Looking for a Bike for my wife....

[McJamie]

The red colour for the Gladius is very Metro-Sexual.
The Kawasaki Versys has a surprising low seat height. Because of the "cantilever" style rear suspension, lowering it is more difficult than most bikes.Awesome bike.
Remember too that sometimes a narrower seat( towards the front) is better than just a lower one. You still keep most of the support, but have a slightly shorter reach to the ground.

[fe-strom]

Having suggested not getting your wife a v-strom, I just spent the weekend with a woman who started riding this year on a v-strom and is loving it, and amazingly competent already. She is actually a bit shorter than me but has a longer inseam and can comfortably flat foot the bike, which I think is key for her.

So it can be done!

[LA Strom]

Originally Posted by fe-strom

Having suggested not getting your wife a v-strom, I just spent the weekend with a woman who started riding this year on a v-strom and is loving it, and amazingly competent already. She is actually a bit shorter than me but has a longer inseam and can comfortably flat foot the bike, which I think is key for her.

So it can be done!

Yes, it can be done. I started riding this year, too, & the Wee is my 1st motorcycle. Plus I'm "50-something" so not a fearless kid. I'm "balance-challenged" and it's been a longer learning curve for me compared to others who are more natural athletes. I spent a lot of time on neighborhood roads the 1st few months. I'm now a lot more comfortable on my Wee and enjoying it on mountain roads as well as freeways I look forward to the challenge of twisties which I used to fear. I know I can handle them .. afterall there's always 1st gear when they get really tight! Having said all of that, I have have long legs so that helped me a lot. If someone is shorter or balance challenged, they can do it if they have patience, are willing to work at it and not let other more experienced, well-meaning people push them into something they may not be ready for -- like my husband who pushed me onto the freeways before I was ready (I live in the Los Angeles area). I survived that ride, but dropped the bike at the bottom of an exit ramp. I was mentally exhausted. He's ridden 35 years and has difficulty relating to newbie-itis although he really tries to relate and help. My advice to newbies -- take it at your own pace. This is supposed to be fun.

I have a friend who is vertically challenged and she bought a Ducati Monster and loves it. She said she didn't buy it for its power, but because it was about the only bike that fit her.

[09TrooperFL]

I am 5'3" and have a 30" inseam. I installed Vortex LL544 lowering dogbones on it. You have a choice of a 2" or 4" lowering status. I also installed the Rox 2" handle bar risers. The bike is actually low for me now. I will probably raise it to the 2" rather than the 4" lowering position. It has not affected the ride, per my Susuki tech. The other item you will have to address is the kick stand length. But that is easy. For $77 the Vortex can be bought and the Rox are around $95. I bought the Vortex from Vortex out of FL and the Rox from Adventure Design. I have two Harley's a Low Rider and a Fatboy. The "wee" is smooth and sits me vertical and is very comfortable. This is from a female that owes what you are looking for and has made it work without compromising the look or ride.

[ChelleStrom]

How nice it is to see a female riders thread - wait a minute, most of these posts are from men?? Hmmm....

I own and ride a DL1000. I also own and ride a DR200SE, CBR1100XX and sometimes the CX500. I need my boots with heels on the CBR and the 200, prefer them on the 500. Now to the Strom..... it has been lowered and I have a custom seat. I have had the handlebars adjusted. I wear standard street boots on that bike. I also have gone down on that bike while on a gravel road.

What bike will work best for your wife? Whichever one she feels most comfortable on. Most can be adjusted, but caution is the word as one adjustment can effect many more aspects of the bike. It may be a case of trial and error - that might get expensive. But, if she loves to ride......

I like to go fast at times, and then again I like to pack 'er up and go for thousands of miles. I am lucky - my hubbie knows a lot and caters to my riding wants and needs. He and I both learned the hard way that to put me on the wrong bikes hurts everyone. He, at 6'3" and 280 can never, never understand my 5'4" and 160 perspective (yeah, I am on the fatter side).

I take offense at the commentary about a "girl" bike - give me a ****ing break! You really measure your masculinity with CC's and paint jobs? Sorry for those who are so shallow.

Passionate riders focus on the ride - no matter who is doing it and on what bike. Insecure riders focus on the rest of it....

To the nameless and faceless wife I suggest her, and her alone, talk to real female riders - who ride all sorts of bikes, of all sizes and all colors. Who love to ride and who she can talk to without any interference.

Well wishes.......

[ZG-MAC]

My love going to Alaska spring of 08 and 8 times over the divide 09 she is 5'6" and on a 04 wee and a 05.

[ep!c]

I recently picked up an 09' KLX 250 supermoto for my girlfriend. I was planning to build a small set of panniers and to install a short windscreen on it-sort of make a small displacement adventure toring bike out of it. Well, she ALMOST made it out of the driveway on her first ride, but insted we ended up spending the rest of the day in the E.R.. Bummer, huh? She's okay now, but has decided that she'd rather ride three-up, with me and the dog.