Good beginner's bike??

[vanhump]

Hammerhead..........You know what they say about opinions I would thinks for a beginner bike something like a Honda Shadow or the Yammie 650. I am 190# and 30 inseam and the xs110 is a handful when stopped althouhg a good handler while moving, but there is always the stops and slow turns and there the fun starts. Just a little tilt or slip of the foot and down the big boy goes, so I would think a 135# female would definitly need a lot of miles on something easier to handle than an XS. Have been riding since about 21 but went to a MSC couple years ago and learned what you dont learn up and down the highways and remember the little cruisers there that you could lay way over and still get them up one handed. No way with the XS, when it gets over , it goes down or takes a lot of muscle power and I think would be more than smaller folks can handle.

[fredintoon]

"She's 135lbs soaking wet with a rock in each pocket...but grew up around dirtbikes and can ride trails with the best of 'em. However, she's totally new to street, as I was, and needs to learn maneuvering and leaning into curves, that sort of thing. Operationally, she's got what it takes to make the thing move and cruise..."

Hi Hammerhead,
Street-legal trail bike? Suzuki Sherpa?

[firecrackerboom]

youre right about it being heavy...

i tipped mine in the first week i had it cuz i started it in gear lol.... it was quite a load to pick up... although i am only 160 pounds and 6 foot 5... im pretty scrawny to say teh least.

[Crazcnuk]

No large bike (500cc+) is particularily EASY to pick up off the ground. As I mentioned earlier my Shadow 1100 was considerably easier to pick up than my Virago 750.

Usually the only thing that makes it possible for any of us to pick a bike up, that is laying on it's side, is ADRENALIN!

Problem is, I don't think you want to sacrifice highway usability for the ability to pick it off the ground.

The biggest issue, is whether or not the driver can have both feet flat on the ground when at a stop. If they can, then dropping the bike shouldn't be an issue. As for dumping the bike, there are usually people around to lend a hand.

[Wildkat]

450 Honda Nighthawk

It was a GREAT starter bike... not much on the highways unless I was going downhill with a tail wind... and if John ever decided to pass a car... I just assumed he was trying to lose me... because there was no way I could keep up... However, it was extremely dependable... and very sturdy...

Don't know that I would want to start on an XS... mainly due to the height thing... very difficult to get used to when you are vertically challenged...

[eroellig]

A couple of years ago, I saw a video of a really petite lady who demonstrated how to pick up a goldwing..... (wish I had a link)

The little gals can definitely do it.

Eric

Update:

This isn't the exact thing I was looking for, but it is close.

http://www.pinkribbonrides.com/dropped.html

The demonstrator is 5' 3" and 118 lbs.

Bike is almost 600lbs (about the same as out beloved XS11)

[beegshot]

Honda 250 Rebel

I bought one for my petite wife (5'2"). She loves it...except when I leave her in the dust. I've got to re-ring it, but we're getting ready to sell it.

On edit: I agree with the post above regarding the XV Yamahas. I have a XV750 that I'm thinking of fixing up for my wife. Either that or I'll try to find a decent XV535.

Robert

[Crazcnuk]

Wait till your wife sees this thread, looks at you and says

" When will you ever learn, size doesn't matter!"

[Hammerhead1st]

WOW!!

Certainly a lot of differing opinions, and I value each and every one of them!

Thank you all for your input, I appreciate it. I've been reading your posts to SWMBO and showing her pics of each model. I think, though, that I am more enthused than she is...

[jeffe]

Picked up a real nice 1988 600Shadow for my wife. She is 4'10" and not much over a 100#. Nice low seat and enough power that she won't out grow it. It's a blast to ride around town but to cramped of a seating position for me. Plus almost 60mpg

[mro]

Beggener bike...?
Agree that smaller is better.
For a starter like the 250's.
Just do rides local and make it fun for her.
Keep em short, 30 minuets and up to an hour to places she will like. ("girls just wanna have fun!", heard that some where)

It takes time to develop the reflexes and "awareness" needed to ride reasonalbly safe on the street. A larger bike will magnify any problem when learing.
While my wife had never wanted her own ride,she did like all the goodies a rider can wear (leathers etc..) and was a most excellent passenger
Some "wimmin" look flat out cool in biker dress... ...YMMV


mro

[Crazcnuk]

Well, then be prepared to buy several bikes, in a fairly short period of time.

The principles are the same for all of them. You can kill yourself on a 250 too.

I got an A100 Suzuki for my birthday in April 1978. In August I bought a CB360T. Early the next spring I bought a 750-4.

It takes about a week to outgrow too small of a bike.

The problem is that, although even the small bikes can go coast to coast on the highway, it will look and feel like a toy to the new driver within the first few days, unless there are no other bigger bikes around.

Even the 1100s are starting to feel small with all the 1300, 1500, 1800, and 2300 (not to mention the 8200cc ones) bikes around these days.

The other thing is, that the smaller bikes have inferior brakes, and are harder to see for the other traffic.

[Hammerhead1st]

Had SWMBO sit on my friend's Yami 650 rocket. It's low and balanced well. She was able to touch the ground with both feet, hold it upright easily, and her legs and arms are perfect for the controls. Too bad she hated it.

She says she doesn't like the gas tank shape, doesn't like it sitting so high. Am thinking more like a Virago 750. She doesn't need a launch rocket and if she's relaxed while sitting she'll enjoy it more.

[Poprock]

My first bike was an XJ 650. They're tough, quick, dependable and economical to run. They can keep up with anyone at legal or reasonable speeds. Tad heavy, but she already knows something about bikes and balance. Lots of good choices out there, but XJ's are among the better ones.

[AlanB]

Hi Guys,

You can't tell her what she needs; If you try to , then it is your fault for ever!

Let her choose what she is comfortable with; that way, if it is wrong, it is her problem; and she will either change it, or (more likely!) learn to live with it!

Let her try the XS to see if she likes it, and point to the good features it has, .....but don't try to decide what she needs; that is a route only to pain!

AlanB