The couple on the 1200GS and the VTR250, Sat. arvo!

[Edbear]

Now look what you've done! You've given me a little problem!

You see, it's like this.
A mate has just bought a '96 1200 Bandit S so he and his Missus can go riding and she immediately started nagging my wife to get some gear so she can hop on the back of mine and we can all go riding together! Now, my wife has been a bit reluctant to get back on in her old age and I haven't pushed the issue as I'm quite happy going off solo.:scooter: But she decided that maybe she could join in and I suggested we check out Cycle Spot's deal on a full outfit for $599. Not bad and similar to what I got three years ago from them, so have been planning to pop in and have her try some gear on.:yes:

Now, on Sat. arvo we were on our way to a wedding and passed the above chap on his new GS following whom we assumed was his Missus on the VTR just past the Tristram St on-ramp heading South on the Northern Motorway before Takapuna. My dearly beloved suddenly piped up and said, "Now if I had my OWN bike... I'd find it MUCH more fun!" "Of course," she went on, "it would have to be able to keep up with you guys!" So, now thanks to the said couple, I've got to find a suitable 250 plus the full gear for my wife!:gob:

Seriously, I'm happy to get her back into biking and welcome suggestions as to a suitable bike for her. I lean towards a cruiser style as I think she'd find one more comfortable and controllable, something like a Virago or Suzuki. Have to be fairly cheap though. Yes, I know the venerable GN is popular, but "everyone has one" and I really would like her to feel a bit more stylish. :love:

So if the above mentioned bikers are KB'rs, thanks! You stand to cost me a bit of money!:eek:

(But I really don't mind...:msn-wink: )

[Jonny Rotten]

if she can hang on till january i have a nice lil VTR coming up for sale

[Edbear]

I like the little VTR's but think maybe they're a bit sporty for a novice?

[hXc]

Definately not too sporty mate. If you can, get her on a Spada. Quite rare to find in NZ, but damn good bikes.

[crashe]

Cruiser - A Virago 250cc:love:

Now you know that I highly recommend them...:love:
They are great to ride... and are great around town and also great out there on the country roads.....


There is a new one sitting at Henderson Motorcycles at the moment..
but you can buy a good secondhand one as well.

[limbimtimwim]

Spadas are not rare!

The VTR250 is the perfect first bike, not too sporty at all. But not cheap.

Avoid the hyosung 250..

[bell]

Blairos might be selling his VTR if he gets his Full on 5th Dec. Send him a PM?

[Edbear]

Naturally you're all giving completely neutral and unbiased advice, here....:yes:

I'll take her for a ride first and see how she likes it and see what turns up as far as a suitable bike. Still lean towards the cruiser style but as I said I do like the VTR's. Of course, like most women, her choice will be based on considered research into a particular bike's suitablility - namely colour and style...!:dodge: :dodge:

[fozz rock]

she immediately started nagging my wife to get some gear so she can hop on the back of mine and we can all go riding together!

his Missus on the VTR just past the Tristram St on-ramp heading South on the Northern Motorway before Takapuna. My dearly beloved suddenly piped up and said, "Now if I had my OWN bike...

can she test ride on said vtr??

[ajturbo]

Coooool... another biker chick to perv at...mmmmmm:done:

[yungatart]

I have a Kawasaki Eliminator EL250 - criuser style, low to the ground and VERY user friendly - not too many of them around - but a very stylish bike. I've never seen another one here in the bay, but Drum had one too.
Good luck - it can be loads of fun going off for a pootle together.
Check my profile for a pic of one....

[Str8 Jacket]

My KR150 is up for sale... Its been a perfect learners bike and a great commuter!

[Keystone19]

The VTR250 is a very good first bike. Solid, reliable, easy to ride and is a nice compromise between a cruiser and a sportsbike.

Naturally it was my first ever bike so I am a little biased. Send your wife to a bike shop and get her to have a look at some styles and see what takes her fancy. Don't go with her as you will influence her. Let her have a look by herself (that way she can have the nice salespeople either completely ignore her because she is a woman or be extremely attentive because she is a woman). She will get a feel for what she likes the look of pretty quickly I would guess.

