looking at the title, I thought he was wanting to swap his wife for a bike 
I'd have found him something as long as she can cook. 
Sam. 
My wifes been riding her own for 20+ years. We've been through a lot of em. MY HawkGT was her first bike, bought new. Too tall, but she loved the sportiness. A lowered 500Ascot, a GS300L, (I loved that bike) the 250 Rebel, (too slow) a 1986 ZL600 Eliminator (Kawasaki power cruiser, low with a 600cc Ninja motor, smaller carbs for torque and ridability) she loved that, put over 15,000 miles on it. But the range was short (110 miles) and the controls were a bit brutish and wore on her as we matured.
Another thing she never liked about the Eliminator and the other cruisers was the turning radius, huge. Compared to the Hawk and the Burgman. If we ever had to do any maneuvering on a trip like a turn around on a 2 lane highway, she let me do it.
Now has the Suzuki 400 Burgman. (Big Scooter) Range is 160+ miles, She misses the sportiness aspect, but it is surpisingly peppy, no shifting (good for her fibromyalgia pain) dead solid reliable, starts and runs first time everytime. The newer Burgmans have 15% more power, linked triple discs and a larger front wheel. Women like the big scooters (burgman, Silverwing, Majestic) foir the ease of riding, step through design, huge trunk to carry their purse and accessories, great wind protection (as good as my FJR). They are still a little high in the saddle, but the step through design allows them to scoot forward at a light.
So i vote for a big scooter. She has been with me on several overights where we took the interstate. 65 mph cruise no problem with passing power to 90mph. And it maneuvers like a standard, or sport bike.
http://www.burgmanusa.com/If you don't need that much performance, look at the 250 scooters. Don't underestimate how much women would like the trunk. Get to the restaurant, toss the helmet in, take out the purse and sweater, and they feel good.
