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What's a good starter Motorcycle?

K

Krueger81

Diamond Member
Hello,

I want to start researching Motorcycles since I am looking at buying one sometime next Spring. I know that I do not want anything too powerful. Something like a 250cc-500cc.

I have been looking at Kawasakis and Yamahas but don't really know what features to look for.

If anyone has any good sites I could look at be my guest please.

Thanks
Phil
 
I recommend your first bike be a crusier. Easier to handle and better choices for your buck. Also crusiers can have/have highway pegs/bars so when you lay it down, which you will, it will keep it from getting to damaged.

My fav starter bike a smaller Honda Shadow like a 500, 600, 650 size. Great price and very good.


After a yeasr or so when you learn the ropes and are a good novice rider, then move up to a bike that fits your lifestyle
 
Honda Rebel 250 cc. I used it to train many, many kids and women. It is also used by many bike training school.
 
Originally posted by: zener
Honda Rebel 250 cc. I used it to train many, many kids and women. It is also used by many bike training school.
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No, a 250 just isn't enough bike. Not in the form of the Rebel 250. The bike is too small, it will feel like you're riding a moped around and it's not going to be anything resembling decent on the highway.

Marlin hit the nail right on the head. Try to find an '80s Honda 450-650 "Standard".

ZV
 
My first bike was a Honda Rebel 400... had it for about 3 months before I picked up a used CBR600... layed the CBR600 down this past march, not much damage to it or me, but my girl said sell it... so I did...
 
In my opinion, the Rebel 250 is a good bike to learn how to ride the bike. Because it is light, my students can master their countersteering techniques in faster time than a heavier bike. If you are planning to buy a bike and keep it, I suggest going at leat 700cc or more.
 
get a 400cc , not too big or too small
you can get on the highway when you need to without worrying about power, not too big to kill yourself

 
Originally posted by: zener
In my opinion, the Rebel 250 is a good bike to learn how to ride the bike. Because it is light, my students can master their countersteering techniques in faster time than a heavier bike. If you are planning to buy a bike and keep it, I suggest going at leat 700cc or more.
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The Rebel 250 is a disposable bike. And IMO it is simply too small to teach anything worthwhile about riding since there's not enough power and the bike doesn't have enough mass. Even my Nighthawk 450 is a bit on the small side (only 400 lbs, wet), but at least the frame is larger so that the bike feels a bit larger than its engine size suggests.

And countersteering "technique"? Come on. Lean left, bike goes left. Lean right, bike goes right. There's no technique to it. If one has to actively think about countersteering then that person has no business on a bike. Heck, even shifting shouldn't take but a couple of days to become second nature.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: zener
In my opinion, the Rebel 250 is a good bike to learn how to ride the bike. Because it is light, my students can master their countersteering techniques in faster time than a heavier bike. If you are planning to buy a bike and keep it, I suggest going at leat 700cc or more.
Click to expand...
The Rebel 250 is a disposable bike. And IMO it is simply too small to teach anything worthwhile about riding since there's not enough power and the bike doesn't have enough mass. Even my Nighthawk 450 is a bit on the small side (only 400 lbs, wet), but at least the frame is larger so that the bike feels a bit larger than its engine size suggests.

And countersteering "technique"? Come on. Lean left, bike goes left. Lean right, bike goes right. There's no technique to it. If one has to actively think about countersteering then that person has no business on a bike. Heck, even shifting shouldn't take but a couple of days to become second nature.

ZV
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And you teach a class where?

 
Originally posted by: Cyberian
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: zener
In my opinion, the Rebel 250 is a good bike to learn how to ride the bike. Because it is light, my students can master their countersteering techniques in faster time than a heavier bike. If you are planning to buy a bike and keep it, I suggest going at leat 700cc or more.
Click to expand...
The Rebel 250 is a disposable bike. And IMO it is simply too small to teach anything worthwhile about riding since there's not enough power and the bike doesn't have enough mass. Even my Nighthawk 450 is a bit on the small side (only 400 lbs, wet), but at least the frame is larger so that the bike feels a bit larger than its engine size suggests.

And countersteering "technique"? Come on. Lean left, bike goes left. Lean right, bike goes right. There's no technique to it. If one has to actively think about countersteering then that person has no business on a bike. Heck, even shifting shouldn't take but a couple of days to become second nature.

ZV
Click to expand...
And you teach a class where?
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And since when is teaching an MSF class a prerequisite for any sort of riding ability or knowledge? Your question is an irrelevant ad-hominem.

I'm certainly not about to claim that I'm some great rider, but countersteering is a bloody brain-dead thing to figure out. It's exactly the natural thing to do when one wants the bike to turn. I rode for over a year before I learned that countersteering even had an official name. I have been riding for 4 years without incident and without close-calls.

Yes, most MSF instructors have many years of experience, but the curriculum is far from advanced. In fact, it's downright remedial. And his recommendation of a disposable bike like the Rebel 250 leads me to believe that he's not in the habit of looking long-term and practial. The only two things a Rebel 250 is good for is use during the first month of riding, or for use as an alternative to a Vespa.

ZV
 
I'm thinking about buying a motorcycle in the spring, and I'm not sure what I'd buy yet, but it'll either be a 500cc or 600cc sportbike. I know some people say a 600 is too big to start with, but I was riding my friend's GS500 around a little bit (ok, it was in the parking lot...) and it was pretty easy to handle, and I know a 600 has more power, but I think I could handle it, I'm pretty used to handling a lot of power responsibly (albiet on 4 wheels), and I don't want to get a bike that's a lot slower than my car.
 
Originally posted by: notfred
I'm thinking about buying a motorcycle in the spring, and I'm not sure what I'd buy yet, but it'll either be a 500cc or 600cc sportbike. I know some people say a 600 is too big to start with, but I was riding my friend's GS500 around a little bit (ok, it was in the parking lot...) and it was pretty easy to handle, and I know a 600 has more power, but I think I could handle it, I'm pretty used to handling a lot of power responsibly (albiet on 4 wheels), and I don't want to get a bike that's a lot slower than my car.
Click to expand...
Unless you get something that a really, really, really dedicated cruiser, you're not going to have problems with the bike being significantly slower than your car. 🙂 A bike's aerodynamics are not as good as a car's though, so the bike will run out of steam at higher speeds to a greater degree than will a car.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: Excelsior
Originally posted by: Supahfreak
Hayabusa

FreAk😀
Click to expand...

God no, haha. That sh!t would kill him faster than he could say "WEEEEEeee".

Id say if you want a starter sportbike get a Ninja 250/500.
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I vote for the 'Busa also. That way he can get the crippling injuries or possibly death out of the way and everyone can move on.
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: notfred
I'm thinking about buying a motorcycle in the spring, and I'm not sure what I'd buy yet, but it'll either be a 500cc or 600cc sportbike. I know some people say a 600 is too big to start with, but I was riding my friend's GS500 around a little bit (ok, it was in the parking lot...) and it was pretty easy to handle, and I know a 600 has more power, but I think I could handle it, I'm pretty used to handling a lot of power responsibly (albiet on 4 wheels), and I don't want to get a bike that's a lot slower than my car.
Click to expand...
Unless you get something that a really, really, really dedicated cruiser, you're not going to have problems with the bike being significantly slower than your car. 🙂 A bike's aerodynamics are not as good as a car's though, so the bike will run out of steam at higher speeds to a greater degree than will a car.

ZV
Click to expand...

Well, something liek a Ninja 250 is a lot slower than my car. I don't want a 250 or something like that 🙂
 
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