Wife started on a 600 Katana. Getting an SV might be a better choice due to the naked-ness of it. Less to fix in a drop situation.
Chris
+1 from experience.
One drop at a stop sign when slipping in the gravel causes only minor scratches.
Paranoia about engine size, in my opinion, is over rated. Lori had never been on a bike other than as a passenger. Taking the MSF course and
learning, in my opinion and in our experience, suffices. I'm not saying go out and buy a 1,000, but starting on a 600 or 650 is not going to get a newbie killed just because she's a girl. Now, if a guy or gal is intimidated by the thought of getting on a bike, or a classic squidly-type, I would say perhaps put 'em on a two-fiddy or comprable. Look at the used market: It's flooded with used 250's and 500's that people are trying to get rid of and can't. Moreover, the 250's and 500's are wound out at freeway speeds. That Ninja 250 and the Rebel, have you ever ridden one? They pretty much red line in top gear on the freeway.
Also, read the reviews on the Rebels. They are not favorable. They have had numerous problems. So if you go with a 500, make sure you research it.
You know, we got ran off the road last year when Lori first was learning to ride. She dumped her bike when we got in the gravel, and I managed to keep the Busa up. Long story short: Hair pin turn in the country, half way through the turn and a car was
fully in our lane. Some of you fellas remember my post about that. Lori didn't dump her bike because she was new and riding a 650, she dumped it because she was a new, inexperienced rider encountering her first ever emergency situation two weeks into riding for the first time in her life. And to make it worse, we ended up in the gravel.
Anyway, rant off. Just throwing back in my two cents and our experiences.
J
