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2006 (November through December) Thursday, November 2 Hey Mama, I started on a Honda Rebel 250 and outgrew that in about 2 weeks, selling it to my sister for her starter bike. I looked at several bikes and decided on the '06 Honda Shadow Aero VT750. I am only 5'2" and my feet are firmly planted on the ground, I can turn the handlebars to full lockout in both directions, and the bike is well balanced, quick and fun to ride. I have added highway bars and a windshield (so I don't get blown off like a piece of paper when driving over 70!). Now I just have to find a nice big parking lot and work on my tight turns and curves! The class I took was great but we drove little 250cc bikes which were half the weight and size. All my guy friends insist there is a Harley in my future and, maybe so, but this is quite sufficient and economical fun for now! Ride safe and have a blast girls! – Beth Dear Beth, Dear VTwin Mama, Any thoughts you can give me on the two bikes (I have run and read every statistic side by side) and also on just moving forward so early in the game. I always planned to use the Rebel as a trainer, possibly go to a middle bike and then move up. The 650's and that area are not going to be something I would keep very long and I already know that. So I want to plan for the mid range as my next and possible, final step. Thank you and I am so glad I found your site!! The pictures and stories are great. – Laura in Colorado Dear Laura, Given that your weather is already turning towards winter, I'll also point out that while it's sitting there in your cold garage (I'm assuming its not heated!), you would still need to carry insurance on it, and some maintenance tasks would already be starting. The battery would need to be pulled and properly stored or a battery trickle-charger added so that the battery doesn't die. If the bike has a centerstand, you can more easily get the wheels off the floor, but if not, then the bike has to be moved so that it's not sitting in one wheel spot during this time. Honestly, I would wait till spring. Growing into a bigger bike is part of the process and just the next natural step in your adventure! You were probably apprehensive before taking the course, but got that accomplished (yahoo to you!), started practicing on the Rebel (most likely some nervousness out on your own for the first time), but the transition seems to be going well (double yahoo to you!), so realize that when you choose your next bike, it's normal to wonder how it's going to go. Practice, of course, is the key! Unfortunately, there is no perfect formula to predict what your next best step is. That C50, at 819cc, is a nice bike and as a mid-range bike, still has plenty of power and comfort for longer range rides. Many riders will choose that range and spend some time on it. They may end up chomping at the bit to move up in power range fairly early (think 6-12 months), but then the economics of the new sell/buy cycle comes into play. However, if one thinks about it, the "chomping" is a good sign that comfort, confidence, and skills were built on that mid-range bike that then translates to wanting to move up! Many will argue that an 1100cc bike (it's actually 1063cc) isn't really that much different than a 819cc bike, and in part, they are right! Both have 5 gears and shaft drives (nummy!). The C50 is fuel-injected (vs. the carburetor on the Silverado), which can be nice for riders who will be truly riding in greatly varying altitudes. That Rebel is only 306 lbs, where the C50 weighs in at 542 lbs and the Silverado at 639 lbs. But these raw numbers don't tell the whole story. A bike may be heavier, but can feel better balanced to a rider. If you visit both bikes again, get it off the side stand (or have someone get it off the centerstand if applicable) and roll it back and forth and lean a bit side to side. You'll get a feel where the mass of the bike is relative to your body. Turn the handlebar all the way to both sides and see if your reach to controls is still good. And don't ignore the "falling in love" part . . . some bikes just have a look that makes our heart's sing! And if you know you'll be wanting to accessorize, a bit of research on those kinds of items is important as not all new models immediately have lots of choices. Bottom line . . . the more time you have riding your Rebel, the better "feel" you'll have in determining your next step. I'd log as many miles as possible now, wait till spring, log even more miles as soon as the weather allows, and then make the choice. Here's an interesting thought . . . some dealers allow test rides, while some don't. Some have rental programs. Ask what the policy is in each case. It could be that they insist on xx amount of miles or xx amount of total riding time before allowing either. That would give you something to shoot for. Then you would be in position to test or rent and make a more informed choice! Also, check for motorcycle shows in your area . . . many
are held during the winter months and can offer an opportunity to see many
bikes in one setting! –
