Wanted - suggest a bike for my wife

[bigjnsa]

After 500 or so miles on the back of my bike, the trip to the Harvest Rally put my girlfriends (soon to be wife) interest back into riding a bike of her own. I love having her on the back of mine, but I'm really stoked she wants to ride her own now!

She used to ride a Ninja 250 on Galveston Island during her college years.. so for Xmas I'm giving her a riding class so she can freshen up on.

She likes sport bikes and "suggested" to me she wanted a Ducati No flame wars here, but I can't afford a Duc nor the maintenance so that one's out.

Bandit, CBR, Ninja, ZX6??

[DFW_Warrior]

Monster 696, pretty affordable, and from what I've heard the maintenance isn't THAT bad if you do it yourself. Sort of like the BMW's if you think about it.

The most important thing is... if she really wants "x" bike, and ends up with "y" bike then she might not ever ride the thing. Sure it doesn't need it's valves checked for 12k miles, but since it might just end up sitting in the garage does it really matter? If it were me and I wanted a particular bike then I would go get it. The same should be true for a significant other as well.

[Weljo2001]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9Awf...eature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5ntMB0kfIE

[bigjnsa]

Thanks guys!

[snuffcityrider]

I think the Triumph Speed Four in the classifides would be perfect...

[Daytrader]

Let her pick it out. Based on past experiences. When she finds one she likes, make sure it's mechanically sound.
If you steer her one way and it turns out she doesn't like it for whatever reason, it's gonna be your fault. Unless she's really understanding. (Like my GF, who is looking over my shoulder as I write this is).

[scotchale]

I need to get my wife on this forum...she'd have a lot of input on this topic... She technically has two bikes now !

My wife road on the back of my RT to a Rally in Wisconsin from Dallas back in 2007. It was 4000 miles in two weeks. She loved the trip overall, but said she was not riding two up anymore. We already had a BMW F650 CS, so she got her MSF course completed and has now ridden over four years.

Now, I need to backtrack a bit:
We didn't originally look for the CS for her, it was a fluke find at a dealer when I was looking for a Boxer-Bike. It happen to be in the showroom with the used bikes and she happen to sit on it and stated "wow, my feet touch the ground" ! Went ahead and bought it because it was light and easy to put in the bed of our truck with the RV behind it and since she could sit on it with feet flat on the ground, figured that if she had any interest in riding on her own, it would work and be a safe bike to start on, insofar as weight. Otherwise, for now it was our RV bike for trips.

The following year, 2008, my wife wanted to ride to a rally in Wyoming and thought the CS was a bit too small for such a long trip. We found a 95 R 1100Boxer for her to try. She rode it ok on the highway and streets, but had difficulty in parking lots/slow speeds with the heavier bike. Ended up modifying the CS for long-haul riding and she rode it up to Wyoming/Yellowstone and back.

With some problems we encountered with the CS a couple of years ago and the desire to have a two cylinder bike that wasn't "weighted down" she got a 2010 F 650 GS. This was a low frame, low seat bike that fit her well. She has ridden it steady the last two years and loves it.

So? Point to all this? Main thing as someone else stated, she has to see and like it first. If this is a first bike, it should be in a weight range comfortable to handle at slow speeds, and the feet should touch the ground for control, especially at slow speeds. This is more important than trying to list particular bikes by model. Insurance rating is another factor to consider.

Although the CS was a good bike, I wouldn't recommend it due mainly to it being an "Orphan" bike...ie-not made anymore and hard to find parts or accessaries for it. The F 650 GS singles are a good option if she has the inseam to reach the ground, otherwise, they tend to be too tall, but have a good weight range. I have seen several women with those models and there are a number of good used ones out there.

The variations of the F800 Twin may work, pending what she likes and they have been on the market for a few years now, so used ones are more reasonable now. The F800 ST isn't too bad, but I consider it a "speed" bike unless that is what you are looking at? The ST is more modifyable and can be somewhat transitioned as a sport-touring bike, such as handlebar risers, other accessaries. The "S" sport is not as modifyable, but looks similar. They are also belt drive, rather than chain, this may be a desireable option?

The F800 GS and F 650 GS "twin" are the other variants in the dual-sport category. The F800GS isn't too bad in weight, but is tall, although there is a low-seat version, which a friend of mine has. The F 650 GS my wife has is low frame/seat and light weight to handle. It's actually 800 CC, but the cam is "detuned" to 65 horse, so they sort of fanagle the "650" term, but its not 650 cc as some may believe.

Sorry I am being specific on BMW's, those are the only recent bikes I am familiar with relative to this topic. But look around and research, take notes. Getting a bike is not something you just window shop and buy on impulse! (oops, kind of did that on the CS!)

Good Luck
Bryan
F650CS, F650 Twin
04 RT, 98 Funduro

[sKatZ]

I sat on an ER-6N in my "didn't have even the slightest clue" while shopping phase. I think I would have really liked it if I had given it half a chance. It was a little tall for me (then) but if I knew then what I know now, it would have been no big deal at all.

Good luck hunting! Half the fun is shopping for it!