[sunhuntin]

ive just bought a virago, and love it!! i also had a gn250 which i caned all over the show. it wasnt very good at keeping up though [top speed i ever got was 120k, and that couldnt be maintained for long] im not sure what top speed ill reach on the virago as i havent fully tested her yet.

as suggested, drop her off near some bike shops, and let her look for herself.

[topher]

Does she already have a licence? You said "getting back into riding" if so, you needn't limit her to 250. My Missus has just got back into riding after (fuck, better get this right, she gets vividly pissed if I get ages, years and stuff wrong) 25 years and is happy as on a CM450 Honda cruiser thing. Her legs are barely long enough to keep her arse off the ground but she can still get both heels down on the CM. It's got "polite" power and can cruise at highway speeds without any effort on her or the bke's part.

[Alice]

I have spent the last few months and more trawling thru this site and the internet getting information on bikes trying to decide what would be good for me to learn on.
I have decided on a VTR, decided that GNs are junk, not meaning to offend any GN riders out there, we all have differant taste, non right or wrong, just not for me, I would'nt drive a Lada either.
I tryed a cruiser style bike, bit laid back for me, tryed a Bandit, it had drop type bars, thought the ride position would be horrible to learn on, tryed the VTR, hmmm, ride position felt nice and neutral to learn on, and its light.
Hard to get your hands on a second hand one, and they hold there price quite well so in the end I decided to go for new, no maintance issues to worry about except usual servicing.
Cool your wife wants to go riding with you, watch out, she may outride you once shes into it.

[Edbear]

She's never held a bike licence so has to start afresh. Our friends are coming up Fri nite for the weekend, so I'll get her some gear and see how she likes getting back on a bike. Bit early for buying her own at the mo, prob be a couple weeks or so before we can be sure wot we can afford and what style suits.

The Kawa EL250 was also on my mind as a possibility.

(She used to look pretty good in leather...:yes: )

[Drum]

I found the EL250 to be a great bike for learning to ride. A bit more style and grunt than the GN (no offence intended to GN riders). The low seat height is perfect for the laydeees (and a few men, ahem).

[Edbear]

Cool your wife wants to go riding with you, watch out, she may outride you once shes into it.



Hope not! :o She was a bit of a tomboy in the old days. Grew up driving bulldozers for her old man. Was a good operator, too! Courted her on a D6 Caterpiilar!:love:

[Ixion]

Hope not! :o She was a bit of a tomboy in the old days. Grew up driving bulldozers for her old man. Was a good operator, too! Courted her on a D6 Caterpiilar!:love:

I never knew those things even had a back seat!

[Edbear]

I never knew those things even had a back seat!



No they don't and the side tool box was not the comfiest seat either! But when you're young and in love, (or was it lust?),:love: you tend to ignore such minor details!:yes:

[Alice]

Hope not! :o She was a bit of a tomboy in the old days. Grew up driving bulldozers for her old man. Was a good operator, too! Courted her on a D6 Caterpiilar!:love:
Betta watch out, might not just be your wallet thats about to get a whole lot lighter, your ego could be in for a serious dent.
Great when the girls give the guys a serious run for there money.

[snuffles]

My wife started on the GSX250, tall but not to heavy

[hXc]

Spadas are not rare!

Well, there's five on the site, and only one of them is a regular poster. And it says that 2 of those 5 are in Napier, 1 in Eketahuna, 1 in Wellington and 1 in the UK. They are rare bikes. Only made for 2 years (88-89) and are only ever Jap imports, if found in New Zealand.

[The Pastor]

I found the gpz 1000 to be a good learners bike.

[Balding Eagle]

I had a Honda Hornet 250 for my initial riding. Very sporty. I would suggest that unless the missus is into sporty riding, it would not be the way to go. A great bike but you have to be a confident learner. Just a view from the other side.

[Edbear]

I found the gpz 1000 to be a good learners bike.



