FEMALE FRIEND WANTS 1ST. BIKE. ADVICE
01-13-2010, 05:13 PM
#1
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FEMALE FRIEND WANTS 1ST. BIKE. ADVICE
Work with a 26 year old female who would like to buy her 1st motorcycle. She says she has only $1500 maximum to spend. My advice to her was to look for a Kawasaki Ninja 250 as it is light and decent looking bike. Would like her to buy a reliable bike as her financial situation is tight. Anybody else have some input for her. She is 5'5" in height so bike could not have to tall of a saddle. Also she has never driven a motorcycle before, although she rows through the gears quite well in her manual transmission auto.
01-13-2010, 05:43 PM
#2
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depends on a bunch of variables, but I wouldn't be concerned with the particular model if this is her first bike given her financial constraints. I would help her find a jap bike with low miles that has been taken care of that she can get her feet flat on the ground. If you keep an open mind relative to the kind of bike, there will be a lot more choices. Something light and ergonomically appropriate with a comfortable seat.
01-13-2010, 05:49 PM
#3
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I think that would be a perfect bike for her to start with. If she prefers a little more cruiser style Honda makes a ? (****) name escapes me at the moment. I looked at the local CL before responding to your post. You should be able to get a Ninja in her price range - problem is finding one. All the newer ones are $2300 or so but they are all later models (2-3 years old). Get her into a MSF course as soon as you can. That will either ignite the fire in her or put it out. I have a friend who is also a little on the short side and she has a SV650. She has a little more riding experience than your friend. Good luck and have fun!
01-13-2010, 05:54 PM
#4
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just to add the honda cb series like the cb350 or cl350 cb500 etc stay under 500 cc. They are great reliable bikes. There is also a Rebel 250 honda makes but it will only do 60 mph. Other than that the ninja 250 was unchanged until a year or two ago so if you need to stay in the $1500 price range the year is not very important, just the condition.
01-13-2010, 07:28 PM
#6
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I'd suggest to her to go out and play in the dirt on like a cr80 or 100. Dirt is soft(er) and she could learn going through the gears, braking and such. If she has a friend with a little dirtbike, that's what I'd suggest. As far as getting her a streetbike, I agree with nath 981. Simply find soemthing that fits her that's not super powerful.
01-13-2010, 07:35 PM
#7
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Suzuki GS500 or a Ninja EX500 are good choices also. You can get one with scratched up bodywork at that price.
Anything under 600cc is going to be slow, so you don't have to start at a 250.
In fact, I think at some point, too slow of a bike is dangerous because you can't get out of your own way and will have cars tailgating you.
I've put some miles on my girlfriend's Honda Rebel 250 and a S40 single cylinder Suzuki, and in traffic I feel a little closer to death than on my Superhawk.
Less experienced riders will like being closer to the ground on a small cruiser bike, but IMO, they're a poor choice for developing riding skills. BTW my gf is 5'1" and She rod my GS500 lowered 1" and her Ninja with stock height and shaved seat. 5'5" will fit any of the beginner bikes mentioned here in stock form.
And yeah, there isn't much R&D with these bikes, they don't change much. Condition is everything, year means nothing. The GS500 for example, has been basically unchanged for 15 years.
Anything under 600cc is going to be slow, so you don't have to start at a 250.
In fact, I think at some point, too slow of a bike is dangerous because you can't get out of your own way and will have cars tailgating you.
I've put some miles on my girlfriend's Honda Rebel 250 and a S40 single cylinder Suzuki, and in traffic I feel a little closer to death than on my Superhawk.
Less experienced riders will like being closer to the ground on a small cruiser bike, but IMO, they're a poor choice for developing riding skills. BTW my gf is 5'1" and She rod my GS500 lowered 1" and her Ninja with stock height and shaved seat. 5'5" will fit any of the beginner bikes mentioned here in stock form.
And yeah, there isn't much R&D with these bikes, they don't change much. Condition is everything, year means nothing. The GS500 for example, has been basically unchanged for 15 years.
Last edited by CentralCoaster; 01-13-2010 at 07:40 PM.
01-13-2010, 07:46 PM
#8
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Cheap price, good brakes, great turning, good looks... Suzuki GS500f
That's is what we bought my wife for her first bike, and she loves how it has a great gas range, turns like a **** and has decent power for a first bike.
The biggest 2 issues I have with the bike are these: on the 05 and earlier models, there is no gas gauge. You have to go based on the tripmeter or odometer.
My second gripe is lack of good aftermarket. If she's not going to keep this bike too long, then ahe probably won't worry about upgrading it much anyways.
this bike (at least for my wife) has been a great starter bike.
That's is what we bought my wife for her first bike, and she loves how it has a great gas range, turns like a **** and has decent power for a first bike.
