need help for wife's 1st ride
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 376
Likes: 138
From: HEADLAND, ALABAMA
Suzuki Boulevard S40
My wife is also 5 ft tall. She has been riding this bike for a year. She is able to flat foot at stops without a problem. The bike is very skinny where the seat meets the tank. This bike "feels" very light to her and it handles good.
We have done multiple 100 mile + rides and most of it freeway and the bike runs at that speed without issue. Very inexpensive to pick up used and they ride surprisingly smooth and have good torque for the weight (about 370LBS since I swapped out the bazooka stock exhaust for an older Dyna muffler). Its a 650CC Thumper and gets about 60MPG.
When she feels ready, we'll move up to a 883, but she is quite content with this bike for now.
We have done multiple 100 mile + rides and most of it freeway and the bike runs at that speed without issue. Very inexpensive to pick up used and they ride surprisingly smooth and have good torque for the weight (about 370LBS since I swapped out the bazooka stock exhaust for an older Dyna muffler). Its a 650CC Thumper and gets about 60MPG.
When she feels ready, we'll move up to a 883, but she is quite content with this bike for now.
Last edited by Nailz; Mar 18, 2014 at 05:15 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,096
Likes: 4,673
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
What is that, never saw one of those. Might disappoint her, going from that to an 883, most metric 650s will run circles around an 883, unless the thumper is a lot slower. The thumpers I've ridden were pretty quick. Daughter's 225 thumper trail bike pulled my 240 lbs better than her 250 twin street bike, and that was with taller than stock gearing.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,717
Likes: 35
Really nice looking KZ. I love those old jap bikes. Wish I could find a nice KZ1000. I rode the crap out of KZ's and Honda CB's for many years. Graduated to Honda Magna's, Nighthawks and Sabre's in the early 80's. Wish I still had all of them.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,484
Likes: 272
From: Canton, GA
Honda Rebel 250 - cake ride for a beginner. My wife's used 2005 Rebel cost me $2100, she put 4k on the bike and then sold it for $2200. She now has over 10,000 on her 2011 883 Super Low and loves it. She's 5'1" and having both feet flat on the ground gave her confidence and she is now a passionate rider ..... great to have her riding with me!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,932
Likes: 45
From: Stockbridge GA
My wife is also 5 ft tall. She has been riding this bike for a year. She is able to flat foot at stops without a problem. The bike is very skinny where the seat meets the tank. This bike "feels" very light to her and it handles good.
We have done multiple 100 mile + rides and most of it freeway and the bike runs at that speed without issue. Very inexpensive to pick up used and they ride surprisingly smooth and have good torque for the weight (about 370LBS since I swapped out the bazooka stock exhaust for an older Dyna muffler). Its a 650CC Thumper and gets about 60MPG.
When she feels ready, we'll move up to a 883, but she is quite content with this bike for now.
We have done multiple 100 mile + rides and most of it freeway and the bike runs at that speed without issue. Very inexpensive to pick up used and they ride surprisingly smooth and have good torque for the weight (about 370LBS since I swapped out the bazooka stock exhaust for an older Dyna muffler). Its a 650CC Thumper and gets about 60MPG.
When she feels ready, we'll move up to a 883, but she is quite content with this bike for now.
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 937
Likes: 22
From: Ontario, Canada
Help with wife's first ride
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?
My wife took the riding course, and did as I suggested used one of the small dirt bikes for the course, and then she started on her own bike from ground zero, in a parking lot, she is 6.0 so we took the salesman's advise and skipped the Sportster 1200 as it would be too small for her by the end of the season, anyway she has 15000 Kim's on it now an still gets better every ride, Her bike is a 2008 Dyna Fatbob with 103" stage 2
Her girl
friend also started on a Suzuki s40 and gets bumped around at 80km when trucks pass,and she is scared to ride, so shop for the right fit and ask lots of questions, Also watch "Ride like a pro" together to help with confidence
Cheers Ultra
Last edited by ultra_classic; Mar 19, 2014 at 09:32 AM. Reason: Forgot her bike
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Road Warrior
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 691
From: Columbus Ohio
I loved (and still love) my 1996 Suzuki Savage (now called the LS40). It has lots of low end torque and kept up with no problem with my riding buddy's Fat Boy on and off the freeway and back roads. They're high reving bikes like the Honda Rebels - just have to know how to wind it up before shifting. I still have it.
She might like it before going to a Harley. It was a great stepping stone for me.
Also, I never did feel comfortable on my 883 Superlow for some reason - I still can't figure out why. Yet, my 1200cc Forty Eight feels easy and comfortable to ride. Have her try one of those too, she may be like it.
She might like it before going to a Harley. It was a great stepping stone for me.
Also, I never did feel comfortable on my 883 Superlow for some reason - I still can't figure out why. Yet, my 1200cc Forty Eight feels easy and comfortable to ride. Have her try one of those too, she may be like it.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 376
Likes: 138
From: HEADLAND, ALABAMA
I loved (and still love) my 1996 Suzuki Savage (now called the LS40). It has lots of low end torque and kept up with no problem with my riding buddy's Fat Boy on and off the freeway and back roads. They're high reving bikes like the Honda Rebels - just have to know how to wind it up before shifting. I still have it.
She might like it before going to a Harley. It was a great stepping stone for me.
Also, I never did feel comfortable on my 883 Superlow for some reason - I still can't figure out why. Yet, my 1200cc Forty Eight feels easy and comfortable to ride. Have her try one of those too, she may be like it.
She might like it before going to a Harley. It was a great stepping stone for me.
Also, I never did feel comfortable on my 883 Superlow for some reason - I still can't figure out why. Yet, my 1200cc Forty Eight feels easy and comfortable to ride. Have her try one of those too, she may be like it.