Total Motorcycle Community Forums

I'll add another question...any opinion on what style bike works best with a woman's body/sense of gravity? As a beginner I want to have what feels most natural to start out with...


I want a standard, but all I am finding are more cruiser types. I was recently talking to a woman dealer and she said that traditional cruisers didn't work well with a woman's balance...(or actually anyones) as your feet were out in front so didn't have as much control.

Of the bikes I've sat on, I most like ones where my feet are more centered, not too far forward, but also not back like a crotch rocket. It seems they are more the sport touring bikes? Only problem being, I really like the older/chrome type "naked" bikes! (however, I will get if the best for me...)

So my questions are: 1) is there a type of bike that is more woman-centric? I'm especially interested in controlling with body weight/hips vs arm strength.

2) are there non-sporty beginner bikes that have less forward pegs?

3) are low powered sporty bikes really the best beginner option for bike controllability?

I'm looking for that "my bike as extention of my body" feel...

(I think I am looking for the similar feeling of control I would have riding horses...so other question is, is that even possible??? or is it just a matter of getting used to an entirely new way of being?).

Any thoughts?

The Ninja 250 is basically a standard. The pegs and bars are just a tad more aggressive than a true standard. I think it's about as ideal a learning road bike as one can expect to find.

SoNew wrote:I want a standard, but all I am finding are more cruiser types. I was recently talking to a woman dealer and she said that traditional cruisers didn't work well with a woman's balance...(or actually anyones) as your feet were out in front so didn't have as much control.

I've never heard that one, and it doesn't seem to make any sense. You can control any style bike regardless of gender. Size of the bike might make a difference; style not so much. I balance a cruiser as well as I balance my sport standard.

If you want a standard, look to the baby Ninjas first--they're not naked but they're good starter bikes; the 500 has less in the way of plastic but is still a reasonable starter bike. Ride it for a year or two, and then look to the naked standards--like the Suzuki SV650 (FUN bike, for sure...)--for your potential forever bike.

There's also the Triumph bikes...like the Bonneville; it has that cruiserish look but a more standard rider position, or the Scrambler, with its retro look...both are bikes that you could be on forever. They have a bit more HP than the typical newby 250cc bike, but are doable as a first bike.

Check out http://www.wyndfeather.com/learn/motorcycle.htm -- scroll to the bottom of that page; lists of bikes, their engine size and HP, style of bike, and you can click on each one and see a picture of what they look like.

SoNew wrote:So my questions are: 1) is there a type of bike that is more woman-centric? I'm especially interested in controlling with body weight/hips vs arm strength.

2) are there non-sporty beginner bikes that have less forward pegs?

3) are low powered sporty bikes really the best beginner option for bike controllability?

I'm looking for that "my bike as extention of my body" feel...

(I think I am looking for the similar feeling of control I would have riding horses...so other question is, is that even possible??? or is it just a matter of getting used to an entirely new way of being?).

Any thoughts?

1.) I don't know about woman centric but you will be controlling the motorcycle with your arms and not your weight/hips. It doesn't take that much arm strength so don't worry about that.

2.) Plenty- SV-650, gs500, ninja 250/500, vulcan 500, ninja 650. Sounds like you are looking for a traditional/standard riding position and there are many bikes out there that fit the bill

3.) Low powered bikes are the best beginner bikes. They don't have to be sporty in appearance but since the demand for sporty looking bikes is high, there are more sporty looking bikes.

Riding a bike is different than a horse. The horse is controlled with alot of lower body input, while the bike is mainly controlled by the arms. There are a few actions required by your feet (shifting, rear brake) but it won't be the same feel.

I've never heard that one, and it doesn't seem to make any sense. You can control any style bike regardless of gender. Size of the bike might make a difference; style not so much. I balance a cruiser as well as I balance my sport standard.

You have much better control and balance on a bike where you can put some weight on the pegs or even stand up on the pegs - you can't do that on a cruiser.

As to the original poster: Think about your starter bike as just that, your starter bike. It's your first bike, not your last. Buy a used standard bike and it will be easier to learn on. Then once you've developed some riding skills, go out and look for your "real" bike.

Because of our lesser upper body strength (and strength in general), it is best to start out on a standard or sporty style bike.

With the shorter 'rake' or front fork angle, it takes less muscle to turn a standard style than a cruiser. Add that to the generally higher (EDIT: as in NUMBERS - 500 lbs and more) weight of cruisers, I think I have to agree with the concept. I just never heard it stated that way.

Have you signed up for the MSF course? By all means, I suggest you do that first. Don't depend on a significant other to teach you... too much emotional baggage along with the unknown errors that are likely to get passed on out of simply not knowing any different.

P

Flting Duck wrote: You have much better control and balance on a bike where you can put some weight on the pegs or even stand up on the pegs - you can't do that on a cruiser.

WTH? Glad I didn't know that every time I've lifted my butt off the seat of cruisers by putting my weight on the floorboards or pegs.

I wonder how I'll be able to ride cruisers in the future now that I know things I did all the time are actually impossible.

Thanks everyone....didn't mean to rile anyone up! Just want to make sure I put it out there that without a doubt women can and do ride any and all bikes...and have schooled quite a few men while at it!

I just definitely noticed even on my first day out sitting on bikes that they all had weight in different places...some felt more "top heavy" to me...and again the foot position made a big difference for me in feeling in control. So was looking for my beginning bike to be the best fit possible. I wouldn't have necessarily thought of the gender thing except for the long explanation the sales rep gave me...but she certainly could have been playing the woman to woman card to get a sale!

Good to hear everyone's thoughts on it though!

The most popular womens bike that I have seen seems to be the Sportster, both Iornhead and evo . (this probably has more to do with HD's marketing than anything else local HD shop bombards radio with female specific ads and 30 per cent of their sales are women) A little big for a first bike. Tall in the seat but low center of gravity. Some have standard controls and some forward.

The other bike really popular among women is the 450 Honda Rebel. (this is usually the first bike that local dealer sells out each year)

I have also seen many women ride Vespas,Shadows,F series BMW, and Softails.

but she certainly could have been playing the woman to woman card to get a sale!

Sounds like, don't be afraid to take a friend who knows bikes with you before you buy

slimcolo wrote:The other bike really popular among women is the 450 Honda Rebel. (this is usually the first bike that local dealer sells out each year)

That's unusual since Honda only made the 450 Rebel in 1986 and 1987.