View Full Version : Suggestions for girlfriend's bike
imaleon
25-12-06, 09:14 PM
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Have just been speaking to my girlfriend, and she insists on buying a motorcycle now that I have one. She has never ridden before, and she is also under 21. I have been looking around on autotrader and can't find anything she likes, need help!
1200-1500 budget, she doesn't like naked bikes, and the bike can't be cooler/better than my SV
Was looking at a couple of 250s, but she was after something a little bigger. Most of the 400s are overpriced and imports (I think, but probably wrong) which are a nightmare for young riders to insure. Was looking at a couple of 500s, but apparently they're all too 'ugly'. Would really appreciate some suggestions to help me out of this dilemma
Thanks
wheelnut
25-12-06, 09:16 PM
Have a look at a few SV 400s and then worry when she whoops your **** on one :)
Has your girlfriend got her CBT? For something smallish, what about a Honda CBR125 or a NSR125? Doesn't need a full test to ride one of these, just a CBT.
Biker Biggles
25-12-06, 09:30 PM
I know it's boring but my advice is to do her test first and then get a bike.How much under 21 is she?It could be worth waiting a few months so she can do a full test,then she could get a full power SV as a first bike.If it's too long to wait,do a restricted test and go for a restricted SV.33 BHP aint too bad on a Vtwin.
paulthewitt
25-12-06, 09:37 PM
get her to do the cbt first...she may decide she hates it!
better safe than sorry
New Leaf
25-12-06, 10:02 PM
What about a GS500F. They come fully fared and look quite cool for a girl. You could even mistake it for a GSXR 600 if it was really foggy and u were very drunk.
They cost about £3k new o you should get one a few years old for your budget.
Have a look here:
link shortened by mod (http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/bikes_search.asp?searchform=&modelexact=1&lid=search_used_bikes_full&photo=1&state=%27%27&sort=&make=SUZUKI&min_pr=75&source=0&model=GS&max_pr=&ccappr=500&agerange=&miles=40&keywords=gs+500f&mileage=&postcode=cb6+3wl&ukcarsearch_full.x=0&ukcarsearch_full.y=0)
( come on guys, don't scr*w the page format ) :roll:
rictus01
25-12-06, 10:29 PM
What about a GS500F. They come fully fared and look quite cool for a girl. You could even mistake it for a GSXR 600 if it was really foggy and u were very drunk.
They cost about £3k new o you should get one a few years old for your budget.
Indeed our very own Cazza (http://forums.sv650.org/privmsg.php?mode=post&u=3595) has one, drop her a PM, she'll give you the low down.
http://upload5.postimage.org/23183/Dsc08397.jpg (http://upload5.postimage.org/23183/photo_hosting.html)
Cheers Mark.
james160987
25-12-06, 10:32 PM
hmmm im under 21, i ride an sv, why not just get her a sv, and restrict it
imaleon
26-12-06, 01:46 PM
I take her out on the back of mine all the time and she loves it, I'd be quite surprised if she didn't like it. She wants something inbetween a 250cc - 500cc.
Can you get an old GPZ500? Saying that all the ones I saw were rusted to hell but you might find a decent one and it should be cheap.
http://upload5.postimage.org/27157/99_normal.jpg (http://upload5.postimage.org/27157/photo_hosting.html)
biketeacherdave
26-12-06, 05:07 PM
first things first get her test out of the way she will need to
1.pass her theory test look here>www.dsa.gov.uk
2.find a good local school or private instructor and get a course booked up
3.pass test lol
4.try some bikes for size and weight
5.buy bike and let her whoop your **** cos we all know girls make the best riders hahaha
The Basket
26-12-06, 07:08 PM
The GPz500S Is a gem of a motorcycle.
Cheap as chips and not that far behind the performance of the SV.
Seat height for dwarves too.
Corrodes like a 1970s Datsun.
But that is all part of the charm.
What about a GS500F.
Indeed our very own Cazza (http://forums.sv650.org/privmsg.php?mode=post&u=3595) has one, drop her a PM, she'll give you the low down.
Indeed I do. Here's a sideways glance at it...
http://upload5.postimage.org/30341/bike_rhs_.jpg (http://upload5.postimage.org/30341/photo_hosting.html)
It was my first ever bike - and whilst I would happily trade up to something with more welly (I've been riding for about 2 years now), it was a great first bike for me. It can 'go' as much as you need a bike to when you're starting out, but without being scary.
It's cheaper to insure (and buy!) than the SV, but as already mentioned, a restricted SV may be the way forwards.
