So I'm suppose to be sleeping but instead I'm up looking at bikes...crotch rockets to be specific...I've wanted one for a long time now and I figure I'll do it this summer. My question is what's a good starter bike? My friend at work told me to start with a 650cc bike, but others tell me to start with 500cc.

I'm going to take the the motorcycle safety class soon, just wanted to know what kind of used bike I should get so I could start saving up.

 

i don't ride one, but my friend who did just started out 1000cc and preached that everyone should do the same lol

 

I've been riding sporty type bikes on the street since I was old enough to drive (18 years). Best choice is a Ninja 250, its light and the power/handling/braking characteristics are very forgiving, plus you can buy a used one cheap ($1500-$2000) and then sell it for the same after you've gotten some experience and are ready to move up.

A 500cc or 650cc bike with a parallel twin style engine would be a good choice also.

Supersport bikes eg R6, CBR600RR, GSXR, ZX-6R are bad choices. These bikes demand a level of finesse and control that only comes with experience.

Most new rider crashes happen in one of two ways.

1)Someone pulls out in front of them and they need to execute a panic stop, they have a tendency to just grab a big handful of the stop lever, lock the front wheel and end up off the bike.

2)New rider leans over into a turn at a speed that feels too fast, then NR stands the bike up, gets on the brakes, runs off the road or, even worse, over the center line into the oncoming lane.

If you do decide to get a bike please do the following:
1) Take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation Basic Rider Course.
2) Buy and wear gear, not a t-shirt and sneakers. Wear a helmet, full gauntlet style leather gloves, an armored jacket, jeans, and boots of some kind, as a minimum.
3) Practice basic riding skills in a large empty parking lot often, most importantly panic stops.
4) Check out a sportbike forum online, the peeps on there will have way more tips and advice than I do.
5) Have fun. I love riding and couldn't imagine not having a bike.

 

I rode motorcycles for about 65 years and am a former MSF instructor. When I retired from "the real world" at age 55 I got my dream job for a couple of years selling motorcycles. The one problem I saw repeated several times is people starting off with a bike that was too small. It doesn't take long at all for the 250cc bike to become too small. Just a little familiarity with it and you will wish you had something bigger. This is a big "if" but IF you're able to ride responsibly I would suggest you get a 650cc. I could ride the biggest bike I ever owned as slow as any one could ride a 250cc bike. It's all in the right wrist. If you don't have the self discipline to ride responsibly you shouldn't be considering any motorcycle, even a 250 CC. If you do get a 650 cc it will only be a short time before you will feel comfortable on the bike.

The best advice I can give you is most certainly buy a used bike. Your being new to riding, you will drop your bike. Everyone either has or will. Also, buying used will give you more time to learn which make and model you want to buy further down the road as a keeper.

For what it's worth, with 65 years on the highway I never had an accident till 3 years ago and that happened when a bicycle riding the same direction I was going made a U turn in my path. One of the injuries I got was a subdural hematoma which meant they had to drill two holes in my skull to drain the fluid off my brain. The helmet I was wearing got totally trashed. Had I not been wearing a full face helmet I wouldn't be alive today, let alone still as pretty as ever. Have fun but ride responsibly. Good luck.

 

If you want a friendly place to ask LOTS of motorcycle questions, check out BeginnerBikers.org. I'm over there as well (as "Afflo.")

Despite the name, there is a wide variety of experience on there, from other newbs to multi-decade riders. They're very good about not jumping on new riders for asking questions - you won't get the assholish "USE THE SEARCH NEWB!" like new members get here if they ask a question that someone may have asked 2 years ago.

 

i agree with whaap in that buying too small will be a mistake. twist the wrist too much on a 250cc and no problem. same twist on a 6oo an you WILL flip over backwards and that can kill you...very least destroy your bike. the first 6 months is critical for a newb. statistically, that is 90% of the crashes. if you are the macho type that can't hold it down for 6 months, you will most likely die like all the rest of that type. i've been riding since 1978 without a get off..knock on wood. i always dress for the crash wearing leathers or a one piece armoured touring suit and full face helmet. all that being said, riding is safer than driving in many respects and more 'funner' in all respects! buy used, buy cheap, put good money in good gear. if you're a big person, think bandit 1200. big, heavy, comfortable, run forever and cheap. Ninja 500 is another good choice that you wont outgrow for a while.