LOL!!!! I don't want to get rid of her quite that quick!:gob:

[Edbear]

I had a Honda Hornet 250 for my initial riding. Very sporty. I would suggest that unless the missus is into sporty riding, it would not be the way to go. A great bike but you have to be a confident learner. Just a view from the other side.



Yeah, she won't be very confident so a torquey smooth power delivery will be important, hence my preference for a cruiser-type. It'll be her final choice though, so a lot will depend on whether she likes the style and colour more than whether it's a "sensible" bike... You know what women are like...?:innocent:

[crashe]

You know what women are like...?:innocent:

So get off the computer and let her get on the comp and get her to login onto KB.... with her own username
That way we can also chat to her about what is a good bike to get...


Of course naturally I do highly recommend the VIRAGO :love:

[The Pastor]

LOL!!!! I don't want to get rid of her quite that quick!:gob:


Being serrious for a moment here. (and I was about the gpz, but its heavy not ideal for women hehe)

How old is your wife? She should be able to fast track the licence?

I don't think I would reconmend a 250 crusier if you are heading that way, 400-500cc would be the ideal learners bike on a crusier, they have about half as much hp as a sports 250, but will have the grunt to get onto the open roads at a comfortable speed. I think the virago's have a nice bike which is somewhere between 400-500cc? The little <250s are made for places like singapore / india etx where you load an entire family on the back and your max speed is 30kph.....
:whocares: :done:

[crazybigal]

we have a vtr, its a good little bike, what about the bandit 250? we have had one of those as well and it was a great little bike, more rev than the v twin but not much in it as far as speed goes. id prob lean towards the vtr myself, although it could use a 6 speed box like the suzuki for the motorway.

[Edbear]

How old is your wife? She should be able to fast track the licence?



Now you know it's rude to ask a woman her age...:nono: But she is a Grandma, now.:psst: I'll check out the licence requirements, though.

[Edbear]

I tryed the VTR, hmmm, ride position felt nice and neutral to learn on, and its light.
Hard to get your hands on a second hand one, and they hold there price quite well so in the end I decided to go for new, no maintance issues to worry about except usual servicing.
Cool your wife wants to go riding with you, watch out, she may outride you once shes into it.



Yeah, I guess it'll depend whether she gets keen enough to overcome the fact that she's 50% Scottish :shutup: and wants to use the 'magic-plastic' or just wants something cheap...:wait:

[crashe]

Being serrious for a moment here. (and I was about the gpz, but its heavy not ideal for women hehe)

How old is your wife? She should be able to fast track the licence?

I don't think I would reconmend a 250 crusier if you are heading that way, 400-500cc would be the ideal learners bike on a crusier, they have about half as much hp as a sports 250, but will have the grunt to get onto the open roads at a comfortable speed. I think the virago's have a nice bike which is somewhere between 400-500cc? The little <250s are made for places like singapore / india etx where you load an entire family on the back and your max speed is 30kph.....
:whocares: :done:

In case you didnt read the first few posts..... the lady in question doesn't even have her Learners yet. So she has to be on a 250cc or under for a while.

In case you have forgotten the rider on the bike that got the speeding ticket (The ticket was for doing 77 in a 50km area) instead of you getting it on that particular day as the cop stated he was really after you... rides a 250cc VIRAGO. The VIRAGO can go a hell of a lot faster than 30kph.

I tend to stick to 100 to 110 out there on the open roads even thou it can go a lot faster than that.


Virago's:
400cc - very rare to find any now in NZ, as they are a import.
535cc - not many of them left on the road.... they have a false fueltank on the top as the fuel tank is actually under the seat.

[SPman]

A woman I know, was getting back into bikes after a similar layoff. After looking at everything and keeping my mouth firmly shut, she ended up on an FZR250 and absolutely loved it!
Everyone pushes cruisery thingeys, but, dont overlook sporty bikes - you may be surprised - I certainly was.

[Edbear]

A woman I know, was getting back into bikes after a similar layoff. After looking at everything and keeping my mouth firmly shut, she ended up on an FZR250 and absolutely loved it!
Everyone pushes cruisery thingeys, but, dont overlook sporty bikes - you may be surprised - I certainly was.



