coffee mug asked:
My wife just got her M1 license and is looking for an easy to ride motorcycle. Any suggestions?
Thanks for your help!
My wife just got her M1 license and is looking for an easy to ride motorcycle. Any suggestions?
Thanks for your help!
depends on where you are, but I always suggest the EX250 or Buell Blast. The Blast has a option for a really low seat height. You should be able to pick either one up for a couple grand used.
Ok I have answered this question a gazillion times and this time I’m going to cut and paste it so I don’t have to type lol.
I was exactly like you. My older model mercedes ***** gas like its going out of style so I started looking for a bike and I got a Kawasaki Ninja 250.
I don’t like the metal chrome CRUISER style bikes it reminds me too much of Fonzies bike from Happy days and too old fashioned.
I like the Sport bike style like the Ninja 250 by Kawasaki. I like the fairings and the sleek look. So I started looking for bikes and new bikes were easily $5000 or more such as $8000 or $6000 etc..
Even a new bike for $3000 easily hits over $4000 if you buy it from the dealer as they add TAX and License and all the other b.s.
Not to mention the maintence you have to do immediatly after you buy it and the boring slow break in period where you can’t ride fast for umtteeeenth miles that seems like forever.
Plus I didn’t have thousands lying around so I looked and looked and studied and here is what I found.
There was only 1 bike that was a sportbike in the 250 class (Great for beginners who also want to save gas) that was available in the U.S. I couldn’t believe it! There isn’t any others so I looked at the Ninja 250 by Kawasaki and was intrigued.
I bought it and DID NOT regret my decision. It was the perfect bike for what I wanted to do. Long drives about 30 miles on streets and to save gas. No other sport bike gets better gas mileage than that one.
Now..if you are new to riding there is one thing that is every bikers enemy, they **** it , they dispise it, they do everything they can to their bikes to eliminate the problems it causes and that thing is……. WIND
Wind is not so much of an issue on non windy days and you are riding about 45 or 50 mph on streets or higher on some streets.
Wind DOES become a factor when you hit the freeways and most folks do not drive 65 its honestly more like 75 to 80 or even higher.
So for guys that ride the freeways the most they tend to get heavier bikes as it makes a big difference in keeping the bike more stable on the freeways.
However with the Ninja 250 the darn thing is so awesome on gas you don’t need no friggen dog gone freeways! To hell with the freeways you can even take the streets and it still gets better gas mileage than most bikes lol. The thing literally hates gasoline.
Many new riders are not prepared for this WIND issue so they get a bike not thinking about it and then they dread riding on freeways.
So there are 2 answers to your question to answer it properly. There is not 1 bike that is good to get there are several but I will give you the choices and I have studied a lot of them.
Right now I ride a zx-10 which tends to be on the heavier side but I mostly ride it to work ALL FREEWAY so its better than a Lighter bike for me and it stays steady on the freeway. It doesn’t get blown all over like lighter bikes.
So here is a list of great bikes. I will include the best bikes for the money and will not get into higher priced bikes but everything is based on Sport bikes and safety and low cost.
BEST NEW BIKE FOR THE MONEY
Kawasaki 250 year 2008 See link below when done reading this to see video and specs. Would not recommend this bike for long freeway riding although it can go on freeways legally but its a light bike.
BEST USED BIKE THAT IS LOWEST COST
The Ninja 250 used is a great bike you can get it for $1000-$2000 all day long on ebay.com or craigslist.com
2ND BEST USED BIKE THAT IS SECOND IN COST
The Ninja 500 is more powerful and better than the 250 on freeways and you can find them all day long $1500-$2500 or more.
BEST USED BIKE IF YOU CAN AFFORD $3000 APPROX.
The best used bike in that price range is the Suzuki SV and you will find that it comes basic with zero fairings or just a few fairings but you can find some with full fairings which means there are more plastics around it to swoosh it through the air better.
LOW COST HEAVY BIKE FOR FREEWAYS USED
The suzuki Katana is about 500 lbs but stays planted on the freeways and is 600cc or more. You can find them used $2000 approx. Not recommended for new user as its very heavy but great on freeways for straight riding. Not good in the twisties like the ninja’s.
