Monkey See

[11teck]

Yesterday my girlfriend and I were outside standing around talking and we saw a 600 pass by doing a wheelie. After seeing this she turned to me saying " I want a bike." My only problem with this is that she always wants something she sees someone else with. For example we visited her cousin not to long ago and she saw her new couch and wanted that exact couch. We stop to almost every furniture store in town to find that type of couch but it had to be the exact color and material. Another thing is she is very girly (she wanted a pink sports bike, nothing wrong with pink sports bikes) and is very un-athletic but hopefully she would have some type of coordination to ride. I would love to share my passion for sports bikes with her but she would probably fall out of interest with bikes or wont have enough time to ride. So my question is should I help her look into sports bikes or just don’t say anything and let her find something new that interest her.

[acalliste]

Have her take the MSF course first. If she gets through that and passes it, and still has an interest in riding, then that will be a good indication that she really wants to ride.

If she does, start her on something small (EX250 or 500, or Hyosung 250 - something along those lines). Have her read the stickies in the new rider's forum here if she objects to starting small.

Go to all the dealers in your area and have her sit on all the new-rider-friendly bikes you can find and see which one fits her best.

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

[blndebmbr]

Yup, what AC said.

[Quicklimegirl]

This might sound a bit harsh, but you've provided very little info to go on.
What little you've said about her seems to indicate a level of emotional immaturity. Every time she sees something she likes do you drag yourself all around town looking for that exact item? Can she not think for herself and pursue original ideas of what she wants without the overt avarice you've described here?

I don't know her but from what little you've provided it doesn't look good.

I would provide advice as to appropriate starter bikes to her, but don't keep killing yourself catering to her latest whim. Why not let her do the leg work and see if she shows a commitment to obtaining it on her own accord?

[acalliste]

Sometimes tough love is the best way.

[SheWolf]

+10 on that ^^. Impulsivity is something you don't want to use when dealing with a sportbike. It could land you in a whole heap of trouble. The MSF course would be a good start, for sure. If that still seems to have her interest I'd go with the 250 to start, because if she decides that isn't really her bag, you can always sell it and still get what you paid for it. I wouldn't go with the bigger one, especially with 0 experience.

[blndebmbr]

I don't know. I am a total knee-jerk decision type person. I mean, that is how I got into riding ice and having the little YZ80. Hell, that's how I got my hubby. I dropped the previous guy like a hot potato and latched on to this one.
Take it all into context. I mean, one day I thought motorcycles were a cool idea. Next thing you know I am riding trackdays and racing super moto. Again, not everyone is me. But I never think anything through.....

[SheWolf]

You is who you is and we love ya for it!