Going to go look at this bike tomorrow....

[RDKLL]

for Andrea. Although she is fully licensed and accredited for motorcycle operation, riding the KTM was just not the best thing to get her skills back after 7 years of not piloting a motorcycle. We had done another patking lot stint on the KTM and she was shifting and braking great, she said that she just could not get used to the possibility of a costly low speed drop even though I said not to worry. I found this Rebel 250 and we will go and look at it...and if we do the deal, I and my 235 lb self will have to ride the little guy about 25 miles home...

[cookiedough]

looked at them for my kid age 16 at the time.  I passed, way, way, way too small for anyone over 5 1/2 feet tall.  Is probably the smallest sized 250cc cruiser cycle out there made only for small/short people to be comfy.

[Hook#3287]

I like it

It's got a classic cruiser look and weights in at around 300 LBs.

Can you get a picture of your riding it?

[The emperor has no clothes]

Better yet, can Andrea get video of you in Phoenix traffic Tony ? You need to get one of those Mohawk helmets for your trip.   Hope the bike is in as good of shape as it looks.  

[Hook#3287]

Better yet, can Adrea get video of you in Phoenix traffic Tony ? You need to get one of those Mohawk helmets for your trip.  Hope the bike is in as good of shape as it looks. 

I think a Viking horned helmet would be more appropriate.   It does look in great condition.

[RDKLL]

I am hoping to get it at a decent price. Will have to ride it home 50 miles. And i already have 3 folks interested in it when we are done with it

[cookiedough]

fairly easy to find one in good shape locally all under or around that 1500-2K range.   For 2K,  you can get a heck of a lot better and more enjoyably/comfy cycle IMO, even for a starter bike.

If I was going to get a 250cc cruiser, I would get this suzuki 250 instead for around 1500.  I sat on one and did not feel like it was terribly too small like the honda rebel was to me and the suzuki is fuel injected as well, something the suzuki GZ250 is not also sat on one of those.  NO matter what you get will not go 80 mph more like 70-75 mph top speed and that last 20 mph takes awhile as well so passing can be iffy at best.

https://milwaukee.craigslist.org/mcd/d/2011-suzuki-tu-250/6533848725.html

[Jess from VA]

For my wife's start up bike, I got a CM 250 Honda ('82-4).  Old and a bit cruddy, but only like 12K on it.

Unlike the Rebel, the seat was a bit too high (but she did OK).

Paid $800, and sold for $800 the next year (and that's the goal with all trainers)

She was like.... Why do I have to have an old beater like this?

Because you're going to drop it, and we are not going to care about scratches, dings, dents or turn signals at all.  When you fall (mostly at stops or near stops), just let it go and jump off and let it bounce.  And she did drop it a number of times (and not a scratch on her).  And the bike was fine. Taking all the pressure off her from dinging it up made it much easier for her to learn.

Ours didn't look this good, but the same color, sissy and luggage rack.


So many HD guys in my area buy their wives new or nearly new 883 Sportsters, and not only is it a lousy, heavy starter bike with a tough clutch, the wives are so afraid of dinging them up, they just don't learn (and often quit).

At the time, I passed on a number of newer $2500-3K Rebels, but my wife was a new learner, not a refresher.

At the end of that year, I moved her up to a few year old Honda VLX 600, and she jumped on with great confidence (and the better clutch (more slipable), brakes, and ergonomics made her a better rider right away) (these 4-speed chain drive 600s with a nice fat 170 rear tire can be had for about the same price as newer Rebels)

[scooperhsd]

I can't get my better half to even consider the idea. She never did learn to ride a bicycle as a child and thinks she can't balance two wheels.

[Jess from VA]

I can't get my better half to even consider the idea. She never did learn to ride a bicycle as a child and thinks she can't balance two wheels.

They say you should never teach your own wife, for obvious reasons.  I helped our instructors in USAF MSF courses for a year, and have taught a number of others.  My Mediterranean wife had/s a real temper and it was a chore.  Didn't we agree there would be no yelling and screaming?  Hey, I speak enough Turkish to know those are not nice words you are calling me.  I am not the son of a donkey. 

Be thankful for small mercies.   

[RDKLL]

I know about teaching your wife...I taught MSF for a few years Instead of trying to teach her, we took the class together.(with me as a fellow student). We were talking last night and think this Rebel idea is even better because I dont think she ever got comfortable riding because she may have gotten a bigger bike sooner than she should have. And then she didnt ride and that may have been a part....
We will be heading out in about 90 minutes to look at that bike...

[scooperhsd]

I wouldn't even consider the idea of  trying to teach her - the idea would be to get the bike, then she takes the MSF beginning biker course, then ride the little bike until she is comfortable. Then move up in size that she would be comfortable with.

[cookiedough]

I would take Jess from VA advice and if you do decide to buy that too small honda rebel (unless driver is under 5'5" or so and lightweight) in a few years he/she will want a bigger/faster bike, then sell it since the honda rebels still command 1500 in good shape and will not loose too much more in value over the years and then step up to yet another smaller bike being a honda shadow 600 which was looking locally at that for my 16 year old boy at the time for around that 2 grand mark.  I sat on it and knew him being same height 5'10" with longer arms and legs by 1 inch than me would NOT be comfy on it for too long would be cramped on it and LOW on power as well after 1-2 months of driving.  But, the honda shadow 600 is very low to the ground and although lacking in power, will be able to keep up with the bigger bikes (well sort of) unlike any 250cc cycle and still feel comfy on it and easy to drive. 

