Ive been talking to my dad about getting my motorcycle permit and Id obviously need something to ride since hed never let me on his VTX 1300. So whats a good starter bike? Im looking for something that its kind of like a sport bike but that I wont kill myself on so probably smaller displacement.
I'd start out with a 600 but whomever you enjoy most. I'd say Suzuki or Honda. I have several neighbors that are avid bike riders and they all own Honda's. Every one of them. Unfortunately, I do not trust the general driving populace of Melbourne, FL (which is 95% old folks over 70+ yrs old) to own one myself. One of my neighbors had his 1000 totaled and I've heard at least 2 horror stories from the rest of them of almost getting clobbered. You can look after yourself, however, you cannot always look after every idiot on the road.
Just my .02 cents.
Josh
SLK 32
I have an 82 kz550 ltd.
They are fairly cheap and parts are still available. Its a comfortable bike compared to most of the newer sport bikes and it keeps up pretty good.
Insurance is cheap and I get 60+ mpg. Fun bike and with good tires can handle well too.
the 250 Ninjas are rated as the #1 starter bike. Didn't do me any good, I didn't know how to drive manual, and didn't know I wasn't supposed to be in neutral while going around a corner at 55 mph.
They are powerful bikes, and small enough to get started on, plus you can find them for cheap. Insurance wasn't bad either for a bike.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Sunday, April 18, 2010 11:31 PM
I'm not going anywhere just yet
R.I.P. Jimmy "the Rev" Sullivan '81-'09
edit: I'm not sure how I double posted by only posting once? ignore...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Sunday, April 18, 2010 11:30 PM
I'm not going anywhere just yet
R.I.P. Jimmy "the Rev" Sullivan '81-'09
you can find great deals on sportsters, that would be a good starter bike. not sure if you meant a crotch rocket when you said sport bike, but good luck with the search.
Check out my build thread!
starter bike..... get a CHEAP OLD enduro/dual sport....... lay it down, and at the worst you will bend your bars($30 for cheap ones)
don't get a street bike as your first..... unless its a ninja 250... for some reason they don't lose that much value when wrecked.......
i am gone from this forum
buells are garbage.
a good starter would be a kawi 250.........for your girlfriend.
id say a 600 would be a good starter. light but still decent power.
or be a man and buy a Duc'
Dont get a Ninja 250...youll enjoy it for a day and then want something larger. Have you ever riden a bike? If so, what kind? I started out on an old school kawasaki 550 that my dad had when I was growing up, and I later bought off him when I turned 16. If you're dead set on a 250 or something along those lines, go for it. People may make fun of you, but dont sweat it. Everyone has to start somewhere and you need to feel comfortable and confident on your bike. If you're looking for a crotch rocket, and are veering towards a 250 go for a nija...they are very light and decent start bikes, but a good gust of wind will blow you all over the place, which is scary as @!#$ for a beginner. You can pick up used 600's whether it be a GSXR, or CBR fairly cheap in the 93-99 years. If a rocket isnt the type you're wanting look into Yamaha V-Star 250s. or Honda Rebels.
I SATCHMOE YOU!!!! wrote:Found the perfect bike for you Brian
Haha, my buddy has one of those with a 6.5HP motor. Thing does about 40mph (geared for 45).
I learned on a Yamaha Viraga 250. If I ever buy a bike, I'd probably buy one of those lol. All the 600 rockets I've ridden scared the @!#$ out of me at full throttle and were incredibly uncomfortable for any kind of distance.
fortune cookie say: better a delay than a disaster
sport bike or cruiser?
sport bike - busa. @!#$ it man, just strap yourself in and go
cruiser - boss hoss. yes, you really do need a 454 chevy engine in your bike.
everything else is for pussies
i've always heard just start our riding what you want to ride. If you want to be able to ride 1000s. get a 1000. if you want to ride Harley, get a Harley. if you just want a 600 get a 600
if it were me, i'd look for a used sportster 883. they're usually pretty damn cheap for a pretty damn new bike, and you can always get a 1200 conversion when you decide you need that extra kick in the pants.
Check out my build thread!
i would look in to a yzf600r. they run good, have a sportbike look to them but you dont have to lay down. its what i learned on and was perfect. plus i had insurance so it fixed it wheni f'ed up. lol. nice confortable seat to. try not to get any bike that has be modded pipped jetted or has not been taken caren of. you won't learn @!#$, but how to get pissed off. trust me. i'm trying to teach my wife how to ride right now on a 94 katana. its been pipped and jetted, which is not the problem. but what is the problem is that its older and is not tunned worth squat plus the carbs are getting gummed up so tunning is a pain and with the weather change makes it worse. trust me i'm going through all this right now and i would recomemend you find something fuel injected or fairly new. because we thought, "hey cheap old bike = learning drops and scratches = not feeling bad and actual learing." wow we were wrong.
I learned on a 2006 ZX6R, its a beast of a bike, and thank god for slipper clutches for when you downshift one too many times.
Not unintentionally accelerating since 2009!!!!
start with something used and something that you'd be afraid to run 10/10ths...
last year was my first riding. i have an 86 yamaha maxim xj700. inline 4 that's got enough scoot that it still demands respect from the rider but is comfortable and handles well enough for my needs.
my brother has a 08 Suzuki GS500 its a great starter bike
VIPERREDZED wrote:my brother has a 08 Suzuki GS500 its a great starter bike
I woujld recommend this over a ninja 250 any day
Lanman31337 -F = fatties = do not want. A little chunk in the junk is ok though.
If you're responsible a 600. Also, if you can afford the insurance and what not. Other wise lookinto a ninja 500. I myself ride a 600, but just sold her, picking up an R6 though
