Topic: need some opinions......

[HavocTurbo]

500 ninjas are fast little buggers. Not as many people lower em as there isn't much made for it anymore even though it hasnt changed in decades.

Probably night and day between the 250 and 500. I like em.

[heffay]

Probably night and day between the 250 and 500. I like em.

YES... i had an 89 ex500 several years back so i knew that's what she wanted.  
my stepsister also had an ex250... night and day difference as far as power and torque.
top end on the 250 is 85-90... i've seen 115 on elizabeth's 500 and it gets there fast.

[J.Webster Designs]

I would love to get her onto a ninja 250 and she would love to be on one as well... however, when we took her in to get on one, she was about 3 inches from being on the balls of her feet... She is only 5'-1.5"... how low can a new ninja 250 be lowered? if i can lower it enough then that will most likely be our route....

[heffay]

i've chopped a number of seats and that can add 2-3 inches right there if you make the correct angle of the legs coming off the seat.
lowering blocks?  never used em.

[Inkscars]

I will go back and read this later. I am 5'8" Inseam is 30. I put struts on my bike and am fabricating a seat and It's the most comfortable thing ever. Mines a 77 cb750. Maybe a little big for her, maybe a little too much maintenance for you. If I were to get something else that I could get right on and ride, it would be a 350 or a blast. They are in fact, a blast.

And p.s naysay-ers, there's always exceptions to women riders. Make them put their own money into it, they won't take it for granted.

[J.Webster Designs]

Maybe a little big for her, maybe a little too much maintenance for you.

Yes, definitely big for her... 500lb bike vs...110 5' 1.5" girl.... not seeing it.

as for the too much maintenance... I already have my CB750 and i dont mind the maintenance.

[Inkscars]

My sister has an 06 honda shadow spirit 750 and shes 110 lbs and 4'11" As long as it's low, she said it's not an issue.
I was intimidated by the 500 lb tag on it too. trust me. But i can pick it up with a little panicking. 
Get her a 550?

[J.Webster Designs]

thats what i have been looking into... or 450... i found a pretty decent one here but i think she is turned off by the faded paint and rust.....

[heffay]

I was intimidated by the 500 lb tag on it too. trust me. But i can pick it up with a little panicking.  

elizabeth dropped her VFR in something like 5 low speed parking lot 'maneuvers'... she said, nearly every time some beefy guy came to her rescue.  

she's pretty tiny, actually, all of 120 pounds.
don't underestimate the little ones.  almost flat-flatfooting is what many girls get used to and don't seem to have a problem with.

[J.Webster Designs]

she said, nearly every time some beefy guy came to her rescue.

Thats what Toni said the instructor told her.....pretty funny. I wish some hot chick came running to my rescue... instead they just drive by laughing.......

[seaweb11]

This 72 CL350 has been trouble free for the wife for 2 years of riding so far.
 Problem is it is a guy magnet

[J.Webster Designs]

^^^^ that is what I want he to get on....

[free_spirit_rider]

Midnight08 ~
Does it HAVE to be 'Jap' bike?
I got my wife ( 5.2 ) one of these, ( an '04 with factory paint of white with blue flames ....got it on Ebay and there's more used ones on there now with low miles ) and she and LOVES it!  It's a Ridley, The ONLY ALL AMERICAN, FULLY AUTOMATIC bike.  Looks and sounds like a Harley, 24.5 seat height, 460 lbs, stays right with my '78 CB750A at 80 mph.  There's a Ridley Owner's Club and 75% of the owners are WOMEN.  We just returned from a Rally at Pigeon Forge TN and she rode her's and I rode my Honda there and back.  NO WHINING from her, no Breakdowns, just a Very Proud rider!     And...I might add...at 5ft.2......she sits on it flat-footed with inches to spare, and with the low seat height it's perfectly Balanced.
http://www.imageaction.com/ridley/360/index2.html   <<There's some video clips of it here.

Oh..and Seaweb11...I have the same prob as you with her riding it...it's a &%!! Guy Magnet!

[J.Webster Designs]

it doesn't have to be a "jap" bike... however... it just so happens that i can pick up a basically brand new (2007-2008-2009) eliminator 125 with 600 miles for right at $1000 all over the place and most are very reliable. Unfortunately most bikes that are proudly made in the USA are way out of our price range at the current time...

The ridley looks like a pretty good bike... however, I want to get her (as does she) on something with a clutch and gears.

Its looking like we are probably going to be picking her up an eliminator 125 so that she can get used to clutch control and proper riding technique without worrying too much about the fact that if she drops it, she didnt just drop a 10,000 dollar Harley or even a 3000 dollar ninja. once she and i feel comfortable with how she is riding and where her confidence is at, we will look at getting her a sport bike somewhere in the 600cc range.

[J.Webster Designs]

I wish they made the CBR125r available in the states.