Is this is a good beginner bike (motorcycle)?

[Mr N8]

2004 Honda Rebel (CMX250C)

390 miles on it, demo bike at a local shop. Comes with full Honda warranty. All for $2500. I think I can talk them down to ~$2200, though.

 

[NEWKILLA]

your going to out grow it real fast, i grew into my bike (V-MAX 1200)

my friends had smaller ones and always regretted getting them

but it is really up to you

 

[Fausto]

Not really. Why buy a brand new 250 (that you will definitely drop and beat up) when you could get something bigger and used for less money? My first bike was a 500cc Interceptor. Paid $1500 for it, rode it for a few months until I felt I was competent enough not to wreck something nicer and then sold it for.......$1500. You won't be able to do that with a new bike, plus 250cc is just too small. You're going to feel like a gnat in a hurricane on the freeway.

 

[Instan00dles]

that would be a very good starter bike.

 

[Mr N8]

OK. I need to look in the Touring / Cruiser class of bikes, to avoid the killer insurance on a sport bike. Any other recommendations?

Most bikes in my area are in storage already for the winter, so to by locally, I'll need to see a dealer. Of course, I could just wait until spring, but what fun would that be?

 

[Fausto]

Dunno how close these guys are to you, but this bike would fit the bill pretty nicely IMO. Not too big, not too small, no plastic to crack up and you should be able to sell it for more or less the same price when you decide to upgrade. Insurance will be cheap on this one too since it's a "standard" bike.

 

[Heisenberg]

While we're talking about good beginner bikes...
What do you guys think about an early 90's Nighthawk in the 500cc range?

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
While we're talking about good beginner bikes...
What do you guys think about an early 90's Nighthawk in the 500cc range?

Great beginner bike for the same reasons I listed above. Honda's bikes last for-freaking-ever. My Interceptor is now one of my brothers many bikes, has like 30,000 miles on it and runs like a champ.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
While we're talking about good beginner bikes...
What do you guys think about an early 90's Nighthawk in the 500cc range?

Great beginner bike for the same reasons I listed above. Honda's bikes last for-freaking-ever. My Interceptor is now one of my brothers many bikes, has like 30,000 miles on it and runs like a champ.

Cool. I'm looking for something sporty but not as extreme as a crotch-rocket. The Nighthawk seems to fit.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
While we're talking about good beginner bikes...
What do you guys think about an early 90's Nighthawk in the 500cc range?

Great beginner bike for the same reasons I listed above. Honda's bikes last for-freaking-ever. My Interceptor is now one of my brothers many bikes, has like 30,000 miles on it and runs like a champ.

Cool. I'm looking for something sporty but not as extreme as a crotch-rocket. The Nighthawk seems to fit.

Suzuki GS500E would be a good choice too. They can actually be pretty sporty if you add lower clip-on bars to put more of your weight over the front wheel.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: Heisenberg
While we're talking about good beginner bikes...
What do you guys think about an early 90's Nighthawk in the 500cc range?

Great beginner bike for the same reasons I listed above. Honda's bikes last for-freaking-ever. My Interceptor is now one of my brothers many bikes, has like 30,000 miles on it and runs like a champ.

Cool. I'm looking for something sporty but not as extreme as a crotch-rocket. The Nighthawk seems to fit.

Suzuki GS500E would be a good choice too. They can actually be pretty sporty if you add lower clip-on bars to put more of your weight over the front wheel.

I'll check those out. Thanks.

 

[FoBoT]

a beginner bike is a USED bike, not new

don't buy a new motorcyle

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
a beginner bike is a USED bike, not new

don't buy a new motorcyle

Yup. No one wants to believe that they will drop their first bike at least once, but you will. Usually while doing low-speed paddling around in a parking lot as that's when the weight of the bike is hardest to control.

 

[bernse]

Originally posted by: MogulMonster
OK. I need to look in the Touring / Cruiser class of bikes, to avoid the killer insurance on a sport bike. Any other recommendations?

Early 80s Silverwing? They are a 500 until 83 and then a 650 for one year only. Not the most common bike and definetly not going to break any performance records, but the V-twin is uber reliable and as decent hard luggage so you can park your car and use it for a day/day vehicle if you want.

Something newer? How about a smallish Shadow or something with leather bags?

I do agree though, that 250 will probably be too small in short order. Whatever you do though, don't get too big of a bike to start. You can get yourself in trouble in a hurry if you are an inexperienced rider.


Oh yeah, take some lessons if you haven't!

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: FoBoT
a beginner bike is a USED bike, not new

don't buy a new motorcyle

Yup. No one wants to believe that they will drop their first bike at least once, but you will. Usually while doing low-speed paddling around in a parking lot as that's when the weight of the bike is hardest to control.

i remember pulling off to the shoulder of a road with my wife on the back ( before we were married) and hitting some sand, over we went, we were doing maybe 5 mph. broke the turn signals on the front and back

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: FoBoT

Originally posted by: Fausto

Originally posted by: FoBoT
a beginner bike is a USED bike, not new

don't buy a new motorcyle

Yup. No one wants to believe that they will drop their first bike at least once, but you will. Usually while doing low-speed paddling around in a parking lot as that's when the weight of the bike is hardest to control.

i remember pulling off to the shoulder of a road with my wife on the back ( before we were married) and hitting some sand, over we went, we were doing maybe 5 mph. broke the turn signals on the front and back

Hehe....I dumped my Honda twice. Once just trying to back it out of a parking spot and once when I hit a greasy spot in a parking deck on a wet day. Front end went "See ya!" and I hit the deck pretty hard.

 

[bernse]

BTW - Here is a Silverwing on Ebay

A nice thing about them is that the back luggage can actually replace the rear seat, so it becomes a single seater. It looks way sharper that way too.

 

[The Stigenator]

It really depends... 250 cc i feel is a great beginner bike. I have a 2001 GS500 (check signature) and it does good. Handles really well and can keep up with 600cc bikes. Yes its a 500, but it corners like its on rails. Slap on a progressive front shock and a katana rear shock and upgrade teh stockers to BT45H and your kicking ass. I am yet to get new tyres on, cause i am right now less than 200 miles short of 10000 on the clock and i want to finish 10K before i get a new set on.

Anyway Whatever you do dont start with a 600+ supersport. Stay small, you need to learn throttle control, you cant learn that on a bigger engined bike, they are too twitchy... why do you think insurance rates for the 600cc bikes are thru the roof.

If you can find a GS500 in your area great, i would highly suggest that. Try visit us at www.gstwins.com/forum

Never mind what people tell me, I am keeping my GS500, it might be slower in the straight line, but around curves your only seeing my dust.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Reread what the good guy has to give in the way of advice.

ppl that learn on a bike that intimidates them never learn to ride well or have a retarded learning curve.

I like Suzi's. Look at his pics. Simple, clean, perimeter frame and does not pretend to be what it is not. Riding a bike like his you lean into the wind, this is good.
On a cruiser wannabe, your arms are up, your body is layed back and you are a sail.
this is not so good.

Your physical size is a serious consideration. Too small a bike will not be comfortable for
very long. If your ride in cold weather, get an electric vest!

A good site to explore...mcnews