jacobhawkins Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 My wife will be taking the basic MSF course in the next couple weeks and is starting to hunt for a first street bike. I have some thoughts on helping her choose one and am curious what other folks think about a first bike. A little about her: 5'4", 115lbs, never owned a bike before, somewhat timid, wants to go to work 15 miles away on it and occasionally go on longer (2 hour+) rides with me, likes the styling of sport bikes, doesn't want something too wimpy that would be outgrown within a season. She wants to get a bike for fun around town for the most part. My thoughts were to look at a Ninja 300 or 650, or the new CBR500. I talked with a guy at Iron Pony last weekend and he thought the 300 would be fine but when I told Katie about that, she was concerned that a 300 would not be powerful enough to keep up on the highway. No way she'd keep up on a fast past no matter the bike, but screaming along at 11,000 RPM might not be exactly fun. Things that make sense to me are a low seat height, comfortable (upright?) riding position, low weight, easier to control powerband. Probably something gently used. Any thoughts? Key things I'm missing? STFU and let her loose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C-bus Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 FZ6r is a good choice for that scenario as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpoppa Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 I think the cbr500 would be a better choice than the 300. But keep I mind there's a decent chance that a first bike will be on it's side at least once. A prescuffed ninja250 or nighthawk can be had on the cheap. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max power Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 In before BAD suggests a VFR. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 This notion of "out growing" bikes is faulty logic.Your wife is small. A low power bike will propel her to highway speeds easily. A 300 will surpass 100mph. If she wants more power after a year of riding, then fine, but that is not "out growing" the bike. Get her a pre-2008 250 for $900 this winter, then have her ride it a year and sell it in spring of 2016 for $1200. At that point she'll have the skills to ride just about anything she wants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobhawkins Posted September 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 True, outgrow is the wrong word, I was actually eyeing the 300 as a fun bike for myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidgetTodd Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 Ninja or CBR 250 or 300. All 4 options are perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidgetTodd Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 And no fucking Buell Blasts before that even gets suggested. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacobhawkins Posted September 14, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 Haha. Yeah no way on the blast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whaler Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 Not sure I would drop too much coin on first bike. She will drop it, everyone does with the first bike. You can find lots of first gen Ninja 250's 2000 through 2007 that are in great shape and cost from $1000 to $2500. If she drops it there is less plastic to fix and aftermarket parts are a dime a dozen because of how long they ran that model (87 to 07). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gixxus Christ! Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 Busa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zx3vfr Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 I'm selling my ninja 650 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rawlins87 Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 That gs500 in the for sale section. Then if she actually rides consistently then upgrade in a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkow97 Posted September 14, 2014 Report Share Posted September 14, 2014 Gs500 is about as fast as a ninja 250, but may have more torque. My dad had one, and it felt really small and light. They are reliable and cheap. Only disadvantage might be harder to resell than a ninja Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
claine650 Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Sv650, or some kind of twin around that size, that's what I would suggest most start on since you can keep the rpms down low while getting used the bike, then you have a broad power band to play with with decent power that you won't outgrow in a year.. Not to mention that you can pretty much alway pick up an sv650 for the same price as a ninja 250 or 500 pretty much. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerpaw Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 If you want to try a 300, I will let you rip it down Logan main street on the fall epic ride..I will be selling it between now and next spring...due to a move. Bike is perfect with a intake, full exhaust, and dyno tune and a few other things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bad324 Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 In before BAD suggests a VFR. Not for a noob...too top heavy IMO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidgetTodd Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 I'd also rock a Zuma, they're pretty baller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snot Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 If you want to try a 300, I will let you rip it down Logan main street on the fall epic ride..I will be selling it between now and next spring...due to a move. Bike is perfect with a intake, full exhaust, and dyno tune and a few other things.This is a great bike! I have seen it and I have a 300 as well. The 300s and 250s are great bikes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tall_tracy Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 I started on a Ninja 650 as my first bike - I'd never ridden before either, but I am significantly taller than the OP's spouse so I may not be a good reference. (I still have it & it's for sale btw). I thought the 650 was a good start since it had more power for highway speeds than a 250. Just my 2 cents... Good luck, I'm glad to see another lady getting into riding. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snot Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 I started on a Ninja 650 as my first bike - I'd never ridden before either, but I am significantly taller than the OP's spouse so I may not be a good reference. (I still have it & it's for sale btw). I thought the 650 was a good start since it had more power for highway speeds than a 250. Just my 2 cents... Good luck, I'm glad to see another lady getting into riding. I thought you already sold it. It would also make a good first bike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mello dude Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 That gs500 in the for sale section. Then if she actually rides consistently then upgrade in a year.Agreed - perfect first bikehttp://ohioriders.net/index.php?/topic/105924-1992-suzuki-g500/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tall_tracy Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 Nope still have it, it's turned into a loaner bike - one friend had a minor accident and is waiting on insurance; and my roommate broke some bolts replacing the clutch - so they've used it so they can still go riding. Not the same as their R1's but it's a bike... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snot Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 That's really trusting and nice of you, they are lucky to have a friend like you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tall_tracy Posted September 15, 2014 Report Share Posted September 15, 2014 That's really trusting and nice of you, they are lucky to have a friend like you.Thanks. I figure it's got insurance and they've let me use their bikes so why not... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.