I realize this is not an R1200R specific topic. While I anxiously await the arrival of my new toy, my wife is in the process of getting a motorcycle license so now I've begun the process of looking into suggestions for her first bike.
As it will be her first bike, I'm thinking a 500 or 650cc size. She's 5'10" so height shouldn't be an issue. I would like her first to be an ABS BMW so I'm thinking a 650CS ro 650GS.
Any suggestions for other BMWs?
If not other BMWs, how about suggestins out of the BMW brand? She will definitely be riding a brand new BMW once she's gotten up to speed however long that takes. But for startes, a used bike is definitely in order.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Suggestions for a starter bike for the wife
Moderator: Moderators
I started my wife on a Suzuki Bandit 400 four cylinder and we later got her an SV650 and it turned out to have a lot more "Off the line power" than she as a beginner needed. I think that a multi cylinder Japanese bike that requires high revs to get to the power would be a better choice. Get the frame protecters for it. I would NOT get an expensive BMW 650 as it will end up with dents. My wife is very competent with straight shift cars. My wife went thought the MSF course and got her license. Then after a 1.5 month period of bad winter weather she got back on the bike (the SV650) and, with her practice stale ran right into the basketball goal and broke her hand. She now rides behind me again.
What ever you start a beginner rider on will end up dropped.
Mark
What ever you start a beginner rider on will end up dropped.
Mark
Brand new SV 650 with ABS looks like a very good choice(nicer then single cilinder bmw's imo) or maybe a nice young used BMW F650CS Scarver with ABS and belt drive very practical and perhaps nice to get used with very litlle miles as it wasn't that popular. Used R850R could also be very nice and off course available with abs and descent lugage and from lots of years in a broad price range(I think the R850R might be one of the nicest bikes as they handle very well and have the added safety of abs and cilinder heads sticking out to protect legs in minor tip overs). Don't agree though that starters always tip over and I hope your wife stays on the bike when she has the liscence.
Re: Suggestions for a starter bike for the wife
[quote="r12r-don"]Any suggestions for other BMWs?
If not other BMWs, how about suggestins out of the BMW brand?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.[/quote]
Ok, my .02 cents - a new Triumph Bonneville. By "new", I mean a 2001-2007 model, not a vintage Bonnie. I just picked up a low-mile 2001 for my daughter as her first bike. She loves it.. It's very easy to maneuver, has decent brakes, isn't too fast, but fast enough to keep up with traffic. All in all it's a great beginner bike.
If not other BMWs, how about suggestins out of the BMW brand?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.[/quote]
Ok, my .02 cents - a new Triumph Bonneville. By "new", I mean a 2001-2007 model, not a vintage Bonnie. I just picked up a low-mile 2001 for my daughter as her first bike. She loves it.. It's very easy to maneuver, has decent brakes, isn't too fast, but fast enough to keep up with traffic. All in all it's a great beginner bike.
Bottom line.
That is the question. How much do you really want to spend on a bike you may only keep for one season?
RIDE TOO PRETEND, PRETEND TOO RIDE. 
89 Oldwing, 07 WR250R, 14 KX250F
89 Oldwing, 07 WR250R, 14 KX250F
Wow!!!
Thanks for all the great tips and suggestions.
I absolutely agree that a used bike is in order. I saw F650CS' selling on eBay for the neighborhood of $3k. So I pretty much resolved to the budget area. But again, won't get something with too high mileage or too old just to save a few bucks. It is my girl after all.
Thanks for all the great tips and suggestions.
I absolutely agree that a used bike is in order. I saw F650CS' selling on eBay for the neighborhood of $3k. So I pretty much resolved to the budget area. But again, won't get something with too high mileage or too old just to save a few bucks. It is my girl after all.
My GF started back into riding after a 30 year break. After taking the MSF course we looked around at bikes. She bought a Suzuki SV650. She has been riding that for over a year and it still meets her changing needs.
She is also tall and the bike fits her.
BTW, the first mod I made to the bike was to add frame sliders. She has tested them twice.
She is also tall and the bike fits her.
