ADVICE NEEDED: Wife's first motorcycle - help!

[Colin]

And most importantly, they're Hondas.

[shay]

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......

Yeah, they hold their value relatively well! Especially the redesigned 08-09 body styles.

[LASERBLUE135]

Thanks for the great info here. I'm going to REALLY push her into an ninja 250. She doesn't like the style, but the price is sooo right and she could buy one and drive it for a year, and if she doesn't kill it, she could sell it for nearly as much as she bought it for.

I've also seen some great bikes in the $1000 range on craigslist that would would be really nice starter bikes.

[Colin]

Don't "REALLY push her" into anything - she'll end up not riding. Let her decide what fits her. And get on ADVrider.com

[CBR]

You're in the same position I was a couple years ago.

To make sure my wife was serious about the whole motorcycle thing, I signed her up for this: http://www.motorcyclesafety.state.mn.us/. Sure enough, she passed & got her motorcycle endorsement!

Next came the motorcycle. My wife is 5'0", so looked at 250cc motorcycles w/a low seat height. Looked at Honda Rebels & Yamaha Viragos. Ended up getting a '04 Virago. It looked better and was faster than the Honda Rebel. Still have the bike to this day and she loves it. Only problems so far: leaking fuel valve & gummed up carburetor due to bad fuel.

Good luck...

[CBR]

One more thing, my 1999 Honda Magna VF750C (limited black/orange color) will be for sale in the spring. It's not really a beginners bike, but it's something she can progress on. If you're interested, PM for more info.

Loud pipes save lives.

[shay]

Thanks for the great info here. I'm going to REALLY push her into an ninja 250. She doesn't like the style, but the price is sooo right and she could buy one and drive it for a year, and if she doesn't kill it, she could sell it for nearly as much as she bought it for.

I've also seen some great bikes in the $1000 range on craigslist that would would be really nice starter bikes.

Just make sure you get her something that she won't cry over dropping.

I haven't dropped my Ninja yet.. but I'd definitely cry if I did!

I don't know what year 250s you're looking at.. but the 08-09 body style looks light years better than the previous years.

You can definitely find a bike for her that she likes though. Don't push her into something she doesn't like. You can always wait to buy a bike until after the MSF course. They have small bikes there that she'd probably like if she likes the more cruiser-style bikes.

[Vdubber10]

I would just like to reiterate the fact that she should take the safety course. You get three days of class with which you spend the majority of time on a bike actually driving (I took my class at harley so we were on buell blasts). It was the best way to learn. I knew how to drive a stick, and learning to work the bike would still have been tricky to do on my own. Does your wife know how to operate a manual transmission...well? I say that because several of the ladies in the course with me (mostly wives of harley guys) had no idea how to do any of that and alot of them ended up dropping their bikes, one even stopped way too short and went over the handle bars, she ended up breaking her ankle...

Also, a word of caution, I had my stint on a motorcycle. I owned the bike for 2 months and ended up totalling it and myself pretty good...got some pretty good scars to remember it. Its insane how close to injury you are ALL the time on the back of one of those...id do what you can to deter her from getting one...do what I did and buy a fast car instead!

[LASERBLUE135]

^^^I appreciate that comment, but it really is up to her.

She took her driving exam in my modded Mazdaspeed Protege (you should have seen the other kids faces!), so she knows a manual trans pretty well.

[diamondave]

A friend of mine said once to his wife when looking at bikes "You got to be able to lift it back up if you dump it..." So thats something to think about when choosing, cause you may not be around to help her out when it happens.

[shay]

A friend of mine said once to his wife when looking at bikes "You got to be able to lift it back up if you dump it..." So thats something to think about when choosing, cause you may not be around to help her out when it happens.

Absolutely!! The smaller bikes don't weigh a whole lot.. but are still heavy. You definitely need some upper body strength.

[Sunny]

v star 650

[Mr. Bill]

Yeah, they hold their value relatively well! Especially the redesigned 08-09 body styles.

Thanks for the great info here. I'm going to REALLY push her into an ninja 250. She doesn't like the style, but the price is sooo right and she could buy one and drive it for a year, and if she doesn't kill it, she could sell it for nearly as much as she bought it for.

I've also seen some great bikes in the $1000 range on craigslist that would would be really nice starter bikes.

I would just put it to her as a "well, if you dump it, you didn't like it that much anyway", lol. After talking to a few people, she'll probably want something bigger at the end of the season anyway, and if you get one of the 08-09s, you can get the majority of your money back to go towards something bigger.

[rochesterricer]

I see a couple people have recommended a Yamaha XS650. I can tell you from personal experience this is a terrible idea, especially for a female. They are very top heavy bikes and are very difficult to catch once they start tilting to the side. For I some reason, I forgot about this and decided to teach my gf on my XS. I ended up having to replace the shifter and clutch lever after she dropped it in the parking lot.

I ended up getting her a Honda Nighthawk 250 for a grand. Now that is a perfect beginner bike. Most non-intimidating bike I've ever ridden. If she wants a cruiser, get her a Honda Rebel. Its basically the same bike in a cruiser style. Make sure she takes the MSF course and buys all the gear.
.

[Shane86]

[xion0350]

A friend of mine said once to his wife when looking at bikes "You got to be able to lift it back up if you dump it..." So thats something to think about when choosing, cause you may not be around to help her out when it happens.

Any one could lift a heavy bike. If you take the MSF classes they'll teach you how to lift a bike like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6HTs...eature=related

[1SiKDA8]

Honda Rebel.

i agree, that was my first bike and i LOVED it!

[shay]

I would just put it to her as a "well, if you dump it, you didn't like it that much anyway", lol. After talking to a few people, she'll probably want something bigger at the end of the season anyway, and if you get one of the 08-09s, you can get the majority of your money back to go towards something bigger.

It didn't take me long to want something bigger. But I'm going to stick it out through this coming spring/summer season..

I'm a girl so it's not SO bad.. but it's embarrassing to have a car that's faster.. LOL.

[Colin]

Any one could lift a heavy bike. If you take the MSF classes they'll teach you how to lift a bike like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6HTs...eature=related

Yup! Here's a better video of the same technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPjYweKeiLk

I've dumped my bike a few times screwing around in my driveway, trying to go super slow and do steering-lock circles, etc... I'm always so pumped up on adrenaline by the time I stand up to recover the bike, that I just lean over, grab it by the bars, and lift it back up. Get an old beater bike and fuck around a lot. I laugh when I drop my bike... it's no big deal.

Colin

[LASERBLUE135]

We went and looked at bikes today. She's basically locked in on the Honda Rebel. They are really small and light. Seems to be the perfect bike for her.

[06_ion2]

Honda V-star 650 custom!

[RDR]

harley sportster low is another option but probably on the spendier side

[cassinator]

I started on a Buell Blast that I am selling right now. Thought it was a great starter bike and was very reliable. I am pretty short so it was perfect for me to start on. Got very comfortable riding it and decided to move up but I have no regrets in buying it.