Intimidated by my first bike

I got my license just a couple of months ago and hubby and I decided to get a new sporty 800cc.  I have ridden in the parking lot about a dozen times and a few times on the street.  I've dropped the bike twice now   and still intimidated by the bike.  

I'm questioning if I should just get back on there and add framesliders to the bike or downgrade to a 250cc bike and work my way up to that 800cc.  

BTW, I'm a 5'2" 110 lb female.  

What kind of bike did you buy? what is the make and model ?  

What exactly is your experience? What is your husband’s experience?

An 800cc seems way too big to start with. Is this your bike or his? At your height, I imagine you are on your tip toes when you are sitting on the bike. If this is true, then someone probably told you to lower the bike with a kit. This is a bad idea - do not add a lowering kit to your bike.

A 250 would be a much better solution for you. Honda has a new 250 sportbike coming out for 2011 and there is also Kawasaki’s ninja 250 which would be a good choice too.

Check out the New Riders Section on this forum. It has some excellent advice for new riders.  

My experience   only the safety course, never dirt biked and only had a few days of experience driving a manual car.

The bike is 'mine' but of course hubby drives it too.  The bike is lowered so my heels are almost touching the ground.  Hubby has is own touring bike.  

What "sporty 800cc" bike did you buy? A BMW F800S?  

Yes  

As far as the seat height is concerned, an aftermarket lowering kit is a not the best solution for a motorcycle. You would be better off removing the lowering kit and having your seat customized instead.

An 800cc displacement bike is too much for a beginner. Look into a 250cc bike and let your husband have the 800. Don’t worry - he won’t complain that he now has two motorcycles.

Remember, a wise motorcyclist is always looking to learn more and will continue to take riding instruction courses as he/she progresses.

Good luck  

Actually, the BMW F800S isn't that bad for some beginners; it's a vertical twin tuned for midrange torque, so it's fairly user-friendly. However, for the OP's height and weight, a 250 would definitely be a better choice.

Lowering kits definitely have their drawbacks, as they're made more for dropping the chassis for dragracing than they are for lowering the seat height to allow shorter riders easier access. Unless you lower the front end a similar amount, handling problems will arise; and if you do lower the front, you must be careful not to run afoul of engine or radiator at full bottom of travel. And your lean angle is also restricted more than usual.