1st bike recommmandations for wife

[Bonker]

For the record, I think anyone that likes to ride and has reasonable skill, can ride any Harley. I just really like to see riders make it through the first couple years... speaking from experience. It's a hard thing to have a loved one die because you didn't stop them from getting on too big of a bike. A 650 might not be too big if she has inherent ability... only you can decide.

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[Ratster]

Get her what she wants.

[flstn rider]

Let her go through the safety class first, then you will know how comfortable and compitant she will be on the bike. Women riders are no different than men riders, everyone has to start somewhere. Do not get her a bike she doesn't want, she wont want to ride as much. My wife is about the same size as yours, her first bike is a lowered deluxe. If she is comfortable with the bike that is what is important. when you start riding togethere, stay off the freeway and away from town. Find somewhere out in the country with nice straight roads and limited traffic, Ride on these leasure trips until she is comfortable and is ready to move on. Just remember to start off slow and have fun. Everyone is different and she might suprise you and be natural at riding. Don't know your wife but after a couple trips my wife was doing great.

[pepper lynn]

Hey Colin

The 650 V Star is a nice little bike and easy to handle....glad she like the 750 Aero too. If she likes and is comfortable with the V Star that is probably the bike. I kicked tires for two years before settling on the Aero. Now all you have to do is find someone who can do the pink paint job and you will be a hero

Pepper Lynn
take care and ride safe

[Man In Black]

Originally Posted by FLHX08

buy a used metric bike like a honda shadow for her to learn on. spend a few thousand on that instead of the damaged parts you'd have from her dropping a brand spankin new harley davidson.

Yea! I can attest to that! My wife wanted to get a bike years ago and learn to ride. I bought her a brand new bike and she was so scared to damage it that being nervous made her drop it . It did only minor damage to the bike and the only thing that got hurt on her was her pride, but she wanted no parts of it after that. She said that if it would have been an old used bike, she could have done it. I have to admit though , it was funny watching it after I saw she was ok. She wanted to me.

[Jerseytwin]

Two books, I highly recommend before anyone thinks of riding.

[Colin1966]

Well i just got back from picking up the wifes new ride, its an 07 V-Star 650cc its only got 3800km or 2300 miles & got a great deal , the bike fits her and she feels comfortable sitting/reaching.
thanxs alot for all the input on this thread and help to make an imformative decision. A very good thing is she likes the color RED and thats alot better than the PINK she wanted

[WWECOUGAR]

Originally Posted by zer0t

I would say a buell blast.

AND a Blast would technically qualfy as a HD (only technically of course.) So you can have it both ways; cheap and light, and a HD! Just sayin....

[Citoriplus]

Good luck to her and her first 'new' ride.

Funny thing is that the weather was unbelievably nice today so I took my Custom out for a ride and stopped in at one of the local HD dealers who also sells Yamaha and Kawasaki's. So I got a chance to ride a 650 VStar just for grins.
Its not a bad bike overall, I don't think I would ever want one. But if someone gave it to me I wouldn't toss it in the trash, at least not untill I tried to ware it out.
The bike does have a couple of good features like decent brakes and a relatively smooth engine with more than adequate performance for a beginner bike as well as a really nice grip position.
If your wife wants to ride it on longer trips it'll do the job very nicely as long as you/she doesn't load down the bags with a lot of heavy crap. Especially if you can get a windshield for it like the one that was on the bike I tried out.
If there is one thing that felt odd, not bad, just odd. Its that after riding my 700+ lb. Custom there. The low center of gravity and low overall weight of the VStar made it feel much lighter than the mid size cruiser its supposed to be.

Good Luck to the two of you and tell her I said enjoy it, but ride safe.
Remember some of the idiots on the road today REALLY ARE out to get you.

[jasle]

Originally Posted by Wallaby

Used Buell Blast, then move her to a Dyna Low Rider when she is ready.

+1!!!!!!!!

I'm mean if money is no object by all means start out on something bigger. But seriously it sounds like most really don't have a wife that rides. I didn't start out on a big bike. I started on a Kawasaki S2 350cc bike. Great to learn on. Then to a 650 Bonneville...Now my harley.

My wife started on a CB360. Great bike to learn on. In the first five minutes she dropped it when she forgot to put her feet down when stopping. That was 15+ years ago. Now she'll throw a leg over my boys 85 or 250f and rip around but she's not too confident on a heavy bike.

My son is a mid pack national MX racer and been racing for 9 years. He's about to start riding to school. He's starting on a GN250. When starting to ride there is a lot more to it than can you handle the weight/bike. There is traffic, obstacles, etc. The last thing a newbie needs to be thinking of is how to handle a heavy bike. Its why some European countries have staged licenses. Start small and work up.
Just my two cents.