Topic: Where to start?

[Steve F]

My wife keeps hinting that she would like someday to learn to ride, and has expressed a desire to get a scooter of somekind to commute back and forth to work, about 7 or 8 miles each way.  She has never driven anything on two wheels with an engine before, and I'm not sure she could get the hang of it either especially if confronted with an emergency situation.  She's 55 now as am I, and I really have doubts of her ability, and couldn't stand the thought of her getting injured or worse.  I would have to coach her extensively before I feel sure she could handle the bike safely and with self confidence.
I was wondering if there is a good size scooter that has sufficient storage compartment(s) and isn't under powered so severely that merging with traffic could be a problem.  Any recommendations?  And especially, any machines that I should steer clear of?

[BurtonWarpup]

I don't know anything about scooters, but it might be a good idea to have her take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) BasicRider course. I'm not sure about Illinois, but in Michigan many community colleges offer the MSF course for only $25. They teach you how to ride on a 125cc-250cc motorcycle though. But if she can handle riding that, then she shouldn't have a problem on a scooter.

[HavocTurbo]

MSF courses if you sign up are $20 here in IL. My uncle teaches them and the instructors as well. Been doing it for the last 20 years.

Probably the best course you'll ever take. For the money. If you can sneak in on the lottery you can take the class for free.

Friday nite, Sat all day and Sun all day.

Then all you have to do is walk into the Driver Services and hand them your certificate of completion..... presto.... license.

I would recommend the CFmoto 250 that looks like a Honda Helix. Simple in design and almost every Honda part is transferrable. Ask me how I know...

Easy to ride and even easier to handle. Plus it has a little oomph if you need it.

There used to be one for sale around South Beloit... check the Rockford Craigslists... I can hold it for you too.

[Uncle Ernie]

Beginners Riders Course is the way to go.  If nothing else, it's cheaper than cruching something you bought and then trying to sell it at a loss.  It can also save a lot of tension (at best) between married people. 

I've known 2 women who passed the course, got a bike, and still couldn't stand getting out in traffic.  A couple of others are racing around on Ducati's and BMW's.  You just never know until it happens.

Vespa makes a couple of different sizes, as does Piaggio.  Personally, I like the looks of that Suzuki TU250X (a LOT).   Used Honda 350 /360's are good.  Also the CM400T is a really good size -and cheap.   If you go the Big Scooter route (I forgot the name of the big seller), I've often heard the 450 is better than the 650 because of the drive train, which is different.

There is always the tank bag or back-pack route, too.

[tramp]

i would go with a used 350 or smaller
better to ride in traffic

[333]

A 10 or 12 inch wheel would get sucked into a pothole almost completely.  And the steering of a bike with tires so small can make it so that any fast move might cause the bike to go out of control.

On the othet hand, if she has never ridden any other kind of bike, there is nothing to "un-learn"

[Slayer]

I would say that even before the riders safety course ride a bicycle for a while. It gets you back to that sense of two wheeled balance. I had an instructor tell that to an older lady that was looking a little sketchy. Not to be mean. It actually improved her riding skill. Baby steps.