BTW, the first mod I made to the bike was to add frame sliders. She has tested them twice.
'07 R1200R [Black and faster than me]
-
Lost Rider
- Basic User
- Posts: 1629
- Joined: Sat May 20, 2006 1:31 am
- Location: Ventura County, California
- Contact:
+1 for a nice used F650GS.
Though maybe you should go to a dealer with one to see if she need's a factory lowered model, before buying one. I was looking at the 650gs's and it seems there are plenty of the lowered ones around.
Good luck!
A girl-friend of mine sat on quite a few bike at the bike show, and didn't like any until she sat on a lowered F650. She could actually touch the ground, and that gave her confidence about learning to ride.
Though maybe you should go to a dealer with one to see if she need's a factory lowered model, before buying one. I was looking at the 650gs's and it seems there are plenty of the lowered ones around.
Good luck!
A girl-friend of mine sat on quite a few bike at the bike show, and didn't like any until she sat on a lowered F650. She could actually touch the ground, and that gave her confidence about learning to ride.
Get Lost!
As a woman rider, I'll chime in:
Look at the threads "I dropped my bike" or similar on this board. Almost everyone has dropped their BMW or other bike and some who have been riding a long time have had spills - new or not. (and 99% of those who have posted about dropped bikes are men - because there aren't a lot of women on the board obviously, but it does show that women are not the only ones who drop their bikes!)
My sister gave me a brand new never ridden Honda Shadow back in November 2005 - BECAUSE, her husband bought two new bikes before they took the MSF course. Then they both failed the course. She was asked to leave after running the little 250 Rebel into the instructor and then into the other students 2-3 times. Too bad for her - good for me....... I got the bike.
Then I took the MSF course and passed with no problem. I rode that Honda Shadow Aero about 5 times before I realized I needed more bike so in Jan '06 I traded it in for my BMW. I'm just glad I hadn't paid for the Honda.
I think just about everyone is going to drop their bike or have a spill eventually - it doesn't matter if you have a used smaller bike or a brand new power bike, or if you are a woman or a man. It's going to happen.
I was always amazed by people's comments when I got my FZ1 - "It has too much power." "You're going to kill yourself." "Be careful, that thing has a whole lot of power." - as if the bike decides how much power to use. The rider is the one in control of the bike whether it is a Honda Shadow or a K1200R - there is power to be harnessed or abused. It's the rider who is responsible, not the bike. The key is to be a responsible rider and have somewhat of an aptitude for riding. My sister did not.
So my advice would be:
1)Make sure she is a capable rider by taking the MSF course first. Depending on how well she does in that course, think about whether or not it would be better to take it again.
2) Buy a bike she won't "outgrow" quickly. (it's no fun not being able to keep up with other riders or pass vehicles on a two lane road - like that Shadow I had)
3) Did you get the bike you wanted when you bought yours? I vote for fairness.
That's my 2 cents.
Look at the threads "I dropped my bike" or similar on this board. Almost everyone has dropped their BMW or other bike and some who have been riding a long time have had spills - new or not. (and 99% of those who have posted about dropped bikes are men - because there aren't a lot of women on the board obviously, but it does show that women are not the only ones who drop their bikes!)
My sister gave me a brand new never ridden Honda Shadow back in November 2005 - BECAUSE, her husband bought two new bikes before they took the MSF course. Then they both failed the course. She was asked to leave after running the little 250 Rebel into the instructor and then into the other students 2-3 times. Too bad for her - good for me....... I got the bike.
Then I took the MSF course and passed with no problem. I rode that Honda Shadow Aero about 5 times before I realized I needed more bike so in Jan '06 I traded it in for my BMW. I'm just glad I hadn't paid for the Honda.
I think just about everyone is going to drop their bike or have a spill eventually - it doesn't matter if you have a used smaller bike or a brand new power bike, or if you are a woman or a man. It's going to happen.
