Little Wife Bike Choices

[Tekime]

The wife has it pretty much decided she's getting her license this year, and wants to start on something small and light. She's short and light, and for my own sanity I'd like her starting on something pretty tame.

She liked the TU250X we looked at last weekend:



She also loves the VanVan but the seat height was really high on the showroom model:



She also doesn't mind something like an older GZ250:



We're not really shopping yet but getting some ideas - anything else in this range, standard to sort-of-cafe-ish chic bikes we should be checking out? We're not stuck on Suzuki I just happen to own mostly Suzuki's. And something with a little more power isn't off the table if it's very manageable and not heavy.

[nhbubba]

Look at the star 250. It’s a real twin but only 250cc. My wife has test sat one and it’s a contender for us. Guy at work has brought a couple virago 250 cl finds back from the dead and they are shockingly okay.

[MaRce1o]

My wife rides the Grom here and there

[01xj]

I put lowering links on a ninja 250 for my wife. Shes 5' and not a cm more. She could reach the ground with both tip toes but couldn't flat foot it.

[csmutty]

Tu250 is pretty good but has some stalling issues under certain conditions with the fi and the front brake it strong. Not really a negative with the front brake, but will just take some getting used to and practice with quick stopping so she won't be prone to lock it up.

[Tekime]

Look at the star 250. It’s a real twin but only 250cc. My wife has test sat one and it’s a contender for us. Guy at work has brought a couple virago 250 cl finds back from the dead and they are shockingly okay.

Good call on both, will consider.

My wife rides the Grom here and there

We spotted one at Street Cycles and both agree they are pretty cool, but she wants something that can eventually do a bit of highway.

I put lowering links on a ninja 250 for my wife. Shes 5' and not a cm more. She could reach the ground with both tip toes but couldn't flat foot it.

Would be a top choice but she just doesn't like the sporty look for herself.

Tu250 is pretty good but has some stalling issues under certain conditions with the fi and the front brake it strong. Not really a negative with the front brake, but will just take some getting used to and practice with quick stopping so she won't be prone to lock it up.

Good to know. I'll have to Google the stalling issues.

[Chippertheripper]

The gz250 is awful, more of a liability than a good beginner bike. I bought mama one before she got knocked up, I’d never buy or recommend it again.
She now has a vino 125 which is so fucking fun it should be illegal.

[Paul_E_D]

I was going to chime in that the GZ is a bit dangerous. It handles ok, but there is something with the grabby front brake and rear weight bias that makes locking the front a very common affair.

[Garandman]

My wife got her license because she thought the TrailWay 200 was so cool. Very similar to the VanVan but with a carb. Really fun but recommended top speed is 55.

We got a Honda CB500F, 30.7” seat height and pretty easy to handle, but can easily handle highway speeds and has ABS. She’s 5’7 and can flat foot it no problem.

Honda makes the CB300F, same seat height but a bit lighter and much cheaper. 286cc single.
http://m.powersports.honda.com/model...00f/2018/specs

A lot of short riders wind up with BMW’s. BMW has low suspension and low seat options from the dealer. G310R is not much more than Honda.

[csmutty]

Good call on both, will consider.



We spotted one at Street Cycles and both agree they are pretty cool, but she wants something that can eventually do a bit of highway.



Would be a top choice but she just doesn't like the sporty look for herself.



Good to know. I'll have to Google the stalling issues.

Don't know if you'll find anything on Google. Just something I've noticed when riding them. They use them at the msf classes and when I do demo rides it's happened. Doesn't happen all the time.

[SRTie4k]

2018 Honda CB300R (it's now cafe-ish), Triumph Street Twin, Harley Iron 883, Ducati Scrambler, Yamaha Bolt, Honda Rebel...

I'd say the Rebel is probably your best bet. Seat height is 26.6", both versions weigh under 400lbs wet.

[nhbubba]

Yamaha bolt and sportster 883 are both pretty terrible.

Virago 250 and star are the same bike. Yamaha just changed the name.

Dude at work, his wife just passed msf and bought herself a Kawasaki vulcan s 650. Ninja 650r motor with a different cam in a lower more laidback chassis. I had no idea it existed. Kinda neat. I’d hit it. Wondering if it’ll outrun (and out handle) his Yamaha 1300cc cruiser with its glorious single throttle body.

[golden chicken]

I have a Boulevard S40 that I could part with.

