My wife will read this, respond accordingly please!

Good day, those in PA are hopefully enjoying all of the sun we have gotten the past couple of days!

Ok, so my wife and I recently purchased a 5th gen. She has been "bitten" by the riding bug and wants to drive the VFR as well (can't say that I blame her). I am worried though as I don't think it's the perfect bike to continue to learn on (especially with as mint of shape as it's in...). I say continue to learn on because last year she completed the basic MSF course. She also drove our Kawi Vulcan 1500 around a bit. Now, the Vulcan is a tame ride - very tame, slow to start and slow to stop. She man handled it and did ok - but it is def. a lot more forgiving then the VFR. I know she will do ok at higher speeds; it’s the slow stuff that worries me. As well as the "oh shit" moments.

Yesterday, I came across a Ninja 250 with 2000 miles that needs a little work (carb clean). I think I could pick it up for 400-500 smackaroo's. My wife, keep in mind she doesn't like to spend money at all (not even on shoes/purses)) doesn't really want to spend the money as we already have a bike.

I'm looking for some opinions of members who have maybe been here before and can offer up some advice. Please type as though you were replying to her. Her name is Tiff, she is 5'6.5" and weighs in at a buck forty :behindsofa: she also enjoys long walks on the beach....

Thanks!

 

One bike two riders means somebody has to ride bitch sometimes. Then ya got them what sez ya can't have too many bikes.

Dear Tiff,

Pop for the Ninja. It will be yours to do any and everything you want with. VFR's look like crap in pink anyway..

 

I was about to give Badbilly a hard time for using potty words after the man specifically mentioned that his wife would be reading the thread, then I noticed that pkrultr had used some bad words himself. At that point I realized its not so much about the language and more about dont put booby pictures and other nasty stuff up there. So I didnt post the naked supermodel stunt riding the GSXR from my extensive files of same.

If the woman can ride a bigass Vulcan around, a Ninja might seem like a minibike to her.

Just sayin.

However, since you can get it so cheap, why not?

 

The ninja costs about the same as new plastic if the vfr gets dropped, so I say go for it.

I started on a CB 750 which was fun and fast enough but much less dangerous then something more powerful. If I had started with a VFR it probably would have ended poorly.

Then again, women are perhaps more responsible.

 

OK not free but they are cheap, cheerful, easy to ride and supprising capable, has she looked at an SV650 ?

 

if you have to share one bike there will be a fight. If tiff can already ride pop for something a little bigger (hawk/sv650/vfr)she should be good

 

Dear Tiff,
If you can throw down on a Vulcan you can throw down on an SV/FZ6R/ER6N, all cheap quick and cheerful. Actually the FZ6R would be likely as fast or faster than a 5th gen VFR in the right hands, and a lot easier to handle. Don't be cheap, get your hand in your pocket, or hubbys, and spring for something bigger than the Ninja 250, you'll be happier in the end.

Badbilly is right, but I have it on good authority that he looks like crap in pink too.

 

Personally, I've never ridden a more forgiving bike than my 6th Gen. You can only lay a Vulcan over so far, and it weighs more. The only thing about the VFR is the cost of replacement parts if necessary. That is hard to get around, don't matter which side of the pond you're on.

Mac

 

Dear Tiff
As 5'6" I suggest the Ninja 250 It a fun bike to start with, When you gain confident..........You can get ever bike you want

 

This thread is useless without pics of Tiff :biggrin:

The Ninja 250 is a very good bike for Tiff to get good on and for that price/mileage I say it's a steal! Just buy the Ninja and let her ride it for a year and you should be able to easily get back your money and maybe a little bit more. Just be careful that she doesn't get MBS (Multiple Bike Syndrome) and decide she wants a dual sport too LOL !!!

Rollin

 

Tiff....Show him whos boss and tell him to get his own bike!!!!

:biggrin: :whip: arty2: :xxx:

Then get back on here and tell us of all the places you rode to and post pics of same.


opcorn:

 

So far I'd have to agree.
the VFR isn't all that bad as a second bike, but her size will be an issue.

 

Dear Tiff:

Loosen up the purse strings and get yourself a Multistrada 1200. Then let him beg to ride it.

Sincerely,

Mr. Troublemaker

 

Does she want to ride, or specifically ride a VFR style bike?

