We went and looked at the Buell Blast and my daughter wasn't impressed.

I even tried her on a Nightster (oh I want a Nightster!!!!)...She looked great on a Nightster...it was low enough...but she said it was heavy (550 Lbs Approx or about the weight of my old Yamaha)

Anyway she started talking about the Suzuki S40. She remembered looking at one at the local dealer and how light it was. It's a 650 that weighs just 50 LBs more then a Honda Rebel (350 LBs Approx)


Anyone have one? I found one locally for $3k with windshild/bags/etc, it's a 05 or 06 I think with 3500 miles.

 

Don't know the bike but that sure sounds like a bargain. Maybe that's because we're all so used to talking in Harley dollars. For her size and weight that might be the ideal bike, especially when she's wanting it. Maybe her next bike will be a nightster !!!

 

Has she taken the MSF course and does she have her motorcycle license?

 

No she has not taken the course and she had her permit but let it expire because she was discouraged trying to learn on the Yamaha (scared of the weight).

We want to get the bike and give her a bit of parking lot time before the MSF course. That worked like a charm for me. Our local MSF course was not real forgiving to the extremely novice rider --3 people dropped the course in the first hour.

While I really like the course, and she will do it, I don't think it is the first thing she should do.

 

I dunno your situation but are there any dealerships or places where you can take the msf course on their bikes? When I took mine they matched everyone up w/a bike that they thought we could handle.

 

My wife's starter(and current) bike isa Suzuki C50 (805cc) Boulevard. Of all of the bike we looked at, she liked the C50's lower seat height, Fatboy size,and light weight (520ish). It is a great starter bike and she is pushing 5,000 miles since we got it last October. Not only is it a great starter, but she wants to keep riding it since it easily keeps up with the Road King and it fits her so well.

Good luck, and I'll second the MSF course. I sent the wife to take the Harley Rider's Edge course and she constantly talks of how much she learned.

Edmo

 

When we were looking for a bike for my wife we took a hard look at the S40. I've heard they are'nt great on the freeway(single cylinders rarley are) and that they can have weird handling characteristics. At least that is what a salesman told us.And I do know a woman that has the Intruder version of that bike. She never complained about handling but she didn't like long trips on it.
I suggest looking at a Vstar 650. My wife loves hers. It's low,relativly lightweight,and make decent power.

 

I bought one for THE MAMA to learn on. It was called a Savage at that time. It is light, easy to ride, but does get "moved" around on the highway by trucks, winds, and vagrant cigarette smoke wafting from Toyotas.

Maintenance and quality wise: The valves require frequent adjustment, which requires tank removal. There is also a compression release in the mix to allow the under-sized starter motor to spin that honkin' big piston. Battery is not maintenance-free and is not easily accessible. When I removed the rear fender bolts to add saddle bag stand-offs the fender sprung so badly I had to run a drill through one of the holes to get the bolt back in. Never did mount the stand-offs. Muffler had a weld or weld seam break or open up after about a year. So-pukey wouldn't warranty the defect; wanted just shy of $300 for a new muffler. I bought a Jardine and put on it for about $100. Makes lots of noise now- sorta like an old BSA or Triumph thumper from the '60s. Rear tire went at less than 6,000 miles. Front is now gone at 8,000 miles.

If you can find a used one cheap, I'd say get it, as long as the intention is to get rid of it as soon as the riding skills surpass the abilities of the bike, in no more than a year. Overall, I think the quality sucks, it requires too much maintenance, and I am very disappointed in it. I would not buy another one, and darn sure wouldn't buy a new one.

Did I say that I really, really, really, really don't like So-pukeys?

 

Good, inexpensive bike to learn and grow on.

Another plus is that she likes it. If she likes it, she'll probably ride it.

Not the best bike for_______(fill in the blank). There's always someone who'll say a particular bike is notbest suited for some task. It's not the best on the freeway. It's not the best long rides. Etc. Get it anyway. If all that was said against each particular bike were taken to heart, no one would ride Sportsters (too small, uncomfortable, vibrate, top-heavy), Softtails (uncomfortable for anything but cruising main street, vibrate at high rpms), touring bikes (too heavy/slow, not good for around town cruising).

I taught a buddy of mine to ride on a Savage. A very unintimidating motorcycle for a beginner, and it looks good too. Cheap to insure.

 

Around here it is the state certified MSF course or nothing and our local ones aren't that grand. They do provide bikes but don't teach you a thing about riding one. They barely explain shifting. They also don't match up the bikes to well. One girl failed because she could not get her feet on the gound all the way. The bike was way too high.

I also don't believe 2 days on a bike make you qualified to do more then go by a cheap bike to ride anyway. She has been on a bike just not one that fit her well enough to make her comfortable. That is what we are looking for...light & low. My VStar was more then she wanted to handle at the time.

Really, I went through this less then 2 years ago...I would rather buy a light starter bike (I had a Yamaha 650) then to through her into a $200 course she is not ready for....there are no refunds.