need help for wife's 1st ride
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Post your question on the Queens of the Road forum if you want answers from some experienced lady riders. Make sure she want to ride for herself and not for you. Your opening line that you've "almost got her ready to ride her own" makes me think she might be doing this to make you happy. If that's the case you will never find a bike for her that she will enjoy riding.
Intermediate
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
Bought the wife a Street Bob awhile back but she felt uncomfortable on it due to her not being able to put her feet flat on the ground (she's 5'5"). Just bought her a Iron 883 and she loves it. Flatfooted at stops, light enough and just enough power for her to handle. I would take your's down to the local HD shop and have her actually look at what she likes and have her sit on one and get the feel. Once I did that with mine, she decided herself on which one she wanted. Hope this helps.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 22
From: Tyrone, GA
Great idea IF she is the one who wants to ride. Women who want to ride find us. Women whose husband/bf want them to ride don't find us because they don't want to learn, ask questions.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 763
Likes: 1
From: Calgary, Canada
I've almost got the wife ready to ride her own bike, but she is a very petite 5' nothin. The new 1200T has caught her eye. I am concerned this may still be too big for her. Anyone have a short wife that rides, bike suggestions and can I get this bike to easily fit for her size?
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
My wife is not so vertically challenged, but when she saw one in Merlot, that was it! Her 2011 version now looks like an 'XL883T'. We haven't got the new 500/750 models yet here in the UK, but they must be an alternative worth taking a look at. They sound like the natural successor to the Buell Blast.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
I'd bet sportsters have turned off more would be motorcycle riders than all other makes combined with the idea they're a starter bike - some of the big twins are actually more docile handling. A lot of ladies (and men) can't hold a 600 lb + bike up when it tips much. My daughter wanted to ride one of my sporties for her first street ride, cost a couple of turn signals and a clutch handle bracket - the part the mirror attaches too also. At least she didn't get hurt, just tipped over as it stopped. Got her a 225 cc trail bike first, old beat up cheap one, and she had a fun time with that, including some off road that gives folks more slow speed and awkward maneuver practice than they'll usually ever get on street bikes. Now she has a Honda Nighthawk 250, very good handling little bike, easy forgiving clutch (tall geared sporties need clutch skill!), and she can lay it almost all the way over and still hold it. She'll probably be riding the sporty with confidence this summer; doubt she'd be riding at all by now if we'd stuck with the sporty.
Yeah, lot of us started out on evil handling and/or heavy bikes, but that's doing it the hard way for most ladies - men, too. That 250cc bike bought used didn't cost as much as a laydown could on a Harley, too. And less chance it will lay down - hasn't happened yet anyway. Also got her a full face helmet, ventilated riding jacket (those are actually cooler than none in warm weather), leather gloves, and sturdy boots - those items can really save skin if they do go down and slide a bit. They can always ride comfortable and "cool" later when they get some skills.
Yeah, lot of us started out on evil handling and/or heavy bikes, but that's doing it the hard way for most ladies - men, too. That 250cc bike bought used didn't cost as much as a laydown could on a Harley, too. And less chance it will lay down - hasn't happened yet anyway. Also got her a full face helmet, ventilated riding jacket (those are actually cooler than none in warm weather), leather gloves, and sturdy boots - those items can really save skin if they do go down and slide a bit. They can always ride comfortable and "cool" later when they get some skills.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,932
Likes: 45
From: Stockbridge GA
I'd bet sportsters have turned off more would be motorcycle riders than all other makes combined with the idea they're a starter bike - some of the big twins are actually more docile handling. A lot of ladies (and men) can't hold a 600 lb + bike up when it tips much. My daughter wanted to ride one of my sporties for her first street ride, cost a couple of turn signals and a clutch handle bracket - the part the mirror attaches too also. At least she didn't get hurt, just tipped over as it stopped. Got her a 225 cc trail bike first, old beat up cheap one, and she had a fun time with that, including some off road that gives folks more slow speed and awkward maneuver practice than they'll usually ever get on street bikes. Now she has a Honda Nighthawk 250, very good handling little bike, easy forgiving clutch (tall geared sporties need clutch skill!), and she can lay it almost all the way over and still hold it. She'll probably be riding the sporty with confidence this summer; doubt she'd be riding at all by now if we'd stuck with the sporty.
Yeah, lot of us started out on evil handling and/or heavy bikes, but that's doing it the hard way for most ladies - men, too. That 250cc bike bought used didn't cost as much as a laydown could on a Harley, too. And less chance it will lay down - hasn't happened yet anyway. Also got her a full face helmet, ventilated riding jacket (those are actually cooler than none in warm weather), leather gloves, and sturdy boots - those items can really save skin if they do go down and slide a bit. They can always ride comfortable and "cool" later when they get some skills.
Yeah, lot of us started out on evil handling and/or heavy bikes, but that's doing it the hard way for most ladies - men, too. That 250cc bike bought used didn't cost as much as a laydown could on a Harley, too. And less chance it will lay down - hasn't happened yet anyway. Also got her a full face helmet, ventilated riding jacket (those are actually cooler than none in warm weather), leather gloves, and sturdy boots - those items can really save skin if they do go down and slide a bit. They can always ride comfortable and "cool" later when they get some skills.
Thing is, she really IS a good rider, the only spills she ever had was at a complete stand still.
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,932
Likes: 45
From: Stockbridge GA
She had a Suzuki GN 125 for 2 years now. No chance in hell that will tip on her at a stop. But the thing is just not capable of more than about 55MPH..............down hill..............with a tail wind. She really needed something more, a sporty and the KZ was too much more
