ADVICE NEEDED: Wife's first motorcycle - help!

[LASERBLUE135]

SO...my wife is set on getting a bike this summer. She is shopping now. Here's what you need to know.

-She wants a "cruiser" style bike NOT a sportbike.
-budget of $5,000 or less. MUCH less is nice too!
-She's NEVER rode a bike, I have NO INTEREST in riding as I believe I will die.
-She can drive safe. Zero tickets EVER in 10 years. Never pulled over! No crashes.
-RELIABLE + cheap to fix! We will not do our own maintenance.
-She is 5'8" average hieght.

#1. What falls under NEED TO KNOW. Before shoping bikes.

#2. Post examples (LINKS!) from craigslist that would be good choices if you were shopping for bikes for your woman.

[ZX2_racer]

To be safe, get something small (engine wise). I'm not into cruisers, so I wouldn't be able to say any models.

Here is what SHE needs to attend: http://www.msf-usa.org/
It is one of the BEST safety school programs, with classroom and seat time. Some veteran riders have even taken this course and learned something from it. It's cheap, doesn't take long to complete, and overall the knowledge they give is priceless. I'd say before she actually pulls the trigger on a bike, take this course.

BTW, something like this or smaller would be the best bet for her.

[funky_monkey58]

My aunt got a suzuki gs 250, works wonders for a new rider.

~$2500 was paid for her bike with less than 300 miles on it.

[AndysGraphix]

[LASERBLUE135]

^^^ I would prefer she get that, but she is SET on getting a bike. She has already signed up for/paid for said above class.

[travailrx7]

You can get a new buell blast for about $4K. There 500cc

[Mr. Bill]

Looking for something small and cheap? I've heard a lot of great things about Ninja 250s as a starter bike, I just happen to have an old honda I am going to restore and ride when I get some more $$ flow.....
Here's an example of a decent Ninja I found...Low miles, sounds like it was maintained, and well below what you want to spend.
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hn...588972277.html

Here's a couple of others.....
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/an...587009207.html
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/an...583589370.html
Jesus, this one is an 09...
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/cs...570313835.html

[DieselDood]

Id reccomend a Yamaha XS 650. They are a great starter bike, are very reliable, there are still parts available, and get upwards of 45mpg.

They are a cruiser style bike. I dont have any examples right now, but they were built late 70s-early 80's.

[AWDimprezaL]

Id reccomend a Yamaha XS 650. They are a great starter bike, are very reliable, there are still parts available, and get upwards of 45mpg.

They are a cruiser style bike. I dont have any examples right now, but they were built late 70s-early 80's.

F yes, my dad has a couple of them, they are cafe'd out but are basicly still the same bike, also look at Maxim 650s, they are a 4 cylinder, air cooled, shaft drive with hydraulic lifters, they basicly require zero maint.

[lunchbox]

Suzuki Boulevard S40's can be found for cheap

[RJ138]

If she doesn't really care if it is a pooch, a Suzuki TU250 would be great. Under 4 grand brand new, and it is an extremly simple bike.

EDIT: The GZ250 looks more like a cruiser.

[AWDimprezaL]

You can get a new buell blast for about $4K. There 500cc

And no offense to anyone, but are total piles of dump too. Read some consumer reports about them.

[AWDimprezaL]

This looks very nice.
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hn...588905159.html

this too

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hn...585025799.html

this

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ws...592798842.html

this

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ra...566627445.html

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ra...592464982.html

[Colin]

Honda Rebel.

[xion0350]

Beginner bikes...

Honda Shadow 750cc seat = 27inches
Yamaha Vstar 650cc seat = 27 or 28 inches

[hellsol93]

The buell blast is a great beginners bike and great for women. and the price is right too.

[Ol' Dirty Bakeoff]

More of a cruiser, a Yamaha Virago is a great option. They've made the same model forever, so parts are easy to find if you need them, they're a little smaller so they're perfect for women, quiet, easy to handle, controls are easy for a beginner, etc. And they're cheap!

[AWDimprezaL]

The buell blast is a great beginners bike and great for women. and the price is right too.

Accept they dont make them anymore, and they dont even make buells anymore, so new anyways, is out of the question. Not only that, she is looking for a CRUISER, the blast isnt a cruiser.

[LSVTEC-T]

Accept they dont make them anymore, and they dont even make buells anymore, so new anyways, is out of the question. Not only that, she is looking for a CRUISER, the blast isnt a cruiser.

True. not a cruiser either, however the fact remains that they are a great beginner bike with not too much power and awesome handling. do you have any links to negative reviews of it? ive never heard anything but good about the buells, especially as beginner bikes

Also, she may WANT a cruiser, but the best option would be the safest. The only difference between wearing a helmet and not wearing a helmet is open or closed casket...

[AWDimprezaL]

http://www.epinions.com/reviews/2002_Buell_Blast

[xveganxcowboyx]

For a newer bike I like the Virago idea. Not huge, but nice cruiser size. enough power to keep a veteran happy, but not over-powered for a novice either. (She can grow in to it nicely) They are very affordable.

For an older bike I like the XS 650 idea. They are great bikes. I also like the Honda CX500 posted. I owned one as a first bike and it was great. Lots of fun in the sweepers and above all, dead reliable! Aside from occasional valve adjustment and oil changes you won't have to do much. The valve adjustments are very easy so you could do them yourself.

[Ol' Dirty Bakeoff]

Viragos go back to the early 80's, iirc. So, new or old, whatever. lol Always going to be a good bike if its been maintained.

[shay]

Looking for something small and cheap? I've heard a lot of great things about Ninja 250s as a starter bike, I just happen to have an old honda I am going to restore and ride when I get some more $$ flow.....
Here's an example of a decent Ninja I found...Low miles, sounds like it was maintained, and well below what you want to spend.
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hn...588972277.html

Here's a couple of others.....
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/an...587009207.html
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/an...583589370.html
Jesus, this one is an 09...
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/cs...570313835.html

I've got an '08 Ninja 250R and love it, kinda. It's slow, for sure. In fact, pretty sure my car is faster. But it's great to learn on. And I didn't have to lower it.. which would've been an issue with most other bikes.

He said she didn't like the look of sport bikes though.

[Mr. Bill]

I've got an '08 Ninja 250R and love it, kinda. It's slow, for sure. In fact, pretty sure my car is faster. But it's great to learn on. And I didn't have to lower it.. which would've been an issue with most other bikes.

He said she didn't like the look of sport bikes though.

Yeah, I caught that after I re-read it. For something to start on it's not a bad idea, and it looks like they pretty much go for around the same price 2-3 years later.....Not a bad bike to learn on, ride for a summer, sell, get something bigger/more her style......

[AndysGraphix]

Honda Rebel.

X2 Seem like good starter bikes, have the Cruiser style look and are smaller and fairly light for a motorcycle.