I know very little about motorcycles, but I'm learning.

I have a daughter who loves motorcycles and she will be turning 18 soon. She already has a motorcycle endorsement, been through motorcycle safety courses and has been riding other people's motorcycles for three years.

I've been reluctant to get her one for safety purposes. I can't stop her as an adult. I'm open to getting her one as a graduation present.

Currently she is taking Automotive Technology at a tech school as part of her senior year. She is the only female in her class. She wants to continue tech school after high school to get an Associates in Automotive Technology. So she is really into this.

She has all the safety gear, three motorcycle helmets, including one of those $700 ones. She visits the motorcycle shop all the time to the point she has friends there.

I was going to get her a 300, as reviews say it's good for female riders because they are light and very forgiving. But she says they are too slow, like a moped and really wants a 600.

Some warn that 600s are too much bike for a beginner. But if anyone can help steer me in the right direction.

At first I thought it was a passing phase, but she has really been sticking to this for several years now that I can tell it's a passion. So I want to send her off right, but as a father, want wants safe for her.

She's been riding for 3 years, so she already has good experience, and may have a preference. You'd likely be best off taking her to a shop to see what she likes/what fits. I'd recommend starting with a used Yamaha R6 and going from there. 600cc would be the minimum I'd want for riding in traffic around other cars.

quote Originally posted by Wichita: But she says they are too slow, like a moped and really wants a 600.

This always concerns me as a parent. Most 250cc bikes do 0-60 in under 6 seconds with close to 125mph top speed. A 600 goes 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. Not sure what her hurry is but I guess whatever she wants, she'll eventually buy on her own so go for the 600 if that's what she really wants.

Man, I can understand what you're feeling. I don't really know anything about motorcycles, but if it's going to be her first bike, and it's coming from dad... I would want to make it memorable. Not something that's insanely powerful like a Hyabasu Ninja Gaiden 6000cc ZXC Deluxe TwinTurbo SomethingSomething... but perhaps a motorcycle that's a bit more timeless that she really likes. Bikes are easier to keep, and she'll probably want to keep it forever as it will remind her of dad many years after you're gone. I'm with you on the speed thing... that makes me nervous... it's why I got my daughter a 4 cyl Fiero rather than a V6. But as someone else here said... maybe the surprise is that you buy her a bike, and then go with her, that way she can pick it out and she'll be able to get something exactly like she wants.

Wichita, I am not a girl, though I am a Father with a Daughter.

I rode bikes from an early age starting with mini bikes. Then dirt bikes. (I once had a Harley Davidson 250, two stroke.)



Notice the front and rear forks.

I never had ridden a 350 or a 600 but when I got my first street bike I chose an 83 Kawasaki 750 Spectre. I was basically a beginer.



Notice no chrome and gold anodized engine and forks. Drive shaft driven and it also had self canceling turn signals. Very nice bike and only weighed 471 lbs (IIRC). A very nice bike, which I will never forget.

I did not want a bike which would only make me want a more powerful one.

I mention all this because her first bike is going to be one she remembers, good or not so good. I suggest you visit your daughter's thoughts on what kind of bike she wants. I also think there must be a female biker forum or biker forum female sub section. Ask members what they think instead of published reviews. Where you can engage them in conversation. They likely will inspire thoughts.

Is your daughter on any bike forums ?

My best to you and your daughter.

Reviews are much like polls. They are not all that.

quote Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: But as someone else here said... maybe the surprise is that you buy her a bike, and then go with her, that way she can pick it out and she'll be able to get something exactly like she wants.

I agree completely. I was going to suggest the Yamaha R3, but if she is set on a 600 anything smaller than the R6 will disappoint her. I remember how it was when I was that age.... If I asked for an R6 my parents would have twisted my arm as to why I should settle for an R3, and than I'd wake up on Christmas day to find they'd bought an "R1.5" or some such nonsense instead. For the record, I thought the R3 was plenty fast but admittedly that is the only bike I've ever ridden.

What type of bike does she want? IE sport bike, street, bike, cruiser, dual purpose?

What is she like physically? Height/weight?


Being 18 and a new rider it is question of when she will go down, not if she goes down. Just a function of being a new rider. By going down I don't mean an high speed accident, it could just be having a foot slip moving the bike at low speeds. Before she get sa bike the first recommendation is for her to take the MSF safety course and try the bikes they provide. Second hard recommendation is to get a used bike to start.

now getting into more particulars.
Anything in the 250 to 400 cc is a reasonable starter size range and a prudent choice, just expect to be moving up in size a year or two after some experience. Think Rebel, DRZ400, Baby Ninja

Next I would recommend the 650 2 cylinder size range. Suzuki SV650 or VStrom, Kawasaki Ninja 650 or Versys, or maybe a Honda CBR500.

I would not recommend any 4 cylinder high rev'ing bikes as a starter ie anything in the 600 or 750 cc range.

She really into the sports bikes. She isn't opposed to the R3, but believes she can handle a larger bike because she has risen then a few times.

I'm going to lean towards the R3, just as some said here, that no doubt it's going to take a fall, and you don't want an expensive bike to do that. She is fairly tall, slim and strong for a teenager, so she could handle an 600cc I'm sure, but I'm just thinking about just for getting experience, but nothing super low like a 150cc and below.

I'm going to make sure it has antilock brakes though. That's a must. So it will be a newer bike 2017/18 at the oldest (the years when antilock brakes became standard or options in most bikes).

Her daily driver and school car Chrysler Crossfire, so you can imagine her reputation at school is that's she's the sporter type.

quote Originally posted by Wichita: Her daily driver and school car Chrysler Crossfire, so you can imagine her reputation at school is that's she's the sporter type.

