Little Wife Bike Choices

[capitalcrew]

I have a cb360 that is ludicrously easy to handle and low on power. Good gas mileage. Has the look she's after. Is there any reason you're looking at newer bikes? Reliability?

[PhilB]

I have a cb360 that is ludicrously easy to handle and low on power. Good gas mileage. Has the look she's after. Is there any reason you're looking at newer bikes? Reliability?

That was my first bike as well. Good choice in general, although the seat height might be a bit high for who he's talking about. Tires with tubes are not ideal. The electric starters on bikes of that vintage are often inadequate, so a fresh battery is mandatory (unless she's up for using the kickstart).

PhilB

[loudbeard]

Believe it or not, women have actually been learning to ride motorcycles for at least a couple of years before the advent of EFI and ABS. Most of us guys learned without those options as well. Ultimately with motorcycles, as with many things, physics is our greatest teacher, nannies not so much.

[capitalcrew]

That was my first bike as well. Good choice in general, although the seat height might be a bit high for who he's talking about. Tires with tubes are not ideal. The electric starters on bikes of that vintage are often inadequate, so a fresh battery is mandatory (unless she's up for using the kickstart).

PhilB

I'm over 6' so I guess I can't imagine what it would be like if I was a foot shorter lol. I never even considered that the seat might be too high.

[feralchimp]

Lots of good points here, especially on the adequacy of old hardware. I have to admit, part of wanting her to end up on an EX300 is that we can keep it as a track bike when she upgrades.

[Tekime]

She seems to be gravitating to the TU250 and Rebel for the most part. She's having fun window shopping though.

I have a cb360 that is ludicrously easy to handle and low on power. Good gas mileage. Has the look she's after. Is there any reason you're looking at newer bikes? Reliability?

Mostly maintenance/reliability - I want her on something that just works and don't have the time for another old bike in the stable. Open to slightly older bikes depending on condition.

Believe it or not, women have actually been learning to ride motorcycles for at least a couple of years before the advent of EFI and ABS. Most of us guys learned without those options as well. Ultimately with motorcycles, as with many things, physics is our greatest teacher, nannies not so much.

And then there's my wife who runs into walls because she's not paying attention...

[gixxer72]

Believe it or not, women have actually been learning to ride motorcycles for at least a couple of years before the advent of EFI and ABS.

Well who’s fault is that?? Apparently teaching them to read wasn’t bad enough...

[StrayNut]

I'm 5'0". My first CHP (MSF) course was on some kind of Suzuki 125, and another student let me try out the Rebel. Between the two I didn't like the Rebel at all, even though it has the lowest seat height of pretty much anything out there. The feet are kicked out too much like a cruiser which felt harder to control around turns. The first bike I owned was a CB200, and I recommend that or any kind of upright UJM as a first bike. Your position is closer to that of a bicycle so it's more familiar, and then when you transition to a more powerful/sportier bike (as I'm sure she will ) you don't have to relearn so much. I don't recall having an issue with a kick start even at my height (and I felt cool doing it! haha). But I sat on a CB360 once and could only just touch my toes. It's not a large field for us.

[StrayNut]

Mostly maintenance/reliability - I want her on something that just works and don't have the time for another old bike in the stable. Open to slightly older bikes depending on condition.

Mine was a '76, and 24 years old at the time I bought it. Basically only needed oil changes after the first service, for almost 4 years of near constant city riding.

And then there's my wife who runs into walls because she's not paying attention...

I do this too. Believe me, I'm paying attention when I'm on a bike!

One more thing to think about, it's not all about seat height. Seat/bike width and weight matter a lot too for shorties.

[Point37]

One more thing to think about, it's not all about seat height. Seat/bike width and weight matter a lot too for shorties.

^^^this is a good point...i agree with the standard seating position would be better than the cruiser seating position...sport seating position from the waist down wouldn't be bad either as long as from the waist up is somewhat straight to keep the weight off the shoulders/bars...i'd also say something with a real set of handlebars vs clipons for more leverage and better control...low center of gravity and lower overall weight is better...so something that you don't sit in the bike with the fuel tank up at your chest (like a sportster) would be better...maybe a buell blast?...a buddy of mine is about her height and that's what he rode...a tw200 would be fun but probably too underpowered after a little while...gs500?

https://providence.craigslist.org/mc...564546110.html
https://newlondon.craigslist.org/mcy...590305449.html
https://hartford.craigslist.org/mcy/...585081076.html

[Tekime]

Mine was a '76, and 24 years old at the time I bought it. Basically only needed oil changes after the first service, for almost 4 years of near constant city riding.

That's the kind of older bike we'd take!

I do this too. Believe me, I'm paying attention when I'm on a bike!

I know she's perfectly capable when she's paying attention so I'm praying this is the case here too.

[Garandman]

Did you stop by a BMW dealer? Curious how those fit.

[feralchimp]

those little BMW G310s have *great* fit and finish for the price point. I'd like to ride one; the cursory "sit and squish" I gave the front/rear suspension on the showroom floor was promising.

[Tekime]

She did her first day of the two-day course today. Started on a Rebel and hated it. Got moved to a TU250 and said it was a perfect fit, so this one moves to our short-short list.

Apparently they still put you on a bike most of the day even when it's soaking wet and you're nervous as hell!

[csmutty]

She did her first day of the two-day course today. Started on a Rebel and hated it. Got moved to a TU250 and said it was a perfect fit, so this one moves to our short-short list.

Apparently they still put you on a bike most of the day even when it's soaking wet and you're nervous as hell!

Yup. That's how it works. Did she bring rain gear?

Only time we stop is lightning.

TU is a great bike.

[Tekime]

Yup. That's how it works. Did she bring rain gear?

Only time we stop is lightning.

TU is a great bike.

Forgot rain pants but had a good rain jacket. Overall she had a great time though! Glad they still push on through rain, these courses are expensive and seem to fill up fast.

[csmutty]

Forgot rain pants but had a good rain jacket. Overall she had a great time though! Glad they still push on through rain, these courses are expensive and seem to fill up fast.

How much are they in Maine?

[theducman]

those little BMW G310s have *great* fit and finish for the price point. I'd like to ride one; the cursory "sit and squish" I gave the front/rear suspension on the showroom floor was promising.

My wife just bought one. She also has a 700gs but missed having a small bike.

[Tekime]

I think the course was $350-400?

That G310 looks great to me, but too "sporty" for the lady...

[theducman]

They make a gs 310 too fyi

[csmutty]

I think the course was $350-400?

That G310 looks great to me, but too "sporty" for the lady...

Holy eff. That's almost double what CT costs.

[Garandman]

They make a gs 310 too fyi

But the seat height is 32” even with low seat. The Roadster model is 30”, the same as the CB500F we bought.

People are using lowering links to lower the CB500F.