the oil strips in center of lane.

prepare how you're going to stop if you're coming up on a slope or incline or the road has a ridge. you're going to have to one foot it at stops like these, usually your shifter side so you can keep your right foot on brake pedal. if it's not a surprise then all is usually good if it's in your thought process before you come to the stop.

i tried boots with a good heel BUT if you are on the balls of your feet now that is where you need the thickness. i found that some milwaukee or redwing boots have pretty thick soles.

i had my seat lowered and shaped by spencer, who if i'm remembering right, is in florida. it is serving me well both in comfort and touch down.

congrats and hang in there and ride, ride, ride.

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Ani, Congratulations! Follow others links on lowering and read and view all you can on motorcycle safety and control. When you have a few miles under your belt consider an advanced MSF class or a RLAP class (3 in your area)
https://www.ridelikeapro.com/locations
Safety and control are not inherent, they are a choice. Choose to learn all you can and do not worry about dropping the bike. You will do great

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'09 VEE
'07 SE UC
'02 CR 250

Hi Ani,
I'm new to the Wee as well, and I have a Honda ST1300 that I am seriously height-challenged on. I am 5'6" with a 29" inseam. It is very top-heavy and about 200lbs more than the Wee. I've learned a lot about tip-over avoidance.

The first thing I did with the Wee was lower it, used the 3/4" links. It makes a big difference! I also had a thicker sole put on one pair of riding boots. Getting a sole like a Vibram or similar grippy sole helps on gravel.
I've learned on the ST to only put one foot down, that way I have a lot of foot on the ground rather than two tiptoes. This has worked very well.
Spencer does great work and can lower your seat while still keeping it comfy.
His site is here: Page 1

I too am in Florida (Sarasota). I ride with a really nice group called the Florida Long Riders: Delphi Forums Login*-*Welcome! Please log in.

We ride somewhere in Florida every Saturday for lunch. You and your husband should join us sometime.

Eric

Ermagherd, didn't anyone tell you your first motorcycle has to be an absolute turd with a seat height of 18 inches and no more than 12 horsepower?!?1 (kidding) Don't be afraid to lower it a LITTLE using a lowering link (smallest loweringness you can find) or better yet get a lower seat, this will help but not totally solve your problem. Practice makes perfect...and a little bit of crash protection goes a long way. I promise you aren't the first person to drop their shiny new-to-them bike at a stop sign (or driveway, garage...you get the picture). Its tougher to learn how to deal with stopping on a taller bike but it's doable, and the vstrom isnt THAT tall. There's a point of no return with these pigs, if you think its going over, just step back and let it fall or risk hurting yourself trying to catch it. Tough bar ends and some crash bars should prevent any real expensive damage.