IMPORTANT ADVICE YOU WILL NOT REGRET TRUSTING ME ON!: If you plan on riding freeways often do not get a 250 or 500 cc bike unless the distance you are riding is a short distance ie: 5 or 10 miles. Instead get a heavier bike with engine size of 600 cc or more. If you were able to ride on the freeway on a light bike and then ride on a freeway with a heavier bike you would see and feel the dramatic difference.
The top link shows a video of the new 2008 Ninja 250
The second link shows a riders review on the USED ninja 250
I loved my first bike a GPZ 305 belt drive and very reliable and great on gas its a four stroke 6 speed just wonderful listen to Lou Reeds tune New Sensations.
Ride On
The Kawasaki EX250 is a good choice, so is the Honda 125. You can get the Honda under Honda’s new rider program with jacket, pants and gloves for about $125/month. I heard only good things about the Honda and Kawasaki. Yamaha is also coming out with a 125 this year. Your wife won’t out grow a 250 as fast as a 125, though.
you should get her a bike that she like s and that fits her… size, hieght, and power. and what type of bike she wants power or street bike, or a lowrider harley davidson
Best and easiest bike to learn on is the Honda Rebel 250. Problem is you will out grow the bike quickly, but they do sell fast on the used market. My wife’s was in the paper for 1 day before it sold. Low seat hight, not a lot of power to get in trouble with.
Take the MSF course.
Before getting a bike the best way is to take the MSF course. You get to ride a motorcycle for 3-4 days and see if you like it. Much better than buying a bike and figuring out you don’t like it afterwards.
I started on the Honda Rebel 250 and it was perfect. The riding position is not aggressive in either direction. The bike is very lightweight and helps instill confidence. It is not a fast bike, and she may outgrow it quickly but they are easy to sell.
I took the MSF on a Buell Blast and unless she is really short she will probably be cramped. They are tiny, I am 5’6 so I am not super tall either.
I have also heard good things about the Ninja 250. Any bike you buy, needs to be a 500cc bike or smaller.
Easiest bikes I have ever ridden have the Beemers. Depending on her athletic ability and driving ability an F 650 CS is 1 of the best starter bikes out there.
The basic answer to your question is; one that does not intimidate her with weight or power.
We all know that with some basic training and seat time, we can all learn to successfully control just about any motorcycle.
If you start out on one that is too heavy; given the only real time this comes into play is when you are parking or manually maneuvering slowly, and it starts to tip, it can be intimidating and pretty much stop the learning process.
Too much power; the same thing can happen. With the power of some of the bike available to the public, they can be way less forgiving if the throttle is inadvertently blipped.
So, that your wife doesn’t get bored after riding a 125cc motorcycle in a week, a good place to start off is in the 500-650cc range. One that comfortably fits her, when stationary, pleasing to her likes as far as the way the bike looks. Go from there. Dealerships are a good way to start off, they usually have a large selection of bikes. You just have to fend off the vulchers…….
Have fun shopping for a bike, ride safe!
I bought my wife a Suzuki Savage 650 for her 1st bike after completing motorcycle courses. Its a good lady’s bike and she loves it. Not to heavy at all and its pretty peppy.
if she is looking at cruiser’s the Honda Shadow or the Honda Rebel are good starter bikes ,if it’s a sportbike then go with the Kawasaki Ninja 250cc
You can buy Kawasaki Ninja 250 2005 for around 2k
I love my ninja 250
Nough said.
Some great suggestions out there, especially the ones that state she should take a class, but if she is going to be riding beside you- and you have a full-size bike (650 and up), I don’t see a lot of reason to start on a 250cc. She will outgrow it before the season is out. That is, if she is truly motivated to ride and not just doing this to make you happy. Having a bike that cannot keep up with the pack – or that you have to at least work hard to make keep up – is not the way to go.
Both Yamaha and Honda make some great 650s. They are not heavy, they are low to the ground, and they have enough torque to ride distance on a highway.
Honda 250 Rebel. Light, reliable, time tested, fast enough for freeway, nimble enough for town. Used bargains to be found and new ones run less than $3k.