I was always amazed by people's comments when I got my FZ1 - "It has too much power." "You're going to kill yourself." "Be careful, that thing has a whole lot of power." - as if the bike decides how much power to use. The rider is the one in control of the bike whether it is a Honda Shadow or a K1200R - there is power to be harnessed or abused. It's the rider who is responsible, not the bike. The key is to be a responsible rider and have somewhat of an aptitude for riding. My sister did not.
So my advice would be:
1)Make sure she is a capable rider by taking the MSF course first. Depending on how well she does in that course, think about whether or not it would be better to take it again.
2) Buy a bike she won't "outgrow" quickly. (it's no fun not being able to keep up with other riders or pass vehicles on a two lane road - like that Shadow I had)
3) Did you get the bike you wanted when you bought yours? I vote for fairness.
That's my 2 cents.
Kristi
05 Granite Grey
05 Granite Grey
I agree totally - I dropped all of my bikes. some from washing in the driveway to others making u-turns in the driveway. I do recall that starting out on a 750 was a bit much for me at first and you're right - it only took a while to get used to it.
It is ultimately her choice. She's in the process, just not so inclined to be on the message boards which is why I'm asking the question.
She gets what she wants and she wants a second hand so she doesn't put pressure on herself to not ding a new bike. She's more than welcome to give my brand new R1200R a spin. If she thinks shes up for it, she knows where the keys are.
Shes also no timid woman, as she barrels down the street in our F150 with just a bit of lift.
Thanks for the input and keeping us guys honest.
---Don
It is ultimately her choice. She's in the process, just not so inclined to be on the message boards which is why I'm asking the question.
She gets what she wants and she wants a second hand so she doesn't put pressure on herself to not ding a new bike. She's more than welcome to give my brand new R1200R a spin. If she thinks shes up for it, she knows where the keys are.
Shes also no timid woman, as she barrels down the street in our F150 with just a bit of lift.
Thanks for the input and keeping us guys honest.
---Don
I forgot one important thing:
The day I got my license I came home and some friends knew that I had just gotten my license. I had not even ridden the bike out of the neighborhood before - and these guys showed up at my house and convinced me to go on a ride with them. 100 miles round trip through traffic on nice "motorcycle roads". I was timid and knew it wasn't a great idea, but it was like a dare - and I had to take it. They made it sound so safe by saying they would put me in the middle of the five of them and they would watch out for me. I almost had a head on collision my first trip out. It scared every one of them. I just kept thinking "lean and pull out of it." And I did. The leader wouldn't stop because he was afraid if he let me stop, I might not get back on the bike. Eventually at the gas stop, it was discussed and they realized it wasn't the best idea to take me out on those roads so early in my riding history! The thought to give up didn't occur to me.
No matter what bike you get for your wife, do her a favor and don't even suggest a 'trip' or a 'ride' other than what she is ready for - and definitely no group ride which would only add pressure to keep up. It takes a few times out before a person actually learns the importance of "riding your own ride." and letting the competition go. Let her do the suggesting. She will know what she is comfortable with.
Just sayin'
The day I got my license I came home and some friends knew that I had just gotten my license. I had not even ridden the bike out of the neighborhood before - and these guys showed up at my house and convinced me to go on a ride with them. 100 miles round trip through traffic on nice "motorcycle roads". I was timid and knew it wasn't a great idea, but it was like a dare - and I had to take it. They made it sound so safe by saying they would put me in the middle of the five of them and they would watch out for me. I almost had a head on collision my first trip out. It scared every one of them. I just kept thinking "lean and pull out of it." And I did. The leader wouldn't stop because he was afraid if he let me stop, I might not get back on the bike. Eventually at the gas stop, it was discussed and they realized it wasn't the best idea to take me out on those roads so early in my riding history! The thought to give up didn't occur to me.
No matter what bike you get for your wife, do her a favor and don't even suggest a 'trip' or a 'ride' other than what she is ready for - and definitely no group ride which would only add pressure to keep up. It takes a few times out before a person actually learns the importance of "riding your own ride." and letting the competition go. Let her do the suggesting. She will know what she is comfortable with.
Just sayin'
Kristi
05 Granite Grey
05 Granite Grey