Spectre question..any value?

rdgrnr,
Yeah, I'm behind everybody else on your Virago, it has just a bit more than half the power that the 1100 Spectre has; so that should put your power issues firmly in the proper perspective.

First ride for the GF: brother, I would not go with that Spectre. Big, heavy, powerful; a great bike for a skilled rider...kiss o' death for a rookie.
Go with a small cc, used, dependable thing and you'll be miles ahead when she says "...hey, I think I want to get a bigger bike..."

PS> I teach motorcycle safety school in the summer and I've seen too much bike take a new rider away from motorcycling many times.

BadKaw,
You think the 750 Spectre that I was looking at is too much for her?
So maybe 400..500 then?
Looks I was way off on the Virago hp:pinch:

rdgrnr wrote:

BadKaw,
You think the 750 Spectre that I was looking at is too much for her?
So maybe 400..500 then?
Looks I was way off on the Virago hp:pinch:

Yeah, the 750s have a good chunk of power also. Like you are guessing: small CCs = small intimidation

Remember: the objective is to infect her with the mo-mo bug; to do that she must be able to grow. If you put her on a bike that she out-grows in two months and you lose money on buying/selling the bike, then all it costs you is money (look at it as an 'expense', or a 'cost' for doing it right). On the other hand, if you start her out on a bike that she will (and I shudder to say this) "grow into", you risk ruining motorcycling for her all together as the bike might intimidate her into not riding it, or (worse) it might get her into a situation that physically harms her and she gets out of the sport permanently.

In the first scenario she makes progress and becomes your 'riding buddy' (or whatever your collective goal is). In the second scenario, it all goes south.

If you want my advice, get a 250 Ninja (used!) that's a bit rough, they are tiny, nimble, simple, and bullet proof (...and a Kawasaki:whistle: ). She'll drop it 8 or 10 times and no big deal, a 6th grader can pick it back up. Or if you're a cruiser, Kawasaki makes a 125 Eliminator that has a clutch like butter. It's not Highway capable in my opinion, but a sweeeet learner bike. If she's got legs, then entertain 250 on/off bikes from yester-year and save a bundle. If you do it right, it won't even cost you anything.

Anyway, sorry to babble, but teaching is my thing. Let me know if there is anything that I can do to help.

-KR

Ew, one more thing: On the Kawasaki 500 topic: don't get her an EX 500 or a 500 Vulcan as they have quite a bit more power than I recommend for a true beginner. Seriously: "small CCs" (ie: managable [minimal!] power) is one of the keys to the launch of a long-term motorcycling experience.

If you want more small-bore ideas I can jamm on about small bores for ever...or you could even offer it up as a discussion topic.

I've been a big fan of small twins as starter bikes. My kz400 was a great learner and pretty light.

Hey Bad Kaw...was in Colby KS for a wedding last weekend. Rotten weather, how do you stand it?

I bought and sold this Eliminator 250 last year. I am 195lb and it had plenty of power to move me around. Did about 90 with me on it. Seat height is very low as well. Good looking little bike. It is the same engine as the 250 Ninja. I got it for $500 and sold it the next week for $1200 if I remember correctly. Good looking bike too. If she did not destroy it then you should have no problem selling it and buying something bigger when she is ready

thanks for the suggestions. I'll keep that in mind this spring.

Link14 wrote:

I've been a big fan of small twins as starter bikes. My kz400 was a great learner and pretty light.

Hey Bad Kaw...was in Colby KS for a wedding last weekend. Rotten weather, how do you stand it?

Hey man,
First off: I feel sorry for you...Colby???...ewwwwww :sick: ... (ha,ha! just kidding!).
Secondly: To answer your question, we didn't "stand it". Our power got taken out and I ended up packing the family up and taking them to the in-laws in Topeka for about a week. We were out of power for 9 days :blink: ...that's a lotta down time ... sure hope the wife ain't pregnant!:whistle: :lol:

kawtoy wrote:

I bought and sold this Eliminator 250 last year. I am 195lb and it had plenty of power to move me around. Did about 90 with me on it. Seat height is very low as well. Good looking little bike. It is the same engine as the 250 Ninja. I got it for $500 and sold it the next week for $1200 if I remember correctly. Good looking bike too. If she did not destroy it then you should have no problem selling it and buying something bigger when she is ready

I'd say that (and the 125 Eliminator) is just about THE ultimate beginner bike.