Opinions Please

[Sniper]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I have decided to steer away from that bike. But the missus is still hounding me! We were considering an FXR150 but at the moment I am in negotioations with someone over something else

Biff, I know what you mean and I would definetly like to stay with Honda. And there is no way in hell I would let her get a faster bike than mine. I am a shit rider at the best of times.

[Riff Raff]

To be honest mate, and speaking from personal experience, I don't think a cruiser is the best to start out on. Low speed manouvering on them is pretty crappy with the front wheel wobbling all over the place. Also the seating postion means that on longer rides you get lower back ache. Cornering on a cruiser is totally different to a sports bike, so she could have problems when she decides to upgrade to a sportier bike.

If she has her heart set on something sportier then it's probably best that that is what she learns on. But it all comes down to what she feels comfortable on and the only way to do that is to try different bikes.

[Sniper]

Cool, thanks riff

[SDU]

Hey Sniper
What about getting her a VTR250. Heard they are pretty good, nice to ride, not scarey, can cruise at a good pace and are not too tall (If I can reach the ground anyone can) and hot looking to boot.
Not sure what $$ they are second hand.
when I wanted one the only ones around were new. meant I missed out on one.

Has she had a go on your bike yet or ridden any other bikes?
SDU

[SDU]

2. You don't want to buy anything that comes close to being as fast as your bike. Trust me, I know of guys that have had nervous breakdowns and gone to live as hermits in deepest darkest Peru because their wife/partner rode a faster bike than them, ashamed to show their faces in public for years on end, forced to drill holes in tree trunks which they used in order to seek sexual satisfation, the pain of the humiliation forcing them to live their lives in torment, haunted by the whispers in the wind saying, "he's a pussy, he rides the girl's bike, his girl kicks his arse".
Something to do with pride. It hurts man, can you feel the pain?

Is your male ego so fragile that your manhood is at risk with women riding as fast or faster than you eh.

[crashe]

To be honest mate, and speaking from personal experience, I don't think a cruiser is the best to start out on. Low speed manouvering on them is pretty crappy with the front wheel wobbling all over the place. Also the seating postion means that on longer rides you get lower back ache. Cornering on a cruiser is totally different to a sports bike, so she could have problems when she decides to upgrade to a sportier bike.

If she has her heart set on something sportier then it's probably best that that is what she learns on. But it all comes down to what she feels comfortable on and the only way to do that is to try different bikes.

I would like to disagree with Riff Raff over as few things here.

I suffer with Chronic lower back pain and I have no trouble with my cruiser.
I have been riding my bike for 5 years, I actually have more problems when driving the car. It is something to do with posture and sitting upright on the bike and slouching in the car.

Cruisers are great for learners to learn on... one there isn't the speed factor.
Yep cornering on a cruiser is so different to how you take a corner on a sportsbike.

I have some really long trips on my cruiser as well... with no problems.

But now in saying that I guess there could be a problem for some but not all changing from a cruiser to sportsbike.

But it does also depend on what type of bike your wife wants....
So take her to go and sit on all types of bikes so that she gets an idea of what they are like.

[Scorpygirl]

Mate take her into a bike shop and get her to sit on a Virago 250...
Then she will be sold on a cruiser...

They are so comfy to ride........

Forget the $500 on this bike that needs heaps of work....
Use the $500 as a deposit on a Virago 250 cruiser...

I'm with you Crashe. Very comfortable and reasonably forgiving for a learner.

[Hitcher]

I think you risk being called "Cheap". If women can spot the difference between cubic zirconia and a real diamond, then you're fucked if you try and pass this off as a "sporty" bike.

[GB500nz]

The VTR is surely the best of the lot, but you won't find a secondhand one for anything reasonable: they're just too good. But ZXR and CBR 250s are reasonable, and last a long time. With a rack, you can tour on one. Easy to ride, and with sticky tyres they're safe as anything else. She needs a bike comparable to yours so she doesn't have to exceed her skills in order to keep up.
Terry

[Brains]

Why don't you simply sell her your bike? Getting on time for a change maybe? I'm not going to be a rude bugger like some (no names mentioned) and suggest you sell her the 250 so you can upgrade to a Honda Silverwing, coz we all know that only school girls should ride scooters (god bless'em), but anyhow, is that a choice you have? better than getting her some clapped out old bike.

More chicks on bikes the better.