Old Lady made it through MSF
Old Lady made it through MSF
My wife made it through MSF classes this week-end..Oh Yeah !!!!.....got her endorsment......Uh oh, gotta buy another ride.......any ladies or guys out there got some suggestions for some good bike for her to break in on....she has never rode one before. she stands about 5'4......Me and my softail (both bike & wife) need some input.....Thanks...Stay Safe. OLH
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Exit 3
RE: Old Lady made it through MSF
Congrats on passing the course. For a first bike for the missus (assuming that she would ride something other than a HD), I would go with a used Honda VLX. They're 650cc I believe, and there are a ton of them available. Good starter bikes, reliable and bullet proof.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,947
Likes: 5
From: Ontario, Canada
RE: Old Lady made it through MSF
Passing the coarse and getting experience are two different things. Buy her a nice little used metric. After a year or two of riding if she is still smiling consider a HD.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, LA
RE: Old Lady made it through MSF
Get her what she wants. If she wants a Harley, get one. For a start, if she doesn't take to it, the resale is much better than a metric, and she won't be happy riding a metric, if she wants to be on a harley.
We have an active LOH group, so much so in fact, that we've talked a number of ladies, that used to ride 2 up to get their own. Most went with a Sportster Low. All went with a Harley, even for their first ride. The sportster is not as easy to handle because its a little top heavy, but its low and narrow, which means its a lot easier to flat foot, which builds confidence. Although a couple of our ladies with with different bikes - a dyna low rider, fat boy, heritage softail, deluxe to name a few. All lower bikes. All bikes can be lowered too, so whatever you get you probably want to add lower shocks/lowering kit because when she starts out, flatfooting is everything.
I'd be taking her around the dealerships - metric too if she's interested and get her to sit on a few bikes to see whats comfortable.
We have an active LOH group, so much so in fact, that we've talked a number of ladies, that used to ride 2 up to get their own. Most went with a Sportster Low. All went with a Harley, even for their first ride. The sportster is not as easy to handle because its a little top heavy, but its low and narrow, which means its a lot easier to flat foot, which builds confidence. Although a couple of our ladies with with different bikes - a dyna low rider, fat boy, heritage softail, deluxe to name a few. All lower bikes. All bikes can be lowered too, so whatever you get you probably want to add lower shocks/lowering kit because when she starts out, flatfooting is everything.
I'd be taking her around the dealerships - metric too if she's interested and get her to sit on a few bikes to see whats comfortable.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,034
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Old Lady made it through MSF
My wife is that size and has a Suzuki Boulevard S50 (Intruder 800). She looked at every available bike for 6 months before her final choice. I think the deciding factor was that because of it's size, it's not as intimidating as most other cruisers.
She loves it and I can't get her to trade up.
.
It is light, very easy to handle and goes like a bat out of hell. (Quicker to 60 than my stage 1 Superglide.)
Very easy and cheap to maintain and only cost $6,000 new. Have 10,000 miles on it now and no problems.
She loves it and I can't get her to trade up.
.
It is light, very easy to handle and goes like a bat out of hell. (Quicker to 60 than my stage 1 Superglide.)
Very easy and cheap to maintain and only cost $6,000 new. Have 10,000 miles on it now and no problems.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 493
Likes: 1
From: Oceanside, CA
RE: Old Lady made it through MSF
I suggest a Suzuki INtruder 800 as first bike- can be made plenty low and has more than enough power to keep up with anybody else. Resale on them is pretty darn good- I had a 93 with 28,000 miles I paid 3000 for it , rode it one year and then when I bought my sporty still got 3500 for it. PS. it is a hydraulic clutch so shift is much smoother than my sporty and I did not have to put an ez clutch into it like my sporty.Also for new riders the gauge cluster is highly visable and it shifts into neutral easier. I disagree with everyone that a sporty is top heavy- The problem is simply that most riders do NOT really have a good sense of balance.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,127
Likes: 3
From: Boonville, MO
RE: Old Lady made it through MSF
I know this is in a different direction but you're first real decision to make- how is she going to handle you steering her towards a bike, any bike. Man you could be in a tough spot if you're not careful. Yes you have all that knowledge and experience but you'll need it for months to come if you talk her into something she really didn't want and you have to justify YOUR choice, over and over and over. Yes, a smaller bike is better to start out on, that would have been correct for you too when you started but how many guys start small and work up and how many start at what they wanted. Just some thoughts brother, my wife would be P.O'd if i gave her the impression she is less capable. Good luck.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 953
Likes: 8
From:
RE: Old Lady made it through MSF
Very wise words Keith. I am a female and haven't ridden for a long time. Last ride was a 200cc Vespa when I lived in Italy in the mid 80's. I took the MSF course to brush up my skills before I purchased my bike. I looked at the sportsters and thought I should go that route, but I decided it wasn't a bike that I'd stick with. So, I bought my 06 Softail from a co-worker. It did take awhile to get used tothe size/weight of the bike but, after many hours riding around in an empty parking lot and doing some off freeway riding, I felt comfortable enough to get into group riding. Four months later I feel perfectly comfortable on my bike.
If it is going to be her bike, let her make her own decisions by speaking with other female riders. Throwing her on a sportster may feel fine with you - but she's the one riding it. I don't agree with buying something small to start off with. I prefer to spend the money on something I know I will ride for years to come.
If it is going to be her bike, let her make her own decisions by speaking with other female riders. Throwing her on a sportster may feel fine with you - but she's the one riding it. I don't agree with buying something small to start off with. I prefer to spend the money on something I know I will ride for years to come.