05-08-2018, 11:28 PM
(03-18-2018, 02:43 PM)tommymck_imp Wrote: Hi All,
Hopefully this doesn't double post, but it looks like my original post didn't take. Anyway, here is my question....
I've been riding my entire life. I currently have a BMW 1200 GS and an old but minty beautiful R1200C.
After College, my daughter moved to the left coast and surprising to me (she was never much interested in riding as a kid) she took a safety course and got her motorcycle license.
Her thinking is that she wanted to buy a cheap Rebel off of Craigs List and asked that I check some bikes out when I visited. As background, I get out there once a month on business, and have often thought that I wouldn't mind having a bike out there for me when I visit.
So, I checked out these Rebels and they scared the bejeeebeees out of me when riding them (not to mention the fact that the ones she was looking at had carburetors and didn't like to start in spite of the warm SoCal weather) . I can't imagine riding such a small bike on the freeway. Now my daughter's commute is 5 miles on surface streets, so it wouldn't be crazy I guess, but such a small bike seems scary to me.
I've been interested in the CB100EX myself and have done some test rides locally. The bike is a big friendly teddy bear of a motorcycle with impeccable manners. And my daughter is very responsible so I'm not worried about her going crazy on it.....
The question is if it's outrageous to think that a new (but very responsible) female could handle the 1100EX? She's 5'8 with long legs, so I don't think that height would be too much of an issue. I'd hate to encourage her to ride it if it were too much though. Food for thought anyway. My daughter's ideal would be something like a used SR400 with the kick starter. Sounds good in principle, but having tried one on the road, it blows around a bunch.
Thoughts appreciated...
You know, if she grasps counter steering and the other motorcycle stuff, she will be fine. A cb500f is a handsome bike. It would not be bad either and is a good bit lighter. The new rebels are really nice and super user friendly, but the position is kind of chopper-like. If you drop them, there is not much to break. Weight is the only thing with the CB1100, but it is the same for us as it is for her, so why not? The SR400 is just so, so cool, but evidently, like you said, it has a lot of windage, and not enough highway power. It is hard to avoid highways these days, and get anywhere. Sr400 is an around-towner with scooter-like top end. PCX-150 is just as fast, nice and cheap to operate. Replacement plastics are very, very inexpensive. I know cuz my missus piled hers up. Got all the plastics replaced for less than US$200. It is not a motorbike though.
Sometimes, to be safe, one has to be able to just twist it to squirt out of potential trouble, so sufficient power is a safety thing. Excess power too !! Just thoughts, as you asked.
I bet we would all be shocked at how many women's first bike was a Harley-Davidson. Not that reason is playing any part in that decision making.