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  #1  
Old 18 May 2009
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Small bike for my wife
My wife and I will arrive in Melbournein August (see my other post).
We've been around the world two up on our 1150GS.
My wife wish to travel with her own bike when we go around Australia.
I'll ride the GS with all our lugguage, so she does not need a bike to carry lugguage. We travel at slow speeds, 80 - 100km/h on good roads, even the long flat boring ones. She hasn't riden herself in about 5 years, so will need to build up the confidence again with a small bike. She is short, about 1.54m, so does not fit on any enduro style bike, not even the lowered F650. She also does not like a Cruiser style bike.
So we are looking to buy something with a low seat hight, light in weight, economical (25km/l or better) that can cruise at 100km/h all day long if we wish to do so.
I was thinking of a Suzuki Bandit 250, or something similar. Not sure how reliable these are? The GS500 is another option.
Any ideas?
Our budget is limited to Aus$2500.

Regards

Johan
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Old 19 May 2009
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It will be hard to find a bike that is that cheap, reliable, short enough and not a cruiser.
I'm 152cm. I'm on a lowered F650GS, can reach the ground, just. My other bike was a cruiser. Some of the 250cc sports bikes like the cbr or ninjas might work, but she'll be high up on her tippy toes.
Maybe a stock Honda CB250. Will be cheap and easy to find. Will need a low seat, even then, will still be on tippy toes.

Good luck finding something. Let me know what you find.

Bonnie
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Old 19 May 2009
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You could pick up an Xt 600 2000 onwards for less than that.
Good power dilivery easy to ride, just chuggs along, light weight.
Can do around 80 mph if needed.
My Mrs swears by her's
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Old 19 May 2009
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Honda CB400 is a great bike for a shorter rider if you are sticking to roads. Handles well, carries it's weight low and has a low seat (755mm). You can see a spec sheet here for the 2008 model, they have been around for a while so you should have a good chance of picking one up second hand.
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Old 22 May 2009
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The CB400 looks good, will it be possible to pick one up for $2500?
I've seen the 250 Bandit on Ebay for about $2500.
She fits nicely on a Yamaha 225 Serrow, but it is a bit too slow for my liking, dont want to ride at 70-80km/h along side with my GS.

XT600 sound good, but might be a bit tall, or can it be lowered easily?

We will be staying on the tarmack roads most of the time, and if we want to go off road, we'll park her bike and go both on the GS.

Johan
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Old 22 May 2009
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I had a CB-1.

Also a Honda 400cc in-line four, and absolutely brilliant. I do regret selling it. Unlike the CB400, it runs the gear-driven cam Babyblade engine. It makes about 45-50BHP, and is good for about 120mph, so motorway cruising is not a problem. Also good economy:55-60mpg.
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Old 24 May 2009
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short woman
I ride a HD dyna super glide lowered and customized and I am 5'.
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Old 3 Jun 2009
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Dynahd, I dont think I'll get a HD for $2500?

She (my wife) sat on a new BMW X-country yesterday and it will be perfect for her, but unfortunately we dont have a job or lots of money so that will have to wait untill such a time?
For now we'll get something cheap or she might just stay on the back seat of the 1150.
Johan
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Old 3 Jun 2009
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Hopefully you should be able to get some ideas from this site -
Starting Small
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Old 17 Jun 2009
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Thanks Hustler for that link. I can only agree 100% with that page. I've seen too many biginner bikers killing themselves on fast sportbikes. Those things need to be respected.

My wife had a Suzuki SV650 as her first bike about 7 or 8 years ago. She admits that it was a too big machine to learn riding on and was never comfortable on it, so she is keen to get started again on something more basic.
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Old 17 Jun 2009
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I'd head along to Elizabeth St in Melb, tonnes of bike shops including a few 2nd hand shops. You'll find something there easily.

I did a brief stint working at A1 in Melb, they have a couple of stores selling 2nd hand bikes but not located in Elizabeth St.

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Old 17 Jun 2009
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Quote:
a bit too slow for my liking, dont want to ride at 70-80km/h along side with my GS.
Best is to first ride pillion until your wife has enough experience to keep up with you normal travel speeds. It will place pressure on her to keep up.
Sounds like she has riden in the past, so it should not take long to get back into the swing of things.
I agree with the CB 1 Honda 400cc. Low seat height, fast enough 1 up and reliable. As long as you only want to ride tarmac.
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Old 17 Jun 2009
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Moto Guzzi Breva 750. My wife has one. Have done only 60000 km's but every one of them have been trouble free. Easily maintained and cheap to buy. Adventure rider Carla King (Carla King Home Page) rode one on one of her journeys and seemed to like it. No definite off roader, but it handles gravel very well.
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Old 26 Jun 2009
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I did some 'homework' and thinking again, and think that maybe a V-twin is the way to go. We recently met a German guy who travelled around the world with his Yamaha Virago 535. When we saw him the bike has done 160,000ks without any problems. Its low, reliable, afordable, easy to ride and has more than enough power to flow with any trafic.
It seems that small 4 cylinder bikes are not very fuel effecient, giving the same or less consumpsion than my GS (15 - 19km/l)
I know wife does not like the cruiser looks, but I'm sure once she test ride one and feel comfortable on it looks will become less of an issue.

thank you for all your advice, I will keep you posted.

Johan
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Old 13 Aug 2009
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Hi. We have landed and are now in Melbourne. We have one month before the GS arrives, and will head over to Perth as soon as it comes. That gives us one month to buy a bike and get it ready for the big Round Australia trip.
We've decided to go with a small Trail bike like a XT225, SL230, 200 Bushlander, TW200 or something like that. Been to Elisabeth street in town today and visited the few bike shops there, but they dont have what we're looking for.
Any advice where to look?
I'm keeping an eye on ebay and gumtree too.

johan
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