Comments on: Motorcycling for Women: Beginner Bikes – Standards

By: ryde4ever

ryde4ever — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:16:46 +0000

Dual-sport bikes are also great beginners…and keepers. 🙂 Very similar upright riding position with the bonus of being able to do a little off road adventuring. I have rode many types of bikes over the years and always come back to a bike with a standard riding position. It is just fun!

By: Sandra Wahl

Sandra Wahl — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:23:30 +0000

Good picks! Too often it seems that new riders (men and women alike) pick out bikes that are far to big & hard to maneuver for their first ride. These smaller motorcycles are basically what new riders can learn on when they take the Basic Rider Course offered through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF). Everyone who rides, whether in the front or the back of the bike should take this course. How many people do you know still have their first car? Just because you start out with one bike doesn’t mean you have to keep that one – starting out with something you can handle easily then working your way into something bigger will not only help you to be a better driver, but it’s safer for you and everyone else on the road as well.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:21:08 +0000

I recommend that you rent rather then buy a beginner bike. My wife just took the Rider’s Edge class and learned on a 500cc Buell Blast in that class. She then started riding a 2008 Honda Shadow 750cc bike. Not enjoyable at all. Good for around town, but once you got past 50mph, the bike just seemed to wheeze. It was also too small, and my wife is just 5’5 or so.
She purchased a Harley Davidson Dyna Super Glide Custom. That is a bike she will enjoy for years.
Beginner’s bikes are fine for a week or two, but once you really start riding, they turn into costly mistakes. Get what you want and learn on that. In the long run, you’ll be much better off.