Bike for GF - what to choose?

[MAGIC]

So I'll be picking up a bike for my girlfriend (first bike, she never ridden before). Technically it'll be mine (on top of my XB9S) since I'll be paying for it. I have an option between 1986 HD Sportster 883 $1700 or 01 Buell Blast $1600. Prices are still negotiable. Other than that I don't know nothing about them or didn't see them in person yet. I will on Tuesday. Pics look great though.

What would you pick? And why? Thanks!

 

[Miami78]

I'd pick the blast. It's newer, cheaper, smaller, and not a sportster.

 

[delta one]

from what I know the pre '03 blast had some issues, sorry I don't know specifics but I may say the sporty on this one.
especially if she doesn't want to get into sport bikes, the 883 will be around longer before she wants to upgrade.
if she wants a sport bike I say keep shopping for a ninja or sv

 

[Hammel13]

I would stick with the blast. they are great for beginners and the older sportsters seem to have problems with rocker box leaks constantly. You can usually pick up a ninja 250 for around a grand, but if your trying to stay in the buell/hd brand then id choose the blast. just my opinion

 

[Dave A]

The Blast is newer and probably still has alot of life left in it. An 87 Sportser for $1700 sounds like problems, but may be a great buy. You'll know when you see and ride them both.-- Good luck on your purchase. But for her I'm thinkin Blast.

 

[Baal]

Why go with either one? Not to disparage either, but any of a number of bikes are better to learn on. While the low seating position seems like a good idea, it isn't really necessary (unless she's unusually short, I suppose). The big problem is the feet-forward riding position. Learning that way builds in bad habits, and disconnects the new rider from the feel and control inputs available with their feet more underneath them. I'd recommend you look for a Nighthawk 250 (not the Rebel), or a previous generation Ninja 250. There's also the 500cc Suzuki or Kawasaki twins.

Just my 0.02.

 

[MAGIC]

Keep the opinions coming.

I want Blast for her so we're gonna both look good riding together on Buells. She likes HD cause she would like a cruiser. Also price is a factor - I'm on budget + it'll be her first bike so if she'll dump it - oh well and keep going than crying for weeks if it'd be something newer and more expensive .

 

[xtremelow]

If those are your choices go with the Blast. Like mentioned an older bike will usually carry more issues.

Plus with the Blast you can still get parts from the dealers for cheap since they have them stocked for their Rider class bikes.

 

[delta one]

does she mind a metric cruiser?

lots of cheap honda shadows out there.
or even better get her on a nighthawk, those bikes are bomb proof.

 

[RT Performance]

get the blast.Plain simple if you drop it you may bend a brake or clutch lever.
I bought one for my gf this spring she road it 4k miles than started riding my xb9sx.
she loved the blast it gives you alot of confidance it is light and low

 

[dave_xb12r]

The the old "bike for a gf" trade? Keep the bike. Chicks are more maintenance

 

[anrkizm95]

my wife never rode until sept she started riding xb12 she loves it and has no problems.save your self some money down the road get the sporty its easy to add more power when she is ready.or just get her an xb9.

 

[treyflee]

When my wife started she started looking at 250s and such, because she was comfortable on them in the safety class. I didnt want to buy her one of those because she wouldnt be able to keep up well on rides/trips because some of those things dont top out high enough to travel on the interstate safely. Plus I figured she would 'outgrow' it very quickly. The blast would probably fall into this catagory.

We ended up get a lowered 883 used pretty cheap. The previous owner bought ALL the add ons. It had crash bars (very helpful), windsheild, saddle bags, etc. I did not have to buy all the accessories. She has dropped it a few times, broke a mirror, lever, blinker. All easy fixes and parts are readily available cheap (if you use OEM style stuff, not chrome).


Overall I would get a bike like a 883, buell 9, 600 metric. Something like that should be managable enough to learn, cheap/easy enough to fix (except maybe the buell) and she wont out grown it in 4 months.

Just my thoughts.

 

[BuellRiderX]

Everything I hear 'bout the pre '03 Blasts are horror stories .. If you can find one a bit newer, I say go for it. They're all pretty cheap.

 

[upthemaiden]

My dad had a sportster and even though the seat was very low, it still felt somewhat heavy. I started Heather on a GS500 but it was definitely still a little tall and heavy for her. Wish I would've found a ninja 250 when I was looking. Take her to see both and let her sit on them, there's no real point in trying to decide what's best for someone else. Even if she eventually wants a cruiser try to convince her that a beginner bike needs to be the easiest thing for her to ride, not what she wants to be on in the long run. Get her something little and then upgrade it in 6 months. At that point in time she'll have a better idea what she wants to ride on and won't just be going off the image of she thinks riding certain bikes would be like.

 

[stang65pony]

we picked my wife up an 09 ninja 250. she was a first time rider and took to it like a champ. fun to ride and handles great, just lacks balls of coarse which is fine for my wife cuz she probably shouldnt have a lot of hp anyhow lol. parts are all around too. got it for 3k

 

[kalifornia]

10-4 pony the kawi is the only good looking 250 and can be made to look cooler.

 

[kyle_dewald]

We have a '79 Harley (minimal problems), '98 Sporster (no problems), my '03 Firebolt (no problems now), and I've had an '01 Blast (no prblems). I would go with the blast, if she drops it the parts are cheap to replace as well as any other parts on it are much cheaper and it weights less as well as better fuel economy and an automatic choke. Both will still have carbs but the blast carb has no user input makiing it much easier.

 

[redrider]

the blast is what the motorcycle training classes use and i would have her take one of those classes first.i.m.o.

 

[crxtasy169]

Buy a xb12 and pass down the xb9!