Starter bike for wife

[Zeke on Wheels]

Hey all,
The Mrs. has got the fever and wants a bike to ride.
I am looking for suggestions of a good starter bike. She is only 5' tall, so we need something that is low to the ground and not too heavy. She has driven a stick shift car, but never a motorcycle.
I am thinking maybe something like an old Honda 125 enduro or something on that order, but am open to suggestions. I don't want to get her something too big to start out on. Something light and low that she can learn shifting on. Also something that we can take out on the road to learn the essentials and get some riding time in.

[GLoweVA]

You may not want something too small in cc's.
Maybe an xs/xj 650? There's lots of parts available and many similarities to the xs11 so maintenance should be a breeze.
My sister is about 5'1" (52yrs old) and she just got a late 80's/early 90's virago 750 a couple of years ago. It sits real low. she needed a few more cc's because she's not petite.

[DGXSER]

First off, have her take the MSF Basic Rider Course. Around here, they provide the bikes for the class, and it cost $25 at a local community college.

As for a good starter bike, what type of bike is she wanting when she gets her skills down? I would want to start on something that will be similar to my next step up bike. So the feel of the riding position is similar.

Everything from an old Honda Rebel 250, Or a Honda 250 nighthawk are good starter bikes. They also make a Ninja 250. On the smaller sizes, maybe an old Yamaha 125 street bike. Just what comes to mind.

[IanDMacDonald]

I'd find her something cheap, lol.

[Erik the Red]

Ditto what Don said

Definitely have her take the MSF course! In fact, I teach them around here (primarily Gaylord & Cheboygan) In MI it's also $25, we supply the bikes, and it only takes a weekend of your time. Here's our website: http://www.upnorthmotorcyclesafety.blogspot.com/

West Branch would be the closest one to you with some openings yet. It's set for August 9-11th. You may be able to get on the standby list for Gaylord this weekend. PM me if you have any questions.

She'd also be able to actually sit on, and potentially ride, a few different styles of bike that have different riding positions to help narrow down what to look for in a bike for her (though she'd be on one bike for all the riding portions for the class).

-Erik

[Zeke on Wheels]

Definitely have her take the MSF course! In fact, I teach them around here (primarily Gaylord & Cheboygan) In MI it's also $25, we supply the bikes, and it only takes a weekend of your time. Here's our website: http://www.upnorthmotorcyclesafety.blogspot.com/

West Branch would be the closest one to you with some openings yet. It's set for August 9-11th. You may be able to get on the standby list for Gaylord this weekend. PM me if you have any questions.

She'd also be able to actually sit on, and potentially ride, a few different styles of bike that have different riding positions to help narrow down what to look for in a bike for her (though she'd be on one bike for all the riding portions for the class).

-Erik

You wouldn't happen to be that captain that I just met out on the range a few weeks ago, would ya? I forgot to get your user name when I was talking with ya.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

She sat on a Suzuki S-50 Boulevard while we were up north on vacation, but I thought an 800cc might be a bit much juice for someone small who hasn't ever ridden before. Her feet just touched the ground with crocs on (tippy toes). I had her balance it as I tipped it a bit from side to side and she was able to hold it, so with boots on it would have fit her fairly well as far as height goes.

[fredintoon]

- - - She sat on a Suzuki S-50 Boulevard while we were up north on vacation, but I thought an 800cc might be a bit much juice for someone small who hasn't ever ridden before. Her feet just touched the ground with crocs on (tippy toes). I had her balance it as I tipped it a bit from side to side and she was able to hold it, so with boots on it would have fit her fairly well as far as height goes.

Hi Zeke,
try the S40 instead. Very nice ladies beginner bike. 650cc single, same 27.6" seat height and 234lbs lighter.
Used models usually have low mileage and are reasonably priced.
It's the Suzuki they used to call the Savage but they changed it's name to Boulevard like the other cruisers.
Most likely the truth in advertizing protocols caught up with them and although Suzuki Sluggard may be true it don't have sales appeal.

