First Bike Recommendations

[crinderer]

Hello,

I am signed up to take the beginner MSF course and obtain a motorcycle driver's license in late May. I have never driven a motorcycle and thus am a complete beginner. I have purchased some books for motorcycle beginners and have been spending way too much time reading them lately.

Please help me choose my first motorcycle. I am a 5'7" male and weigh 160 pounds. I wear a 30 inch inseam for pants. I live in the St. Louis, MO area, so I won't be able to ride year round as this area has subzero temperature winters and plus 100 degree summers.

I don't have much interest in sport bikes and at first thought I'd like to get a small cruiser such as a 250cc Yamaha Virago 250. But lately I've been starting to acquire a taste for standard bikes due to their characteristics (at least from what I've read so far) of good handling, upright riding position, size, and looks. I'm having a hard time finding recommendations for standard bikes for a beginner though. Is this because beginners should generally steer clear of standard bikes?

If I could get some recommendations on standard and cruiser bikes for a beginner, I'd really appreciate it. I've never ridden before, so I'd like to get a bike that handles well, is pretty light, and doesn't have so much power that I could get myself in a lot of trouble. I'd also like to spend $3,000 or less although I could spend more if I find I "need" to. I plan to ride this first bike until I feel I'm ready (and a few friends that have been riding for a while think I'm ready) to tradeup to a larger bike.

I've been reading through the posts on this message board for about the last week, and it has been a great help; so thanks!

[Johnj]

You should look at the little Ninjas. The 250 and the 500. Both are standards that look sporty, and clean units can be found for $2k.

[jstark47]

You should look at the little Ninjas. The 250 and the 500. Both are standards that look sporty, and clean units can be found for $2k.

Also look at Suzuki GS500's. The current version, the GS500F is plastic-clad like a sportbike but is really closer to a standard riding position. They're quite comfortable. The previous version, GS500E (1989-2002), didn't have the plastic fairing. They're a 500cc parallel twin like the small Ninjas.

There is also the Buell Blast - a 500cc single. This is also a "sporty-looking" standard. Just beware of used machines that were in Riders Edge courses - they'll be beat to death.

[SBK15]

I'm 5'8 168 lbs... my little 125 gets me around great.

[Brackstone]

If you want cheap + new odds are you need to get a Ninja 250. I don't think there are many cheap cruisers. Just the nature of the beast I believe.

[snoot]

I just got a ninja 250 for my first bike and I absolutely LOVE it! It looks great, I get tons of compliments on it. It takes a little bit of practice getting it up to speed right away, but if you're good at manual shifting you should be able to get the hang of it eventually.

I'm gonna upgrade sometime next year, but I have no qualms about choosing this one. It was economical to boot!

[Dragonhawk]

I'm having a hard time finding recommendations for standard bikes for a beginner though. Is this because beginners should generally steer clear of standard bikes?

If I could get some recommendations on standard and cruiser bikes for a beginner, I'd really appreciate it. I've never ridden before, so I'd like to get a bike that handles well, is pretty light, and doesn't have so much power that I could get myself in a lot of trouble. I'd also like to spend $3,000 or less although I could spend more if I find I "need" to. I plan to ride this first bike until I feel I'm ready (and a few friends that have been riding for a while think I'm ready) to tradeup to a larger bike.

The Ninja 250 is a standard. It may LOOK like a sportbike, but once you sit on it, you will find it's not a sportbike at all. It's a nice, comfortable, upright position. A new one fits your pricerange too. 90% of people seem to recommend it as a first bike. It was my first bike. They are great little machines.

Check out the link to my website too. I have a chart of beginner bikes and prices which you may find helpful.

[crinderer]

Wow. Thanks for all of the great information, and great website, Dragonhawk! That was very helpful information. I will admit that I did not know that the Ninja had a standard riding position, so I'll have to check out the Ninja 250.

I think I'll check out the Kawasaki Ninja 250, Yamaha Virago 250, Suzuki GS500, and Honda Nighthawk (250 cc) before buying. Does anyone have any info/comments on the Honda Nighthawk. I found a dealer about 50 miles away in Illinois that has several new 07 red Nighthawks in stock, so I think I could swing a deal and fit it within my budget.

Also, I'm having a lot of trouble finding smaller used bikes for sale right now in the St. Louis, MO area. Are these bikes normally hard to find, or do I just need to wait until the weather gets warmer to buy when I'd guess some owners of smaller bikes would be trading up? I've been browsing the Sunday paper, eBay, and CycleTrader.com and haven't come up with much so far.

The other problem I've run into is that even though I signed up on the first day possible for the MSF course, I found out today I only got my 5th choice as the first 6 classes are already full. So I'll either have to wait until late May to take the class (and get my license), or I'll have to try to get into the class as a walk-in if a person doesn't show up on the first day.

[NewGuy]

Please help me choose my first motorcycle.

Well I would recommend that wait to seriously shop for a bike unitl after you take the MSF course. You will have a much better idea of what you want/need in a bike.

I am a 5'7" male and weigh 160 pounds. . . at first thought I'd like to get a small cruiser such as a 250cc Yamaha Virago 250. But lately I've been starting to acquire a taste for standard bikes due to their characteristics (at least from what I've read so far) of good handling, upright riding position, size, and looks. I'm having a hard time finding recommendations for standard bikes for a beginner though.

At your size I'd stay away from a 250cc standard or cruiser.

If you like standards you may want to check out the Buell Blast. 500cc, belt drive, seat height 26", 360lbs, and about 70mpg.

Or you could go with the Suzuki S40 (aka Savage 650), which is a standard in the same vein as the H-D Sportsters. 650cc, belt drive, 27" seat height, 350lbs, and I've seen claims of over 60mpg.

You can probably find good examples of each as used bikes, which is why I mention the alternate name for the S40. Prior to '05 it was called the Savage 650, but it's the same bike.

For a cruiser I'd say take a look at the Kawasaki 500LTD, and the Yamaha V-star 650. I'm not sure about the 500LTD, but my V-star 650 has enough power to haul my 180 pounds quite well, and I get just shy of 50mpg.

While I think you could probably handle a bigger bike, you'll save money getting a used 500LTD or V-star, both the on the purchase, and on insurance. Once you go over 650cc insurance costs increase rapidly.

You may want to read this:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/good_first_motorcycles.htm

While that article is a bit dated most of the bikes, or their updated versions, are still available new and you can probably get any of them used. The notable exception being the Kawasaki W650 which was only sold a couple of years in the US, and since most owners like them they can be a little hard to find on the used market.

[crinderer]

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/603249115.html

What does everyone think about this bike? It's a Suzuki SV650 with 11,000 miles on it for $3,200. I'm going to try to get a buddy that has been riding for 20+ years to go look at it with me soon. I really like the looks and standard riding position of the naked SV650's, but do you think this would be too powerful of a bike for a beginner?

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/mcy/568854460.html
I have also found a 1993 GS500 with 6,000 miles on it for $1,500, but a 92 is a little older of a bike than I was hoping for. I'm not very mechanical, so I'll have to pay for a lot of maintenance done to the bike I buy.

Judging by eBay, the newspapers, and Craiglist for the St. Louis area; used GS500's and SV650's don't come up for sale all that often, so I'm going to try to checkout both bikes soon. Would I be better off with a GS500 or SV650 for my first bike? Keep in mind that I have never driven before, and am a total noob.