I ride an 883cc cruiser (Harley-Davidson Sportster) and I'm looking for a sport bike for my fiancé, she's never ridden before (excluding a 125cc dirt bike) and before she gets on the road she's going to go through Harley-Davidson's beginning rider course so she'll get a weekend on a Buell Blast, but it's not a lot.
I want to start her on a bike that has a good center of balance and has enough power to get her out of tight spots, but isn't overpowered. I was originally thinking a 600cc class bike, but with some research I've learned that the difference between a 600cc sport bike and an 883cc cruiser is bigger than I thought and I'm now thinking something closer to a 450cc or even a 250cc bike.
As I said, I ride a 883cc bike and I'm kind of basing all this off of that, she doesn't seem to care much about anything but the looks, and I'm hoping that will change after she has a few hours under her belt and we will probably not get her bike until she forms some stronger opinions about power, handling, riding position, etc.
So in short I'm looking for Brands and CC ranges I should look at, specific models would be nice, I think we are both going to do the test rides when we go out shopping.
Side Note:
Under-powered recommendations are okay, she originally wanted a 1200cc XR1200X from Harley, but I told her no way in hell is she getting that as a first bike, the max she is allowed is an 883 like mine, and if she gets a sport bike I'm thinking less
I want to start her on a bike that has a good center of balance and has enough power to get her out of tight spots, but isn't overpowered. I was originally thinking a 600cc class bike, but with some research I've learned that the difference between a 600cc sport bike and an 883cc cruiser is bigger than I thought and I'm now thinking something closer to a 450cc or even a 250cc bike.
As I said, I ride a 883cc bike and I'm kind of basing all this off of that, she doesn't seem to care much about anything but the looks, and I'm hoping that will change after she has a few hours under her belt and we will probably not get her bike until she forms some stronger opinions about power, handling, riding position, etc.
So in short I'm looking for Brands and CC ranges I should look at, specific models would be nice, I think we are both going to do the test rides when we go out shopping.
Side Note:
Under-powered recommendations are okay, she originally wanted a 1200cc XR1200X from Harley, but I told her no way in hell is she getting that as a first bike, the max she is allowed is an 883 like mine, and if she gets a sport bike I'm thinking less