Having owned and rode that particular year and model bike for a year I can say that its fine for a beginner. Its pretty fast for what it is but only if you flog it above 6k. Its got no middle but a decent low end that she will be able to use to get aquainted with the controls. She's not a 17 yr old boy so I doubt she will try anything too stupid, and the bike only gets maybe 80 or so hp to the rear wheel, making unintended whoolies pretty impossible.