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Ok, first off I know I'm going to be flamebait by posting this but I have a very honest question.

i've read a lot of the threads about the good first bike. everything I have read is helpful, my only additional question is this. I'm a larger then average size guy (6'3 about 270lbs), in order to find a bike I can manage well as well as fit on comfortably I was looking at some of the 750ish range bikes. Do you think this is a bad idea and I should still get a "smaller" bike. Perhaps a better question is do you know of any bikes with less displacement but a large enough frame?

Thanks in advance.

Do you have a preference as to the style of bike? Look at any of the "smaller" cruisers, like Honda Shadow 750 (or their VLX 600), Yamaha V-star 650, etc. Someone your size shouldn't have any problems handling those bikes and they'll have enough room for you to be comfy and make learning fun. I wouldn't waste time or $ looking at bikes like the little Ninjas, although the 500 might work for you if you liked it enough. You really gotta sit on some bikes and see what the geometry is like and what you prefer.

I prefer sports bikes, but only because thars what most of my buddies have, I honestly know enough to know that I dont know shi*

Okay, if you're thinking sportsbikes, then you definitely don't want to go as high as a 750 UNLESS its an older used one, which can be tough to find that hasn't been dropped/rashed, etc.

Don't stress over style for the first bike. Just find something that runs well and that you can learn the ropes on. THEN you can go shopping for something sweet and sporty.

An SV650 or SV650S is a 'gray area' bike that may do well for you.

A bit 'tweaky' for a brand newbie but workable if you pay attention. THe S has more fairing to trash if you drop it. The SV has GOBS of aftermarket stuff available.

P

thanks for the info!

Being as tall as you are, you're gonna find it tough to get comfortable on nearly EVERY sportsbike... they're built for the 'average' rider: 5'9" or so, with a 31-32 inch inseam.

They'll be murder on your legs after as little as 30 minutes of riding. So cramped.

Have a sit on some of the dual sports. V-strom is one that comes to mind. (Also a Suzuki), taller seat for long legs.

P

At your size, I would go with an 80's UJM. They aren't crazy on power, they are cheap, dependable for the most part, and really fun.

I really enjoy my 79 Kawasaki KZ650.

That should also help you decide whether you like leaning forward like on a sportbike, sitting straight up like on a standard, or being a little more leaned back like on a cruiser. A simple changeout of the handlebars on a UJM can adjust your riding position to how you want it.

thanks for the info guys, please keep it coming!

Qbushido wrote:I prefer sports bikes, but only because thars what most of my buddies have, I honestly know enough to know that I dont know shi*

Good, you can admit you don't know "poo poo". That's step 1. Step 2 is learning to ride, take the MSF course, worth every cent (http://www.msf-usa.org). Step 3 is getting a bike you can learn on that isn't crazy powerful. If you do extraordinarly well at the msf and can honestly look yourself in the eye (with a mirror) and say "i can handle a slightly bigger bike than most can start off with" (this isn't to say that those who can't start out on a 650 grey bike shouldn't be riding, it's that some people just have a 'knack' for riding) then get the VStrom/SV/Ninja 650. Just keep your head on tight, don't act like a squid, and ride. I personally recomend a dual-sport bike like a XR650L. And since it is set up for mild off-road, take it off road, that's the best and safest way to learn to ride IMO. Nothing prepares you more for unexpected obstacles that you don't see until your front wheel hits them than the woods. Also, the 650 cc dualsports by honda, suzuki, kawasaki, and BMW are totally differant animals from suzuki's VStrom650, even if it's considered a dual-sport. The VStrom/SV is a twin, whereas the others i mentioned are thumpers (1 piston) with maybe 3/4 the power, if that, of the 650 in the VStrom/SV.

When I bought my first bike I boughta cruiser, because that's what all my friends had, and that is what was cool. It was a pretty good choice to learn on, but it never really fit me right... I always wished my feet were a little more underneath me, and I was leaning forwards a little more. Don't allow your friends bikes to influence what you want to ride. Pick the bike that fits you.

That being said, sportsbikes 500cc or less, and cruiser 800cc or less for a first bike (as a general rule).