I luckily decided as his first cycle, never been on one, a 1997 honda magna 750cc and fits him well with no issues on driving it safely got  it for $1800 with 18K miles on it and can easily sell it now for 2 grand with 26K miles on it now added a few things with newer tires/chains/sprockets.  Is too small for me being 280lbs. but for his 165lbs fits him well easy to handle after a month or so of riding.   It is odd going from a valkyrie to the magna since the magna likes to REV in high rpms to get speed while the valkyrie goes fast without revving it up rpm wise.  That magna though is seat of the pants feel faster off the line but after 50 mph the valkyrie takes over.  He was afraid to drive in October 2017 when bought  the 1998 valkyrie tourer at first being near 800lbs., but he had no issues with that either although already can tell he will split his time from 1998 valk to 1997 magna this summer riding.  I have collectors plates on both now since registration in WI is much cheaper only having to pay 23 bucks upfront good for life of cycle vs. EVERY 2 years paying sticker licensing fees on normal UNDER 20 year old cycles.

I need to sell the 1983 V65 magna in April or May should not have too much issues selling it for 1500 bucks so if anyone is interested, let me know.  Only issue is turn signals do not work well but for the year is in o.k. shape.  also bought in 2017 for 1600 just prior to finding the 1998 valkyrie locally.  5 cycles is too much to store in garage with 2 full sized vehicles did it this year and pain in the butt.

[Jess from VA]

I know about teaching your wife...I taught MSF for a few years Instead of trying to teach her, we took the class together.(with me as a fellow student). We were talking last night and think this Rebel idea is even better because I dont think she ever got comfortable riding because she may have gotten a bigger bike sooner than she should have. And then she didnt ride and that may have been a part....
We will be heading out in about 90 minutes to look at that bike...

In my case, I was certain she would fail MSF starting cold.  I had taught her to drive an automatic trans car years earlier, and that was a difficult and long process (and I think it may still be an ongoing process, 30 years and 6-7 fender benders, later).

I taught her from scratch, using a baby steps approach.  Step 1 was just easing out the clutch in 1st, feet up and rolling 20 feet to a smooth stop, feet down.  As we got to step 2, we'd do 1, then 2.  Then 1, then 2, then 3.  And so on.  I made it as easy as possible, as any success however small, breeds confidence.  On bikes, I think only half the job is teaching riding skill, and the other half is building mental confidence.  Building confidence on every single ride may be even more important than building skills.

In VA, she could get a MC learner's permit just from a written exam, and was then legal in another endorsed rider's presence (but not on freeways or at night, as if).  So we're good out on the roads (and parking lots).  Near the end of the year, we'd ride over to DMV offices and use the painted MSF box painted in the parking lot on empty weekends.  It took a lot of trips over there for her to be able to stay inside the box.

Only at the end of the year (with a winter and not much practice), did I get her enrolled in MSF (alone, but I showed up for the day and a half in the box to observe and lend support).  With my plan and practice, she smoked the course.  A half dozen were kicked out of the rider portion of her class (and that would have been her, if we hadn't done the prep).

And really, there wasn't all that much screaming and yelling, until we started going out on the roads and playing in traffic where sh!t happens every time you're out there.

I know you know all this, I just posted for others who may be considering this challenging activity.

Best of luck on your wife riding 2.0 program.  

My only other observation on this is:  Over the years, I've had plenty of looky loos stay behind and parallel me to look at my bikes.  But even though plenty of women ride, when we would ride together (with her big fat blond braid hanging down her petite 120lbs), we had a large number of women drivers (often with multiple women in the cars) do the same thing, to watch her ride (not our bikes).  

  

[Rescueroy]

Got any maps?

[RDKLL]

I would take Jess from VA advice and if you do decide to buy that too small honda rebel (unless driver is under 5'5" or so and lightweight) in a few years he/she will want a bigger/faster bike

I would not say it is too small...and she will have this for a few months tops!

[cookiedough]

I would take Jess from VA advice and if you do decide to buy that too small honda rebel (unless driver is under 5'5" or so and lightweight) in a few years he/she will want a bigger/faster bike

I would not say it is too small...and she will have this for a few months tops!

then good thing since if can get a honda rebel at a good price under 2K for sure,  most likely will be a quick flip since they sell quickly but lots out there to pick from I've seen.  Next step up would be something like a honda shadow 600 so it will somewhat keep up with the Valk, or at least do over 75 mph top speed, even though is still sort of a pouch engine.

[Pappy!]

Lesa rode one of those for quite a while and loved it! She rides a Valk now of course but also an older CB900C when she wants a lighter bike.
Also look at the Suzuki 650 (S-40) thumpers. They are low down and the cool factor is a bit higher. Prices seem to be close to the Rebel 250 as well.

[Wizzard]

My wife had a Rebel just like the one you pictured for 5 years. Was easy for her to handle, (since she is short) and she loved it. I got on it a few times and it felt like a mini bike after my valk,, but when parked in the garage next to my valk it looked like Daddy and his baby. I ran that thing up to 70 mph no problem. Great bike and loved it. Great starter bike.