That's pretty cool! How does she like that car? I've thought about getting one over the years, they are wildly underpriced right now, but really good cars. I realize of course it's basically a Mercedes... any thoughts on it?

quote Originally posted by 82-T/A [At Work]: That's pretty cool! How does she like that car? I've thought about getting one over the years, they are wildly underpriced right now, but really good cars. I realize of course it's basically a Mercedes... any thoughts on it?

I like it and so does she. We had to a few things to it, but it has high miles, so that's expected. Some things are ok to work on, other things not so much. Parts aren't bad and not too expensive. Yes, it's pretty much 95% a Mercedes. Damn thing has 12 spark plugs. Overall it's tons of fun.

My first bike was a KZ400. I barely knew how to ride. Even dropped it in the front yard. (Kickstand sunk into the ground. Rookie mistake. Did I mention that I barely knew how to ride?)
I outgrew that bike in fairly short order. Ended up buying an old POS Triumph Bonneville, and then a Honda 750 Custom. (Cruiser style.)
After that I bought a VF1100F - aka V65 Sabre. That was my last bike. I ended up quitting riding about the time that cellphones and SUVs simultaneously became popular. (I always picture a little bitty blonde woman driving a Tahoe, and turning in front of... people.)

One bike that I've always wanted, even to this day, was a Honda CB-1. It was a "naked" 400 cc 4 cylinder. Very small, but also (I would imagine) very light and "tossable".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CB-1
That's the one thing I missed about the KZ400 when I went to the larger bikes. You could almost think it around bends.

The CB-1 gradually evolved into the "599". aka, the Honda Hornet. The engine is a detuned CBR600F Later versions made 102 HP. It's very similar to the CB-1. I still look at (and lust after) those from time to time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_CB600F

There was also a 1000F Hornet, but we won't go there.

I know this doesn't help a whole lot, but these are older motorcycles, by now, and may be had fairly cheap.

[This message has been edited by Raydar (edited 03-07-2025).]

My girlfriend is tiny, her first and last bike was a 650 and its still in the garage. 200 Miles on it. She still loves motorcycles but riding the wrong bike in CA has removed her desire to ride.

Make sure that whatever she gets it fits her. That she can master the controls and her feet touch the ground.
Nothing wrong with a sports bike but she should sit on as many different kinds as possible. Do not let her fall in love with a bike that will treat her badly. Do not tell her to not love the bike that will treat her badly. Try to introduce her to the nice young bike that will treat her well and give her a good ride and not leave her on the side of the road.

Same mentality as those young men that are coming to your door.

https://www.fiero.nl/forum/...050818-6-031735.html

I am an avid motorcyclist, I have three Honda Valkyries, two are two wheelers and one is a trike. All of my bikes have the same engine, 1520 cc flat sixes, the two cruisers (2 wheelers) weigh about 800 lbs. (wet). While definitely not starter bikes, if riding with maturity, easily handled but, they can be a handful when you twist the throttle. The trike I bought due to some bad knees.

This I can and will state, there are only two kinds of Bikers, those who have crashed and those who will. I did crash a few years ago and that crash was not in anyway my fault according to witnesses. I don't remember any of it. I got run off the road by a cage (SUV) that passed so close to me that the vehicle fender mirror, door handle, something clipped my handle bars and caused me to crash into a concrete wall at 60 mph. The posted speed limit. I was in a body cast (14 broken bones, 5 of those being ribs broken in my chest and my back, punctured lungs, shattered wrist that now has titanium plates and screws holding it together, brain injury and so on) but, I still love riding. Yes, I was wearing $700 helmet.

My whole point of the above is, regardless of how careful and defensive your daughter rides, she will be in danger of those who simply don't look for motorcycles. I can't tell you how many close calls I've had. This, I guarantee, cage drivers will tailgate her, happens all the time.

My Valkyries are big cruiser bikes, it's hard IMHO to not see them so that makes me believe that most cage drivers just don't give a damn unless the vehicle in their way is big enough to actually present a danger to them. Your daughter would not be interested in a bike like mine.

I've owned and ridden many different motorcycles, you couldn't give me what we call a "SPLAT" bike, the kind your daughter likes but, to each their own.
Regardless, if that's what your daughter wants, whether you buy her one or not, she'll eventually get one on her own or continue to ride someone else's.

Reference size of the engine, sport bikes of 600 cc can still hit 140 mph and above. Regardless of what she tells you about being a safe rider, we all test our own limits eventually and there's not a damn thing a parent can do about it. Much of what I might suggest will depend on where she rides and what kind of traffic she might be encountering. I live relatively close to Memphis, TN, I hate riding in big cities and will ride 50 miles out of my intended route to avoid that traffic if I can.

The weight of the bike is very important, lighter weight bikes are normally easier to handle. Seat height is also very important, she must be able to put both feet firmly on the asphalt when stopped. If she can't, the bike is too tall and eventually, she'll have an incident, this I promise.

I've been riding over 50 years, have taken several safety courses but even now, heavy/speeding traffic gets my complete attention.

They won't let me fly helicopters any longer, something about my ticker, age and other things.
But, I love getting into the wind.

What I will say (as the parent of two adult offspring is, if they have to buy it themselves, they tend to take better care of it.

Here are mine. If you would like to discuss this further, PM me and we can trade phone numbers.



Edited: Oh, BTW. She'll be riding with others, there will always be a "Leader of the Pack" who usually tries to prove just how good and how fast he/she can ride. Get to know the group, invite them to join in different activities. There is no doubt in my mind you'll figure out who is most likely to be in the next incident/accident. Best wishes, I'm just happy my offspring are past this phase. Oh yeah, both ride and both went through my own experience with their mother. They learned a lot in what can happen.

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Rams
Learning most of life's lessons the hard way. .
You are only young once but, you can be immature indefinitely.

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 03-11-2025).]

Great post blackrams !