[csmutty]

Hard to argue with a rebel. They just work. Handling is great, cheap price point, decent amount of them out there to choose from, comfortable, etc.

[Garandman]

Don’t know if you use Cycle Ergo but you can tune not only rider height but inseam. And show the rider with feet extended to ground.

http://cycle-ergo.com/

[Tekime]

She sat on an S40 and kind of liked it.. not off the list

The Rebel does stand out as a cheap, reliable steed.

The Honda 300R/F look sweet. Not sure it's to her liking yet but I'm openly praying she'll go for something a bit sportier or cafe-style, I just can't stand cruisers

Don’t know if you use Cycle Ergo but you can tune not only rider height but inseam. And show the rider with feet extended to ground.

http://cycle-ergo.com/

Did not know about this, nice!

[RandyO]

I'd say the Rebel is probably your best bet. Seat height is 26.6", both versions weigh under 400lbs wet.

I would tend to agree for a short new rider

back on '00, my now ex-wife was looking for a bike to learn on, we looked at a few dealerships to get an idea, went to the European bike show at LarsAnderson, she fell in love with a Monster 600 in Revlon Pink factory lowered for short women, but it was a bit out of our price range,

as luck would have it, I walked into the right place at the right time, we found an '82 Honda CM250 (predecessor to the Rebel but UJM style) in excellent shape, hardly any miles, not even 1000, for $600, as I recall when she sold it a couple years later, she got $1k without argument

[Garandman]

The CB300’s are available with ABS brakes.

[feralchimp]

There's a new-Rebel (CMX300) for sale on Vermont CL for $3500; guy is looking for a dual-sport and contacted me with a trade offer for my CRF250L.

[OreoGaborio]

Misinterpreted thread title.... thought "little" was an adjective for the subject "choices"... thought you were trying to choose between a wife or a bike.

[feralchimp]

Having just sold my CRF250L, I'm officially in the same market as the OP. Rider in question dislikes sportbikes/nakeds, loves the look of old Honda standards like the CB550 four, and her attitude toward cruisers might be described as "tolerant."

As much as I'd like to satisfy her style preferences, the market for low seat heights is owned by little cruisers like Rebels, Virago 250/535, Suzuki S40, etc. Meanwhile the most affording bikes with EFI and ABS are either new-Rebels or sportbikes (EX300s, R3s, CBR250/300) or nakeds (CB300/500, Versys 300x, BMW G310).

My best guess at this point is that she'll end up with either a Virago 535, an EX300 w/ABS, or a CB500 w/ABS.

I wish the TU250x were less of a technological bargain-bin. It technically has EFI and checks the style box, but seems like kind of a dog otherwise. I should probably ride one.

[Point37]

Having just sold my CRF250L, I'm officially in the same market as the OP. Rider in question dislikes sportbikes/nakeds, loves the look of old Honda standards like the CB550 four, and her attitude toward cruisers might be described as "tolerant."

As much as I'd like to satisfy her style preferences, the market for low seat heights is owned by little cruisers like Rebels, Virago 250/535, Suzuki S40, etc. Meanwhile the most affording bikes with EFI and ABS are either new-Rebels or sportbikes (EX300s, R3s, CBR250/300) or nakeds (CB300/500, Versys 300x, BMW G310).

My best guess at this point is that she'll end up with either a Virago 535, an EX300 w/ABS, or a CB500 w/ABS.

I wish the TU250x were less of a technological bargain-bin. It technically has EFI and checks the style box, but seems like kind of a dog otherwise. I should probably ride one.

there's always the bonneville...and i know someone who has one for sale

[feralchimp]

there's always the bonneville...and i know someone who has one for sale

My goal is to get her into a Bonnie or Street Twin for her *second* bike.

[SRTie4k]

My buddy's wife, who is around 5'2", rides a Street Twin comfortably. Not sure if I'd recommend it to a complete beginner as it's pretty torquey down low and a bit heavy, but if the user has good throttle control it's a great UJMish bike.

[PhilB]

For inexperienced riders, I think under 500cc is better, 250-300cc is best; and close to a 300-lb bike as possible.
With more experience, the Triumph is a good bet, or a Ducati Monster is a great chick bike.
My wife is 5'3". I started her on a Honda Nighthawk 250, and after a couple years experience, got her an M900 Monster.
Pic of her current wheels below. I don't know why it decided to turn sideways. Computers suck.

PhilB