Bit of bike advice please.....

[Polarbear]

My missus, who has been riding big (as in 600 size) bikes for a couple of years now has just had a couple of low speed offs that have totally screwed her confidence. She is fine when riding, but whenever she is in a confined situation I have to move her bike for her.

I wanted some opinions on what bikes she could try that are light & low but quite powerful and not cruiser style or out and out sports bkes.

She has a water cooled bandit at the moment which would be traded in for whatever is next on the list.

Cheers guys
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

SV650/Gladius?
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[calyx]

She would feel more confident and comfortable with a ninja 250.
Bigger the cc, heavier the bike.. IMHO 250 Ninja is a perfect girly bike.
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Mudskipper]

CB1?

Monster 4/6?
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[Bendy]

When she's in a confined situation, DON'T move the bike for her.

She'll get her confidence back by doing the things she'd not confident doing, not by changing the bike. That might involve her getting very pissed off at you, but then she'll get pissed off at herself and hopefully 'man up' and just get on with it.

At best, you're gonna save what, 20kg by changing bike. Even little 400s are still heavy. If she could cope with the heavy bike before she can cope with it again.

[Valver]

[njd27]

[Gunny]

I`d go for SV650 as well
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[Ichy]

I don't think Babyyam is very tall and she seems happy enough with her zephyr.
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[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[Valver]

I can't imagine an SV being any easier to maneuver than a bandit. Is it a fairly new bike she would be looking for?

Edited due to muppetry

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[map]

Go bigger.
The old K12100LT has a reverse gear and a hydraulic (automatic) centre stand.

Plus with all that luggage there's bound to be space for all the makeup and clothes.

That's why my missus is wanting one
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[Polarbear]

Thanks for the input.

By powerful, I would say about the same power as her bandit as her riding on the road is fine.

Bendy, we were at Poole last night and she wouldn't move her bike out incase she went over onto another. I couldn't really not move it for her, but I know what you are saying.

I was thinking of something along the lines of a monster or similar, but I'm not sure it would be an improvemnt over what she has.
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[extreme3d]

How about a Buell? The XB12Scg is just about the lowest bike I've ever sat on, yet with a 1200cc twin its not exactly short on power.

[Bendy]

[yambabe]

[iooi]

[Seb]

ZZR600s have a very low seat, not especially light though.
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[G]

[Tonka]

I was at Poole last night and it was very busy and tbh it's a real test of confidence, as there are so many factors. It's one thing dropping your bike, another doing it in front of loads of other bikers and randoms, then there's risking knocking into another bike and it's really tight parking on a busy night. I don't think being nervous of parking up last night is extraordinary.

I've a lowered SV650 and I'm local, so if she'd like to have a try she's very welcome. Another thing though is a girl I ride out with has just swapped from an SV650 to a Bandit and had a low speed drop recently. The general consensus is that it wouldn't have happened on the SV (it didn't in the 2 years she had it) and it was down to the extra height of the Bandit making it more difficult.

Just a thought - feet down gives you confidence and even if it's all psychosomatic who cares.
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[Bendy]

Did the drops happen on the Bandit or on a previous bike?

[Polarbear]

[Polarbear]