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so rider friendly, too! - Printable Version

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so rider friendly, too! - petec_imp - 05-19-2013

...it really is.

The day after I bought mine I had to go to work (I'm away for 5-6 days at a time) and didn't want take the new bike for the 2 hr interstate commute without some break-in miles on it. My wife rides also ( BMW F800ST) so I asked her if she'd mind putting a few miles on it for me while I was away and she said no problem and made a face like thisBig Grin.

Now, she's a bit of a shorty - and short in the leg to boot - but a very good, competent rider. Here's a comparo pic of her and I from about 5 yrs ago on HER first and second bikes:

[url=http://s596.photobucket.com/user/pacwnc/media/SN851562.jpg.html][Image: 38a5a91ae1a5b9443d8756f8b8931218.jpg]

Anyhow, the CB only had 11 miles on it from me riding it home from the dealer when she took it one afternoon and put a little over a 100 more on it while I was gone. She snapped this up on the BRP when she took a little breather:

[url=http://s596.photobucket.com/user/pacwnc/media/003-6_zps681388ea.jpg.html][Image: 175c01dfa5efad814c63a5eb23db833f.jpg]

She was very impressed, said it was extremely easy to ride, got both her feet down no problem, and really felt right at home on it from the get-go, with the only niggle being the high-ish handlebars and - for her personally anyway - the lack of hard luggage and windshield. She especially liked the smooth, silky clutch and throttle response, the low-down mega-torque and the feel of the brakes. Her only concern was being caught off-guard by the weight while parking, wheeling it around at walking speeds etc, but, to be fair, that's a concern for her with any bigger bike.

At any rate, overall, she gave it a big thumps up.

Pete C
ps ...still won't let me near her Beemer though Blush

RE: so rider friendly, too! - the Ferret - 05-19-2013

Very cool. She had the Bonnie and you had the TU?

The big CB is a very easy to ride motorcycle. So was the Nighthawk 750. Honda really does like to build motorcycles for the masses.

RE: so rider friendly, too! - petec_imp - 05-19-2013

(05-19-2013, 01:14 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: Very cool. She had the Bonnie and you had the TU?

The big CB is a very easy to ride motorcycle. So was the Nighthawk 750. Honda really does like to build motorcycles for the masses.

No, the TU was her first bike after she did the MSF but she got bored with it real quick and had come across the nice, lightly used '06 Bonnie for a next bike. I actually talked her into keeping the TU around for awhile cause I really enjoyed it on the backroads around here. The year after that she traded them both away for a Moto Guzzi V7 Café.

[url=http://s596.photobucket.com/user/pacwnc/media/SN851810.jpg.html][Image: edd84c591b1d30e536e16024ff9338f4.jpg]

She offered to sell the TU to me before she did the deal but her price was too high Dodgy...

Pete C

RE: so rider friendly, too! - the Ferret - 05-19-2013

How does she like the Guzzi compared to the Bonnie..and...is she now going to trade the Guzzi in on a matching CB?

RE: so rider friendly, too! - OldF7Guy_imp - 05-19-2013

Petec, how tall is your wife? I am vertically challenged and that is my only real concern with the CB. I have not had the chance to sit on one yet because our local Honda store went out of business. I am determined to get one and make it work for me one way or the other. Do you have any pics with your wife on the CB? Thanks.

RE: so rider friendly, too! - petec_imp - 05-19-2013

(05-19-2013, 02:32 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: How does she like the Guzzi compared to the Bonnie..and...is she now going to trade the Guzzi in on a matching CB?

She kept the V7 for a year then the young fellow in the picture opened up (with partners) a new BMW/Husky/Vespa dealership in Asheville, NC about two years ago. Lois and I were invited to the open house and one of the bikes on the floor was the F800ST with the low factory seat and also the lowered factory suspension, hard luggage, ABS, etc.

Long story short, she fell in love with it and bought it and sold the V7.
She's had the Beemer since - it'll be 2 yrs old shortly - and has about 18K trouble-free miles on it.

She's come a long way (baby! lol) since the little TU and last summer actually did a 3000 mile, ten day solo tour to the top of Maine and back. Setting off:

[url=http://s596.photobucket.com/user/pacwnc/media/2012-09-05081806.jpg.html][Image: 054959c4a746e3fe313fabf46b3e64b8.jpg]

We've been married since '84 and she's always ridden behind me but, as I mentioned before, she decided about 5 yrs ago to start riding on her own. Lois and I, 1983:

[url=http://s596.photobucket.com/user/pacwnc/media/petewife.jpg.html][Image: 6eaee0656db1a344a1c69925411977d6.jpg]

Shouldn't say her age but I'm 62 and she was born about the time JFK took office. Very proud of her.

Pete C
ps - maybe we should start a 'what does your wife/partner ride?' thread Heart
(05-19-2013, 03:02 AM)OldF7Guy_imp Wrote: Petec, how tall is your wife? I am vertically challenged and that is my only real concern with the CB. I have not had the chance to sit on one yet because our local Honda store went out of business. I am determined to get one and make it work for me one way or the other. Do you have any pics with your wife on the CB? Thanks.

I'm ashamed to say I don't know exactly. Here's another pic that will give you some reference though; I'm 5'11". And she would be the first to tell you she's short-legged, too...

[url=http://s596.photobucket.com/user/pacwnc/media/SN851560.jpg.html][Image: 547e80a82ed9be8f2bc9359b69efbeff.jpg]

She's at work right now but when she gets in I'll get her to straddle the CB for a pic or two.

Pete C

RE: so rider friendly, too! - wildezt_imp - 05-19-2013

God Bless the both of you Pete..! Smile

RE: so rider friendly, too! - thumper_imp - 05-19-2013

What a great relationship!! Congrats.

My wife used to ride on the back (infrequently), and I kept a GL1800 for nine years. But, she finally admitted that riding on the back scares her, and she hasn't been with me for quite a while. I traded the Goldwing for something more my riding style.

My wife isn't the kind of personality who would be a safe, proficient motorcyclist. She'd get hurt.

Relish the relationship you have.

RE: so rider friendly, too! - OldF7Guy_imp - 05-19-2013

Quote:She's at work right now but when she gets in I'll get her to straddle the CB for a pic or two.
Much appreciated.

RE: so rider friendly, too! - CA200_imp - 05-19-2013

[/img]

My wife has the same year TU,she had many bikes of all sizes in the past
but as we have aged she really likes the small ones.
I thought she would give it up when she first got started and was hit by
a car in the early 80s on a GS450 but, she also crashed a Seca 650
but 2 years ago she crashed her GS500 and broke the same foot again
so thats when we bought the TU.