Starter bike...

[CajunR]

So we're watching 'Long Way Round'... Ewan and Charlie triumphantly arrive in New York, and my wife turns to me and says "I want a motorcycle.  We need to ride across the country together." 

 

So I'm starting to think about a first bike for her....  We both think something with an 'upright' position and low displacement would be best.  My first thought is a used XT225 (found this immediately: http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/mcy/2314840048.html), or a CRF230L...  Any others you guys can suggest?  It would sorta make sense to start her on the DR-Z400 I own, but I think something a little shorter and less powerful might be a better/safer bet.

Oh, she's NEVER ridden a motorcycle before.  She can drive the hell out of a standard transmission, so the concept of clutch/shift won't be too bad.  Getting the mechanics down... well, it might take a while. 

[Jester]

Honda Rebel.  A lot of the MSF courses use em, but they have a very low seat height, not bad looking by any means, and won't get you in trouble.  Even brand new, they are pretty cheap.

[Pinocchio]

Instead of spending good money on a Rebel:
Buy her a two-day MSF course first, and go watch her. Plenty of riders in those courses are "just thinking about it."
If she hasn't talked herself out of riding by the end of the second day, and she looks like she is "getting it", buy a lowering kit for the DR, a good set of gear, and a couple of track days with the money you saved.

IMHO, anyone who can ride with adequate competence is better off on the streets of Dallas with more HP and better brakes, rather than less.

[muskrat]

Agree with Pinochio.
Virago 750 would be ideal for learning and easy/cheap fixes

[system error]

Mindy is doing pretty well on her M695 which is what I have.  She's never driven a standard but shifting hasn't been a problem yet.  She road on the back of her fathers HD as a kid a ton but never actually operated a motorcycle until now.  I never rode street until last August.  Before that it was all quads on the sand dunes and that was back in 1995 and I started, and continue to love, my M695.  A used 695 or older 600'ish may not be too bad, plus her learning curve could be higher since she would have more to work with power wise.  Just my two cents.  That said, the MSF course would be a good investment prior to a bike. 

[Cher]

What about a KLR650?  Upright position, competent all around with a bazillion after market parts.  And if it ever gets dropped it could be cheaply repaired...  Or not; it's a dual-sport so you could just log the damage as a battle scar from y'all's last trip around the world   

[TXGrillGuy]

Great to hear, Cajun. Good luck to you guys. 

[muskrat]

http://dallas.craigslist.org/sdf/mcy/2315586585.html   ...........cheap cheap cheap
and another easy as hell bike to learn on http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/mcy/2303461019.html

[muskrat]

http://dallas.craigslist.org/sdf/mcy/2315586585.html   ...........cheap cheap cheap
and another easy as hell bike to learn on http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/mcy/2303461019.html

[CajunR]

Solid advice, guys.  We had definitely planned to get her into an MSF class.  I have considered a KLR650...  I don't know.  It would make the most sense to keep what we have (the DR-Z)... and 40hp isn't that crazy for a first bike. 

[Pinocchio]

Solid advice, guys.  We had definitely planned to get her into an MSF class.  I have considered a KLR650...  I don't know.  It would make the most sense to keep what we have (the DR-Z)... and 40hp isn't that crazy for a first bike.  

40 HP ain't squat, unless the rider weighs 95 lbs. Then 40 Hp is a wheelie'n  machine. 'nuff said?
I wish I had a DR-Z400SM:

....or a SV650:

[CajunR]

40 HP ain't squat, unless the rider weighs 95 lbs. Then 40 Hp is a wheelie'n  machine. 'nuff said?
I wish I had a DR-Z400SM:

LOL  That's what I have!!

[Pinocchio]

From the looks of that bike, you already know the lowering options:
After market seat to lose about an inch, adjust the setup and get another inch, then lowering kit as a last resort.

Now I understand your hesitation. If you let her ride that bike, she'll never give it back!

[CajunR]

Now I understand your hesitation. If you let her ride that bike, she'll never give it back!

YEP!  ...and that she might see videos like this and get some ideas:

DRZ 400 SM supermoto super moto jump

[Pinocchio]

Urban supermoto!

I wonder if they fine by the yard for jumping like that?