Question about motorcycles...

[Black Diamond Bay]

I jokingly mentioned to my roommate the other day that I should get a motorcycle for my commute. She freaked out and told me that I would never be able to handle riding a motorcycle. She says I'm too small, and that even a small bike would be too difficult for me to handle.

I do realize that there is every possibility that she's right. However, the whole conversation was kind of a problem for me. I guess I don't like to have her try and boss me around telling me what I am, and am not capable of doing. I don't really think she knows what she's talking about.

Anyway, can someone please tell me if you're aware of a motorcycle that is small enough for a woman to ride? Not a bullet bike, it has to be a normal motorcycle.

[MikeWaters]

of course there is.

but as a former motorcycle rider, I wouldn't recommend you (or anyone else) get one.

the math is against you when you're on a bike.

[Black Diamond Bay]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

of course there is.

but as a former motorcycle rider, I wouldn't recommend you (or anyone else) get one.

the math is against you when you're on a bike.

Trust me, I'm not going to be buying a motorcycle. I have absolutely no idea how to ride one. I'm just trying to make a point. Where could I find such a bike?

[nikuman]

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

of course there is.

but as a former motorcycle rider, I wouldn't recommend you (or anyone else) get one.

the math is against you when you're on a bike.

I agree completely. But that's not stopping me from finally getting myself a Harley when I pay off the last of my student loans. I even have the one picked out.

[Lost Student]

Originally Posted by Black Diamond Bay

I jokingly mentioned to my roommate the other day that I should get a motorcycle for my commute. She freaked out and told me that I would never be able to handle riding a motorcycle. She says I'm too small, and that even a small bike would be too difficult for me to handle.

I do realize that there is every possibility that she's right. However, the whole conversation was kind of a problem for me. I guess I don't like to have her try and boss me around telling me what I am, and am not capable of doing. I don't really think she knows what she's talking about.

Anyway, can someone please tell me if you're aware of a motorcycle that is small enough for a woman to ride? Not a bullet bike, it has to be a normal motorcycle.

I learned how to ride a motorcycle when I was 8 (dirt bike). My parents bought a bike that was small enough for me to handle. I'm guessing that you are bigger than 8-year-old me was, so you should be okay.

[Black Diamond Bay]

Originally Posted by Lost Student

I learned how to ride a motorcycle when I was 8 (dirt bike). My parents bought a bike that was small enough for me to handle. I'm guessing that you are bigger than 8-year-old me was, so you should be okay.

Yes, but we aren't talking about a dirt bike here. We're talking like the kind of bike you see people riding around town on.

[Sleeping in EQ]

As a former rider (I gave up the donor cycle after a close call), I can affirm that a woman can ride any bike a man can if she's willing to put the time into learning how to maneuver it (just as a man would have to do).

Upper body strength can help with a long ride, but most of riding a big bike is just practice, balance, and confidence.

But you wouldn't want to commute on a motorcycle anyway (I know you just want to make a point with your roommate). Commuting is maximum risk with minimum enjoyment.

[Black Diamond Bay]

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

As a former rider (I gave up the donor cycle after a close call), I can affirm that a woman can ride any bike a man can if she's willing to put the time into learning how to maneuver it (just as a man would have to do).

Upper body strength can help with a long ride, but most of riding a big bike is just practice, balance, and confidence.

But you wouldn't want to commute on a motorcycle anyway (I know you just want to make a point with your roomate). Commuting is maximum risk with minimum enjoyment.

Hmmm...good to know. I'll make sure I pass that piece of information along.

It seems like it would be a lot faster, and lot cheaper to ride a bike to work every day, instead of driving a car. The only catch is that were I to ever get a motorcycle, I would never take one on the freeways out here. I have passed by the mangled remains of a motorcycle or two on the 405 right after an accident. Can't imagine what the riders must have looked like. No thanks.

[non sequitur]

Originally Posted by Sleeping in EQ

As a former rider (I gave up the donor cycle after a close call), I can affirm that a woman can ride any bike a man can if she's willing to put the time into learning how to maneuver it (just as a man would have to do).

Upper body strength can help with a long ride, but most of riding a big bike is just practice, balance, and confidence.

But you wouldn't want to commute on a motorcycle anyway (I know you just want to make a point with your roommate). Commuting is maximum risk with minimum enjoyment.

I agree up to a point. When you're actually riding, what you say is true. Bikes have a low center of gravity and it doesn't take a lot of strength to maneuver them. The problem is when you're going very low speeds or are stopped or are trying to back the bike up. I have a good friend who has an 800cc cruiser and she does fine until she has to back to it up. She always makes me help her back it into a parking space.

[DirtyHippieUTE]

Mrs. Hippie had a classmate who commuted on a bike. I believe it was a CBR 600.

I've seen tons of girls here in Idaho on bikes. Most of them can get away with a much smaller bike < 600cc because they don't have to pull as much weight (or compensate for having a small penis).

There are many bikes that are great for women and I don't see how it would be any different for a woman to handle a bike vs. a man of smaller stature.

When I was smaller (5'9" 150 lbs) I rode around on a friend's Harley. It weighed a ton and if I had ever let it tip I doubt I could have stopped it or gotten it back upright without help but I was fine.