Newbie bike

[Lunaonwheels]

Hey there!

I'm just getting started with bikes and I'm trying to find out what you guys consider the best bikes to get started on.

I'm kinda short (5'4") and not the strongest gal out there, so weight is important. I've read a lot about Ninjas and the likes of it, but I find that I tend to get good at things like this really fast and I don't wanna have to be upgrading two months into it. I like speed, but I also like staying alive.

I've also been taking some roadtrips as a passenger, and I'd love to be able to get something I can take a longer ride on.

Any ideas out there? I'm looking for something very much on the affordable side (probably will have to sell my old beat up car to get it). I don't really care about looks that much.

Thanks!

 

[aszrael1266]

You can always get a ex250 ex500 or an sv650. As far as starting on a 600 I really think its on a person to person basis. Some people have the right mentality and self controll to do it. You might want to check out this link in the newbie section
http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=111616

 

[scotinexcile]

Starter Bike

Take a look at the Susuki GS500, handles well adn is not that heavy. Easy to sell when you want to upgrade as well
Good luck, once you get the bike then come the "farkles"!!!!!:laughing

 

[Ogier le Danois]

Honda

Rebel 250
Nighthawk 250



Kawasaki

KLR 250
Ninja 250


Yamaha

xt225

TW200




Folks tend to discount any beginner bikes that aren't the ninja 250 or 500 or GS 500. The above bikes over a lot of value, low running and insurance cost and at least 60 mph cruising speeds, most 75 mph.

You should go to the dealerships and sit on each bike and find the one that fits YOU the best. Everyone has a different body, long legs/short torso short legs/long torso skinny, fat, etc.

 

[209manny]

I'd say get any 500cc or maybe even 650cc parallel twin bikes. I.E. Ninja 500, gs500, sv650 or ninja 650r

 

[Lunaonwheels]

Do you think a 250 is enough to take more a longer road trip?

I've heard good things of the Ninja 250, but I don't want it to die up a hill.

My boyfriend got an SV650 as a first bike, but I find it too big and heavy for me. The nighthawk also feels kinda heavy, but maybe I'm just being a bit of a whimp.

I'll look into the GS500. 500 sounds more like something I would last longer on.

 

[JeZzY]

try looking into a kawi 650r as well.."oops, sorry". someone already posted that up..:teeth

 

[Ogier le Danois]

Do you think a 250 is enough to take more a longer road trip?

I've heard good things of the Ninja 250, but I don't want it to die up a hill.

My boyfriend got an SV650 as a first bike, but I find it too big and heavy for me. The nighthawk also feels kinda heavy, but maybe I'm just being a bit of a whimp.

I'll look into the GS500. 500 sounds more like something I would last longer on.

My first bike as an adult was a nighthawk 250. I still have it. I put 30,000 miles on it in 4 years.

I also did a trip from NC to CA on it.

The 250s are not ideal for long trips, but they will do them. What do you classify as long trip?

None of the smaller cc bikes will "die" on hills, all of them will reach the speed limit.

The ninja 250 is probably the best performace for $, but not the best for cheap running costs and insurance.

 

[scotinexcile]

Only my honest opinion!!!

You have to strike a balance between weight/height and experience. Anybody, well almost anybody, can learn how to ride a bike. The experience of what to do in different traffic situation only comes with tiime in the saddle.

It would be better for you to learn and get experience on a 250 or a 500 before you decide to make any long trips. Riding a bike for a couple of hundred miles is WAY different than being a passenger for a couple of hundred miles.:teeth

The 500 would give you mor room to play with as you gain experience

 

[Lunaonwheels]

What could be a downside of getting a 500 or 650 as a first bike? I understand the difference in power can be dangerous if you're not careful, but are they harder to handle?

 

[scotinexcile]

No real downside except they are generally bigger and heavier than the 250 machines.

When you are learing that can be a BIG difference for some folks.

My wife is 5' 7" 117lbs and had no problem with the way the bike handled.

There are plenty of women on the site who handle larger bikes daily, but usually they start with a smaller bike as do most guys.

I started with a Honda CB50 when I was 16, my Dadd made me run it up and down a long straight road changing up and down the gears before he let me out in traffic with it. Many years before MSF was even thought about!!!

I passed my MC test here in Reno on a WRF 400 dirt bike that had a street legal kit on it. Felt sorry for the guy who was there with the brand new harley that dropped it twice during the test!!!.

I dont think I could make my VFR pass the rider test. some of those circles are to tight for the lock on the bike.

Start small, have fun then when you have some miles under your belt upgrade. Dont start to big/fast and scare yourself away from the great world of MC's:laughing

 

[Ogier le Danois]

What could be a downside of getting a 500 or 650 as a first bike? I understand the difference in power can be dangerous if you're not careful, but are they harder to handle?

Physically larger than the 250s. May be more difficult for you control at low speed or when parking.

More power, so throttle control tends to be more difficult.

More weight see harder to control at low speeds.


cc size is not the be all end all for comfortable riding. I would say that a twin or single cylinder motor would be more user friendly than a 4 cylinder.