Don't give in to the unconscious pressure to have her ride what you like. Let her decide to ride what she likes. My wife loves to ride and she rode a 1971 350 Honda that was a couple years old a long time back. She didn't ride much until a couple years ago. She didn't like the feel of the weight up high and never felt completely comfortable or in control enough at slow speeds. At 61 she's old enough to know what she likes. She rides a Silver Wing scooter and loves the easy handling and low center of gravity. It's not what I would ride, but she loves it and that's all that matters.

 

prkultr :
I gotta go with FJ12 on this one. Kris ran thew 2 of her own (81 K305 & 06 shadow vlx) ond has rode my cb750, Magna v45 & my FZ1. She ended up on the Gen3 VFR and now wants a newer one.She may soon be another victim of Rollin's MBS (Multiple Bike Syndrome) as am I. It's the right bike for her. the Ninja 250 may be a steal, but, dude? 250cc dandem twin after a Vulcan 1500? k1c mentioned the FZ6R, the FZ6's are great bikes, but not quite the bargan the ninja is. If You got the Vulcan, the Gen5 viffer and the baby ninja in the garage, don't be suprised to go out there after she does and have your choice of Kawasaki's.
Tiff: I'm tossing my vote in with Rollin & diVeFR! ''This thread is useless without pics of Tiff'' Also Kristin is 5'7'' about 120 and gives me a run in the twisties on my 04 FZ1000 with her VFR.

 

Tiff,
Riding a 250 will be like torture for you about 2 weeks after you get it. Sure it will do 90 mph per hour but the VFR does 140. The 250's can be dangerous when you need power to get out of the way of somebody or something and you won't have it. At 5'6.5 you are plenty tall enough for most sport bikes mentioned. Keep it in the 600 or 650 range. Check out the Suzuki SV 650 and the CBR 600 both are great bikes that have plenty of power and then after a few miles the hubby will be begging to ride your bike just to mix it up.
You better hurry fast because spring is coming and bike prices are going up quickly. You could buy the 250 cheap and flip it in April or May for a good profit.
Tom

 

Tiff, as good as a Kawasaki 250 is, it's to small for you, you have already surpassed it, look for a Ninja 500, or like some have mentioned a SV650 or maybe even the 1000, sounds like you know the know. LOL I have to agree tell em to get his own bike the VFR is mine One could always look for a 3rd-4th gen then he'd be really jealous. tough call though, only you will know for sure whats right.

 

Thanks everyone, she has enjoyed reading "outsider" opinions. She is still not sure at this point what she wants to do. I can say that if she is struggling departing with 4-500 bucks, most any other bike will be out of the question based on cost alone.

Below is a pic of M'lady. She has her helmet on with every pic that is bike related...I suppose that's not a bad thing! So here is a pic of us on top of Mt. Evans on from our Denver tour.



AND

THIS IS WHAT I'm WORRIED ABOUT!

 

Take the pain away prkultr and just tell her that you'll pay for the bike with money from your slush fun..........errrrrr and that you'll figure it out somehow.

I know it's a jump from a cheap throwaway to a real bike, but you can find modern 600/650's with low mileage all day long in the $2500 to $3500 range.

 

Something no one has mentioned...inseam height and strength. I'm 5'7" and have ridden a Vulcan 900 Custom for two years. I started on a Vulcan 500 (great learning bike btw) for a year. The 900 fits me good...has about a 27" seat height. Now, on my new to me Viffer I am wowed by the instant power delivery and incredible response to minor rider input. However, It is going to be a huge learning curve for me with barley getting the balls of feet on the ground and then throttle control, braking, cornering...it's all WAAY different than on a cruiser! My girlfriend has ridden b*tch with me for a year on the 900 and now she has the itch! Go figure...she's only about 5'3" and 112 lbs. The 900 feels like a tank to her and when she sat on the bikes at the dealer this weekend she liked the Ninja 250 best. The Ninja 650R felt "too big and scary". For those suggesting the FZ6R, I think it might be too tall for Tiff, and alot more bucks. Granted, she is going to need a new bike in a year or less, but for a few hundred bucks to get her started on a sport-type bike, how could he go wrong? Most of you guys probably don't even remember what it was like to be a beginning rider...90% of what you do has become second nature that you take for granted. It's like when I take a less experienced snow skiier up with me, and I'm reminded in short order that the steeps and deep snow that I love are hell for someone who is inexperienced.