Author Topic: Bike recommendation for fiancee (Read 2486 times)

ProudGecko · « **on:** April 10, 2008, 06:02:15 AM »

My fiancee would like to learn to ride. She likes the small displacement standards from the 70s such as the CB175. My question is, what is best bike in this category. She wants something small and light and has that vintage look. I want something that I can work on and get parts for relatively easily.

SteveD CB500F · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2008, 06:12:11 AM »

The CB175 was a terrific little bike (I had one). Better than a 125 as able to keep up with the others (to a certain extent anyway)

Becoming rare in good condition though.

nickjtc · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2008, 06:28:00 AM »

Ditto, Steve. I too had a CB175 (1972) and loved it. It was perfectly capable of cruising at 100kph/60mph and I went from complete novice to slightly more experienced novice, camping, commuting and generally hooning around on it. I regret selling it as soon as I did. My '68 was bought in homage to it!

Small bikes rock.

333 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2008, 07:40:26 AM »

I loved my CB125, but I didn't love the lack of electric start(bad leg). CB175 or CB200 is the way to go.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2008, 07:53:51 AM »

Why not a CB350 or CB360? Still relatively light and once she gets the hang of it, she won't feel so much like something is missing like she might on a smaller displacement.

ProudGecko · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2008, 08:06:29 AM »

Thanks for the replies!

I was also thinking about the 350. Which bike do you guys think would be easiest to find parts and/or parts bikes for? I love the CB175 as well and it seems like the perfect size for her; however, it seems like the CB350 might be easier to get parts. The other question then is, should I love for the CB350 twin or the CB350F?

mattcb350f · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2008, 08:17:54 AM »

I would lean towards the 350 twin. The 350 Four was only built for 3 years whereas the twin was build for something like twenty.

Did an ebay search for CB350 and got 561 results.

same search for CB350F..... 67 results

I'm partial to the four since I'm restoring one, but the twin will be easier to find parts for, not to mention it has better low RPM performance making it a little easier to learn to ride on, or for new riders.

I like your idea of the CB175 if you can find one, or even a twinstar 185 or 200. Check out Seaweb's "13 year old daughters bike" thread in the open forum to see a nice twinstar 200.

Cheers, Matt.

mystic_1 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2008, 08:27:09 AM »

My wife learned to ride and to wrench on a 73 CB350. Great little bike, she rode it for a number of years before graduation to a Shadow VLX.

Front drum brake was the only thing we weren't thrilled about, but it was adequate, and definitely gives a vintage look

We eventually swapped a CB750 front end onto it so she could have front disc.

mystic_1

mark · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2008, 10:09:52 AM »

My 'other bike' project at the moment is a '73 350 twin. Parts are common and not terribly spendy.

I had an '81 GS250 back in the olden days and it wasn't a bad ride except for the missing kickstarter. Not sure about the part situation nowadays. The '71 T350 before that was a blast. No complicated valvetrain to fuss with, either.

Happy trails.

bgfootball67 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2008, 10:27:46 AM »

I taught my girlfriend (now wife) on a 74 CB 360. Great little bike, infact after 3 years of rocking that bike she moved on to a Sportster. The bike sits in the back of the garage in long term storage as she will not let me send it on down the road. 350 twins and 360 are awesome bikes, easy to work on with quite a few spares around....

eldar · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2008, 10:49:58 AM »

Well my wife has a rebel. The 250 version. They have been around for years, since the 80s. There is also a 450 version but it is hard to find.

fretstain · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2008, 01:01:40 PM »

alternatively, if she were interested in something a little newer, the buell blast seems to be pretty popular among smaller women.

I recently stumbled on a nice buell blast mod that I thought had a nice look.
http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2006/12/08/buell-blast-cafe-racer/

gregimotis · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2008, 01:26:39 PM »

My wife got a 250 Rebel and has outgrown it. Seat needs modification to be at all comfortable, engine has trouble getting up to speed, and can only just highway (65-70).