A million riders have learned on a ninja 500(ex500) so it appears to be user friendly.


Another reason I would suggest starting on a smaller bike. You set a baseline with the first bike you buy. Why set the baseline so high? There is nowhere to go in expectations or pleasure in getting something better, newer, faster and prettier.

 

[ST Guy]

If you are really sure you're going to like piloting your own machine, I'd lean towards the SV650. Maybe lower the seat just a bit if that's possible on that bike. The weight you will get used to in a very short amount of time, as long as you can touch your feet down pretty well.

Or, the other option I'd recommend would be to get a 250 Ninja. It's a well proven bike. There are plenty of used examples out there. Buy a good one used and ride it until you're comfortable riding. 6 months, maybe a year. Then, since your friend has an SV, take it out for a ride after you've got that experience. You'll likely find it much more comfortable than you do now. Then you can easily sell the 250 and get something bigger.

Also, take the MSF course. Understand counter steering. Learn to brake well and hard. Both ends. And control that urge to speed. A majority of motorcycle accidents happen to riders in their first year of riding. They start to ride, think they've got it mastered in a short time, and then get cocky or complacent or push it too far and fuck up. Sometimes with dire consequences. And don't skimp on gear. Get it all. And wear it all the time.

 

[Roadstergal]

GS500.

My first bike (effectively) and I'm shorter than you are. Easy to handle, enough power for the freeway, cheap, easy to maintain, great mileage, cheap insurance. Nice nekkid looks. If you drop it, they drop well.

I'd advise a pre-'01 (mine was an '00). In '01, they changed the seat and gave it annoying little 'wings' that push into your thighs uncomfortably. Aside from that, some minor changes to the carbs, and the fairing/oil cooler addition in '04, the bike hasn't changed since its inception (well, the first few '89s had sport bars). It's rock-solid.

As a general thing - straddling a bike to get a toe down on either side is nowhere near as stable as picking a side (left is best) and putting one foot down solidly while keeping the other on the peg. Practicing that will make any eventual move to a taller bike much more comfortable.

 

[Lunaonwheels]

Also, take the MSF course. Understand counter steering. Learn to brake well and hard. Both ends. And control that urge to speed. A majority of motorcycle accidents happen to riders in their first year of riding. They start to ride, think they've got it mastered in a short time, and then get cocky or complacent or push it too far and fuck up. Sometimes with dire consequences. And don't skimp on gear. Get it all. And wear it all the time.

MSF course next week. I think they have some cruisers, so I'll check how they feel. Luckily, I have an awesome boyfriend who wouldn't let me ride on his bike until I had full gear. He got me very good gear and also did a great job in scaring me by showing me articles on road rash and accidents. He won't even ride at night with me. I think I'm guaranteed to be cautious.

 

[ST Guy]

Excellent! 'Sounds like you'll have a long and fun life riding. Good attitude.

 

[CraigB]

I call BS when it comes to how easy it is selling a realatively new GS500F. I bought my first bike (2006 GS500F) and was ready to upgrade by Feb 2007. God damn Craig's Lister's tried to low ball me and I said f' that. I even had a for sale sign on it and people would call me with an offer $1k under blue book. Bastids. I regret not getting a 600 from the get go. Not only would I have almost been done with payments, I would have had the bike I wanted from the get go.

With that said, it does come down to self control and responsibilty and how the bike fits you...or rather you fit the bike. Also, do your research on insurance! That just may make the difference!!!! My opinion is based on me not being a dumb ass wheelie freak going 150+ on freeways. I was 33
when I got my bike and had all, or at least most, of the stupidity worn out.

 

[Roadstergal]

Buying a starter bike brand new is never a good idea. You lose a bundle just riding it off of the lot. I always recommend an older GS500E as a starter. (But an F is a good bike to hang on to for a while.)

 

[Kestrel]

People ride iron butt rallies on the 250s. Leon finished a couple years ago either 11th or 12th place - 11000 or so miles in 11 days. It is PLENTY capable - much more capable than you're giving it credit for. 0-60 is 5.5 is quick enough - it has plenty of pep if you keep it where the power is right up until 85mph or so and if you're going any faster than that - you don't need to be. At that point it has more car like acceleration but still.

Don't call it not capable because 250 owners like us tend to enjoy throwing stories at people like you to prove them wrong ;D You're making excuses and really screwing yourself out of what may be the best beginner bike ever.

 

[209manny]

I started out on a new ninja 250 that I bought april this year it cost me $3300 out the door and I sold it 4 months later for $2850, I did take a loss but it was still not that bad I put 2200 miles on the bike and enjoyed it. and ended up buying an 02 R6 for $2,000 so everything turned out good for me.

A ninja 250 is a real good starter bike but I wouldn't recommend getting one new, buy an old one like an early 90s. because ninja 250s haven't changed. I wouldn't even be picky about it just as long as it is mechanically sound.

More than likely you are going to upgrade in around a year or less depending on how much seat time and power hungry you are, so it doesn't have to be "the one"