Is this bike too much for a semi beginner?

[ZooTech]

I'm sure you remember the Ford Explorer debacle of a few years ago - Lots of rollovers resulting in quite a few casualties. There is actually a good parallel here - because the Majority of those rollover fatalaties could have been avoided had the drivers of the vehicles had proper training in how to properly handle their "esuvees"

That was blown entirely out of proportion. I watched a demonstration in which a tire on a Ford Explorer was deliberately blown-out at 65mph and the truck handled evasive maneuvers even with the flat. My dad was an accident investigator for the Columbus Police Department for ~10 years and says the anti-SUV folks are outta their minds. You can drift in a freakin' double-bus (seen it) without it rolling over. A car would rather skid than flip, barring an impact with a curb, but in that scenario a car is likely to roll as well.

I don't believe that the people behind the "ESUVEE" campaign are 'left wing tree huggers'. They are trying to do what should have been done in the first place. Educate people to get them on the best path for themselves and for society in general.

I don't need to be told what to drive. America wasn't built by people who were told what path to take. And it's funny how the very people trying to tell us what we should and should not drive are out buying Lexus RX300's because, after all, it's okay for them to do it because they paid over $40,000 and they "do so much" to educate the rest of us.

I think the best answer is probably somewhere in the Middle. 250's may not be exceptional starter bikes for everyone, but I don't believe that an open class liter bike is the place for anyone to start. No, they're not instant death machines, but at the same time, they're not beginner friendly.

I couldn't agree more. I'm not advocating or even recommending liter bikes to everyone to learn on. It's this notion that everyone that passes-up a 250 is "doing something wrong" that I find disturbing. Complete and total newbies to motorcycling can get their feet wet at the MSF course...ON a 250 no less...so they serve their purpose aiding those that have never even touched manual controls before. But anyone bringing one home from the dealership has either been misled or stopped growing in 5th grade.

[TechTMW]

My friend, you've just supported my parallel. The point I was trying to make was that with a little bit of training, the drivers of the rolled-over vehicles could have prevented the rollover. I don't care what you saw on TV - the truck didn't do the evasive maneuvers - the DRIVER did. (No doubt a TRAINED driver.)

Period.

The other point was that the esuvee people aren't telling people not to drive suv's. They're trying to inform people how to drive them properly to avoid fatal accidents. Where the heck are you getting the idea that they're saying "Don't Drive an SUV??"


Who cares about all that junk anyway - it was just a small point. I think we all come into the general ballpark when it comes to what's ideal for a new or semi-new rider. It's pretty reactionary to say that anyone bringing a 250 home from the dealership is misled. There are a few people on this list who OWN the bikes that would probably disagree with you. I also think it's pretty reactionary to say that anyone hopping on a literbike as a beginner is going to die a terrible death - and yeah, I do think that's about the prevailing attitude on the boards here. But I think it's better to err on the side of caution when you are recommending things to people anonymously over the internet.

[cb360]

Well said TechBMW. By the way, my wife owns a Rebel250 which she absolutely loves. We have an old cb360 that freaked her out a little because she had to stand on tiptoe - even as small as that bike is, it pushes 400 .lbs wet weight - we got her a cruiser style 250 and she's rode just about every day for the last 30. Scott58 - a frequent poster on the boards here just rode his rebel 250 for a week long road trip clocking over 1000 miles on the interstate and he loved it. Those little bikes aren't for everyone and I get bored riding them but they are better beginner bikes for a much larger segment of the population than most and a lot of people like them so much they stick with them for years and years. To say anyone who brings one home from the dealer is crazy is nothing but a blatant attempt at trolling. There's lots of different kinds of people and lots of different kinds of bikes.

It is certainly prudent on an anonymous message board to recommend smaller, lower horsepower bikes because that is the recommendation that makes the most sense for most of the people most of the time. It's all subjective. If I knew someone personally and saw how they handled themselves on a daily basis and knew quite a bit more about their physical characteristics, etc., etc then I might say try a 600cc cruiser or something. But I'd always recommend the MSF, a few trips to the parking lot and full safety gear. They can do whatever they want with the info but recommendation is just that - a recommendation. They can do whatever they want with the info. The fact remains that a lot of new riders wreck new bikes withing the first weeks of purchase if not the first day. I think those incidents could be lessened if many (not by any means 'all') folks started with a little bit less bike.

[cruisinflatout]

I personally think that if you have a head on your shoulders, you can ride most anything as a starter bike.

You just have to remember that the more cc's, the more you have to be careful with that throttle...

It's these young kids that go out and buy a busa for their first bike cause they want the fastest possible bike and they have no clue how fast it really is that end up paying for it.

IMO A 600 is a fine bike to start with as long as you feel comfortable on it (ie-can touch the ground etc)...just my 2 cents, spend it wisely.

[ZooTech]

The other point was that the esuvee people aren't telling people not to drive suv's. They're trying to inform people how to drive them properly to avoid fatal accidents. Where the heck are you getting the idea that they're saying "Don't Drive an SUV??"

