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Ok I've read things that say don't go past this much CCs and then I've read things that say look out for this much horse power. I guess what I'm getting at is that if you follow this like that I got off of this board.

http://www.californiabikenights.com/learn/

you will see this brake down.

BEGINNER HORSEPOWER MOTORCYCLES (less than 60HP)
These motorcycles are all below 60HP and are great bikes to start with...
Model Engine HP Weight Style MSRP
Kawasaki Eliminator 125cc 12HP 291 lbs. Cruiser $2700
Suzuki GZ250 249cc 20HP 302 lbs. Standard $3200
Yamaha Virago 250 250cc 21HP 302 lbs. Cruiser $3500
Honda Nighthawk 250 250cc 22HP 286 lbs. Standard $3600
Honda Rebel 250cc 25HP 306 lbs. Cruiser $3100
Buell Blast 492cc 30HP 360 lbs. Standard $4700
Suzuki Boulevard S40 655cc 31HP 352 lbs. Cruiser $4400
Kawasaki Ninja 250 250cc 36HP* 304 lbs. Standard $3000
Honda Shadow VLX 650cc 40HP 452 lbs. Cruiser $5400
Yamaha V Star Classic 650cc 40HP 544 lbs. Cruiser $6000
Yamaha V Star Custom 650cc 40HP 544 lbs. Cruiser $5800
Moto Guzzi Nevada 750 750cc 46HP 405 lbs. Standard $9000
Moto Guzzi Breva V750 IE 750cc 48HP 401 lbs. Standard $8500
BMW F 650 CS 652cc 50HP 417 lbs. Standard $7900
Kawasaki Ninja 500 500cc 50HP 388 lbs. Standard $5100
Honda Shadow Sabre 1099cc 50HP 577 lbs. Cruiser $8600
Suzuki GS500F 487cc 51HP 396 lbs. Sportbike $5200
Harley Davidson Sportster 883cc 52HP 555 lbs. Cruiser $6600
Triumph Scrambler 865cc 54HP 451 lbs. Standard $8000
Suzuki Boulevard M50 805cc 56HP 540 lbs. Cruiser $6800
*Remember at only 36HP this "little" bike still does 105 miles per hour. You do not need tons of horsepower for a "fast" motorcycle...


Is this true are all these bikes great for starters? I find that hard to believe but I'm in the market for a starter bike so I don't know.

Yep. That's a pretty good list of starter bikes there.

Yes they all will be good for starters. The bikes that have engines bigger than 650 cc's on that list are cruisers and will handle different than sport bikes.

Most sport bikes that are over 600cc's have over 60 HP so they wouldn't be on that list.

mimic216 wrote:Harley Davidson Sportster 883cc 52HP 555 lbs. Cruiser $6600

Way too top heavy. Wouldn't wish it upon a beginner, or anyone for that matter.

ZooTech wrote:

mimic216 wrote:Harley Davidson Sportster 883cc 52HP 555 lbs. Cruiser $6600

Way too top heavy. Wouldn't wish it upon a beginner, or anyone for that matter.

Pffft - it's my first bike and it's been fine. It's a lot less ungainly than some of the other 'beginner' cruisers I sat on, thats for sure!

Nalian wrote:

ZooTech wrote:

mimic216 wrote:Harley Davidson Sportster 883cc 52HP 555 lbs. Cruiser $6600

Way too top heavy. Wouldn't wish it upon a beginner, or anyone for that matter.

Pffft - it's my first bike and it's been fine. It's a lot less ungainly than some of the other 'beginner' cruisers I sat on, thats for sure!

yeh... crap about bikes being top heavy is over rated... if anything it will help teach better balance from the beginning... the cruisers with a low center of gravity might seem great because they feel so light with small side to side movements but once you get them past a certain lean angle at a very slow speed or standing still they fall over just like any other bike.

