alright... this time the thread kinda died... but im gona continue researching newb bikes, back to about the 1980's. hopefully by the middle of next week, i can post them. im expecting the list to actualy be pretty long its only in the last 10 years that the liter wars have made buying a begginer bike a real problem from what i heard. in thier quest for bigger bikes, they forget that the smaller ones can be twice as much fun for the expierienced rider. there should be a low to midium end (3-6 hundred cc) market aimed at more experienced riders. i think that the big five would see large profit scales from such a campaign instead of '*2004 honda* mines the bigest! *2005 suzuki* no its noooooooooooooooot! '
I'm not an experianced multi season rider, but i think i can say that i'm glad i started on the dirt with a 200. Not only was i able to actually learn to ride it without having to worry about cars and such on the road, but i could learn like that without having to stay in the confines of a parking lot. Also, riding dirt/mud/trails, has helped bash repeatedly into my mind what reflexes i need when faced with sudden troubles. Like the odd rock that jumps out infront of your front wheel. It's not something you trhink about, it just kinda happens. Another thing i liked about learning on a dirtbike, it's very flickable. It being so helped me learn the "body english" required when turning and such, but also made you learn to actually move the handle bars around to et through the slower moving tough stuff. And it being a dirtbike, it's MADE to take abuse and punishment. It's not like it's GOOD for a bike to be railed wide upen over mud/rocks/through water/etc. and if you do happen to drop the bike, it'll most likely keep running, even on it's side. I crashed my XR at about 40 MPH and was able to ride it home with only a bent foot peg! Oh yeah, when it stopped on the ground on its side, it was still running and i had to hit the kill switch to shut it off.
Sort of a testimony, I guess-- I've been reading the "bikes and biking for beginners" type articles like those you have been citing, and ended up buying a used ('81) 250cc Suzuki. I'm having a great time with it, riding mostly during slow traffic times/days and am starting to get the feel of it. For what its worth, I've been impressed that even an older 250 cc bike produces pretty decent acceleration and I like acceleration more than speed. I know it's not a great highway bike but I live in a city/suburban area and that's where I plan to use it most of the time. Maybe down the road I'll get interested in touring but so far just having a good time and trying to stay in the upright position.
Pete
its only in the last 10 years that the liter wars have made buying a begginer bike a real problem from what i heard. in thier quest for bigger bikes, they forget that the smaller ones can be twice as much fun for the expierienced rider. there should be a low to midium end (3-6 hundred cc) market aimed at more experienced riders. i think that the big five would see large profit scales from such a campaign instead of '*2004 honda* mines the bigest! *2005 suzuki* no its noooooooooooooooot! 
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