If you honestly believe the people coming up with these commercials aren't the same liberal lobbyists pushing for more hybrids and trying to ban NASCAR from using racing gas, then you've turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the whole thing. It's not "We're concerned about idiots like you" it's more about scare tactics. They're not winning based on bad fuel mileage or pollution, so they've come up with "Drive an SUV and IT MIGHT KILL YOU!" instead.

With the re-emergence of naked bikes, one day soon, real men will be able to bring their motors out of the false shadows of molded plastic and show their motors to the world without fear of ridicule or shame.

But for now, the Ninja 250's engine will remain hidden by as much ABS body cladding as they can bolt over it without bottoming-out the suspension!

[Aggroton]

The other point was that the esuvee people aren't telling people not to drive suv's. They're trying to inform people how to drive them properly to avoid fatal accidents. Where the heck are you getting the idea that they're saying "Don't Drive an SUV??"

If you honestly believe the people coming up with these commercials aren't the same liberal lobbyists pushing for more hybrids and trying to ban NASCAR from using racing gas, then you've turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the whole thing. It's not "We're concerned about idiots like you" it's more about scare tactics. They're not winning based on bad fuel mileage or pollution, so they've come up with "Drive an SUV and IT MIGHT KILL YOU!" instead.

With the re-emergence of naked bikes, one day soon, real men will be able to bring their motors out of the false shadows of molded plastic and show their motors to the world without fear of ridicule or shame.

But for now, the Ninja 250's engine will remain hidden by as much ABS body cladding as they can bolt over it without bottoming-out the suspension!

wow.

[ronboskz650sr]

Here's a middle-of the-road story. My 135 pound, 19 year-old son told me he wanted a motorcycle last year, about this time. I said, okay. Then he said, "I'm thinking about a 500cc vulcan." Having been completely out of touch with motorcycles for over 30 years, I heard "500cc" and immediately tried to explain to him what a bad idea it would be. You see, in the mid 70's, alot of 500cc bikes were not good beginner bikes at all. I learned to ride on a honda ct90, and I was ignorant of the whole cruiser market, and most of the rest of modern motorcycling. So, I researched, and he stuck to his idea and found one. The first time he applied throttle in the wet, slightly sloped, grassy yard, the bike spun around itself and tossed him off it. The second time it did, too. Now he had respect for the power available, and we straightened him out on a slight downhill, still in the grass. He spent every day for a week doing figure eights, and circles and little acceleration bursts, and stops out in our side yard. He practiced counter-steering, high sided once at about 20 mph, skidded the rear-end around alot, basically did some dirt riding on a street machine, for about a week. He checked out the MSF, found a 3 month waiting list, and decided to hit the road, with caution. He bought orange cones, set up a course in the state fair parking lot, and practiced. He attacked this like he always does anything new, reading magazine/internet articles, applying the knowledge and practicing. When information conflicted, he asked me. If I didn't know, i found out. When he started scraping footpegs, he decided he'd rather use a sportbike for that kind of riding, and not scrape so much. In the past 10 months he's ridden about 5500 miles, in all weather, and just took a 560 mile trip on his cbr600f1. That doesn't sound like much, but considering his work schedule, he's packed alot of riding in. He did 280 miles in about five hours, each way, and is thrilled with the comfort on this bike's maiden voyage after a 3 month cosmetic, and mechanical work-over. He prefers it to the vulcan for long rides.

I just wrote this to give another example of how learning can happen. Many of the things you just read won't work at all for some people. Some may be worth a try. I wish everyone the best in their learning experience (old Air Force teacher here), and know we can help with any questions newcomers have. If you're wondering about it, somebody on this site has done it!

[Aggroton]

and that paint on the 600 is sooooo sweet...just had to say it again.

[ronboskz650sr]

and that paint on the 600 is sooooo sweet...just had to say it again.

It is, isn't it?

[ZooTech]

Having been completely out of touch with motorcycles for over 30 years, I heard "500cc" and immediately tried to explain to him what a bad idea it would be. You see, in the mid 70's, alot of 500cc bikes were not good beginner bikes at all.

I know exactly what you mean. There was a time when a Honda 350 was considered a "big" bike. But times have changed. Frames and engines have gotten lighter, suspension has become better, throttles are smoother, and brakes are stronger and provide better feedback. We now have bikes on the road with more displacement and power than a compact car. With that in mind, the average size for a starter bike has also increased, because the thing is, a Honda 350 from the 70's actually weighs as much or more than a late model 500cc bike, and weight is more the issue here, not power. So I say once again, if someone asks me if a [FILL IN BIKE HERE] would be good to start on, my only question is, "How well does it fit you?".

The first time he applied throttle in the wet, slightly sloped, grassy yard, the bike spun around itself and tossed him off it. The second time it did, too.

Well, I don't have to tell you then just how futile it is to try and learn in the grass. You think it's safer because of the softer landing BUT, the thing is, you're guaranteed to crash. Bike tires do NOT like grass. You're actually more likely to scare a potential rider into thinking they can expect more of the same once on pavement. If you must learn on grass, get a dirt bike. You'll learn all the same riding concepts, and the parts are cheaper to replace.