BEGINNER HORSEPOWER MOTORCYCLES (less than 60HP)
These motorcycles are all below 60HP and are great bikes to start with...
Model Engine HP Weight Style MSRP
Kawasaki Eliminator> 125cc 12HP >>291 lbs. Cruiser $2700
Suzuki GZ250> 249cc 20HP>> 302 lbs. Standard $3200
Yamaha Virago 250> 250cc 21HP>> 302 lbs. Cruiser $3500
Honda Nighthawk 250> 250cc 22HP>> 286 lbs. Standard $3600
Honda Rebel> 250cc 25HP>> 306 lbs. Cruiser $3100
Buell Blast> 492cc 30HP>> 360 lbs. Standard $4700
Suzuki Boulevard S40> 655cc 31HP>> 352 lbs. Cruiser $4400
Kawasaki Ninja 250> 250cc 36HP*>> 304 lbs. Standard $3000
Honda Shadow VLX> 650cc 40HP>> 452 lbs. Cruiser $5400
Yamaha V Star Classic> 650cc 40HP>> 544 lbs. Cruiser $6000
Yamaha V Star Custom> 650cc 40HP>> 544 lbs. Cruiser $5800
Moto Guzzi Nevada 750> 750cc 46HP>> 405 lbs. Standard $9000
Moto Guzzi Breva V750 IE> 750cc 48HP>> 401 lbs. Standard $8500
BMW F 650 CS> 652cc 50HP>> 417 lbs. Standard $7900
BMW F 650 GS> 652 cc 50 HP>> 430 lbs. Standard
Kawasaki Ninja 500> 500cc 50HP>> 388 lbs. Standard $5100
Honda Shadow Sabre> 1099cc 50HP>> 577 lbs. Cruiser $8600
Suzuki GS500F> 487cc 51HP>> 396 lbs. Sportbike $5200
Harley Davidson Sportster> 883cc 52HP>> 555 lbs. Cruiser $6600
Triumph Scrambler> 865cc 54HP>> 451 lbs. Standard $8000
Suzuki Boulevard M50> 805cc 56HP>> 540 lbs. Cruiser $6800


It isn't just about the cc/hp numbers. The wet weight is also a factor while learning.

For a standard or sport bike set up it is helpful to keep the weight in the under 500 lb range (the closer to 400 lbs the better), because it makes slow speed maneuvering much easier: Getting into or out of a parking space, turning slowly from a stop or managing the bike on a hill. Because of the low center of gravity, it is possible to manage more weight on a cruiser, but don't be fooled.

P

I suppose I'm picking nits, but some of those numbers are wrong. The first one that jumped out at me is the Honda VLX... it's a 600, not a 650, and it might make 40 hp off the engine, not at the wheel. Some of those other hp number seem a bit high, probably a mix of crank and rear wheel hp data.

Regardless, it's a good list of lower hp "starter" bikes, I doubt any of the numbers shown are actually less than what is delivered.

Nalian wrote:Pffft - it's my first bike and it's been fine. It's a lot less ungainly than some of the other 'beginner' cruisers I sat on, thats for sure!

Top heavy, high seat, and short wheelbase....yeah, sounds perfect. My best friend has a '98 883. He's 5'9" and can just barely flat-foot his. If I stand over mine there's close to six inches between my arse and the seat. I'm not saying it can't be done, I just wouldn't throw the Sportie on a list of beginner bikes. I'd much sooner recommend a 600cc crotch rocket.

earwig wrote:yeh... "crumb" about bikes being top heavy is over rated... if anything it will help teach better balance from the beginning... the cruisers with a low center of gravity might seem great because they feel so light with small side to side movements but once you get them past a certain lean angle at a very slow speed or standing still they fall over just like any other bike.

How insightful as usual, Wiggy.

The Sportster sucks at low-speed maneuvering....you know....the kind newbies need to learn right away if they ever hope to ride. If a top heavy bike teaches better balance from the beginning, then I say the VMax is a good beginner bike because it will teach better balance and better throttle control right from the beginning.

ZooTech wrote:

Nalian wrote:Pffft - it's my first bike and it's been fine. It's a lot less ungainly than some of the other 'beginner' cruisers I sat on, thats for sure!

Top heavy, high seat, and short wheelbase....yeah, sounds perfect. My best friend has a '98 883. He's 5'9" and can just barely flat-foot his. If I stand over mine there's close to six inches between my arse and the seat. I'm not saying it can't be done, I just wouldn't throw the Sportie on a list of beginner bikes. I'd much sooner recommend a 600cc crotch rocket.

Aren't 600cc crotch rockets really top heavy?