Well My Girlfriend Is Taking MSF!

[Amber Lamps]

Yep my girlfriend just left to sign up for MSF and I don't know how to handle the situation... I have a hard time riding in a car with her driving, much less with her behind me on a bike! She's got it in her head that she wants a bike and her family put almost $4,000 in her pockets from her birthday so she certainly can afford one. She wanted a 600 but I told her that if she wants a real girl's bike, she'll get a SV650 or Ninja 650R... Just kidding! Actually, I showed her the Ninja 250 in the blue which she really likes so she put a deposit on it and it should be in next month. While we're waiting I'm also looking at those UM bikes... I've seen about 5 of them in the past couple weeks and there's a dealer not too far away.

[CrazyKell]

That's great she's learning to ride and taking the MSF.

I wish I'd taken it! Good choice on the 250 too!

[wildchild]

that's great she's learning to ride. I like it much better that way. My girl started riding quite a while ago.

I do have one thought though. I always see people as you mentioned with their new riders in the back. I usually make my newbies ride in front of me. This does a few things for me. number one it makes them make decisions about riding on their own. They can't just blindly follow me which is what most newbies will do.
number two it keeps cars off of their butt. I can handle the pressure of a car right on our ass as we ride at newbie speed better then someone who is just trying to figure out which gear they should be in.
three: I can watch how they ride. body position,shifting/braking/accelerating smoothness and offer advice as needed.
fourth and probably most important. we ride at their pace. they never feel pressured to keep up with me.

i have taught a number of people to ride successfully and this has always worked. they are a little timid at first about being in front but they get used to it quick.

the ninja 250 is an awesome first bike.

[CrazyKell]

If I'm out with a new rider I put them at the front too but make sure they know not to keep looking in their mirrors excessively.

I almost crashed as a newbie because I was too focused on what was going on behind me.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by wildchild

that's great she's learning to ride. I like it much better that way. My girl started riding quite a while ago.

I do have one thought though. I always see people as you mentioned with their new riders in the back. I usually make my newbies ride in front of me. This does a few things for me. number one it makes them make decisions about riding on their own. They can't just blindly follow me which is what most newbies will do.
number two it keeps cars off of their butt. I can handle the pressure of a car right on our ass as we ride at newbie speed better then someone who is just trying to figure out which gear they should be in.
three: I can watch how they ride. body position,shifting/braking/accelerating smoothness and offer advice as needed.
fourth and probably most important. we ride at their pace. they never feel pressured to keep up with me.

i have taught a number of people to ride successfully and this has always worked. they are a little timid at first about being in front but they get used to it quick.

the ninja 250 is an awesome first bike.

Oh I've taught several people to ride as well, and am actually a huge proponent of putting the "slower" riders in front to set the pace. I was just "turning a phrase', I will be sure to ride with her in front for weeks after she gets her bike. Besides, this chick has an AWESOME ASS, so riding behind her will not be a problem!!!

UPDATE! I just got a call from the dealer saying that they have a black 250 that the deal fell through on they'll sell for $4k OTD, hmmm....
When she gets back from signing up, I'll see what she thinks.

[HurricaneHeather]

Originally Posted by TIGGER

Oh I've taught several people to ride as well, and am actually a huge proponent of putting the "slower" riders in front to set the pace. I was just "turning a phrase', I will be sure to ride with her in front for weeks after she gets her bike. Besides, this chick has an AWESOME ASS, so riding behind her will not be a problem!!!

UPDATE! I just got a call from the dealer saying that they have a black 250 that the deal fell through on they'll sell for $4k OTD, hmmm....
When she gets back from signing up, I'll see what she thinks.

After 25,000 miles and 4 years, I can attest that the Ninja 250 is a great first bike.

[wildchild]

Originally Posted by TIGGER

Oh I've taught several people to ride as well, and am actually a huge proponent of putting the "slower" riders in front to set the pace. I was just "turning a phrase', I will be sure to ride with her in front for weeks after she gets her bike. Besides, this chick has an AWESOME ASS, so riding behind her will not be a problem!!!

UPDATE! I just got a call from the dealer saying that they have a black 250 that the deal fell through on they'll sell for $4k OTD, hmmm....
When she gets back from signing up, I'll see what she thinks.

very nice!!

No interest in a used 250? I see them around here for 2K to 2500 quite a bit.

[azoomm]

How about, take the MSF - pass the MSF, THEN buy a bike?

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by wildchild

very nice!!

No interest in a used 250? I see them around here for 2K to 2500 quite a bit.

Nah, she says they're "ugly"... At least the new baby Ninja looks cool!

This,




VS this,




Hmmm....

[Kaneman]

Originally Posted by wildchild

number two it keeps cars off of their butt. I can handle the pressure of a car right on our ass as we ride at newbie speed better then someone who is just trying to figure out which gear they should be in.

This is the best advice right here. When I bought my ex-girlfriend a Ninja 250 she crashed on her first time out because some asshole was all over her butt while she was trying to make a left turn off a main road. If I would've been smart enough to be in the back and run interference I could've prevented that.
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