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Recently I have considered buying a bike mostly just to ride with friends who already own. I have already read the main suggestions everyone says like taking the safety course, checking on the insurance before you buy the bike, using all the proper safety gear no matter how uncomfortable you think you might be ect...

So now that I have read through a lot I just wanted to be recommended to a good starter bike. I am 23 years old, 6'1, and fluctuate from about 185-195 pounds. I'm pretty athletic if that means anything at all although I'm doubting it does. I have no experience on a motorcycle. I did have dirt bikes and mopeds growing up though but I know thats not in the same league. Especially the moped which i believe topped out at 35 mph.

Price is not an issue although i don't want it to be a lot of money into my first bike when odds are i will lay it down at least once. Also I am not embarrassed at all or have false hopes of getting something over 600cc. I want something I can really learn to ride and not kill myself or someone else. Eventually I would like to get a Harley, but I want to learn how to ride first and not put that kind of money into my first bike. That doesn't mean I have to have a cruiser type right now. I think the sport or cruiser type both can look good.

So well any advice will help just remember completely new and no nothing.

You will be very happy you did. I took the Rider's Edge Course at a Harley dealer. It's the same as the MSF course with a little Harley flavor. Plus you get to drive the 500cc Buell's. The MSF course uses 250's.

If you have friends that have bikes 750cc or less, ask them if you can take a test ride in a parking lot some time. It will give a feel for the weight and some of the power. Everything that I have read recommends first time street riders stay under 750cc. With your size you might look at a Shadow VLX, Yamaha V-Star 650 or the Shadow 750's.

Good luck.

Learning to ride a motorcycle so you can ride with friends ("my friends are all doing it") isn't the best reason to take it on. And it isn't for everyone. I'm not trying to discourage you, just shine a bit of light on the downside.

Do yourself a favor and take the MSF Basic Riders Course before you go bike shopping. As an instructor, it really sucks when I see someone who's already got a shiny new motorcycle at home in the garage (sometimes $10,000 worth of motorcycle) discover that they really aren't cut out for it.

>Currently, I"ve got a student who is struggling in my class. They're in the course for the same reason, "All my friends are riders and they're waiting for me to pass this class."

P

Lion_Lady wrote:Learning to ride a motorcycle so you can ride with friends ("my friends are all doing it") isn't the best reason to take it on.

+1000

And to be honest, I don't think it's particularly safe to learn to ride with a group. It's just adding another set of variables to a new rider; you're learning to operate a bike, dealing with traffic, and now you have to deal with the dynamics of other motorcyclists operating in close quarters. I'm just generalizing of course; your friends might be a small group of say, 4-5 riders who are very noob friendly.

Wow I asked for help on a beginners bike forum and i get bombarded with stupid people that want to tell me that I'm spending my money on something I don't want. I'm not rich. I don't put thousands of dollars into something I don't want. Common sense goes a long way.

Well later guys won't be back here.

hbkblue37 wrote:Wow I asked for help on a beginners bike forum and i get bombarded with stupid people that want to tell me that I'm spending my money on something I don't want. I'm not rich. I don't put thousands of dollars into something I don't want. Common sense goes a long way.

Well later guys won't be back here.

You sound like a closed-minded, snot-nosed brat at this post. They're not telling you that you're spending money on something you don't want. They're trying to help you make the right decision, ESPECIALLY Lion Lady. She's an instructor, and she doesn't want to see you spend all that money on something that you may not enjoy.

Everyone here is trying to help and they are not stupid, at least compared to you. Grow up, get over yourself, and realize that people aren't here to attack you or your decision, and that part of learning is swallowing your pride, shutting down your ego, and listening.

That said, good riddance. If you're just going to get defensive when NO ONE is attacking you, you shouldn't be here.

hbkblue37 wrote:Wow I asked for help on a beginners bike forum and i get bombarded with stupid people that want to tell me that I'm spending my money on something I don't want. I'm not rich. I don't put thousands of dollars into something I don't want. Common sense goes a long way.

Well later guys won't be back here.

Whoa, buddy. Wait, what? Who's bombarding you with what? And why are they "stupid"?

hbkblue37 wrote:Wow I asked for help on a beginners bike forum and i get bombarded with stupid people that want to tell me that I'm spending my money on something I don't want. I'm not rich. I don't put thousands of dollars into something I don't want. Common sense goes a long way.

Well later guys won't be back here.

Whoah, this was a surreal response. Too bad, the OP seemed pretty sensible.