A co-worker friend just bought a new Harley at Christmastime. He rode with his wife on the back all over southern California and up to the Grand Canyon on a recent trip. She got the bug, and wanted a Harley, too, but had no experience at all. I told him to look into one of the new Chinese cruisers, and he purchased a Yamaha Virago 250 clone made by Lifan for around $2000 US brand new, shipped to his home. She began learning on it, and is now fairly good at riding it, although she has a way to go before she is ready for a Harley like she wants to get. (My friend owned a Yamaha V-Star 1100 for a few years, so he was used to large cruisers). The ironic thing is my co-worker has started to ride the little bike around town as well, and uses it for chores, such as running to the market rather than "lugging" his Road King around, as well as exposing it to everyday "danger." I think those very cheap Chinese enduro dirt bikes would also make for a good learning bike if you are leaning towards one of the "adventure"-style bikes (I am not a woman, but I thought my friend's wife's experience might help you out).
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