That was our experience anyway.

eldar · « **Reply #13 on:** April 11, 2008, 06:22:13 AM »

Well I rode the rebel and it got over 70 if I wanted it too. Was not super quick but didnt take forever either. I would say your rebel probably needs some carb work. Or it has some brake or bearing drag. I rode it about 120 miles and my can was killing me. What you do is pull the cover off and there is a metal piece in the foam. If this is removed, the seat is MUCH better.

Badger 5 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 11, 2008, 06:53:11 AM »

I bought a 72 350 for my wife to learn on but it's still a little high for her. I'm not sure whether I'm going to look for shorter shocks or just cut the seat down. And thank God the thing came with huge highway bars because she has put it on it's side a few times.

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #15 on:** April 11, 2008, 07:05:42 AM »

Plenty of CB400Fs around at around $1500. Suzuki GS500. Buell Blast (although they have some problems like an engine mount that can break. Several sites around for info, though) The late 70's / early 80's Honda Hawk 400 with the Comstar wheels don't look too bad with a paint job and lower bars. They are super all-round bikes IMO- and cheap.
Get her a GB500 and I'll take it off your hands when she gets tired of it. Shoot- I'll trade you my 400/4 for it.
(no- don't thank me. I was raised this way)

gregimotis · « **Reply #16 on:** April 11, 2008, 07:33:55 AM »

Quote from: eldar, Master of the K8 Thunder! on April 11, 2008, 06:22:13 AM

Well I rode the rebel and it got over 70 if I wanted it too. Was not super quick but didnt take forever either. I would say your rebel probably needs some carb work. Or it has some brake or bearing drag. I rode it about 120 miles and my can was killing me. What you do is pull the cover off and there is a metal piece in the foam. If this is removed, the seat is MUCH better.

I've seen the seat mod on some Rebel forums, never got around to it as she was just going around town anyway. I can get it to 70-75 with proper shifting, but I don't like not being able to get up to speed and keep up with cars on fast roads.
It's a nice looking bike with a low saddle - good for learning, not so good for traveling IMOHP.

Seems like a 400ish would still be pretty light and also leave some room for growth.

eldar · « **Reply #17 on:** April 11, 2008, 09:25:38 AM »

Well the rebel is certainly not a freeway bike. Hiways are ok. Have you ever seen the 250 ninja? Guess those are pretty quick.

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #18 on:** April 11, 2008, 09:40:34 AM »

250 Ninja is one of the top 20 motorcycles of all time.
I didn't mention it because he said he was looking for a more "vintage" look.
Used, though, a 250 Ninja will cost about the same as a good 350, Blast, or even a 400/4
Thoise Twin Stars are a pretty good idea too, but I don't see many.

eldar · « **Reply #19 on:** April 11, 2008, 10:30:13 AM »

Thought about the twinstars too but as you say, there arent many of them.

ProudGecko · « **Reply #20 on:** April 11, 2008, 01:57:27 PM »

I'm probably going to look for a CB350 twin for her. It seems like the best bet for her, not too big or heavy but not too small either. Plus part seem easy to come by.

She would be pretty hot on a something sporty looking like a ninja 250, especially all decked out in a racing body suit...there is just something about body suits on women

But I don't think she'd ever go for something like that.

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #21 on:** April 11, 2008, 07:04:02 PM »

Offer to wash the dishes for a week.

ProudGecko · « **Reply #22 on:** April 14, 2008, 06:00:14 PM »

I'd try that if I didn't already wash the majority of the dishes

Uncle Ernie · « **Reply #23 on:** April 14, 2008, 08:40:45 PM »

Yeah... I do about all the cooking and all the dishes.
She says zero about my bikes, though-

kghost · « **Reply #24 on:** April 15, 2008, 08:17:39 AM »

Think I need a picture of the fiancee before I can comment

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Author Topic: Bike recommendation for fiancee (Read 2486 times)

eldar

fretstain

eldar

eldar

eldar