Not overlooking anything so far, SPman! But early days yet. (Ps. How's it feel to be 98....:gob: )

Update- Our friends are bringing up a jacket for her and my sister is giving us her spare FFM helmet. Thanks heaps to QUASiMOTO for a great deal on pants and gloves, he's just got in a new line of women's gear! Check him out!:yes:

Just gotta get some boots now and she'll be ready to ride!:done:

[The Pastor]

I tend to stick to 100 to 110 out there on the open roads even thou it can go a lot faster than that.




But yours is a 750cc?

[crashe]

But yours is a 750cc?

No my baby is a 250cc...............

Tis amazing how so many riders think my bike is a bigger cc rating than what it really is.. she is a quite a decent size bike... hence people making the mistake.

[The Pastor]

No my baby is a 250cc...............

Tis amazing how so many riders think my bike is a bigger cc rating than what it really is.. she is a quite a decent size bike... hence people making the mistake.

Oh really? Im sure you told me on one of those rides it was a 750.........:Oops:


In that case, yeah the 250 is all good :) (I was thinking, if the 750 is that slow theres no way a 250 could handle the distance's etc):rockon: :scooter:

[yungatart]

My EL cruises quite happily at 120, although Mstrs has been known to crank it up to licence losing speeds. It easily maintains 120 tho, with a bit in reserve

[McJim]

I thought the VTR was a great bike to learn on but the missus didn't like it - she tried out some stuff and decided she wanted an RG150 - she has been tootling about on it and loves it! (I thought she'd be narked off with it's temperamental 2 smokin' ways!) There is just no telling.

I find the VTR very friendly and easy to ride. Some people can't distinguish between good and fast on this website unfortunately.

The VTR isn't that fast really - you have to give it a proper thrashing to make it do things quickly.

The RG150 scares the shit out of me coz the power hits you so suddenly!

Let her try some bikes and decide for herself. You might get a surprise.

[Edbear]

Let her try some bikes and decide for herself. You might get a surprise.



That's perzackly wot I'll do, though she will still probably decide based on it being "pretty" and a "nice colour"....:innocent:

[sels1]

I'm suprised nobodies suggested a Hyosung Comet. There is a few KBers that have gone thru the learning process on them and found them quite suitable for the purpose.

[Edbear]

Well, we've done it now! Posted pics of our weekend! Not sure how to get them in the right order so hope the explanations fir the pics!

Went to Cyclespot and got her the gear, (much hilarity in the shop!), then naturally went next door to Holeshot for a looksee and she and Shaz both fell in love with the LC250 Intruder! She wants it in black! At Cyclespot a newbie was just picking up his nice blue 250 Hornet and at first my wife thought it would be just right, that is until she spotted the Intruder!

Got home and into the gear and bearing in mind she hadn't so much as sat on a bike for at least ten years, she hopped on and we set off to meet "Bunny" in Wellsford, who'd came down from Whangarei on his new 1500 Boulevard, (C90T), to meet up and take the long way back to his place. Stopped in at the Caltex for lunch and then did the Waipu loop. I'd been riding very carefully, trying to be smooth with my gearshifting and braking, careful overtaking as I wanted my wife's return experience to be as pleasant as possible in the hope she'd get to enjoy it and want to continue. As we talked over lunch and I asked nervously how she was liking it she said, "Well, it seems a bit slow!"

She was the perfect pillion, leaning easily with the bike and I was immediately comfortable with her behind me. Just like old times back in the mid 70's when she pillioned on my old T500!:sunny:
Stopping at the beach there John discovered the mounting bolt for the Bandit's muffler had disappeared so we stopped at the BP in Waipu to replace it. Pic at the Waipu beach of Mrs. Edbear on the sand was when she was looking at the rocks wondering how to get one on the bike to take home for the garden!:gob:

She doubled on the Boulevard the rest of the way to Bunny's in Whangarei and enthused about the comfort! I put my foot in it by commenting at the Waipu stop that I liked having her on the back with her thighs squeezing my bum! Of course that lead to endless warnings about doubling behind Bunny...! I never lived that one down all weekend!

