Best beginner bike.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by dustin

good point!
also you are probably just as likely of being rear-ended at a stoplight by a car, or a car turning left in front of you, on a 50cc scooter as you are on a 1000cc sportbike

Not here!

Tomahawk MX

[aps45819 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Mikeru

Since I've never rode a motorcycle before, but have been interested in getting one for a couple years now, I've been told that I should get something with a lower CC (no more than 600) and go used so it won't be so bad if I crash and burn... or kill myself

I was looking at a Ninja (250 or 500 version), which are relatively inexpensive and smaller sized, but was wondering what y'all think is a good beginner bike.

Thanks.

FIRST THING -----> TAKE THE MSF BEGINNERS COURSE


The SV650 and the DL650 are both good choices from Suzuki that will keep you happy for years. Check the classifieds on here, Ebay and Cycletrader.com. Some will let you search by type and engine size. An older multi cylinder bike in the 350 - 550 cc will give you plenty of fun. I'd suggest you start on a standard, adventure touring or sport touring type. They're a lot more comfortable

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

Get a dirt bike first. Learn to ride trails and hills then a little bit of dirt track then after a year or so, then consider getting a street bike.

Works great if you live on a farm.
If not, first buy a pickup or a trailer to pull behind you car, then get a dirt bike. If you don't have a friend with property to ride on, you can go to buds creek and pay a fee to try and learn how to ride on a race track with riders of various skill levels all around you attempting to go as fast as possible.

[GWguy]

Agree with APS 100%. Safety course first. I personally would never recommend a Ninja or other sport bike as a learner bike. WAY too easy to get sucked up in the culture of speed and recklessness. A touring bike will give you performance and be forgiving enough to learn with. IF you have access to a dirt environment, learning on dirt is excellent. You can push the bike to the limits, understand how it will react, and you're usually going slow enough not to kill yourself. I learned on dirt, and the transition from dirt to asphalt was actually a let down.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by aps45819

Works great if you live on a farm.
If not, first buy a pickup or a trailer to pull behind you car, then get a dirt bike. If you don't have a friend with property to ride on, you can go to buds creek and pay a fee to try and learn how to ride on a race track with riders of various skill levels all around you attempting to go as fast as possible.

I hear you. It's not a perfect solution.

As a total beginner, it is my view that he's gonna have some...boo boos. Banged up is one thing, including the inconveniences of dirt biking. On the street is, to me, a higher risk.

I also said people do it, go straight to street, all the time. It can be done, just fine.

[aps45819 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by GWguy

Agree with APS 100%.

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[GWguy]

Originally Posted by aps45819

now available as a quote, suitable for use as your signature

[aps45819 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

As a total beginner, it is my view that he's gonna have some...boo boos. Banged up is one thing, including the inconveniences of dirt biking. On the street is, to me, a higher risk.

agreed that asphalt is harder than dirt and that's why safety equipment is important. I wear a full face helmet, a jacket with armored sholders, elbows and a spine protector and gloves when I ride.
Never thought much about gloves till the first time my foot slipped on some sand and the bike and I fell over. Not even moving and I put my hands out to catch my self. Since then I prefer gloves to picking little rocks and gravel out of my palms.

Good place to get cheap protective appareal is New Enough Motorcycle Apparel sells motorcycle jackets, pants and suits, boots, gloves, helmets, etc :: New Enough, LTD

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by aps45819

agreed that asphalt is harder than dirt and that's why safety equipment is important. I wear a full face helmet, a jacket with armored sholders, elbows and a spine protector and gloves when I ride.Never thought much about glove till the first time my foot slipped on some sand and the bike and I fell over. Not even moving and I put my hands out to catch my self. Since then I prefer gloves to picking little rocks and gravel out of my palms.

Good place to get cheap protective appareal is New Enough Motorcycle Apparel sells motorcycle jackets, pants and suits, boots, gloves, helmets, etc :: New Enough, LTD

I agree with aps, 100%

[Mikeru]

Wow, great advice thanks y'all. Lots of things that didn't occur to me. (i.e. insurance on popular bikes like the Suzuki GSXR-600, etc.) I'll definitely look into that.

While it may be ideal to learn on something like a dirt bike, I don't have a pickup or trailer to haul it with (have a hatchback)... or live on a farm or know anyone with land to ride on. So I doubt I'll get a dirt bike. But it was a good suggestion, as my friend who does ride started out on a dirt bike back when he was 14 also said learning on one made the transition seamlessly easy too.

But I'll definitely look into other types of bikes... although I'm really partial to getting a sport bike.

Oh and thanks for referencing the MSF beginners course APS, I'll definitely want to do that. I haven't checked yet to see if the MVA offers it here, but I know that when I lived in VA the DMV offered a motorcycle class.

Time to do some more research.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Mikeru

Wow, great advice thanks y'all. Lots of things that didn't occur to me. (i.e. insurance on popular bikes like the Suzuki GSXR-600, etc.) I'll definitely look into that.

While it may be ideal to learn on something like a dirt bike, I don't have a pickup or trailer to haul it with (have a hatchback)... or live on a farm or know anyone with land to ride on. So I doubt I'll get a dirt bike. But it was a good suggestion, as my friend who does ride started out on a dirt bike back when he was 14 also said learning on one made the transition seamlessly easy too.

But I'll definitely look into other types of bikes... although I'm really partial to getting a sport bike.

Oh and thanks for referencing the MSF beginners course APS, I'll definitely want to do that. I haven't checked yet to see if the MVA offers it here, but I know that when I lived in VA the DMV offered a motorcycle class.

Time to do some more research.

Whatever you do, GEAR UP!