Mama Saturday, November 4 For Laura who is getting started: It's not a "mid-life crisis" . . . it's a "mid-life awakening"! Plain and simple. It's better to go on this part of our lives knowing we aren't having a crisis. We are having too much fun learning the joys of riding . . . how can that be a crisis! It's an awakening to what's been in us and now we are taking part . . . finally. Happy Trails, – Kathy H. (note from Mama: an excellent way to look at it!) I have owned both bikes you are looking at and would personally recommend the Suzuki. It can be made much lower than the VStar and for us short riders that is important. Make sure you get whatever you really love the looks of best and that fits you best all around though. Be sure you can go lock to lock, etc. Check out Intruder Alert.com . . . they have a great ladies forum where you can ask many riders their opinion of various models of Suzukis. – Dorathy Biddinger (note from Mama: thanks for sharing your thoughts!) Saturday, November 4 For April who got a Sporty but needs to modify it to make it work for her: I am 5'2", 125lbs, and I, too, had a Sportster 883. My Sportster was a Hugger . . . which is lower than the standard Sportster, but it was still too high for me. We bought a White Brothers' lowering kit, which the Harley shop did not recommend, but it lowered the bike a little over an inch and caused no handling problems with the bike. Then I bought a Corbin seat. I can't remember what it was called, but it wasn't "puffy" at all and lowered me another inch or so . . . and it was extremely comfortable! I have to say, though, that even though I did all this stuff I still found the Sportster to be too top heavy for me. Don't know if I just have a balance problem or what, but the bike was uncomfortable to me. After dropping it once and scaring myself to death, I got rid of it. I went back to a GZ250 for a while and then found a Buell Lightning that fit me pretty good. I wasn't sure about the "crotch rocket" look. I really like a cruizer better . . . but I've found that I really like the Buell now and it's so much lighter! Good Luck with your Sportster, April. Just wanted you to know that you can lower that bike a good bit!! – Kathy (note from Mama: thanks for sharing some lowering notes! And glad to hear that in taking a different "step," you're more easily working towards your overall goal!) Tuesday, November 7 More for April who got a Sporty but needs to modify it to make it work for her: Take it slow and easy. After 1,800 miles and lots of practice with cones and the Ride Like a Pro DVD, I purchased a Sportster 1200 Low to replace my trusty Suzuki GZ250. I didn’t need any modifications, except to pull the handlebars back slightly. Unfortunately, I jumped on the Sportster and expected to be able to handle it like I did the Suzuki… Off I went on a long trip and I had an accident. Luckily for me, the only damage was done to my brand new bike. (Not counting my bruised ego and shattered self-confidence.) I am now repeating the steps I went through to master the Suzuki. I signed up for a MSF course taught on Buell’s and passed at the top of my class. (I took an MSF class earlier in the summer to get my license.) I’m still practicing and taking it slow and easy. I’m gaining confidence and skill but not pushing my limits. The Suzuki sits in the garage as my security blanket but hasn’t moved since I got the Sportster repaired. SO, long story short, practice, practice, practice. You can do it! – Mary (note from Mama: thanks for sharing that the transition to/start on a bigger bike requires respect for the process.) Friday, November 10 Dear VTwin Mama, The problem is that I am 4' 10'' tall, about 115 lbs. Not exactly an easy size to work with when looking for bikes. I don't have any driving experience of my own but I am trying to get information before I start so I'm not stuck trying to figure something out. I've picked up a couple bikes, including a Honda Shadow Aero VT 750 which I like. Any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated. – A Little Woman Who Just Wants To Ride Dear Little Woman, Taking a riding course is a good way to get started in learning the basic handling characteristics of all motorcycles. In my article, Learning To Ride A Motorcycle, one point I make about courses is that it can be a very wise move to visit the course and check out the bikes. For your height, that's a super important point. Before you plunk down money, you want to make sure that they have a bike that will do the trick! On that same page you'll find courses offered nationally and there are even some video clips that give you an idea of what the riding portion of the course involves. Depending on where you live, courses may be drawing to a close due to weather but you should still call to get signed up for spring, as they fill fast! The southern states typically run year round. Another fun thing to do during winter months is to check to see if a motorcycle show is coming to your area. This is a chance to see lots of bikes in one setting and sit on them! Try MotorcycleEvents.com for listings. So, hopefully all of this information will give you new things to explore as you begin your adventure in riding. We're jazzed for you! – Mama Friday, November 23 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Edith, The first clue you have shared is something more gutsy . . . which translates to more power. As you are in New Zealand (as the ending of your email indicated), I'm not sure what the realities are at your local dealerships. Do they allow test rides? Do they rent bikes out? These would be ways to take out 400 and 650cc bikes and see what would satisfy your dream. A 400cc bike would offer more power around town, but if you are looking to extend into longer day rides and/or considering vacation-type rides, I'd be looking at bikes 550cc and above. Smaller cc