First Bike.

[jpatino03]

I've always been interested in motorcycles, but I've never ridden or driven one, and I want to purchase one at the end of the summer. I'm curious from those of you who do own bikes, what's a good first bike to learn with? Any tips on learning to ride them? All of your input is appreciated!

[Minacious]

A great resource for beginners. http://www.beginnerbikes.com/

[jpatino03]

Thanks a lot!

[gigdy]

i heard that hyabusa's are great to learn on.

[oscargarza88]

^^
haha lol

i made a thread kind of lie this one a long long time ago, u can search 4 it, i think it was calles bikes, or interested in bikes...

[jpatino03]

Originally Posted by gigdy i heard that hyabusa's are great to learn on.

If you're interested in dying.

Hayabusa's are nice!!! also the Yamaha R1 isnt bad looks good too also which my friend has says its easy to ride also the Suzuki Katana which he has is easy to ride but i would go with the Hayabusa or the R1

[jpatino03]

Well, If I had any experience riding bikes I would too, but I seriously doubt I'd be able to handle one of those.

[RC45]

Originally Posted by AZNSUNNYD Hayabusa's are nice!!! also the Yamaha R1 isnt bad looks good too also which my friend has says its easy to ride also the Suzuki Katana which he has is easy to ride but i would go with the Hayabusa or the R1

LOL as a first bike.. yeah right...

[jpatino03]

Alright, after researching a little, I'm considering a Honda Nighthawk or Rebel, or a Yamaha Virago 250. I still have 2 questions

1. I'm a big guy, (6'2 240) would the nighthawk 750 be more suitable than the 250?
2. Is the switch over to sport bikes from standard difficult?

[Ic3de]

well my friend just bought a Cagiva Mito 125cc 2-stroke.. thjis bike is identical to a Duccati and comes with Bremo brakes and alot great parts. its an awesome starters bike and he has gotten 150kph so far no to mention in a 60kph zone

[kteo2003]

there is no such thing as easy bike but let just say that i think honda are more friendly to use...try the latest cbr rr 600cc identical with x-valentio bike...

[RC45]

Originally Posted by kteo2003 there is no such thing as easy bike but let just say that i think honda are more friendly to use...try the latest cbr rr 600cc identical with x-valentio bike...

Exactly what are you basing your impression that the 600RR is a good learner bike, on?

And there very much is such a thing as "an easy learner bike" - and it has nothing to do with brand - but rather layout and engine power.

[abn]

Given your size I would start with a larger bike 750cc or greater. I wouldn't (especially given your size), start with anything less than a 600cc motorcycle. You will rapidly tire of the performance of anything less, on freeway rides the constant 6-8 thousand RPM buzz of a 600 may become tiring, and if you ever intend to ride two up anything smaller than a 600 will be cramped and underpowered (not in a gross sense but you will lose significant "roll on" performance. The 600 class is the utilitarian class with enough performance to satisfy but not overwhelm. 600's are usually the best selling in terms of actual numbers so there are a lot of them available used. The downside is that they are often used by the younger (finances) and beginners (buy into the idea that you can't learn to ride on a large displacement bike)...and can be abused.

You mention the switch over from "standard" to "sportbikes"...the only downside to a sport bike, depending on manufacturer and model is seating position. The repliracer riding position attempts to fold you up under the aerodynamic bubble created by the windscreen and fairing. The larger you are, the worse it is. Sportbike development is extremely competitive...teams of engineers who eat drink and sleep motorcycles with the kind of R&D support that only large OEM's can provide have conspired to create a generation of the sharpest handling bikes with the most rigid frames and a constant evolution in suspension and braking technology. Journalists nitpick every fault and can destroy a models sales. What I'm trying to get at is that I would consider a sportbike a BETTER starting platform than a wallowing flexible framed, low cost entry level bike, with spindly forks, unresponsive geometry, mushy brakes, and hard thin touring tires (Rebel and Virago).

One of the newer larger retro style "standard" models like the FZ1, Bandit, ZRX I think would actually be good. These are large bikes, but I think your size will make them controlable. And don't write off the large twins like a SV1000 or a TL1000. I think these will be bikes that you will not outgrow overnight, and provide a good mix of seating position, technical evolution, and value.

These are large engined motorcycles with power that people may warn you away from as a beginner...but the control is right there in your right wrist. Imaturity will destroy you and or your wallet on these bikes, but that goes equal for a 600. I find that larger bikes also breed respect from the rider, you are less likely to treat it as a toy and do something stupid. Get yourself a good bike, keep it stock and take the money you would spend in pipes, air filters, chips or jet kits, and invest it in rider education and track days. Read the Keith Code books (they are imperitive to driving anything)...and you should come out of this with a reasonable chance of survival and enter into the world of motorcycling.

I've been off the motorcycle scene since '99 when I became a father so check around to see what's going on now and what's available. I've got a bit over 15 years motorcycling and a couple hundred thousand miles under my belt, but I am by no means an expert...so run my opinions by others (like a California motorcycle skills instructor 1-800-ccrider IIRC, or check via the CHP) and see what they say. Good luck, keep the rubber side down.

[RC45]

I was reading what you were saying - and almost began to appreciate what you were spewing - right up until I read the crap you have listed below...

Originally Posted by abn These are large engined motorcycles with power that people may warn you away from as a beginner...but the control is right there in your right wrist. Imaturity will destroy you and or your wallet on these bikes, but that goes equal for a 600.

There is NOTHING wrong with starting out in motorcycling on a smaller less powerful bike... the problem with almost ALL American riders is that their ego (which is the reverse reflection of their penis size) is too BIG to allow them to learn to ride correctly.

Originally Posted by abn I find that larger bikes also breed respect from the rider, you are less likely to treat it as a toy and do something stupid.

What UTTER BULLSHIT!!!!

If you had any REAL knowledge of motorcycling at all - you would know that the smaller less powerful bikes actually teach you MORE refinement and control - and the old argument of "the biggest baddest bike will keep you in check" is extremely poor advice.

Originally Posted by abn Get yourself a good bike, keep it stock and take the money you would spend in pipes, air filters, chips or jet kits, and invest it in rider education and track days. Read the Keith Code books (they are imperitive to driving anything)...and you should come out of this with a reasonable chance of survival and enter into the world of motorcycling.

On it's own this statement makes a lot of sense - however in the light of the previoous "ego" driven bigger-is-better statements I am writing this off as a one-off from you.


Few things stir up an much passion within me as motorcycling and especially attracting new riders to the hobby... and this really irks me - when people (especially in the USA - where there is NO stepped motorcycle licencing) use their ego to purchase their first bike.

I will say it again -There is nothing wrong with buying a small used bike to learn on - and perhaps also get a used Honda XL100 for some dirt play/practice on.

But - as this is an Internet forum - and the advice is free, do what ever you want....