IMO. forget about asking here, what would be a good/bad bike for your wife. She is the one who has to ride it, so she would need to know what she will feel comfortable on.
For anyone that asks me, I say, ignore the salesman/woman and just go sit on all the bikes in your price range. Find the one that you feel most comfortable sitting on. Check the lever reach, the kickstand the weight and any other comfy things. Then look at the following....
Ignore the power. If she is instructed properly on how to finesse the clutch and the throttle, she could ride a Rocket III if she wanted to. Some people will tell you that she "will" crash it - I say "nonsense" that's just a self fulfilling prophecy, she will only crash if she doesn't take it easy and listen to instruction and listen to and feel the bike. She should learn how to respect the machine, for it's power and weight. She should look for a torquey engine, not a 20,000rpm screamer.
Perhaps what she should aim for is a bike that is a "bit" too much for her now, that she can grow into and enjoy for at least a year or two, not something she will tire of after she's learned how to ride it, and not something that might look good next to your Speed Triple.......
If I was to suggest anything, a second hand Bonneville, Scrambler or America from Triumph, a Hyosung 650 or a Monster are great if she want's naked sports, or the Virago/Hawk might just be her..... Which ever way, she needs to choose the comfort level for herself.
JMNSHO
Mick
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