Daughter's First Bike Recommendation

[smac]

+1 Great Starter bikes

edit....the newer Ninja 250's look good.

Found a Ninja (09) red for $2500 last friday night at bike night, lloked like a good deal...

 

[0ctane]

Well I will always recommend the Honda Cb500 Twin,

Its a very forgiving bike and a joy to ride, it has one of the comfiest seats ever for those epic road trips. Nice and simple to work on, parts pretty cheap, bulletproof engine if looked after.

Ive still kept mine as an all year rounder as its easier to keep clean and mainained over the salty season.

This is my 1997 cb500v below

 

[cipher5791]

Get her a ZX14 so can give dad a run for his money

Just kidding brother.

I started out on an 95 Kawi Vulcan 500. Pretty nice beginning bike for me. Not much for interstate riding though. You stick her on that 535 and eighteen wheelers will be on her behind and she won't be able to do much of nothing.
Get her something between 600-750. At least then she can get out of the way. I know you have probably preached to her about no interstate riding, but you now how hard headed those teenagers can be.

 

[UncleSteve]

Stay away from bike's with expensive plastics.

 

[jeepinocala]

GSXR600R perfect bike looks great rides great and when needed she can get out of the way from the idiots out there. If you are worried she will tear it up just get a used one.

 

[el stumpo]

GSXR600R perfect bike looks great rides great and when needed she can get out of the way from the idiots out there. If you are worried she will tear it up just get a used one.

I'm worried she'll tear herself up on it!

Lots of good advice. Here's what I'm weighing..

Ninja 250 -
Plus - looks cool. She likes it. Good resale value.
Minus - It's a Ninja expensive plastics.

Virago 535
Plus - Cheap. Good condition. She likes it. Won't get into too much trouble.
Minus - 15 years old. No umph for interstates.

Rebel
Plus - Can find them cheap. Hold resale value.
Minus - Hold resale value - people want crazy prices. Slightly underpowered.

Does anyone know if the Ninja can handle highway speeds ok?

 

[el stumpo]

Oh, asked my MSF instructor (since he taught her). Here was his advice FWIW:

First make sure that she can sit comfortably on the bike. I wouldn't worry too much about the engine size and much as does it fit her. She will grow into it. Make sure that she has plenty time riding it in neighborhoods before hitting streets that are 45 and above. The 250 would be a good size for her to start with. Let her decide which is best.

Sounds like good advice in addition to all the good stuff here (Professor!)

 

[el stumpo]

Well I will always recommend the Honda Cb500 Twin,

Its a very forgiving bike and a joy to ride, it has one of the comfiest seats ever for those epic road trips. Nice and simple to work on, parts pretty cheap, bulletproof engine if looked after.

Ive still kept mine as an all year rounder as its easier to keep clean and mainained over the salty season.

This is my 1997 cb500v below

Nice looking ride! Willing to sell it for say.. $1K?

 

[Busa Jules]

as a girl... my $.02 says STAY AWAY from the 250! It gets boring QUICKLY. 600's are good.. maybe even an SV... (or a 400SM... but if she is short that isn't gonna work too well)

I stated on an older ZX600E (no throttle response!) it had seen the pavement before so I didn't cry too much the first time I dropped it.

on the BRC!! I took mine on the Busa a couple of months ago.. That DANG figure 8 ATE MY LUNCH!! I shoulda taken the R6 out there!

 

[dk55belair]

Here's a deciding factor on the NInja. Do you have another child that might start riding in the next couple of years? Hand it down when the older is ready to step up. I thought seriously about buying it for my son and then passing it to his sister. I dont think an in-line 4 is good for any starter bike.

 

[el stumpo]

Here's a deciding factor on the NInja. Do you have another child that might start riding in the next couple of years? Hand it down when the older is ready to step up. I thought seriously about buying it for my son and then passing it to his sister. I dont think an in-line 4 is good for any starter bike.

Yep thought about that. In 6 years, the son will be getting ready and it'll be a hand me down.

Jules - thanks for the advice and great looking pic!

 

[bazooki]

Best advice I would have is to ask her what she wants. Offer her a selection of beginner bikes under 550 cc and tell her to sit on them and see what style of bike she really wants and needs. You never really know with some new riders, they might not even like riding so much once they get a bike and it might be a passing hobby like so many others. Who cares if she outgrows a small displacement bike? They are great for learning the ins and outs of riding and improving shifting technique, throttle control and bike skills, plus their light weight makes them less likely to dump in low speed manoevers. If/when they outgrow the bikes capabilities then you sell/trade it and get them a larger displacement bike if thats what they want. Buying and selling bikes is fun and a learning experience for the new rider as well. Ride safe and take it slow with the noob.

 

[Busa Jules]

Who cares if she outgrows a small displacement bike? They are great for learning the ins and outs of riding and improving shifting technique, throttle control and bike skills, plus their light weight makes them less likely to dump in low speed manoevers.

This is what dirtbikes are for!! LOL

I actually learned on an XR80 dirtbike.. then graduated to the 600... then the Busa 6 months later..

Now I'm regressing back down and adding a R6 and a DR650 (Dual SPORT!) to the stable.

 

[red1100cc]

if she likes it and it fits her get it. the savage is also a good one. how good a rider is she? my brother bills 16yr old rides his swift bobber to school. she has good throttle control though/ shes a very safe rider. "with great power comes great responsability!" said peter parkers uncle ben. shoot get her a sporty, i see scads of them in the paper. 03 SPORTSTER 883 ANNIV FULL DRESS

take off the bags and there ya go, a bike she can ride for a long time.

not a big harley fan just sayin for 3k she can have any bike she wantswell almost.

 

[jkuek]

Suzuki Intruder 250 - great bike to start on - very forgiving!

 

[Ebusa]

Hey Peter good luck on the bike hope she likes it too Once she gets enough riding experience you can give her the LE and get a new one,just a thought

 

[LeeFL2]

Any of the supersport 600s. Better handling, better brakes, better acceleration, better looks and she will be able to keep up with you. As long as she is responsible, I dont see a problem. Like others said: get her something she will want to ride.

 

[el stumpo]

@Eddie - Does that mean I can get a white 2010 from Hawaii now?

@Red - That Sportster doesn't look like a bad deal, too bad it's too far!

Get something she likes - very wise words! We were going to take a look today, but she did not finish her chores :/

Tomorrow!

 

[skydivr]

Anything under 500 cc is going to be too small to ride at speed on the interstate/major highways. You'll end up buying another bike for her very quickly if she continues to ride.

My wife has a BMW 650CS that she loves but they sit high.

 

[SHIRO HAYABUSA]

My girlfriend who is 5'2" 110 has an 07 Rebel with 700miles for 2k. I got her an 09 ninja 250r for Christmas thinking it'd be the perfect match for engine size and looks. Unfortunately it was too top heavy and a little tall for her. Since she's had the rebel she's gained the skills and confidence to be on the ninja. It's a shame i sold it ??? I suggest rebel or something of the like from what I've seen the past month, but that's because my g/f is someone who has to learn in small steps. For instance, she started learning the friction zone by walking the bike. Then, move onto the next little step and so on. My .02