bikes can feel "wound out" at top speeds, while larger cc bikes are geared for more smooth oomph when riding at speed limits or higher for longer times/miles. Of course there are more considerations, like how the bike fits for your height. Here the clue is to understand that just about any bike can be modified, whether it's about seat height (there are lowering kits, lower profile seats, etc.), reach to the handlebar (pullback risers can solve that), or anything else. Take a look at my Motorcycles for Short Riders page for more ideas! Heavier motorcycles are less likely to get pushed around in the wind, so honestly, any bigger bike you pick is going to weigh more and react less to windy conditions. Pay attention to the wheel rims . . . spoked rims let air pass through while solid rims or those with cut-outs tend to still catch some wind, which affects handling. Whenever we are considering a big ticket item, resale value is of interest. The NADA guides can show you some resale value data and is useful not only in the U.S., but internationally as well (just choose your country and proceed). So, when you find a bike you like, then look up that bike but xx years older to see the difference. In my mind, if resale value is of high importance, it means you are looking at this next bike as an interim step . . . something you'll be riding for awhile before you move up in size again. If that's the case, the NADA guides will also help you establish approximate prices for used bikes if that's what you'll be purchasing. I hope the things I have noted will help you look at motorcycles with a clearer view towards the goals you have. Happy shopping! – Mama Monday, December 4 Hello Petra, Dear Pat, Dear
VTwin Mama, And now hopefully you can help me! I just bought my dream bike for my 30th birthday -- the Kawasaki ER-6F. After a couple of weeks of riding, I'm getting very comfortable with the way this bike moves, and I'm loving every minute I'm on it. My only problem is my height. I'm 5'4", and right now my feet just don't fully touch the ground on any sort of sportsbike. But, I've never been able to enjoy the feel of a cruiser style, so here I am. This particular bike isn't very tall, so I know it won't need much adjustment to get it just right for me. I'm wondering what will be best - getting a modified seat or actually having it lowered? I noticed that Terri & Kevin did a review of this bike, and they seem to be in my area (Sydney, AU), and was wondering if perhaps they might have any local advice as well. Thanks much!. – Selina Dear
Selina, Hmmmm . . . I'm not sure which is the better route to get your feet more firmly planted on the ground. In looking at a picture of the bike, it's hard to see exactly how that seat could be modified, but my thought is to explore that first. The reason I say that is that lowering a motorcycle can have some consequences that may or may not work out for you. For instance, if lowering the bike brings the footpegs closer to the ground, you could run into peg scrapping when you ride through tight, deep curves. Of course, there is another pathway, which is to review your riding boots. Another pair with a bit more heel, or even the addition of lift inserts could make the difference you need. It's something to consider! Let's see if we get any input and meanwhile, I'll contact Kevin to see what advice he can offer! – Mama Thursday, December 14 For Selina who is noodling out lowering options for her Kawi ER-6F: Hmmm, lowering it could be tricky because the muffler is actually underneath the bike (like the Buells) and dropping the front forks thru the head clamps could result in unsteady handling, like steering head shake. Now Terri is 5'4" and she had no problem getting half of both feet flat on the ground. Another Asian lady I know, who is even shorter, just bought one and she's comfortable with that amount of "footage" also. Selina could tighten the rear shock, that will probably give her another inch lower. And as the bike wears in, the suspension will loosen up and become a little lower anyway. The ER model Selina also has the full fairing I think, that's going to be another prob with lowering it. Instead of me trying to come up with solutions on the Net, I really need to take a look at the bike with Selina on it. I might be able to do something on the spot for her; I've got a workshop full of tools. Terri and Lin also have a list of boots available here in Oz that have higher heels but are still rugged enough for riding, like the Harley Logger Boots for women; Leatherup.com sells them at a huge discount I think; Harley boots in Oz are almost double what you guys pay for them. Ya know, I think it's worth putting up on your site somewhere that people really need to sort this out with a dealer BEFORE they pay and pick up their new bikes. Instead of buying the bikes and THEN asking what they can do, they could have it done and included in the purchase price. – Kevin (note from Mama: thanks for noting some things Selina might do and what to be cautious about . . . and given that you are in the same area, it's nice that you're offering to assist. I think most riders consider the overall height before purchase, but sometimes you fall in love and the solution search comes after . . . sometimes that which feels pretty ok at the beginning is then a matter of fine-tuning. And so it goes . . . ) Wednesday, December 20 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Nicole, |
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