Topic: Looking for a small CB...

[Double A]

My girlfriend has had enough of losing me every summer to my bike.  She wants her own ride & loves the old CBs.  She's only 5'1 so her options are kinda limited.  She really likes the late 60's CB160.  Does anyone have experience with that bike, or the CB175, 200?  Any insight you guys can give would be appreciated!   

[troppo]

First bike i had was an old cb250 twin..
Put a hell of a lot of miles on that old beast and only time she was a hassle was the one time i ran out of fuel lol.
Lighter and smaller than a lot of the sohc4`s, might be the sort of thing she could easily handle being small as she is.

[Hush]

I like the CB200, neat little runner and easy to ride.
I had a CL175 I rebuilt and that handled nice too but they are pretty rare these days.
If I could have a rebuild for my partner who is also 5 foot nothing I'd do a CB360, I had two of them and they were magnificently forgiving bikes, enough power on the highway yet a little sweetie around town, not too high off the ground and easy to work on.....yeah a CB360 that's my top pick.
I see 2 have just been advertised here in NZ on Trade-me and both have been lying in barns forgotten for the last 20 years.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Here's a CB200T not too far from ya...

http://grandrapids.craigslist.org/mcy/781086998.html

[mlinder]

She might want something a little larger to keep up with you.
CB350f, CB350 twin, CB360 twin, or CB400 might work for her.

[Patrick]

I just sold off my three CB400T Hawks last fall. That was the bike I chose for my son to learn to ride, primarily since I already had them and they are smaller and easier tyo ride. About 200 pounds lighter than the CB750, so they are much more nimble and easier to handle, a bit shorter, with enough power to ride the highway and very nice stoplight to stoplight because of the low end twin torque.

Easy to work on and generally available for a much more reasonable price than the older SOHCs.

My first bike a long time ago was a 1969 Honda 175. I don't remember if it was CB or CL or what. I do know I was a skinny kid, but the wind and the gradient had to be just right for me to cruise at 70.

JMHO.

Patrick

[heffay]

if she's worried about losing you... +1 on the just a few more cc's mantra. 
even if she's never ridden, i'd bet she'll still want a bigger one nearly immediately... 

[tbpmusic]

Here's the CB200 I buit for Wifey to learn on.

http://home.comcast.net/~tbpmusic/id55.htm

She loves it - so do I, it's a gas to ride around town, though I wouldn't want to take it on the highway too much.
At anything over about 50 mph, you're buzzin' pretty good on the little guy.

bill2

[mlinder]

We just taught a 5" girl to ride on a cb350f. She did fine. Tippy toe a little, but not bad. CB350f will go 90-100mph.

[medic09]

I learned to ride on a CB100.  Two HS kids riding two up to our after-school job.  Wonderful little bike.

I think for around town and smaller roads the CB200 could be great.  Like others said, the 350 or 360 twins aren't so much bigger, and offer some real motorcycle to play with.  Take a look at Derek's threads (Seaweb) on the bikes he built for his wife and his daughter's project.

I tried teaching my wife on my old SR500.  She's 5'4".  She kept saying is was a tad too tall for her.  It all depends on natural confidence level.  She ended up needing the really low seat of a small Shadow, and now she's happy.

Do a search here.  There's been discussion about this very topic.  I like the CB360 if it fits her.  A lot depends on what's for sale near you.

[Johnie]

If she is short, don't forget the CM400's.  They have the driver seat cut down and works very nice for guys and gals with the short crotch syndrome.   
Below is a pic of my 1980.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

I've liked my CM250C as a learning bike for the "inseam challenged".  It's the model that later became the Rebel.  Of course, 250cc is going to be too small pretty quickly.  So +1 to the CM400

[fmctm1sw]

CB125S!  Had one, loved it.  Or find an old Rebel.  I rode one when I did my MSF course.  I'm 5' 5 1-2."  

[tonycb650]

+1 on the cm400. its really a good bike. i rode mine today. its really easy to ride, and easy maintenance.(no points , only 2 cv carbs) they also made a cm400 and cm 450 automatic if she doesnt have experience with clutches.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

'nother couple to consider...

http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/mcy/782861466.html
http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/mcy/780784623.html

[Hush]

Love that wee CB200 cbpmusic, I think that looks better than when it left the Honda factory.......wanna help me clean up a CB650?

[dusterdude]

my first bike was a cl350,fun bike to ride.wish i still had it