MODERN starter motorcycles

[jserio]

i think i understand where the OP is coming from and for the most part, agree with them. however, being a new rider, i'm not swayed bye the, "buy used, not new cuz you'll just drop it anyway" comments. personally, i'm looking at new models. flame away if you want. but like i said, i don't want to have to wrench on my daily rider all that much. i personally think that the best way to avoid that is to buy new.

[tt_four]

Alright, so if it's someone who can be talked into buying used, aside from the already mentioned ex250, ex500, and gs500, all of which can be found with low miles from people who used them to learn how to ride, I'd say any standard would be good, specifically because your chances of getting a bike in good condition are much better. It's much more common for sportbikes to be abused, so if you're looking for something that isn't going to need worked on right from the start, I think an sv650, honda 599(did they sell those in the US???) and a yamaha fz6 would all be a good choice. Still fun bikes you could hold onto for a while, but the chances of getting an engine that was wheelied for miles at a time, and run out at the redline for an hour are much better.

[08GSSteve]

ZZR250
GPX250
CBR250
Intruder250
Virago 250
Hyosung 250
VTR250

[The Buddha]

None of those are available in US steve o ... Yea VTR250 and virago 250 OK fine ...

My list is somewhat like this, 87-90 virago 535, Early vulcan 500 and 454, Rebel 450, savage 650/S40, shadow 500/600, and very much most of the 500 if twin and 650 if single displacement bikes of old. I like the old CM/CB 400's, KZ 400/440, XS400, GS450 etc ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[gearman]

Never rode one but what about the TU250? "Beginner" can cover a wide range of potential. The majority of new riders I've encountered in 40+ years of riding would not have faired well on a 50+ hp bike. On the other hand, a few could have started on a modern SS with little or no problem. It really depends on the individual and the level of teaching skills they will have available. I learned on a 50cc street bike, rural backroads and little or no knowlegable instruction. I then did considerable offroad riding on small displacement bikes before moving up to a 175cc street bike. Just my opinion, but baby steps allow for a more complete understanding of the physics of motorcycle riding.

[trumpetguy]

jserio, my comment about buying used was MORE than just "it will get dropped anyway."  I buy used because it's financially smart.  You don't have to buy a rat bike -- buy a one year old bike if you want.

My point is this:  if you buy at the right price, you can probably sell it for what you have in it when you are ready to upgrade.  TOTALLY impossible if you buy new.  I have put 16,000 miles on my 1998 GS500E which I bought for $1300 in 2005.  I could probably get all my money back today.  I have done very little wrenching on it, all things considered.  Cost per mile if I got all my money back is pretty low - just gas, oil, tires, and supplies. 

Try that with ANY new bike.

And Yama, what's so funny about a cheap liberal?        Look at the deficit under Cheney/Bush, GHW Bush or Reagan and tell me ALL about it...  Gotta have some liberals to balance the books from time to time.     That will certainly be harder in a recession.

[jserio]

i see your point TG. i'll keep that in mind. i've just gotten really crappy used vehicles so i'd like to avoid the same results with a bike.

[tt_four]

That's true, but I've also bought really crappy new vehicles. Just make sure it's japanese and you'll survive

[frankieG]

i believe without a doubt that the gs is by far the best starter bike if you are going for standard of sport bikes.   if you want a cruiser then the hog 883 or the 250 shadow will do.

[yamahonkawazuki]

jserio, my comment about buying used was MORE than just "it will get dropped anyway."  I buy used because it's financially smart.  You don't have to buy a rat bike -- buy a one year old bike if you want.

My point is this:  if you buy at the right price, you can probably sell it for what you have in it when you are ready to upgrade.  TOTALLY impossible if you buy new.  I have put 16,000 miles on my 1998 GS500E which I bought for $1300 in 2005.  I could probably get all my money back today.  I have done very little wrenching on it, all things considered.  Cost per mile if I got all my money back is pretty low - just gas, oil, tires, and supplies. 

Try that with ANY new bike.

And Yama, what's so funny about a cheap liberal?        Look at the deficit under Cheney/Bush, GHW Bush or Reagan and tell me ALL about it...  Gotta have some liberals to balance the books from time to time.     That will certainly be harder in a recession.

as well as teh deficit under obama, or clinton TG. lol, gotta have a friendly jab session once in a while  , but yeah your comment. buying used, LET someone else take the hit on depreciation , cauuse as soon as it leaves the showroom, value tanks a fair bit , plus buying used. usually you can sell even OR AT PROFIT

[The Buddha]

Obama received a big "stimulus already in progress" ... as well as a truly crashing economy. Anything but a continuation would have been disaster. Of course he actively was from that same school of thought, stimulate bigger, stimulate more and stimulate better ... in fact I am thinking of marketing a line of dildo's with that same slogan.

Bush was too short sighted and too much in bed with "big business and big banks" to ever see this comming and its seeds were sown in 2001/2002 when we had recession #1 of bush's term.

Clinton triggered that resession of 01 as well as set things in motion when he made banking and energy deregulation in 96-98.

Equal blame here IMHO and Obama doesn't get any blame yet - ducking for cover behind these crooked case guards ... however Obama is of the wrong philosophy and will definetly make the same mistakes as the rest of them.

Now WTF is this doing in the starter motorcycles thread.
Cool.
Buddha.

[NF11624]

Now WTF is this doing in the starter motorcycles thread.
Cool.
Buddha.

Good question

Thanks for all the input - regardless of topic.  As for now I will continue pimping the GS, EX250 and EX500, add in the 250 and 500 cruisers as well as the dual sports mentioned here. 

[jserio]

i think as far as cruisers go one could go up to 900-1200cc and still be ok depending on the rider and the specific bike. i'm a new rider and i took a demo ride on a 1200 sportster not long ago and felt fine on the bike. 

[trumpetguy]

At some point, though, you'll get over confident and twist the throttle.  On a higher HP bike, you're in way over your head.  Just sayin'...

[jserio]

i'm confused TG, are you saying my estimated CC range for cruisers is off for a beginner? 

[08GSSteve]

I agree a cruiser of 900 to 1200 is too big for a new rider but thats just an opinion.  Big bikes are hard to handle due to the weight of the bike and also the power.  At some point you have to turn that tank round corners.  Will not even go there with a big cruiser if you drop it picking it up again.

Cold tyres + cold road + big bike + New rider (inexperienced rider) = Organ warmer for transplant patient.

Again thats just my opinion

[tt_four]

Do larger displacement cruisers(900cc+) actually have any more HP than a 250 cruiser? I always assumed the extra HP was just there to make it louder.

[NF11624]

I would assume so (theres no replacement for displacement as they say).  I was out riding one day and there was a guy on a big Harley in front of me, his acceleration was very good on the straightaways - combine that with a new riders lack of cornering skill and you have a the ingredients of a recipe for disaster.

[homeyjosey]

when i first started looking at bikes this was the first website i went to...

http://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/reviews/beginner_motorcycles

[jserio]

i didn't really nail the throttle on the 1200 sportster i demoed but i never felt over my head. cornered just fine without any issue. and i'm a new rider. (only real riding i'd done before my demo ride was my safety course. i liked the low seat height, made me feel a bit more confident with stops/starts. granted, i'm a new rider and i was only on this bike about 10 miles or so. i've sat on several 900cc bikes(cruisers) that were way heavier feeling than that 1200 sportie.