The biggest 2 issues I have with the bike are these: on the 05 and earlier models, there is no gas gauge. You have to go based on the tripmeter or odometer.
My second gripe is lack of good aftermarket. If she's not going to keep this bike too long, then ahe probably won't worry about upgrading it much anyways.
this bike (at least for my wife) has been a great starter bike.
01-13-2010, 07:58 PM
#9
evil man of nothing
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I'd go with a 250 rebel or maybe a GS500. My 2 cents says people should learn on something small and slow. The great thing about those bikes is $1500 will find you a nice one all day if you know what you're looking for, and you can probably shine it up a little and even sell it for a profit. They're easy to find, and easy to sell when it's time to upgrade. So it's basically like renting one to learn on for free. I've never had one but a 250 ninja I'm sure is a good choice as well. It's always a plus when someone already drives a stick, so they already understand how a clutch works.
01-13-2010, 08:04 PM
#11
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Whatever she feels most comfortable on.
Smaller displacement is more forgiving of mistakes in rider input, but more dangerous on faster roads since you can get run over easier.. So really whatever she is most comfortable on(feels the most in control of).
Smaller displacement is more forgiving of mistakes in rider input, but more dangerous on faster roads since you can get run over easier.. So really whatever she is most comfortable on(feels the most in control of).
01-13-2010, 08:30 PM
#12
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I honestly wouldn't let my girlfriend, or anyone else I was teaching, take a 250 rebel or anything like it out on a busy road or highway. I bought her the rebel to learn on in a huge stadium parking lot. It took me a couple days the sell the bike. I also fixed up a gs500 recently and sold it no lie about 3 minutes after I listed it on CL. My idea is to simply upgrade to something a little more powerful that someone can safely ride out on the road once they've gotten over the initial hump of learning the basics. Small cheap bikes are so easy to buy and sell, like I said it's like borrowing it for free.
01-13-2010, 08:39 PM
#13
evil man of nothing
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Also good on you both for being responsible and smart. I can't remember how many times I've heard people say "do you think a ZX9 is a good bike to learn on?" or "600's are slow." I've seen so many ads on craigslist advertising bikes like superhawks or top level 600's as good learner bikes. Not that you can't but...
01-13-2010, 09:18 PM
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I honestly wouldn't let my girlfriend, or anyone else I was teaching, take a 250 rebel or anything like it out on a busy road or highway. I bought her the rebel to learn on in a huge stadium parking lot. It took me a couple days the sell the bike. I also fixed up a gs500 recently and sold it no lie about 3 minutes after I listed it on CL. My idea is to simply upgrade to something a little more powerful that someone can safely ride out on the road once they've gotten over the initial hump of learning the basics. Small cheap bikes are so easy to buy and sell, like I said it's like borrowing it for free.
01-13-2010, 09:22 PM
#15
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For a 5'5" woman who has never ridden a bike, I'd advise a 250 and the Ninja is a good choice.
It runs the quarter mile in the mid 14's, quicker than most cars and it will cruise at 75 mph all day. More importantly for a flat out virgin? It weighs an honest 100 lbs. less than a GS500.
It runs the quarter mile in the mid 14's, quicker than most cars and it will cruise at 75 mph all day. More importantly for a flat out virgin? It weighs an honest 100 lbs. less than a GS500.
01-13-2010, 09:49 PM
#16
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Well everyone has a different opinion but I would say try to get her some dirt experience first. Of course the MSF course (even though I don't agree with all their teachings it's a damn fine start) Then let her know that see will drop the bike a few times while she is learning so don't worry how "pretty" it is. In fact the less plastic body work the better.
With that said, The Ninja 250 is always a good start and there are lots of parts to do whatever you what with it or to it. Another bike that doesn't have as high of resale as the Ninja is the Honda VTR250 it's kind of a cult bike around here (and the new one looks trick but of course we don't get one) the one with the inboard front brake works pretty good but I would look for one with the standard front brake. The are a fun little bike but unlike the Ninja they are a bit hard to find parts for and there is no real aftermaket for them at all.
There is also a whole list of 250-400cc UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle) from the 80's-90's that make great first bikes as you can just worry about learning to ride not be worried about hurting the bike.
Cheers,
Mike
With that said, The Ninja 250 is always a good start and there are lots of parts to do whatever you what with it or to it. Another bike that doesn't have as high of resale as the Ninja is the Honda VTR250 it's kind of a cult bike around here (and the new one looks trick but of course we don't get one) the one with the inboard front brake works pretty good but I would look for one with the standard front brake. The are a fun little bike but unlike the Ninja they are a bit hard to find parts for and there is no real aftermaket for them at all.
There is also a whole list of 250-400cc UJM (Universal Japanese Motorcycle) from the 80's-90's that make great first bikes as you can just worry about learning to ride not be worried about hurting the bike.
