XS-11 Vs. XS-650

[Street_Rat78]

XS11 VS XS650 ...

With my first bike ever being a XS11, I've never driven any other make, model, or size bike. I've always had a linebacker's build ... 6'2" at about 235lbs, so it made sence to me to buy a bike of proportional size. I have however, see several great deals on several different XS's and XJ's. I've actually decided that once I get a little money set aside, I'm going to buy my SWMBO an XS650 so she ride with me ((she's way too patite to hand the beast that is my XS11.))

I'm sure once we pick up her bike, I'll take it for a nice spin to see what she can do. Then, who knows what I might buy next.

See you on the road...

[SG-Olli]

oldbiker,
my 650 is the standard with the straight hanlde bar and the 18'' spoke rear wheel.
So you are correct, the seat is a little higher.
@ street_rat: My wife likes to ride the XS11, the 650's clutch is too difficult for her to operate. As I said, as long as it is rolling it is an easy going bike.

[John]

My SWMBO is riding the Foster Child, after I lowered it one inch, but then, she owns an FJ 1100, she's not riding it right now, because it's in the 'shop' for paint, and waiting to get the engine re-installed.

[oldbiker648]

The 1100's are just too heavy and too tall to ride on "tippy toes". We have all seen someone's sweet daughter sitting at a traffic light holding up a "too tall" bike with the toe of one boot. On a flat road, calm day, she will get away with it, but the real world ain't all pretty days and flat roads, and you had better have a plan for the inevitable confrontation with a cager. The Elevens are nimble once they have any forward speed at all, but it's like flying a plane; anyone can fly one, the skill is required in the take-off and landing. Same with a bike, stopping and starting is the tough part, and if the equipment doesn't fit, sooner or later you will be inspecting asphalt. I have seen some expert female riders, but most were on low seat height cruisers (Honda Rebel 450, Kawi 800, Suzuki Savage, etc.) or on sport bikes. I'm all about gender equality, but at 6'-4", 215#, I have a little more margin of error with 640 pounds of XS-11 than a 5'-5 140# rider, period.