Suggestions for girlfriend's bike

[fizzwheel]

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"

Originally Posted by IanG

Well did you tell her, did ye?

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]

Originally Posted by imaleon

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.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

remember theres no such thing as "Can't" or "It's to big for me"

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]

Originally Posted by Kate

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.

Originally Posted by Triumphumphumph

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.

Big enough on sound as well with that CCC can, was a real bargain as well. 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

Originally Posted by Beenz

Big enough on sound as well with that CCC can, was a real bargain as well. 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

Er hum, just how well do you know my wife Mr Beenz? pssst, what next bike? how much is that gonna cost me?

[northwind]

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.