Bikes for the Ladies

LoriKTM

Super Power AssClown

Oct 4, 1999

2,218

6

New Mexico

• Jun 29, 2004

• #1

Since there has been a lot of discussion about "what bike do I get for my wife, girlfriend, sister..." etc, Sharla (Firecracker22) has taken it upon herself to compile a lot of the opinions and experiences into a nice article. At the end of the article is a table showing the different bikes and some of the important characteristics that women look for in a bike (low seat height, low weight). The article was limited to mostly beginner bikes, and bikes under 250cc, since this is where the majority of women will be starting out.
I threw in a few pictures and saved it all off in PDF format, so please feel free to download, print out, and read at your leisure. Enjoy!

http://dirtrider.net/Bikes_for_Gals.pdf

Here's the link to download Acrobat Reader: (it's free!)

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html

 

Last edited: Jun 30, 2004

dirty~d~

Resident nudist

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Apr 17, 2002

1,974

0

• Jun 29, 2004

• #2

Thanks ladies! The work is greatly appreciated.

I love this place. :yeehaw:

 

C

ChaCha

Member

Apr 20, 2004

43

0

• Jun 29, 2004

• #3

WOW, what a great guide. Thank you so much for taking the time to put it together. It was awesome!!!! :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship:

 

firecracker22

Sponsoring Member

Oct 23, 2000

3,213

0

• Jun 29, 2004

• #4

Cool, Lori, thanks for your help! I found a mispelling already though. It's just a typo, I really do know how to spell it.

 

M

Moto'n Mama

~SPONSOR~

Nov 14, 2003

76

0

• Jun 29, 2004

• #5

Thanks for keeping it simple! I actually better understand other bikes now - always heard of them, never understood the differances spoken in male language!

 

D

Dede

Member

May 23, 2004

99

0

• Jun 29, 2004

• #6

That's was a cool idea. Sounds like it will be really helpful. I can't view it though cuz that program won't work in my computer:(

 

M

Michelle

Sponsoring Member

Oct 26, 1999

1,245

0

• Jun 30, 2004

• #7

Dede and any others who can't view pdf's.
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readermain.html is the place to get Adobe Acrobat Reader which views pdf's. It's a free programme.

Lori, maybe you'd like to edit your post to include the link?

Well done Sharla :)

Now, can you do the same for clothes ;) hehehehehe

 

LoriKTM

Super Power AssClown

Oct 4, 1999

2,218

6

New Mexico

• Jun 30, 2004

• Thread starter
• #8

Thanks Michelle-- added the link to Acrobat Reader in the main post!

 

7

70 marlin

Mi. Trail Riders

LIFETIME SPONSOR

Aug 15, 2000

2,960

2

• Jun 30, 2004

• #9

Nice job Sharla! This should be very helpful for every new rider! One bike you might want to add for the more advance "New" riders. The 02 thru 03 FE400E Husaberg Line of bikes tends to be a bit more compact in frame design and the seat height. It feels to be shorter that the Ktm's of the same displacements. The bike is very user-friendly horsepower wise and has an E button. But as in any boutique style race bikes. These bikes are high maintenance.

 

bbbom

~SPONSOR~

Aug 13, 1999

2,092

0

• Jun 30, 2004

• #10

Nice job!!

If you add the 400 you better add the CR in though, at least the 94-95 years just cause they are PINK!

BTW Lori, do you prefer lots of glitter on your macaroni art or just a hint of glitter? :)

 

LoriKTM

Super Power AssClown

Oct 4, 1999

2,218

6

New Mexico

• Jun 30, 2004

• Thread starter
• #11

bbbom said:

BTW Lori, do you prefer lots of glitter on your macaroni art or just a hint of glitter? :)

Click to expand...

Somewhere in between-- just not so much that it looks like you spilled the jar! :laugh:

 

B

blackhawk468

President of Bling

N. Texas SP

Nov 3, 2000

698

0

• Jun 30, 2004

• #12

Good job!

 

GETMETOCA

Can't Wait For Tuesdays

Mar 17, 2002

4,765

0

• Jun 30, 2004

• #13

NICE WORK LADIES!!!! Hahahah, my first post on DRN was about "which bike????"

Sharla, you are an amazing writer!

 

M

mojoscojo

Member

Sep 1, 2003

12

0

• Jul 3, 2004

• #14

Awesome job ladies! Thank you for sharing your experience! I have been contemplating getting another bike for my wife. She tried for a while on a KX125 that I lowered the best that I could. She had a difficult time because she was not comfortable not being able to touch flat footed. This list and explanation helps narrow the list of bikes we should consider greatly. With any luck, I'll get her on something soon and get her out riding with you and bbbom and karl. So far, the only bikes with an appropriate seat height in her opinion are the crf100 and maybe a kx/cr85. However I'm not confident either of those choices will provide enough power. We'll see....

Scott

 

Last edited: Jul 4, 2004

B

Biker2B

Member

Jun 25, 2004

18

0

• Jul 16, 2004

• #15

mojoscojo said:

Awesome job ladies! Thank you for sharing your experience! I have been contemplating getting another bike for my wife. She tried for a while on a KX125 that I lowered the best that I could. She had a difficult time because she was not comfortable not being able to touch flat footed. This list and explanation helps narrow the list of bikes we should consider greatly. With any luck, I'll get her on something soon and get her out riding with you and bbbom and karl. So far, the only bikes with an appropriate seat height in her opinion are the crf100 and maybe a kx/cr85. However I'm not confident either of those choices will provide enough power. We'll see....

