Beginners bike??

[bikerskier]

Hey, fellow experts at all things that move on 2 wheels! A young man in my wife's office has asked for my wise counsel on helping him pick a first bike to start his journey to some future WFO. He has $2500, agrees that the bike should be under 750 cc, is not interested in carrying a passenger for several years (when he will get a bigger, better bike) and wants something reliable, fun, and confidence building. He appears waaaaay smarter that me at the same age. He is also enrolled in a Beginners MC class with the Team Oregon Program, in late Sept. and plans to use their 250 cc class bikes. Like I said, waaaay smarter.

So, I nodded wisely and said I respected his thorough approach to the issue and that I would give some serious thought to his question and respond in due course. Naturally, my plan is to get you guys to do the heavy lifting (thinking) and for me to get the credit. How am I doing so far?

So what do you think he should spend his $2500 on? (Portland, OR market).

 

[GalaxyBlue]

Ninja 250

The cheapest bike that is fun to ride and parts are available anywhere!

Or an older SV650. They are great bikes also for both the novice and experienced riders

 

[markjenn]

So what do you think he should spend his $2500 on? (Portland, OR market).

At this price level, he's talking used, which means condition should take precedent over a particular make and model. If he is not capable of evaluating used bikes, he needs to enlist someone experienced to help. At this price level, you're often talking 5+ years old and I'd estimate that 75% of the 5-year old used bikes out there are badly abused or have tons of deferred maintenance.

If he's got the inseam, single-cylinder dual-sports make the best beginner bikes. Their light, simple, and fall over with little or no damage. And a newbie can take them down a dirt road or trail and learn how to slide around a bit. Too many riders go immediately to heavy bikes and never get out of point-and-shoot mode. They're a bit boring, but it's hard to beat a DR350S, DRZ400S, KLR650, DR650, F650, etc. as a first bike. THey're fairly cheap too.

But most riders don't want a dual-sport, they want a street bike. I'd tend towards the "standards" like Kawaski EX500's, Honda Nightawks and CB750's, Suzuki GS500's or SV650's, Yamaha Radians, etc. Something ubiquitous and cheap with little or no bodywork. Avoid exotic - Euro bikes, really old collector bikes, etc. - he wants something easy to work on and easy to fix.

The worst beginner bikes are the full supersports (ridiculous expensive to crash, poor hunched-over visibility, poor steering leverage), and big heavy touring bikes. Having said this, I'd rather have someone on a good condition small sportbike than on a poor condition standard. As I said, condition is everything in $2500 bike.

- Mark

 

[GalaxyBlue]

...To add, The ninja 250 could be had almost new for 2500. Best bang for the buck. IMO

 

[sradek]

Hey, fellow experts at all things that move on 2 wheels! A young man in my wife's office has asked for my wise counsel on helping him pick a first bike to start his journey to some future WFO. He has $2500, agrees that the bike should be under 750 cc, is not interested in carrying a passenger for several years (when he will get a bigger, better bike) and wants something reliable, fun, and confidence building. He appears waaaaay smarter that me at the same age. He is also enrolled in a Beginners MC class with the Team Oregon Program, in late Sept. and plans to use their 250 cc class bikes. Like I said, waaaay smarter.
So, I nodded wisely and said I respected his thorough approach to the issue and that I would give some serious thought to his question and respond in due course. Naturally, my plan is to get you guys to do the heavy lifting (thinking) and for me to get the credit. How am I doing so far?

So what do you think he should spend his $2500 on? (Portland, OR market).

Why do you ask such questions? Are you not a biker yourself? Or are u a newbie at biking? Silly putty.

 

[SkooterG]

Suzuki Bandit 600.

Would love to have one for my own garage.

 

[dhalen32]

I recommend an older SV650. The one with no body work. Lots of spares available if required, easy to work on as well as an easy bike to grow into.

Dave

 

[PapaUtah]

Honda 750 Nighthawk form the late 90's would make a good beginners bike. Any Harley-Davidson™ except the touring models (Oh, you said you have $2,500, not $25,000. Scratch that.)

 

[DN325Ci]

My first streetbike was a VTR250 Interceptor - very similar to the Ninja 250. I loved that bike. Used to park it among the bicycles in college. I also endorse the Ninja 250.

Don

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

So what do you think he should spend his $2500 on? (Portland, OR market).

At this price level, he's talking used, which means condition should take precedent over a particular make and model. If he is not capable of evaluating used bikes, he needs to enlist someone experienced to help. At this price level, you're often talking 5+ years old and I'd estimate that 75% of the 5-year old used bikes out there are badly abused or have tons of deferred maintenance.

If he's got the inseam, single-cylinder dual-sports make the best beginner bikes. Their light, simple, and fall over with little or no damage. And a newbie can take them down a dirt road or trail and learn how to slide around a bit. Too many riders go immediately to heavy bikes and never get out of point-and-shoot mode. They're a bit boring, but it's hard to beat a DR350S, DRZ400S, KLR650, DR650, F650, etc. as a first bike. THey're fairly cheap too.

But most riders don't want a dual-sport, they want a street bike. I'd tend towards the "standards" like Kawaski EX500's, Honda Nightawks and CB750's, Suzuki GS500's or SV650's, Yamaha Radians, etc. Something ubiquitous and cheap with little or no bodywork. Avoid exotic - Euro bikes, really old collector bikes, etc. - he wants something easy to work on and easy to fix.

