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

**crazybigal** · 1st November 2006, 12:22

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** · 1st November 2006, 17:01

Originally Posted by renegade master

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...

But she is a Grandma, now.

I'll check out the licence requirements, though.

**Edbear** · 1st November 2006, 17:11

Originally Posted by Alice

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

and wants to use the 'magic-plastic' or just wants something cheap...

**crashe** · 1st November 2006, 17:17

Originally Posted by renegade master

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.....

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** · 1st November 2006, 17:45

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** · 1st November 2006, 21:02

Originally Posted by 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.

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

)

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!

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

**The Pastor** · 1st November 2006, 21:34

Originally Posted by crashe

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** · 1st November 2006, 21:38

Originally Posted by renegade master

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** · 1st November 2006, 21:56

Originally Posted by crashe

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.........

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)

**yungatart** · 2nd November 2006, 07:18

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** · 3rd November 2006, 00:27

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** · 3rd November 2006, 06:20

Originally Posted by McJim

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"....

**sels1** · 3rd November 2006, 07:09

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** · 5th November 2006, 18:35

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!

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!

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...

) 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!

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!