I didn't conisder riding with a pillion
You make a very important point here.

A passenger can shift the weight uncontrollably to the rider, often leaving them to have both ready, often having to shift weight from one foot to the other in an instant - and also need to have the strength to hold it. Further, sliding off to the side of the saddle with someone hugging you from behind, isn't as easy.

The "best" is subjective???
We can argue which is the better means of transportation - a boat or a car, and never see eye to eye. Its only when we add which element is to be traversed, that all but the crazies will agree on which mode of transport is the most suitable. So, when we are talking about riding a motorcycle offroad, some may prefer the Harley over the KTM , but most wouldn't.

When I wrote the original post I presupposed an element of offroad beyond nice gravel roads. Harleys in this regard would be better than a boat, but not much.

If most of what someone will contend with is nice roads and twisties, a tall bike is probably not the most suitable - even for a tall person. In that case, if one is vertically challenged, there is no point in even discussing it.

Most people that raise the question on their own behalf does however face a problem where they have a desire for some of the attributes that only the taller bikes offers - atleast to the extent they would be happy with. Whenever someone pops a question if they will fit this or that bike on a froum like this, I assume somewhat that they might really desire some of the very features that makes the bike tall. I am therfore careful about talking anyone here into taking a tall bike off the table, simply for being tall. I tend to reccomend the best tool for the job first, then size second - not the other way around.

So, when a rider is faced with the prospecto of buying the bike they really desire, that they can afford, that has the performance attributes that they are looking for, etc - but that they can't flatfoot - what should the rider do?

My first point is that being vertically challenged is a challenge I've seen many overcome without too much problems. So with that, why should they deny themselves the bikes that they truely need?

My second point is that we can all benefit riding as if we were vertically challenged - it simply gives better control and increased safety.

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