Her 1st bike
- Thread starter liferider
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Nukeranger
Nukeranger
Rebel 250.....this is a fun bike but can't make it above 75 or 80 mph. So, it doesn't do well on the highways
BadDawg Bill
Well-Known Member
You really think a new rider should be doing over 80 mph on the highway???
lovemybigdog
Member
I say a good rider can ride anything! get what ya like and learn to ride it!
bearman
Active Member
Another NO vote on the Sportster.
My recommendation for a young novice rider would be a used Yamaha 250 Virago or a V-Star 250 (same thing but newer version). The seat height is listed as 27 inches and the dry weight as 302 lbs. The engine is a V-twin and it sounds like a small Harley. Check out this review, then go to youtube and you can hear what they sound like.
2008 Yamaha V Star 250 | motorcycle review @ Top Speed
I don't think that the Sporster is necessarily top heavy, but it is just plain heavy. My '08 Sporster 883 C (that I have for sale) weighs about 600 lbs, heck my '06 Mastiff only weighs 800.
Stephanie was real nervous on the Sporster, and she's 5'6 and 150 lbs. She dropped it once trying to back up.
It wasn't really what I was looking for when she decided she wanted to start back riding. I was looking for a Honda Rebel or something like a Johnny Pag Chopper (which is like a Chinese copy of a Honda Rebel). But I found a good deal on the Sporster and bought it.
Then back in Early December I found and bought an '08 Rhino Hunter S. It's like a Chinese copy of a Big Dog Mastiff frame with a Chinese copy of a Yamaha 250 V-twin motor in it. It only weighs only 420 lbs. She likes it so much better it isn't funny. I don't have any pics with my Mastiff yet but here it is beside the Sporster.
The seat height of the Sporster is listed as 27 inches, the Rhino is listed as 26.5 inches, but the big difference is in how wide the bikes are, the Sporster is so much wider you need longer legs to reach the ground.
My recommendation for a young novice rider would be a used Yamaha 250 Virago or a V-Star 250 (same thing but newer version). The seat height is listed as 27 inches and the dry weight as 302 lbs. The engine is a V-twin and it sounds like a small Harley. Check out this review, then go to youtube and you can hear what they sound like.
2008 Yamaha V Star 250 | motorcycle review @ Top Speed
I don't think that the Sporster is necessarily top heavy, but it is just plain heavy. My '08 Sporster 883 C (that I have for sale) weighs about 600 lbs, heck my '06 Mastiff only weighs 800.
Stephanie was real nervous on the Sporster, and she's 5'6 and 150 lbs. She dropped it once trying to back up.
It wasn't really what I was looking for when she decided she wanted to start back riding. I was looking for a Honda Rebel or something like a Johnny Pag Chopper (which is like a Chinese copy of a Honda Rebel). But I found a good deal on the Sporster and bought it.
Then back in Early December I found and bought an '08 Rhino Hunter S. It's like a Chinese copy of a Big Dog Mastiff frame with a Chinese copy of a Yamaha 250 V-twin motor in it. It only weighs only 420 lbs. She likes it so much better it isn't funny. I don't have any pics with my Mastiff yet but here it is beside the Sporster.
The seat height of the Sporster is listed as 27 inches, the Rhino is listed as 26.5 inches, but the big difference is in how wide the bikes are, the Sporster is so much wider you need longer legs to reach the ground.
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Nukeranger
Nukeranger
Of course not. It just means it doesn't have the power to get away from vehicles in a pinch.
I would love to have ours back. Just to ride to work and back home.
TapioK
Well-Known Member
Those (750/500) are made in Kansas and in India. They do make a nice Royal Enfield in India too. Not as good as original from 50's but still kind of nice bike, if you rip all the Indian mods away.
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TapioK
Well-Known Member
Then back in Early December I found and bought an '08 Rhino Hunter S. It's like a Chinese copy of a Big Dog Mastiff frame with a Chinese copy of a Yamaha 250 V-twin motor in it. It only weighs only 420 lbs. She likes it so much better it isn't funny. I don't have any pics with my Mastiff yet but here it is beside the Sporster.
I hate those Chinese learning to make rather nice looking bikes
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I hate those Chinese learning to make rather nice looking bikes
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Good looking bike, how is parts availability on those?
bearman
Active Member
I don't know too much yet about part availability, so far, I have only needed bushings for the bar risers. I bought some custom bushings for a Harley and they fit. I'll probably find out soon though, I need all new cables for it as they have all had the clear covering turn yellow.
All the peripheral stuff can be replaced with aftermarket, Steph is already looking at mirrors.
Supposed to be quite a collection of parts for the engine (Lifan 250) on ebay but if I have too many problems with the engine I'll just replace it with a real Yamaha 250 motor.
another no My wife took the riding class and passed with flying colors. Bikes were 250's and she was very comfortable with that size. I was not because they don't have enough power to get you out of the way when you need to get out of the way. We choose the Suzuki S40 (650) because it weights just a little more than the 250's but with more kick. She loved that bike. She did drop it once but it was an aggressive driver not her fault. Oh yea, we "settled" his ass right there on the spot!!
Anyway, after several years riding her S40 she wanted to upgrade but she to is 5 '2 and 108 lbs so not many choices with short legs. She settled on the HD Tri-glide and has never looked back. Just loves that Tri-glide. She was ready for the power of the 103 at this time combined with the balance of the 3 wheels and her experience level. Say what you want, if she loves it, I love it!! Absolutely no shame in riding a trike. Hell, I've driven it and it's fun. No no, not giving up my K9 until I can't walk anymore. Just keepin ya straight..
Moral of the story, choose a bike that the rider is very comfortable with because they need to build the confidence to ride. Without that riding will not be fun for them and they will give it up. They look to you, the experience rider, for guidance on bike selection because they don't know. I don't subscribe to the get them a big bike and let them grow into it philosophy. I think that philosophy is very dangerous. She is to precious to me to let that happen. I think if the first time a rider is on a motorcycle is the safety course, purchasing a motorcycle between 250 - 750 cc is the best bet. The weight of the bike and the throttle responses are similar (250 - 750). Not overwhelming power initially is good for them. Power, scares them, they are new to throttle control and need to learn. A 3-day class is not enough time. New riders don't know how to control the power yet. IMHO.. Great thread.
Safe trails..
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I started my wife out on a 650 v-star. Once she got some miles under her, I moved her to the 1100 v-star. She handles this bike a lot better, because of the weight. She now wants a Mastiff. Anybody have a basket case laying around.
Dragonslave
Active Member
My wife rides a Honda Shadow 750 and loves it. Plus it is reliable. My vote would be either the Harley Street, Honda Shadow, or Indian Scout. Take her to a dealership that has all of these and see what she likes. As we all know its not all about comfort because we ride our bikes because they look bad ass!
Dragonslave
Active Member
I know the dealership near my house offers special financing for a new bike if the rider completes the Riders Edge course. I know seasoned riders who have taken the course just to get this special deal.
relativerhythm
Member
Even though I have a Big Dog and an Indian, I've always been a fan of the Star (Yamaha) motorcycles; one of my current bikes is the Raider on a long line of Yamaha. They ride great, smooth and are trouble free. How about the Star Bolt? Cool look.