Scott

Click to expand...

How tall is she? I've been looking around at different bikes myself and I'm 5'4". So far, I've felt most comfortable on the Yamaha TT-R125LE but the suspension compressed under my weight (I'm an in shape chunk, if that makes sense;) ) I think I would end up liking the Honda CRF150 more but the weight bothered me. Most of my riding is going to be with my children so there will be a lot of stop and go, I'm sure and I might get more tired getting on and off the bike so much. Anyway, this is all coming from someone who has never ridden before soooo...don't pay any attention to me :) I guess I was just thinking out loud ;)

 

LoriKTM

Super Power AssClown

Oct 4, 1999

2,218

6

New Mexico

• Jul 16, 2004

• Thread starter
• #16

An update: The August, 2004 issue of Dirt Rider has an article on picking beginner bikes. They even had some quotes and pics from their female staff. :cool:

ALSO-- the same issue has a quick test on the KTM 105SX-- sounds like a very cool bike! Claims to have a lot more low-end torque than the 85, so it may make a good trail bike as well.

 

C

CNM

Sponsoring Member

Dec 28, 1999

359

0

• Jul 22, 2004

• #17

Great article! I've been trying to explain the differences to a freind of mine who is learning to ride. She's about my height (5'3") so I told her to try the TTR125-LE. She's had it about a year now and is progressing. She read the Dirt Rider article on the KTM 105 and got a wild hair and went and bought one. I can't believe she even found one. Anyway, I've ridden the bike and could tell a difference in the power immediately. Compared to my KX100, it has alot more bottom end. However, it seemed to be a little lacking on the top. In defense of the KTM, I was the first to ride it, so I wasn't going to go flat out. At least not until she is through with break in! It does feel a little taller but overall, I wish I had one!

 

J

jennifer

Member

Apr 3, 2002

168

0

• Jul 25, 2004

• #18

Nice Report. Well done. I would also recommend a DRZ250 four stroke for a beginner. The bike is very forgiving but has enough power for those who are a bit more daring.... it is a bit on the heavy side, however. I started dirtbiking on the Suzuki and am glad that I did. After a year of giving it a beating, I have now moved to a KTM 250 four stroke.

 

firecracker22

Sponsoring Member

Oct 23, 2000

3,213

0

• Jul 25, 2004

• #19

I have to add a new comment--I rode a KDX 200 this weekend, and what an AWESOME bike! It's a lot like my KTM only SO much more forgiving! I wish I had gotten one of those when I was a beginner! It was great, great fun to ride. I really liked it. I want to get one as a second bike.

 

B

Biker2B

Member

Jun 25, 2004

18

0

• Jul 26, 2004

• #20

Funny, that you say that! I've been reading that alot lately on different boards. WOuld you have found the height to be an issue as a beginner?

 

firecracker22

Sponsoring Member

Oct 23, 2000

3,213

0

• Jul 26, 2004

• #21

Depends on how tall the beginner is. If you're 5'7" or taller, you'd be fine. Shorter than that, probably not. At 5'7" (that's how tall I am) I felt fine on it, but my KTM is tall so I am used to it. However cutting down the seat would enable you to flat-foot on it. Also, many people have lowered KDXs with "dogbones" or lowering linkages.

 

P

pyrofreak

Member

Apr 9, 2003

819

0

• Jul 26, 2004

• #22

I think ya need to put some bigger bore bikes on there. Other than that GREAT job. Another thing ya could do if ya had any spare time is maybe somehow put a hieght/weight/ bike chart, now that would be cool. Hell yeah, keepin us girls in the game. Lol, great terminology though, i understand the "guy talk" but i have found myself using a few of your terms to describe bikes to some of my friends how arent quite (or not at all) up on the whole internal combustion engine thing. Lol, In Diver Ed, i was the only one of the whole class to get 100 on the test about engines and maintitaince, msotly cuz of bikes, lol, some girls even ahd trouble opening the hood, wow, glad im not one of them, lol, no offense ladies. Lol, Some one needs to make a book about motors for girls though for sure.

 

C

Camaro

Member

Feb 25, 2002

39

0

• Nov 16, 2004

• #23

I just got my girlfriend who is 5'4" a crf 150 and she loves it. prior to this she had only ridden a cr 80 and that was only for a few minutes but now she rides all the time without being afraid she's going to bite it on a little 2s. So far has been a great bike and i would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a smaller (bulletproof bike).

 

C

CSL

Member

Oct 30, 2000

86

0

• Dec 15, 2004

• #24

:cool:

As I am constantly on the lookout for CJ's next bike :debil: , I thought I'd pass along the link for this site. May be useful for those of you who want to get onto a bike but are deterred by the specs (height).

http://www.koubalink.com/

Cheers! - Will

 

S

surthngaz

Member

Feb 15, 2005

2

0

• Feb 15, 2005

• #25

I thought I was a wimp

Great article!! :worship:

Oh it was so nice to see another 80 rider also.

I'm 5'1 and like both feet on the ground, my 80 is perfect for me and as I'm new to this whole dirt thing feet on the ground is good. :laugh: