![]() |
![]() |
| Cruisers Lots of chrome and an open road. Talk about it here! |
|
Welcome to the Motorcycle-Journal Forums forums. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact contact us. |
![]() |
| | LinkBack | Thread Tools |
| | #1 (permalink) |
| Newbie Joined: Nov 2005
Bike: 06 S50 & HD 04 VRSCb
Location: Salem
Posts: 9
| After riding on the back ov my VRod all summer, my DW informed me she wants her own bike! I want to find the best bike that fits her small frame (5'4" - #120). She sat on an S50 at our local dealer and it seems to fit but maybe a little to heavy? I think she could quickly grow into it as her skills improve but concerned with safety. Questions: Is this a good bike to begin on? Is it easy to handle? (my VRod is bad at crawl speeds) Do they hold up well? This would be our first Suzzi - Are they built well? Have any of you have good or bad incedents? thanks in advance, LJ |
| | |
| | #2 (permalink) |
| Fourth gear and illegal ![]() Joined: Oct 2005
Bike: 05 Red M50
Location: Iowa, riding in the Rain!
Posts: 782
| My wife was in the same boat from the sound of it, she decided to ride the Rebel 250 instead of the S50, for a year or two and then move up to a larger bike. Does she have any riding experiance to start on the S50, or does she need to take a class etc.......... just some question to ask your self.
__________________ . "Grow up, what a waste of a good time, if Peter Pan can do it so can we............... " 05 Red M50 (mine) 97 Yellow Honda Rebel (her's) |
| | |
| | #3 (permalink) |
| Puddle Runner ![]() Joined: Jun 2005
Bike: 05 Honda Rebel and 05 Suzuki S50
Location: Northwest Indiana
Posts: 394
| I have both the Rebel and the S50. i recommend the Rebel. The S50 is about 130 lbs heavier and alot more powerful. The rebel will also be more forgiving in about every situation. The Rebel can do just about everything the S50 can do except go fast and carry more weight. It's also more econonical. She'll get more confidence quicker on the rebel. The S50 is a great 2nd bike after the Rebel.
|
| | |
| | #4 (permalink) |
| Fender Buffer ![]() | I'm a half foot shorter than your wife and and just a few pounds heavier than your wife and I ride an '05 S50. I've been riding since April and it is my first bike, having never ridden before Spring of last year when I took the BRC. It was a bit of a heavy bike for me in the beginning and I did build up to it but it didn't take long or much for me as I'm a pretty athletic build to begin with. I don't know about your wife but if she's of small frame, perhaps you might want to start her out on something smaller and lighter, perhaps the S40 or even, as someone suggested, the 250 Rebel. Honda has an even smaller bike, the 125 Eliminator. The S50 handles real well for me however, I do wish it weighed more whenever hubby and I get out on the highway. Hubby's Honda PC800 accelerates faster than me in the lower gears but at the higher gears, his bikes lags whereas mine has very nice pickup. I really go to know my bike better when I used it to take the ERC this past summer. As for holding up well, I feel that as long as you keep up with the scheduled maintenance, pretty much any bike will last you for as long as you need it to...at least that's how it's always been with the bikes in hubby's family. Good luck! Aloha, Kehau
__________________ It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!! |
| | |
| | #6 (permalink) |
| In The Zone ![]() Joined: May 2004
Bike: several
Location: Decatur, GA
Posts: 2,765
| The S50 is a good bike, super reliable. It has been in production for nearly 20 years with few changes (the most notable being the name change from Intruder 800) and I put 132,000 on my 96 with no problems. My current Intruder 800 racked up 40,000+ miles in the first 12 months, needing only tires and oil changes. They are more faster and more powerful than most 1100 and even many 1300, 1400, and 1500cc bikes, so an S50 can be a handful if you don't know how to ride. I am with the other guys: get her a used 250 Rebel or 600 VLX to learn on for $500-1500. Let her ride for 3-12 months, then sell the little bike to the next beginner and get her the S50. As long as you resist the urge to spend money on accessories for the beginner bike you should be able to get your money back on it. Heck, there is a 250 Rebal that has been going around my riding club for a couple years now: a guy will buy it for his wife to learn on for $800, and three months later he sells it to the next guy's wife for the same $800. I bet 6 woman have learned to ride on that bike, and other than the tag it didn't cost their husbands a dime.
__________________ Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die tomorrow. You MUST obey the pug dog! |
| | |
| | #7 (permalink) | |
| Throttle Jockey ![]() Joined: May 2005
Bike: 05 M50, 06 CBR600F4i
Location: Sitting on the can... duh!
Posts: 3,160
| Quote:
Nevertheless, if your wife has no prior riding experience, I echo previous suggestions for the Honda Rebel and the MSF BRC. Buy used, put in as many miles as possible within one year, then sell it or trade up for the bike she wants. I must stress again that it is not months or years, but miles that measure the amount of experience one has in riding. Good luck and may your wife enjoy every minute and every mile of her riding experience.
