What type of motorcycle is recommended for an in experienced female rider?

Question

A light motorcycle for a newly license motorcycle rider.

Answer 1

I started out (in 2000) on a Buell Blast.  It's a 496cc single-cylinder.  You can choose between two seats which determines the height of the seat.  They are light weight, nimble, well-balanced, quick, and easy to maneuver.  Buell also offers a riders course (Rider's Edge).  Blasts are used in the class.  The class is designed for beginners.  The last I knew, the class costs about $300, but in my opinion, it might be better to take a class and see if you can handle the bike, will like riding, build confidence, and learn riding skills the right way, not from your friend/boyfriend/husband/cousin/brother/... BEFORE you invest in a bike.  I'd also recommend you start out with a used bike.  You'll soon want to graduate to a bigger bike, you may dump your beginner, etc, so a used motorcycle is the way to go.  I didn't take the beginner class but plan to take an advanced riders course soon.  GOOD LUCK & HAPPY RIDING!

Answer 2

Ignore the silly answers about getting a 250 anything.  It's about the weakest bike you can find in America.  If you can't handle a 500cc bike, then you should not ride a bike.  My first bike was a 750 cc and the power (68hp) did not cause me any issues.  My current is a 1300 (124hp).

I recommend a Virago 550.  It is low enough to the ground for shorter body styles, it looks good, and has enough power to keep you happy and it's light enough for you to single-handedly pick up if/when you drop it.  If a small cruiser is not your style, then look for a 500 to 650 cc bike in the style of your choosing.  

You'll want to upgrade from a 250 very soon after getting it, so don't waste your time and money on one.

BTW, 750 cc is the usual insurance breakpoint.  Anything above that costs a lot more to insure.

Answer 3

My wife is a "petite" lady and she seems to like the 250 cruiser style. We are going to get her a Rebel to learn on and then in a year or so maybe put her on a lowered 650 or 750. She wants to be able to ride on the highway with me but not on the back again. I don't blame her so we are going for it. Nothing wrong with a 250 for a female that is small. If the guys could see the actual size that the girl sees when she sits on the bike, they'd understand. Pick one that you can stand flatfooted when seated and realize that it is a powerful machine and not a bicycle.It can and will hurt you if you aren't careful but there is also such a thing as being too careful.

Answer 4

In my opinion the 2 most important consideration for a female rider is lightweight and low seat height.  Women are often a bit shorter and have less strength.  Not always.  I don't know what type of bike you are interested in but sportbikes have always appealed to me and what I know best.

    Because sportbikes are raced, being light weight is very important to them.  Most are under 430 pounds and very well balanced which I would think perfect for a woman.  They also typically have wider seats that might cause problems for someone who is under 5'2" making it difficult to touch the ground on both sides with your feet.  However, if you find a bike you like there are several ways to lower the seat height to make it fit your body and make things comfortible for you.

    Depending on the money you want to spend there are many, many options.  For a first bike- I always like to recommend a 1993-1998 Honda CBR 600. (93-95 were known a F2/96-98 known as F3) They are light, make respectable power, cheaper to insure and are respectable to riders of any skill level.  There are also more than 10 different color combinations offered through the years making it easy to find one that looks good to you.  It is also an attractive design that doesn't look like a dinosaur.  You can easily find one in great condition for under $3000.  If you are interested in the "sportbike style", this is a good place to start looking and see if you will enjoy ridding.  I have always had great respect for a woman ridding her own bike rather than being on the back of someone elses.  Besides respecting the ability to do it...its pretty d**n s**y see and cool to meet a woman who isn't afraid and enjoys something "outside the box"!  Good luck-I hope you find the same passion I have with motorcycles!!

Answer 5

It depends on your height and what you can flat foot on, but the Honda Rebel 250 is a great bike.  Kawasaki Vulcan 500 is bigger.  Be sure to take the MSF course so you can get a feel for the bikes and what you might like.  Also, go sit on bikes at some dealerships.

Answer 6

The Kymco and Yamaha 250s are fine, they'll do highway speed without a problem and they are light weight and sit low, concerns for lots of new women riders.

  Most of the world rides 250cc bikes,.

Answer 7

I suggest a 250 cc Yamaha Virago or Honda rebel. I have been riding for 39 years but my wife only 13 years now and she started off on a 400 cc and wrecked it the first week she got her license and did not ride for 3 years and then I got her a 250 cc  Virago and she rode it several years and got her confidence up and last year she up graded to an 800cc Suzuki Boulevard.

The 250 Virago is light weight and low to the ground easy for people with short legs and very easy to handle. It also handles 70 MPH with ease. My wife  rode hers on trips with me up to 250 miles.

ER

Answer 8

Rebel and Virago are the most common beginner bikes.  The thing is, you have to "try out" different bikes and find what feels right.  I technically learned on a Honda 1100 Shadow, although my very first bike was a Suzuki Savage 650.  I didn't really like it.  I also tried a Dyna Low Rider (loved the feel of that bike).  I currently own a 750 Shadow, and have been riding for a little over a year.  I am still thinking about going to that Dyna.  Sportster was all wrong for me, even though it was "my size."  A friend of mine, who is a lot smaller than me, feels just right on her 1400 Boulevard.  If you want light, look at any bike that is lower than 1100 CC; sit on the, stand them up, and see which feels right for you.

Answer 9

A 250 is what all the MSF courses use.

I suggest the Kawaskai Ninja 250, as the best of the lot, unless you are  VV short.

If you can't ride the kawasaki, the Honda rebel 250 is pretty nice, but with a cruiser look instead of the sport bike the Kawsaki looks like.

I think the bigger ninja's are rather nice as well. if you can handle the extra weight of them.

Answer 10

Check out the Suzuki Boulavard S40.  Its a good soild bike that you won't grow out of as fast as you would on the Rebel.

Answer 11

First things first - Start small. Buying your dream bike will only turn into a nightmare as you drop it at the end of your driveway.

Stick with a bike that is between 250cc to 650cc. You'll learn much faster on a bike that you can control, both in terms of weight, and power. You need to make sure that you can support the weight of your bike at a stop, with either one foot, or both firmly planted on the ground. A low seat clearance gives you that advantage.

If you think you want to start on a 250cc, the Honda Rebel and Yamaha Virago 250 are both excellent choices. But keep in mind that in a month's time you may want something bigger.

My first bike is a Honda Shadow VLX 600cc. It's low to the ground so you can keep both feet planted, and has just enough power to cruise comfortably at 75mph and more.

Secondly - Make sure that you are geared

Wear long pants as the exhaust gets hot enough to cause 3rd degree burns on contact. Gloves and a jacket well soften the blows that rocks, insects, and other debris will have. But your most important piece of equipment is your helmet. Your dealer can help you find the one that fits you best. One thing to look at on a helmet is the SNELL logo, which mean the helmet has passed the toughest safety standards.

If you want to read up on safety, as well as other tips for driving, check out the articles at http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/riding_...

Happy riding!

(And when you see another biker point to you as you're riding, try to do the same if you can. It's our way of saying hello)