What bike for my wife?

[cookie]

It was faultless for the two years she had it - press the button and off she went

Andres

The one I tested was kickstart only.

 

[vette]

Yamaha Serow 250.

.
Hi Harleyta,

That does look a sweet looking bike.
I should try to find the seat height.
Never noticed it before, never on the radar.
When where they first made?

The two bikes that stick out at the moment are the 125cc Vara' and this Serow.

Please keep the suggestions coming.
As a reminder, her is just 5 foot 5 inch, and 99 lbs.

Gra.


Gra

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

The one I tested was kickstart only.

Whilst sharing some common parts the 400 & 600 were quite different. Electric start, monoshock and a few other things that I can't now remember. I 'think' the 400 was never officially imported into the UK, only as a grey import?

Andres

 

[Aidan1150]

Which got me to thinking............what about a Varadero 125, physically big for a 125 but not a big bike IYSWIM.

.I am sure they are not that heavy?
Cruise at 50 to 60 mph?

The Vara is easily capable of all day 60mph cruising but may be a little high for your wife Gra.

The 250 Serrow, if even a quarter as good a bike as the 225 will be a cracker and the seat height should be less of an issue.

You know your next step now lad, you'll have to get her onto each of them as that's the only way to know which bike is going to be the one.

 

[mikeyboy]

cb500 gets my vote,i think you wife would soon get bored of a tt250 or serow on longer road rides and neither are very comfy.the cb is cheap,reliable,frugal and comfy

 

[vette]

cb500 gets my vote,i think you wife would soon get bored of a tt250 or serow on longer road rides and neither are very comfy.the cb is cheap,reliable,frugal and comfy

.
You must be joking.
The CB500 is far to heavy.

The Serow does look good an low.

When we will be out, it's not going to be any sort of wacky races, more of a "get there when we do" sort of thing.

I can't find any Serow's on Ebay, are they a new bike?

250cc is more than enough for her.
We both did the length of Vietnam, Hanoi to Siagon, over a month, on Honda 110cc bikes,

So from 110cc to 250cc is sensible.

Gra.

Gra.

 

[Voyager]

Hi Graham,

I'm glad to see that you're moving in the right circles now

A 125 is a long way from a Landcruiser

Bob Murphy.

 

[vette]

Hi Bob,

Yes, looking to get us a bike each for when we get back to UK for a summer season holiday.

I have the gut feeling the 125cc is big (powerful) enough, and that 250cc should be the absolute max.

Just needs to me low.

Her also like the buggy things also.
.
Gra.

 

[MarkShelley]

Serows are fairly rare here in the UK as they were not an official import. Have you tried searching under XT225 also because that is their model designation?

 

[harleyta]

The Serow or XT250 is the newer version of the XT225. They are fairly rare in the UK as they were not officially imported, but you can find them. The XT225 is more common and a fair bit cheaper. They were manufactured from 1989 to 2005, when the XT250 took over.

I have also had an xt225, and they are still great bikes. The off roaders really like them. I find the cruising speed of the XT250 slightly better and feels a smoother bike.

At 5'5", your wife would have no problem with either the XT225 or the XT250 and would be able to flat foot both bikes.

For more information on these bikes there is a great forum here

http://www.xt225.com/


Here is an xt225 on Ebay. Not the cheapest, but a good condition one.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-XT...0372809?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item43b8087cc9

 

[vette]

Thanks HarleyTA,

The XT225 or the XT250 do look quite good.

But to be honest, I don't want to pay just on £2000 for one.

I have started to look at the older bikes, ie, Honda XL 185cc, and similar.

The think I notice with the older bikes is a wider seat.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-XL1...8742860?pt=UK_Motorcycles&hash=item3a7dcdce4c

Gra.

 

[andy5329]

My wife is riding at the moment a 650 x country,the small yellow version and she loves it.I know its not a 250 but there light,easy to move around and there not super quick.
I have spent a small fortune over the last two years finding the right bike,at last I have.

We waited for the lowered version it took about six months to find.But now she can move it around in the garage without me worrying she will bump my bikes,drive it round town and get both feet down and she is happy to go off the beaten track with it.
Thumbs up for me.

 

[andy5329]

Oh yes sorry,we paid 1800 for it with 16,000 on the clock,quick Bm service 300 pound later its running perfect.