Posted by JerryS on May 14, 2015 at 23:52:03 from (98.80.106.179):
When I was in high school I had a little motorcycle---a Harley 125 cc “Hummer”. It wasn’t much as bikes go, but it allowed me to be somewhere other than the farm. All my life I’ve wanted another bigger bike, but circumstances and finances wouldn’t allow it. I never really got to even ride one.
Fast forward: My 30-year-old daughter was bit by the same bug: bad itch for a bike, but her circumstances and finances are not good either. Even so, couple of days ago she asked me for a little help (a few bucks, and my truck and trailer). She had found her bike---a 2005 Honda Shadow, 1100 cc. Very clean, mid-mileage. I looked at it and said, “Well, OK. Looks like a nice little bike.”
We hauled it home today. I decided to ride it first. I figure my old instincts would kick in; after all, the shift, brakes, throttle, clutch are still the same, I said. I somehow got it out of the yard without skinning up any of my big pines, or my big a--. I was not really prepared for how powerful the thing is, or how top-heavy. I did streak down the road, but never got out of second gear. Came back and tried to ease into the driveway, but I stalled it. While I was trying to find neutral it tumped over on me and drove my bad shoulder into the ground. Thought I was gonna die. Daughter lifted it off of me and tried to roll it up the driveway. She found neutral, then got on it and tried rolling it with her feet. It tumped over on her, bending her foot around. My turn to lift the bike off of her. We just looked at other wondering, “What the H--- have we done?” I told the daughter, "This is ridiculous. Both of us are badly injured and the bike hasn't even left the driveway. How are we gonna ride a bike we can’t even sit on?” Together we rolled the Shadow into the garage and there it sits.
It’s my fault for giving in to her, but I’ve done a lot of that in my life. I was 44 when she was born, so she has pretty much had her way with me. But now this bike scares me. She is intimidated by it, but she is determined she’s gonna master it. I tried to get her to settle for a Honda Rebel, a 235 cc bike more her size (she’s 5-3, 120 lbs.) but no-o-o. I have to admit I know a couple of women her size who ride Harley Sportsters, which are the same size as the Shadow.
I know a lot of you guys ride, so please give me some insight: is the learning curve for this size bike too steep for a small female first-time rider, or is she more likely to kill herself before she learns? I don’t know if I have any say in the matter, she’s a grown woman and she’s probably going to make her own decision. Still, I’d enjoy your input.
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