The worst beginner bikes are the full supersports (ridiculous expensive to crash, poor hunched-over visibility, poor steering leverage), and big heavy touring bikes. Having said this, I'd rather have someone on a good condition small sportbike than on a poor condition standard. As I said, condition is everything in $2500 bike.

- Mark

+1 on the above.

A couple thoughts:

Some depends on his size. Too small or large for his frame and inseam will be detrimental.

A 250 is too small. In 6 months he'll want something bigger. And although he says he won't have pillions, probably sooner than later he'll want to give a girl a little spin. Also, I'd look more at bHP rather than displacement; 50 to 75 horsepower is probably in the right ballpark for a first bike, without being boring. And he will drop it, so a standard or something that will have engine guards makes sense. Some of the 5-10 year old Japanese small displacemen V-Twins are hard to break and bulletproof if he wants a cruiser, but I agree a standard or dual sport is best. Have the bike checked out at a good shop or by a better mechanic than me, because condition is everything. My two cents....

 

[Bananas!]

In my experience, small motorcycles can be outgrown rather quickly. As a persons skill level increases, small bikes will not measure up to a riders increasing demands. Therefore my recomendation for a first bike that will meet the cost criteria and keep this beginner satisfied for some time, is a Honda VF 750 Magna. These bikes are absolutely bulletproof.

Bananas!

 

[FJR Gary]

As others have said, a good used SV650, GS500, Ninja 500, 750 Nighthawk. My experience has been that if someone starts too small (250cc) they tend to outgrow it quickly and want something larger.

My daughter and son-in-law got into the 2-wheel world about a year ago with a GS500 and have been very happy with it.

If the bike is in good shape, they can usually ride it for a year or so and then sell it for nearly what they paid for it.

 

[evil_henchman]

If he's got the inseam, single-cylinder dual-sports make the best beginner bikes. Their light, simple, and fall over with little or no damage. And a newbie can take them down a dirt road or trail and learn how to slide around a bit. Too many riders go immediately to heavy bikes and never get out of point-and-shoot mode. They're a bit boring, but it's hard to beat a DR350S, DRZ400S, KLR650, DR650, F650, etc. as a first bike. THey're fairly cheap too.

+1

You can listen to classroom lectures and watch videos ad nauseum but nothing beats first hand experience. Always good to learn how to fall and what set's up a crash without costing a fortune.

 

[Geezer]

A friend of my daughter started on the Ninja 250 and got tired of it very quickly. My daughter found a used SV650S and loved it for a while, but it took a toll on her when she followed me to the West Virginia ramble. The S model has a sportier seating position than the regular Sv650 and it did not work for her for the long ride.

So, it depends on how the bike will be used. Something sporty looks good to a young rider but is not suitable for long rides. Do you want something to use for a short time and have to trade up right away, or should it last a couple of years?

There are a lot of nice reliable used bikes in the 500 to 750 size range. That's I would look at if I were buying a beginner bike.

 

[PapaUtah]

Another option is the Honda CB1000. Plenty of punch, mid-90s models are about that much and they will have a bike they can tool around town on or hit the open road.

 

[red2kcbr]

I agree about the horsepower range as a good indicator, but also think about bike weight. That's why the dual-sport route is a good one to take.

For a FIRST street bike for a two-wheel rookie, this would be my short list, in no particular order:

Kawasaki Ninja 250

Suzuki GS500

Kawasaki Ninja 500

Given the $2,500 budget, a nearly-new Ninja 250 is possible, or an older, maybe rougher version of either 500.

If they have dirt bike experience, and are making the transition to the street, then that opens up a lot more possibilites, including some sporting 600s built between 1995 and say, 1999 or 2000. Finding one of these in decent condition for that budget might be tough.

It doesn't matter if they outgrow the bike in 6 months or a year. If that's the case, they sell and move up. If they find out that the bike stays parked and motorcycles are not their thing, they sell and forget about it.

Either way, I'd invest small: small bike, small budget, and try it out.

 

[fjrrider]

My 2 cents, If he has no experiance, dont even consider letting him on the street. Get him a Honda XR200 or 400 or equivalent. Put him in the dirt somewhere and let him go. When he can do wheelies, stopies, donuts and run thru the gears with throttle pinned. I know none of this means much riding on the street, but I assure you if you can do these things with confidence you have learned two wheeled balance and control and it will cross over to the street!

 

[luvtoride]

Kawasaki EX500. Great starter bike.. tame but w/ enough power to keep him entertained for a couple of years. This was my starter brand.

Heidi

 

[fretbender]

It sounds like the new guy doesn't have dirt experience, but if he does have a quite a bit, the sky could be the limit. I picked up my first street bike at 19 years old, a Yamaha Vmax, and it was REALLY super ridiculously fun. It all just depended on me using that lump of gray mass between my ears to stay alive. But then again, I was riding my brothers YZ250 when I was 11, so I was accustomed to the experience of riding a bike with a relatively high power/weight ratio. . .or this guy may not be ready for anything larger than a 250. Basically, my point is that it all depends very much on the experience and judgement of the rider. Maybe you could observe him at the Riders Course and see what you think if you're not sure about where his skill level is.