I've replaced the standard can with a Scorpion one, so it sounds pretty good. :D Not many other mods I can make to it really. :?
socommk23
26-12-06, 08:49 PM
Can you get an old GPZ500? Saying that all the ones I saw were rusted to hell but you might find a decent one and it should be cheap.
http://upload5.postimage.org/27157/99_normal.jpg (http://upload5.postimage.org/27157/photo_hosting.html)
AVOID! BORDOM FACTOR 10 MR ZULU!
get an sv650 and restrict it!
best thing money can buy i rekon!
fat_brstd
26-12-06, 11:31 PM
i dont know about the bordom factor on a gpz500. my girls mum rides one and its put up with her riding fine. low seat too so it helps those with short legs. always seemed quick enough for what she wanted and it sounds like your misses doesnt want some 1000cc superbike.
id go with something simple like that gpz or a cb500 although it sounds like she is very concerned about the styling so it might take some convincing. you sure she doesnt just want an sv400 so she can have a cute baby version of yours?
the most important thing is she passes her test before getting anything as she will just be wasting her money if she gets 3/4 done and decides she doesnt want to follow through with it. remember this could be a flash in the pan thing but try your best to get her to do it. nothing scarier than when your bird kicks your ass round a set of twisties.
Given the budget and the requirement for no more than 500cc I reckon a GPZ has to be the answer if you can find one without too much rust. I went to see a few that were advertised but they were all far to badly corroded for the asking price but then I come from Bristol where people want ridiculous prices anyway and some advertised as "immaculate" had clear accident damage. Typical Bristol.
For £1500 I'd expect an absolutely immaculate low mileage GPZ with a FSH. I say that based on the fact that I sold my Bandit for the same price and that was 10k on the clock and in mint condition. So don't compromise.
In the end I got the Bandit because I found if I travelled 30 miles away from Bristol I could get a mint one for less than the price of a Bristol GPZ and the 600's are a fair bit quicker. But if she don't fancy a Bandit or SV...
I'd recommend a parallel twin over a V-Twin for a new rider any day. Plus the GPZ doesn't have that "DAS" look about it if you know what I mean. Something that ER5's and GS500's (apart from the F) suffer from. The GPZ looks like a proper grown up bike.
timwilky
27-12-06, 02:02 PM
OK come on, if the manageress of my local can get an R1 as her first ever bike. Not even ridden a ped before she did her DAS, there is no excuse for a girly thinking a proper bike is too big, too heavy etc.
Tell your girlfriend to wait until she is 21 and then to do her direct access.
Tiger 55
27-12-06, 02:42 PM
Tell your girlfriend to wait
Yeah, just tell her.
And let us know how you get on with that...
Tell your girlfriend to wait
Yeah, just tell her.
And let us know how you get on with that...
Well did you tell her, did ye? :lol:
The Basket
27-12-06, 08:12 PM
A CB500 is a solid bike and good...but they do hold value better than a GPz.
I am biased towards the GPz as it was my first big!!! Bike and I enjoyed it.
fizzwheel
27-12-06, 09:09 PM
Take her on a tour of your local dealers get her to have a look round and sit on a few bikes so she makes up her mind about what she likes. Then as others have said get her to do her CBT and then go from there.
No point you making up her mind for her or her having a bike she doenst want otherwise it wont get ridden, oh and remember theres no such thing as "Can't" or "It's to big for me" :wink:
imaleon
27-12-06, 09:09 PM
Tell your girlfriend to wait
Yeah, just tell her.
And let us know how you get on with that...
Well did you tell her, did ye? :lol:
hehe, well i know what she would say. she is only 19, so a two year wait seems a bit too long....
Thanks everyone for all your input, really appreciate it.
Cazza - That is a really nice example of the GPZ, best ive seen so far (she wants one like that ;) )
Was looking around for an sv400 but they are quite rare, and can't find any reviews on it. Does anyone have any experience with that bike?
fizzwheel
27-12-06, 09:13 PM
Was looking around for an sv400 but they are quite rare, and can't find any reviews on it. Does anyone have any experience with that bike?
PM "Rock" she has a SV400, also IIRC there was one in the for sale section a few weeks ago.
remember theres no such thing as "Can't" or "It's to big for me" :wink:
I'll remember that next time I sit on a bike where I can't touch the floor on either side, even on the side stand.
fizzwheel
27-12-06, 09:50 PM
remember theres no such thing as "Can't" or "It's to big for me" :wink:
I'll remember that next time I sit on a bike where I can't touch the floor on either side, even on the side stand.
Ah but in my experience alot of the girls I've spoken to make up their mind that the bikes to big for them before they even sit on the damn thing. Liz is 5ft 4 and we havent yet found a bike that she cant manage. My K5 750 is very tall, the seat height is 825mm and she can get one foot down on that. She also had a CBR600 that she could get her foot down on as well. In her words "Its just a matter of finding a way to ride it" In my experience alot of girls give up before they've even tried because the get it into their heads that they "cant do it", whcih personally I think its a shame.
If someone gives up without trying then yes its a shame. On the other hand, there really are bikes too tall for me to ride. For instance Joe's TL1000R. I can't get it off the side stand and believe me I've tried. Being 5'2" tall with a 26" inside leg measurement really does mean I can't touch the ground.
I had a CBR600 for six months before I finally gave up as it being too tall. I could get a tiptoe down on one side if I slid my bum off the seat and providing that the ground was smooth and flat. If the ground was crap then I couldn't stop which is a little unfortunate at red lights! I now ride a gixer and it fits me perfectly.
Bought my wife an SV K5 and she loves it. One of few bikes she can reach the deck with (just). Cheap as chips, easy to ride, enough power and big enough on image!
