My wife is 5'4" and started on a 750 Honda Magna that I lowered. This spring we bought her a Crossbones and replaced the seat with a brawler. The softail has a very low center of gravity and takes very little effort to get it off the side stand. She is allot more confident on the softail and says she is much more comfortable at hi way speeds

 

My wife(5'6" 120#)currently rides a 2008 VStar Custom. Its her second bike, but the 650cc VStar would have been better than the 500 Shadow she learned on after taking the MSF course. She doesn't ever ride double up, so its plenty of bike to run with the bigger models.

 

Two female teachers that I work with just completed the riding course in June never having rode before. One bought a 2007 Honda Shadow 600 the week after the class and loves it. The second one just bought a 2007 Honda Shadow 750 yesterday. Both seating positions are real low and the girls seem to have no problem with either bike. Both didn't like the way the Sportster felt top heavy and in the end wanted to save some green on their first bikes.

 

Find something with a low center of gravity- she'll have more leverage to get it off the stand and it will be less work to hold it up and move it around (backing it up, etc). I'm 5'6 and have a 1200 Custom with forwards. It's a nimble feeling bike since it's narrow, but the power can be overwhelming for a new rider- too much twist and you're holding on for all you've got. Look for something in the 500-600 range with a low seat height, that way she'll have enough power to run 55-60 comfortably if/when she gets to that level. It will also give her an appreciation for the power the bike has- the added torque of a twin or larger engine makes smooth takeoffs easier and doesnt jerk as much if shes a gear too high.

 

you shouldnt get anything smaller then a 600 unless you get it cheap enough you can resell easy.. a 250 is good for a 16yo to learn,playaround on but it will be outgrown after the first couple weeks. my wife is 5'7",she bought a 2000 honda shadow 600, she rarley rode it after the first year because it is too small. now it has been riden about a dozen times in the last 3 years.. and it still isnt paid off

 

My girlfriend rides a Suzuki Savage 650 and she loves it. Enough power for the highway and still light enough for her to handle.

We just put new bars, grip, pipes, wrap. I also took off the fender rails, sissybar and replaced the rear signal with some small little jobbers. She loves it!!

 

If I could get a bike for my wife, I think that would be a good trade. Check out the new super low sportster.

 

my experience,
wife took the MST course on a 250 rebel with no issues so we picked up a 650 v-star so she could get some experience BUT she had issues at highway speeds as it hummmed (rev high)and needed a 6 gear SO I picked a Deluxe very nice bike BUT she finds the weight is an issue when parking/backing up & general tight spots she loves to ride and has just gotten her license SO now I am looking for another bike but this time TEST RIDE :=)

I must admit it is kool going for a ride with the OL on her own bike.

Colin