PurpleDog
Well-Known Member
So check this out; I got my bike in the spring (April i think it was) with the wife's blessing/support. I took a couple weeks to get comfortable on it etc; then started giving her rides around the country roads (typical jaunts around the house). I soon discovered she could only take about an hr on that pillion pad before she had enough of that shit.
That went on for a month or so I guess. I saw the 2-up seat posts; but she was making references that "maybe I would like it more if I had my own bike" so I didn't mention they make a better seat for this purpose. Now she had never driven a motorcycle and she is fairly small at around 115 - 120ish prolly. So I explained that you know the safety courses use those little 250cc's to teach/learn folks to ride and as I understand it they could be fine for our little back country jaunts around the house. I showed her a picture of one (lol, my ploy) she's like "awe that's so cute". So I found a used one (2000 Honda Rebel) and bought it for her b-day (gave it to her early - July). She was so excited to have 'her own bike'. So then I take her over to an elementary school by the house after work for a few days and taught her to ride it. She kept interested and excited about the whole thing. By mid July she comes in while I'm eating lunch and say's "I'm taking my bike over to the school to practice'. She comes back like an hr later and says "Ok, I'm ready for a country cruise". I'm like wtf - she'd been on it maybe 5x in the parking lot.
So I got my bike out and we took off and did 100+ miles and she did not want to quit riding. So I led her onto 55mph road. Now this thing is working to keep up with traffic so I lead her home and we talk about the ride, safety etc. I tell her, I think your going to need a bigger bike if this is something you really like to do. She says, "yep I'm ready I can't ride this thing to Scooters" - a local bar we like. Agreed, I ask her what she wants, she replies " I want a Harley with ape hangers" mini-apes she says. I'm like oh shit.
That's cool I can see that, but maybe you should work your way up to that? She agree's. So by the 4th week of July we find her a used Honda Shadow VT600 deluxe (blah whatever) - but wait, it's purple! She's says "that is so cool it matches your bike":loony: So the deal is made and I drive it home for her, now the night before her b-day. Next day on her b-day, she goes down and takes her test and gets her MC permit and we end up riding on her b-day and she is totally into this having her own bike.
She is moving on quickly and I think she might be ready for something else by next season. We've already started looking at Big Dog options but she isn't ready/nor want the full out chopper. Plus the size and weight of all the recent models are too intimidating for her still. (local dealer is out of the Mutt) She saw some bike at one of the local fests that was scaled down, had the 'Harley' sound (i think it was an S&S but I didn't get a good look at it) and mini apes. She loved that thing and I wanna guess it was a kit bike but I'm not sure.
So, she wants the 'Harley' sound but not necessarily something too big/raked. She is small remember. It's gotta be a comfortable soft tail cruiser that she can handle, yet allow her to fit in at the bars. Any kits out there that fit the bill nicely for a reasonable price? I'm wearing my wallet out this year. Besides, I'm fairly mechanically inclined and I can paint. I might be needing an off season project. Thoughts?
Couple things can be said 1) Don't tell your women they even make a 2-up seat, 2) Let them believe this is all their doing/idea 3) Start 'em slow and hook 'em. :up:
That went on for a month or so I guess. I saw the 2-up seat posts; but she was making references that "maybe I would like it more if I had my own bike" so I didn't mention they make a better seat for this purpose. Now she had never driven a motorcycle and she is fairly small at around 115 - 120ish prolly. So I explained that you know the safety courses use those little 250cc's to teach/learn folks to ride and as I understand it they could be fine for our little back country jaunts around the house. I showed her a picture of one (lol, my ploy) she's like "awe that's so cute". So I found a used one (2000 Honda Rebel) and bought it for her b-day (gave it to her early - July). She was so excited to have 'her own bike'. So then I take her over to an elementary school by the house after work for a few days and taught her to ride it. She kept interested and excited about the whole thing. By mid July she comes in while I'm eating lunch and say's "I'm taking my bike over to the school to practice'. She comes back like an hr later and says "Ok, I'm ready for a country cruise". I'm like wtf - she'd been on it maybe 5x in the parking lot.
So I got my bike out and we took off and did 100+ miles and she did not want to quit riding. So I led her onto 55mph road. Now this thing is working to keep up with traffic so I lead her home and we talk about the ride, safety etc. I tell her, I think your going to need a bigger bike if this is something you really like to do. She says, "yep I'm ready I can't ride this thing to Scooters" - a local bar we like. Agreed, I ask her what she wants, she replies " I want a Harley with ape hangers" mini-apes she says. I'm like oh shit.
That's cool I can see that, but maybe you should work your way up to that? She agree's. So by the 4th week of July we find her a used Honda Shadow VT600 deluxe (blah whatever) - but wait, it's purple! She's says "that is so cool it matches your bike":loony: So the deal is made and I drive it home for her, now the night before her b-day. Next day on her b-day, she goes down and takes her test and gets her MC permit and we end up riding on her b-day and she is totally into this having her own bike.
She is moving on quickly and I think she might be ready for something else by next season. We've already started looking at Big Dog options but she isn't ready/nor want the full out chopper. Plus the size and weight of all the recent models are too intimidating for her still. (local dealer is out of the Mutt) She saw some bike at one of the local fests that was scaled down, had the 'Harley' sound (i think it was an S&S but I didn't get a good look at it) and mini apes. She loved that thing and I wanna guess it was a kit bike but I'm not sure.
So, she wants the 'Harley' sound but not necessarily something too big/raked. She is small remember. It's gotta be a comfortable soft tail cruiser that she can handle, yet allow her to fit in at the bars. Any kits out there that fit the bill nicely for a reasonable price? I'm wearing my wallet out this year. Besides, I'm fairly mechanically inclined and I can paint. I might be needing an off season project. Thoughts?
Couple things can be said 1) Don't tell your women they even make a 2-up seat, 2) Let them believe this is all their doing/idea 3) Start 'em slow and hook 'em. :up:
So Im not sure how things will end up in the coming few years but... either way it'll all good :flag: 