Stopped in and picked up Bunny's wife and with everyone two-up, (and Jill back behind me...:yes: ) we set off for a ride to Ocean's Beach where upon arrival John promptly dropped the Bandit due to the front locking up as he parked on the grass!:third: No damage but to his ego!

After 8hrs of cruising around we finally got back to Bunny's with Shaz and Mrs. Edbear complaining of sore butts! No surprise as it was both their first times back on bikes for many a year!!! A hot soak in the bath soon restored them and we hit the sack after a good catch-up.

Morning and we set off after brekkies for a straight run back to Orewa stopping again at Wellsford for lunch.

Summing up, although my 600 handled it with ease and with little effect on power or handling it is plain that for much two-up riding I really need a physically bigger bike with more comfort for the pillion, so something like a DL 1000 V-Strom would suit, however she really now wants her own bike so I guess the LC250 Intruder is now on the shopping list as well as an appointment for her to get her learner's!

After 3 years back on a bike myself, Mrs. Edbear and I have found a new hobby we can enjoy together since becoming "Darby and Joan" following our youngest daughter's wedding back in June! She had a ball this weekend and surely having fun together is what it's all about?

Pics are of our trip and should be explained by the above report. Hope everyine had a great weekend as we saw many bikers out and about!

Cheers!

[crashe]

wohoooooooooooo so when do you get to pick up the new bike.... :whistle:
Tis a great wee learner for her to learn on...........

Great pics too.

[Edbear]

wohoooooooooooo so when do you get to pick up the new bike.... :whistle:
Tis a great wee learner for her to learn on...........

Great pics too.



Thanks! She was browsing Trademe tonight and saw a '05 250 Virago with only 3000Km on it... Might be sooner rather than later...:doh:

[crashe]

Thanks! She was browsing Trademe tonight and saw a '05 250 Virago with only 3000Km on it... Might be sooner rather than later...:doh:

wohoooooo a VIRAGO:love: ..... you go Mrs Edbear....

[Freebird]

Getting a second bike is the way to go. My wife hated being on the back and I hated her being there, I told her if she done her test I would get her a bike, a 5 day course later (in the UK) and full licence was on its way. Got her a ZZR600 which she loved and it gave me a choice as to which bike I would use for work the Blackbird or the ZZR. Get the girls riding that’s what I say there’s few thing sexier than a girl riding her own bike. :gob:

[Edbear]

Getting a second bike is the way to go. My wife hated being on the back and I hated her being there, I told her if she done her test I would get her a bike, a 5 day course later (in the UK) and full licence was on its way. Got her a ZZR600 which she loved and it gave me a choice as to which bike I would use for work the Blackbird or the ZZR. Get the girls riding that’s what I say there’s few thing sexier than a girl riding her own bike. :gob:



I do want her to have her own bike, as my philosophy at our stage of life is that she should have pretty much whatever she wants and as much fun as I can give her. :rockon:

However, I do hope she'll want to pillion with me from time to time, as one of the really nice things about the wekend was having her close against me, the squeeze of her thighs and the way she snuggled into my back when the pace hotted up. :innocent: To sense her enjoyment and wonder as she took in the scenery from a new perspective. 'Twas real fun and she was the perfect pillion, balanced and relaxed. I loved having her with me and we felt a closeness from the day we had. (Just the GSX-F was a bit cramped for two though 8hrs on her first ride might have ben pushing things a bit...)

One of my customers is a Yamaha dealer and showed me a brochure of the new 250 Virago in "Black Cherry"! Real cool! :yes: Goin' to the Big Boys Toys this weekend so will check a few out..:scooter:

[crashe]

There is a brand new black VIRAGO sitting in at
Henderson Motorcycles on View Road, Henderson.
It has been there for a little while.

[Edbear]

Might be worth a look. We'll check out BBT this weekemd and she can perve at a few different makes and models. (Bikes, that is...)