Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:37 pm
Places that offer the BRC may also give private lessons, which would let her get familiar with a motorcycle and get on a 250. I took a few before taking the course and it was a whole lot easier.
Some observations based on coaching a lot of people her size through the MSF basic rider course.
1) Shifting should not be a problem. Take the BRC. It will be covered. For a very very few riders with exceptionally small hands an adjustable clutch lever (adjusts position of lever "in" or "out") and a pair of grippy gloves covers everything.
2) Bikes: Seat height is only half the equation. Tank width makes a difference too. Some bikes require a lot of leg length to get around the tank. Sit on 'em and try em out.
My off the cuff informal obervations:
Kymco. We have one. It rides significantly larger and heavier than any other 250 I'm aware of. Not a bad bike but not my pick for a rider her size.
Honda Rebel. A decent contender.
Yamaha Virago. The handle bars are more of a buckhorn type than many others, and this means reducing handling. The bike is solid, the handlebars SUCK.
Suzuki GZ250. VERY solid contender. All around easy handling. Highly recommended. Somewhat more stable at slower speeds than the Rebel.
Kawasaki BN125. This is the bike we but the smaller riders on. A little smaller and narrower than the rebel/GZ.
Three years ago my wife wanted a bike. We sat on all of them, and I bought her a GZ.