__________________ "I love the smell of toner in the morning… it's the smell of victory!" MAJ M, Staff Officer | |
| | |
| | #9 (permalink) |
| It's A Conspiracy ![]() Joined: May 2005
Bike: '06 XB12X
Location: 30 41'47.99" N 83 11'26.54" W Hold My Beer
Posts: 10,095
| rodknee....my wife was in the same boat as yours, only the transformation happened faster. I ended up getting her an S40. She wavered back and forth between the S50 or used Intruders, and then settled on the S40 (AKA Savage). It's a great bike for a beginner. Nice and light. Maneuverable. Plenty of torque. It can hang with the bigger bikes. She gets a ton of compliments from those that obviously don't know about bikes, and those that do......still complement her. More often than not, they are surprised that there are good looking bikes out there that don't say Harley Davidson on the side. On the plus side...of the S40 equation....it's a cool bike too just play around on in the neighborhood. Want to practice tight turning skills? Get on that thing for a technique refresher, then get on your bigger heavier bike. You'll find it a piece of cake.
__________________ Song Pick of the Week 12/03 Booker T and the MG's - Green Onions Bonus for Buster The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight I had no idea 20% ABV beer could get me drunk so fast! |
| | |
| | #10 (permalink) |
| Fourth gear and illegal ![]() Joined: Oct 2005
Bike: Looking for a new experience! (last bike--Lt. Blue 2005 S50)
Location: The Heart of it All
Posts: 742
| I have an S50, and wavered a lot between it and the S40. Both are good bikes. However, your wife is the one who needs to feel comfortable with it. Make sure she sits on all the bikes you are considering before you purchase. If she is not comfortable with the weight of a bike, there are others to try. I am happy with my S50, but others may not be. Take the advice of all here--have her take lessons or an MSF course. Hubby and I took both, and are glad we did. Susan |
| | |
| | #11 (permalink) |
| Seat Tester Joined: May 2005
Bike: '05 Suzuki S40
Location: Sector 7G
Posts: 83
| I'll also add my vote to those who say check out the S40. Judging by your wife's size, it might be a better fit than the S50. But, have fun trying them all on for size!
__________________ True love is the Devil's crowbar. -- I think animal testing is a terrible idea; they get all nervous and give the wrong answers. |
| | |
| | #14 (permalink) |
| Newbie Joined: Nov 2005
Bike: 06 S50 & HD 04 VRSCb
Location: Salem
Posts: 9
| Thanks for all you input and suggestions. The S50 is the only cruizer bike under 500 lbs with enough power to ride on the interstate at 80 MPH. We have decided to get an S50 and have her train on the bike that since she should be riding it for a long time. We will do a little home training (driveway and parking lot) to get ready for the BRC available in March. By the summer I hope she will be able to ride with our group safely. I think the key is to build on small skills as she feels comfortable and not let any one push her (even me!). We will be checking in for further advice and encouragement. Thanks again, Lyle and Annette |
| | |
| | #15 (permalink) |
| It's A Conspiracy ![]() Joined: May 2005
Bike: '06 XB12X
Location: 30 41'47.99" N 83 11'26.54" W Hold My Beer
Posts: 10,095
| Salem?? Salem where? NY??? Mass.???
__________________ Song Pick of the Week 12/03 Booker T and the MG's - Green Onions Bonus for Buster The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight I had no idea 20% ABV beer could get me drunk so fast! |
| | |
| | #16 (permalink) | |
| Fender Buffer ![]() | Quote:
Good luck and have fun learning it. I absolutely love my S50!! Aloha, Kehau
__________________ It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time!!! | |
| | |
| | #17 (permalink) | |
| Throttle Jockey ![]() Joined: May 2005
Bike: 05 M50, 06 CBR600F4i
Location: Sitting on the can... duh!
Posts: 3,160
| Quote:
Please let us know how the wife is doing on the S50. Good luck.
__________________ "I love the smell of toner in the morning… it's the smell of victory!" MAJ M, Staff Officer | |
| | |
![]() |
| Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
| Thread Tools | |
| |
Similar Threads | ||||
| Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
| Seat of Choice ? | kazjim | Cruisers | 4 | 09-20-2005 11:25 AM |
| opinion on a bike choice | citizenstitch | Sportbikes & Sport-tourers | 14 | 07-09-2005 11:22 AM |
| Choice for my first bike | DaWood | The Paddock | 10 | 05-19-2005 12:21 AM |
| M50 Oil Choice | ddarais | Cruisers | 7 | 04-14-2005 03:38 PM |
| GS500F is this a good choice? | soon2Briding | Sportbikes & Sport-tourers | 12 | 01-21-2004 01:27 AM |