Although ridden pokey bikes before (RG250, FZR600, etc) it was many years ago. Got on SV absolutely no problems at all. :lol:
Bought my wife an SV K5 and she loves it. One of few bikes she can reach the deck with (just). Cheap as chips, easy to ride, enough power and big enough on image!
Although ridden pokey bikes before (RG250, FZR600, etc) it was many years ago. Got on SV absolutely no problems at all. :lol:
Big enough on sound as well with that CCC can, was a real bargain as well. :wink: Was nice to know it went to a good home though, and I get visiting rights,
I've already been asked to look after her next bike :shock:
Bought my wife an SV K5 and she loves it. One of few bikes she can reach the deck with (just). Cheap as chips, easy to ride, enough power and big enough on image!
Although ridden pokey bikes before (RG250, FZR600, etc) it was many years ago. Got on SV absolutely no problems at all. :lol:
Big enough on sound as well with that CCC can, was a real bargain as well. :wink: Was nice to know it went to a good home though, and I get visiting rights,
I've already been asked to look after her next bike :shock:
Er hum, just how well do you know my wife Mr Beenz? :o pssst, what next bike? how much is that gonna cost me? :D
northwind
28-12-06, 04:22 PM
Personalyl I'd say don't touch the SV4... DOn't want to offend Rock! But it's a less powerful SV, weighs just as much, about the same size, has more or less the same geometry but inferior brakes, less easy to find some parts... And it's still too powerful to ride on an A1 license. Very little to recommend it over the 650 really...
So, I recommend a 650 :) Honda 400s are mainly good bikes, but they tend to be very expensive for a nice one, or disasterous for a cheap one. Fans are always telling new riders that they can find a good one for a grand, I don't know where they shop but when I was looking for one the closest I got was a smoky 40,000 miler for £2000. Not cheap to maintain or repair either.
The Basket
28-12-06, 04:29 PM
RiDE have a piece on the CB500, ER-5, Yam Divvie 600 and GS500...all in the price range.
Worth a look if your after a parallel twin 500cc.
oldjack
28-12-06, 07:08 PM
I had a divvy, although classed as a middleweight it was a lot heavier than the SV, probably a bit hard to keep upright for a lightly built not very tall beginner. SV is ideal, get one, we all did !
Cazza - That is a really nice example of the GPZ, best ive seen so far (she wants one like that ;) )
:-k Hmmm... except the pic I posted is my bike, which is a GS500F (Suzuki). Thanks anyway though! :)
Dangle_kt
29-12-06, 01:56 PM
Personalyl I'd say don't touch the SV4... DOn't want to offend Rock! But it's a less powerful SV, weighs just as much, about the same size, has more or less the same geometry but inferior brakes, less easy to find some parts... And it's still too powerful to ride on an A1 license. Very little to recommend it over the 650 really...
So, I recommend a 650 :) Honda 400s are mainly good bikes, but they tend to be very expensive for a nice one, or disasterous for a cheap one. Fans are always telling new riders that they can find a good one for a grand, I don't know where they shop but when I was looking for one the closest I got was a smoky 40,000 miler for £2000. Not cheap to maintain or repair either.
www.400greybike.co.uk Crackin forum - check out the for sale section - FZR400 is UK model, so is the RVF - but they are V. expensive. LUSH tho! GSXR400 is also offical UK bike , vfr400 is very nice- Uk model means cheaper insurance.
I have owned a number of cbr400rr's, they are BRILLIANT bikes! low seat tho (which is rubbbish cos I'm 6ft!), light and will keep up with a 650.
Doesn't ride very well with restricters in tho - thats why mine lasted about 2 days before they landed in my desk draw.... I know I know - Im a BAD man!!
Any bike is good when u just passed, even a wheezy 33bhp restricted Virago 535 felt like a rocket ship when I first passed, tho grinding everything in the corners made me sell it for a 400.
They are not very expensive to maintain and service - a v4 rvf or vfr may be due to the engine configuration, but the IL4 400's - especially the Honda CBR's are pretty bullet proof. They are similar to the SV in costs - tyres etc. are the only expence that is more than a simple commuter, and no more than a SV's rubber.
Even road tax is stupidly cheap.
More than anything else they are GREAT fun to ride!
northwind
29-12-06, 02:49 PM
They are not very expensive to maintain and service - a v4 rvf or vfr may be due to the engine configuration, but the IL4 400's - especially the Honda CBR's are pretty bullet proof. They are similar to the SV in costs - tyres etc. are the only expence that is more than a simple commuter, and no more than a SV's rubber.
I'm thinking more age-related things... They're reliable, but you can start to get into serious expenses with older bikes, especially sporty ones- full suspension rebuilds, stuck fasteners preventing routine servicing... Not so easy to find a cheap panel after a drop, or used bits, as is the SV, and a wee bit harder to work on if you service it yourself. Though I agree that the IL4s are cheaper than the V4s. A CBR400 that's working well should beat an SV when it gets twisty, but I've never found one for sale that didn't have bathwater for fork oil...
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