 

I put 4500 miles on a Ninja 250R. I moved up mainly because I have long legs, but it's a terrific, very forgiving bike for learning. Its not superpowerful, but will keep up with traffic and roll on the highway. Figure 0-60 in the high 6's/low 7's, and a top speed around 100. Most of the 250cc cruisers are Fit-slow accelerating, and top out with wide open throttle at 65-75 mph.

 

I didn't read the previous posts. They were too long lol.

Definitely don't go with an R6/CBR600RR/GSX-R/etc.

The best bike to start out (that is sporty) would be a Ninja 250 (although that new Honda CBR250 looks really good)

From the guys I've talked to (I have license but haven't gotten around to buying a bike) that have been riding their whole lives/tracking for years/etc. if you start out on a slower bike, you won't be riding in fear. You'll trust the bike and push its limits. You'll ride the bike rather than the other way around.

Another thing to note:

Once you think you've mastered the bike.

Ride it another year or two lol.

 

"From the guys I've talked to (I have license but haven't gotten around to buying a bike) that have been riding their whole lives/tracking for years/etc. if you start out on a slower bike, you won't be riding in fear. You'll trust the bike and push its limits. You'll ride the bike rather than the other way around."
like you said, you don't have a bike. if you don't ride around with a certain amount of fear, you won't last long. if you push the bikes limits, you won't last long. you're kinda like the POPE and birth control sounds good on paper.

 

Thanks for all the response guys. I will definitely be taking your guys' advice which is to practice practice practice! Real helpful info!

Going on Beginnerbikers.org now

Now, onto a more specific question, I'm leaning towards a 600-650cc bike, which would be the cheapest, doesn't matter what brand.

Edit: After reading some eye-opening articles on Beginnerbikers, I think I might start out with the Ninja 250r. Would still love to get a 600cc bike though

 

I agree with starting with a slower bike. For me it's not that I won't be riding in fear, I think it's the fear of actually using the bike, if that makes sense.

Thanks for the advice.

To be honest, I wanted to get a bigger bike just to impress, but with the articles that I read, I quickly dismissed that bs. Now onto actually having fun

Just need to find a cheap, used bike now

 

Listen to waap, A 650 is a great first bike. Manageable to learn on and fast enough to save your life.

 

Any suggestions on a good 650cc starter?

 

This is a great time of year to look for private deals. I'm a Yammy fan.

 

I'll agree with harv83 on this one. A twin in the 600/650 range is a good start. Suzuki SV650 is probably something to look at. Not a lot of fairings to worry about if you drop it. Just a recommendation.

Check out a MSF course to get a feel of a bike. They are usually a 250cc sport bike or cruiser so enough to putt around on their course.

Myself, I rode a 1000cc and I was easy on the wrist to start. It's a death machine but a blast to ride. I wouldn't recommend it as a first bike but mature riders that can control the urge to ripe that throttle "should" be ok. Man I miss that bike...

 

I had a couple fun summers on an R6 before moving up to a full liter.

The R6 was a fun bike, and I imagine that if it could move my weight, more normal sized people will have a ball. It might even be too much bike to start with. It could stand up from a roll even with my 285lbs lying on it. That bike had a GT2560R and a full Yoshimura exhaust put on before I sold it though. Made 230whp but a quick spooling turbo and such a small contact patch was a recipe for disaster.. Taking hard corners at 25mph in 5th out of fear is no good.

Though I grew up on dirt bikes and motorcycles, so your mileage may vary. My first real solo ride on a motorcycle was an Uncle's mid 90's Ducati 999 and that was an eye opening experience.

So I only had a 600 and 1000, before getting out of the game. After a few close calls and losing a couple friends and family members, then putting it down once myself because of an oblivious driver I got out of bikes.

I still feel like everyone is out to kill me on the road even now that I have a cage...

 

Oh... a bit more upright Duc 999. First experience was on a 748 and that is a down low torque beast between your legs.

Had to sell my R1 during hard times. I probably would not ever get on a bike again with all the crazy drivers out there now. Just like bicyclists, you don't see them unless you're one of them and know how they react on the road or where they will be. Folks out of state that visit me trip out on how bikes are lane splitting (legal in California and up to the discretion of a police officer to ticket you for speeding or straddling). A technique I definitely don't recommend for noobies!