[Zeke on Wheels]

Thanks everyone for your input.
I am trying to talk her into the MSF course before we do anything else.

[Erik the Red]

It probably wasn't me. If it was W. Branch, it was probably Tim -he used to ride an XS11 back in the day. Older guy with a mustache. Now he rides an FJR.

I do remember I was talking to a guy (you?) in the parking lot of the Ace Hardware a couple years ago who had a '78 E. I told him about the site, but don't know if he signed up. Was that you by chance?

Also, don't try to talk her into taking the class. Tell her that you love her enough that you want her to be safe and that you won't support her riding unless she takes it. I may be biased, but I do feel strongly about it.

You wouldn't happen to be that captain that I just met out on the range a few weeks ago, would ya? I forgot to get your user name when I was talking with ya.

[DGXSER]

I agree with Erik, I am not biased, and I do feel strongly about the class. I saw a couple folks who were in my class that went from never having ridden a bike to being one of the best by the time we were done. I am convinced that would have taken months upon months of riding around town to even experience half the scenarios they put you into, and longer to get at all proficient at them.

Also had one person who barely passed the test at the end, and decided he would retake the class before heading out on the road. In his case, not a bad idea. In his case, he may want to reconsider riding. Even after the class, he was still afraid of the machine. Not a good thing.

Zeke, just tell her you love her enough you singed her up and paid for it, all she has to do is show up and enjoy.

[haywardguy929]

I think the 125cc would be fun for about a month and then get tired of trying to keep up with other road bikes. I'd say a older 350 to 750 to learn on.
Dirt bikes are great to learn on but they have limits.

[CRXSi90]

Hi Zeke,
try the S40 instead.

Guess I'll weigh in here also since I almost bough a Savage, twice. S40 seems like a good choice to me. The 650cc engine is big enough to have some fun, but the bike is small enough in stature that it's easy to control. They're pretty reliable bikes and simple to work on. There are several things that make it that way.

• single carb
• lock nut valve adjustment (not shim)
• belt drive

Probably the biggest "gotcha" of the bike is the cam chain tensioner. It uses a compression spring and a piston arrangement that pushes the tensioner guide against the chain. As the chain stretches, the two parts of the piston can actually pop apart, sending the spring down into the pan/transmission. It's bad news from there on out. So put an ear to the right side of the case and listen for any clatter. You should probably start checking this around 6000 miles, but people typically run into the issue around 20,000 miles.

There's a couple quirks like the compression release that makes it easier to start, but not a huge deal as I recall.

Another top pick would be the Kawasaki KLX250SM. It's a small dirt bike turned street.

But see what comes out of the MSF course and go from there.

[Mullineaux]

Prince rode a Hondamatic 400 in "Purple Rain" and that dood is tiny!

[mikubuilder]

I finished my BRC in June, and most bikes were newer Suzuki, I think TL250, fuel injected so easy to maintain

[Zeke on Wheels]

It probably wasn't me. If it was W. Branch, it was probably Tim -he used to ride an XS11 back in the day. Older guy with a mustache. Now he rides an FJR.

I do remember I was talking to a guy (you?) in the parking lot of the Ace Hardware a couple years ago who had a '78 E. I told him about the site, but don't know if he signed up. Was that you by chance?

Also, don't try to talk her into taking the class. Tell her that you love her enough that you want her to be safe and that you won't support her riding unless she takes it. I may be biased, but I do feel strongly about it.

Nah, this guy was a captain in the Mich. National Guard. He lives in Gaylord and has an XG I think it was. He saw my bike and came over to take a look at it and we started talking. He is on the forum but I forgot to get his user name.

Is there any chance of squeezing 2 more people into this weekend's class. I have the Mrs. talked into it if our 30 year old daughter can do it with her. She just picked up an 04 Honda Shadow 650 but has never ridden.