What bike do I get my wife?

[Trialwench]

Hey bundubasher-
I met your friend Wendy at the VSTA ride at LL back in October . . I let her ride a P250 then. A month ago, Wendy and her husband were back to see if Wendy could start the P250 and she could! She was SO excited!

I'm gonna be in Colorado for the National Trials in August 10-11 and the UTE Cup - but we'll be trail riding in between doing some of Colorado's most narliest single tracks. I plan on taking my P280. Some of the guys around here that I've sold P280's to can't wait to get them to Colorado, as they are so excited to take their motorized mountain goat to some really tough trails out there.

Back to the origin of this thread - BIKE FOR WIFE. I teach alot of people to ride a motorcycle from scratch. I would not put a 5'2" person on the XR100 we have. It's for littlier riders under 5'0". I would put someone over this height on a DR125 to learn on, because it will FIT their body better. When a rider's physical size overcomes a bike, they will have a hard time learning how to properly turn it, use the brakes, etc. - there knees are bent too far to learn how to shift and brake and then get their feet back on the footpegs properly. So, I would go for a taller bike, and proper fit is being on the balls of your feet when you touch the ground. So, to the originator of this post - I would dismiss the XR100, and go for a TTR125. She'll gain alot of confidence in less than 6 months - then get rid of it and get a Pampera. As a new rider will start wanting to go more places and do more difficult trails, these TTR's - 125's and 225's become harder to ride and actually take a very skilled rider to ride them up decent hills, over rocky, narrow terrain, etc. The Pampera is effortless because it is a trials based engine with TONS of torque that is a cross between a John Deer Tractor and a Mt. Goat!

 

[HGilliam]

Every word she said is true. We had a DR200(same as DR125), a TTR125L, and have a XR100 (for nephews) and Terry presently has a 250 Pampera that she loves to ride.

Toolman

 

[jimmies]

WOW!!!:eek:

Thanks for all the great information, you guys really seem to know your stuff. My wife has read all these posts and I think we are leaning towards getting the Pampara. She dosn't want to have to change bikes in a year and I dont want her too either$$$$.

A couple more questions we have though.....

1. Can we lower the pampara to about 31" seat ht? if so how would we do it?
2. If the 250cc and 280cc are the same price why would we not get the 280?


Thanks for all the great input.

 

[CJ Rider]

Well before insisting that you MUST get down to a 31” seat height, have your wife actually sit on one. They are REALLY narrow and REALLY light. I was all ready to do suspension work before I sat on mine, but then just cutting the seat down and inch was all I needed. I’m a few inches shorter than your wife at 4’10” tall.

That being said...

First thing I did was to take apart the seat, take a knife (electric turkey knife works great, but any old sharp knife will do) cut out about an inch of padding, and then staple the cover back on. That takes it from 34” to 33”.

Next thing to try: HGilliam posted quite a detailed description of how he lengthened the pullrod to lower the bike. I think he got Terry’s bike down around 32” without cutting the seat at all. (PM him for details.)

I think those two things together would get you where you want to be. But like I said, have her sit on it first. She may not need all that.

Go ahead and get that 280cc bike; don’t see any down side to it. I rode one side by side with my 250cc and it does have a little more zip and both were just as easy to kick start. But heck, they both have plenty of zip! You should SEE this hill my bike went up this past weekend!

 

[BunduBasher]

You should SEE this hill my bike went up this past weekend!

:) next time you'll be on the bike , eh CJ :confused:

 

[CJ Rider]

heehee... You caught that, huh? 'Though I'd wait for you to get here for that! :cool:

 

[Girlrider]

It even went up the long steep one in 2nd gear. Not a bad bike if you ask me but certainly more mild than my GG 250 XC. CJ rode it once and I don't think she will ride it again.:p

 

[Rodzilla]

Originally posted by CJ Rider

Funny; lately everybody kicks me off my bike for a try. So, I have a try on their bikes while I'm waiting. This has been great fun! There're many bikes with good qualities that I never would have expected (open mind here). However, I wouldn't trade any of 'em for my Pampera (open mind door just slammed shut)! (AH! j/k! Tippy toe is one thing, but my feet hang a foot above the ground on most of these bikes! The flying dismount is NOT that graceful.)

Hey I thought the "tall" seat foam on my KTM made the bike custom fit for you!!:)

Yea, the flying dismount is not graceful but it's fun to watch!!:scream: :scream:

So I'm guessing you're not interested in trading when we ride Slickrick CJ?
I'd be willing to "make do" with your scooter;)

Rod

 

[BunduBasher]

Check out a great write up on the Pampera 250 - not justa chick bike .... more like a chique byque ;)

http://ds.dial.pipex.com/merlinbooks/mypamp.html

look around at the site, there is some good Gas Gas Info http://ds.dial.pipex.com/merlinbooks/motoggpampera.html

and

http://ds.dial.pipex.com/merlinbooks/motogas.html :cool:

check out these pics of a very cool old gen Pampera.

http://ds.dial.pipex.com/merlinbooks/bp1.jpg
http://ds.dial.pipex.com/merlinbooks/bp2.jpg
http://ds.dial.pipex.com/merlinbooks/bp3.jpg
http://ds.dial.pipex.com/merlinbooks/bc4.jpg

 

[E-Ticket]

agree with CJ... adjusting the seat foam is an easy, "recoverable" modification that can really help with height issues. That's what Susan did with her old Seca II 600. After the seat mod, she was ready to go!

But.... before you cut the seat or make any other mods. Properly set the sag and adjustments... and then try to go for a couple of rides in a really easy area. You might just surprise yourself!!

Somtimes all that is needed is just a bit of time to get used to bike. You might find out you like it just the way it is!

There are tons of threads on forums where everybody has done x, y, and z and then ended right back where they started. So do try "stock" before getting too silly.

Cheers! E-Ticket