Best beginner bike.

[Mikeru]

So I'm considering getting a sport bike.

I'd buy one used, but would prefer to buy it through a dealership so I could get financing and build credit because I currently have almost no credit history (just got first credit card a month ago and that was damn hard to do in this ####ty economy).

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.

[BS Gal (Premo)]

650 Yamaha......for sale. Not a sport bike, though.....

[oldman]

Off topic. Good late evening BSG.

[BS Gal (Premo)]

Originally Posted by oldman

Off topic. Good late evening BSG.

Hey you. Rough week. Cancer showing (bloodwork) has doubled in three weeks. Sux. New chemo on Thurs.....

[oldman]

Originally Posted by BS Gal

Hey you. Rough week. Cancer showing (bloodwork) has doubled in three weeks. Sux. New chemo on Thurs.....

No words, just

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Mikeru

So I'm considering getting a sport bike.

Since I've never rode a motorcycle before,

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.

The get offs, crashes, fall overs at 3 mph, various mess ups and brain farts and all around learning curve on a dirt bike can cripple or kill you. However, if you survive that, you will have learned how to ride on dirt, around trees, hills, whoops, bumps and other dirt bikes; loving, gentle, natural things, not asphalt, buildings, curbs, pot holes and cars and trucks and buses that are actively, incessantly trying to kill you.

Dirt bike riding is very different from street in some respects but, it is, in my ever so humble opinion, a great first step in learning how bikes work, what makes them stay up, turn, balance, start, stop, slow down, speed up and so on.

I have no doubt you can successfully learn to ride street from scratch. Plenty of people do. I just think the dirt learning curve is...less severe when things go "This is gonna hurt..."

[dustin]

You will get bored with the EX250 fast and it will be harder to sell...

I recommend both the SV650 and EX500. Lots of decent used ones out there and easy to find parts for. Big internet following for advice on modding/tweaking/repair. You can ride these bikes for years and not get bored with them.

If you like something a bit more exotic try the Ducati Monster 620 (or similar sized bikes)...

older Yamaha FZR 600's are decent if you can find a nice one.

newer 600's tend to have high peak horsepower that's snappy for newer riders. the older ones were a bit tamer.

It all really depends on your maturity level though. I knew a guy that had gotten 3 speeding tickets on an EX250.

[dustin]

for the credit thing,... see how much you can get a personal loan for through your bank/credit union. you can build credit that way too.

beware that insurance prices are much higher for popular 600cc sportbikes than other equally as fun bikes like the EX500. get some quotes done through your insurance company for two or three bikes you are interested in. the insurance prices alone may sway you toward one bike or another due to the cost.

[glhs837]

I would also recommend the EX500 (I had one way back in 94:)) or the SV650. Choosing a 250 or a 500/650 (I also concur with the idea of staying away from the 600 class supersports) depends on your personal self control level. If you think you might be tempted to get nuts real easy, stick with the 250, harder to get into a part of the envelope you cant get out of.

You can still kill yourself on a 250, its just harder to get there. On an EX500, 125mph is VERY easy to get to.

[dustin]

Originally Posted by glhs837

You can still kill yourself on a 250, its just harder to get there. On an EX500, 125mph is VERY easy to get to.

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