Cheers,
Mike
01-13-2010, 09:57 PM
#17
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My wife is 5'4" and started on a Ninja 500 5 years ago at age 54. She loved it, but after putting 11,000 miles on it she wanted more power (said she couldn't keep up with me leaving lights). She now has just under 20,000 miles on her SV650S.
I rode both the EX250 and EX500 before we bought her 500, and although the 250 was fun to ride, the 500 felt much more substantial. And you need to shift the 250 every 0.8 seconds.
I had a student (over 6' tall) several years ago who rode an EX250 20 miles to school on the freeway, but I wouldn't do that.
Bottom line is what she feels comfortable sitting on. Then you ride it to give your riding input. And get her in an MSF course.
I rode both the EX250 and EX500 before we bought her 500, and although the 250 was fun to ride, the 500 felt much more substantial. And you need to shift the 250 every 0.8 seconds.
I had a student (over 6' tall) several years ago who rode an EX250 20 miles to school on the freeway, but I wouldn't do that.
Bottom line is what she feels comfortable sitting on. Then you ride it to give your riding input. And get her in an MSF course.
01-14-2010, 12:19 PM
#18
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My wife started on a Ninja 250 and loved it for 2 years and 15000 miles. She bought a SV650S when she wanted more power.
I've had a GS500E, and loved it, but it is heavier than the Ninja 250... but also a good option. The lack of plastics tend to turn off many women though, they seem to not want to see the engine/frame and such. (but there's always an exception to the rule)
so if she wants plastics Ninja 250 or Ninja 500 or a very beat up GS500F.
I've had a GS500E, and loved it, but it is heavier than the Ninja 250... but also a good option. The lack of plastics tend to turn off many women though, they seem to not want to see the engine/frame and such. (but there's always an exception to the rule)
so if she wants plastics Ninja 250 or Ninja 500 or a very beat up GS500F.
01-14-2010, 12:55 PM
#19
evil man of nothing
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why? i put my 250 through 10,000 miles of commuting, about half highway at 70+mph and half city. the ninja 250 will out accelerate most cars on the road, and since its so light its very to perform avoidance maneuver. it teaches you not to rely on the throttle to get you out of the way. and best of all it was only $300/year to insure when i was 19, and i constantly got over 70mpg.
01-14-2010, 01:11 PM
#20
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Any brand of old 4-stroke dual sports under 300cc are the best starter bikes (like an 80's Honda XL125). They tend to be tough as nails for the unintended drop and they can be used in dirt for some initial training. Best of all you can find plenty under $1000 on CL.
01-14-2010, 04:05 PM
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Well the roads are pretty crazy/crowded as are the drivers down here and I think it's a bit too small and weak (the rebel) is all. Not saying by any means it isn't capable. I'd rather teach the basics on it and then her move up (I had her riding me on the back of her dad's heritage softail in no time) to something a little more powerful that you can put where you want-just my 2 cents I think it's safer. Riding a 15 horse rebel on I95 (it's 8 lanes wide in West Palm) isn't my idea of a good time
01-14-2010, 04:54 PM
#23
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My younger sister has a ninja 250 its a great bike I even have fun riding it the only problem we have had is my younger brother who is wayyyy to big for it kinda beat it pretty bad and spun a bearing in the bottom end but other than that they make a great bike and look pretty good.
01-14-2010, 06:40 PM
#24
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She is looking at most bikes mentioned
Samantha has decided to concentrate on the Kaw and Suzuki 500 or the Kaw 250. Style points count for her and those three bikes look like sport bikes. She is of average weight and coordinated enough. Looking at Craigslist the Kawasakis are plentiful and the Suzuki not so much. Really there is not much to choose from in sport bikes of those engine sizes. Anyone knowing of a good buy in a 500 mile radius of Omaha Ne. let me know. She asked me to teach her to ride. My advice was to take safety course. Thanks Mike.
01-14-2010, 07:22 PM
#25
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I'm surprised no one suggested a VTR250. My local CL has a '90 in what is described as "great condition" for $1100 asking. I imagine these could be found for $800 - $1000.
Actually it is too bad the modern VTR250 isn't sold here, that looks like an awsome first bike
Actually it is too bad the modern VTR250 isn't sold here, that looks like an awsome first bike
01-14-2010, 08:05 PM
#26
evil man of nothing
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) and for some reason there are always several nice ones for sale around South Florida. It IS a shame they don't sell the newer version here-what a cool bike!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrBycoeFuIQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHwJy...eature=related
01-15-2010, 06:07 AM
#29
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Would be a long drive, but its a great price if he still has it.
witchita falls texas
http://wichitafalls.craigslist.org/mcy/1549742266.html
witchita falls texas
http://wichitafalls.craigslist.org/mcy/1549742266.html
