Can anyone suggest a good motorcycle, preferably a sport bike for a beginner?

Question

I am in the market for a motorcycle for my commute to school. Is there a huge difference in terms of gas mileage, compared to a smaller car such as a Civic?. Lastly, for those of you who respond, how long did it take to become comfortable while riding. I've never ridden a motorcycle before, I am however signed up for an MSF course.

Answer 1

Get a bike that is the best value for money. Being brand specific may limit your range, but having too much choice can get confusing. For a learner, I recommend the most comfortable bike to sit on. Try a few out for size. Do not get an underpowered bike either, but always hold back on your actions on the bike until you get confident with different riding techniques. A fairing helps too as it will give you protection if the whether gets sour. Ride a general type of bike until you discover what kind of riding you want to do. Then when you are a better rider, buy the best sport bike, cruiser or dirt bike you can afford!

Most of all, keep away from cars and trucks in traffic, give yourself plenty of room and enjoy your riding future to old age.

Answer 2

Go with the sv650, Its fast enough to keep you interested and comfortable enough for longer rides. Don't listen to the person that said the Ninja 250 is a small tiger.....its not its for people who think that the highway is too intimidating to drive on so they stick to the back roads. You WILL be bored of the 250 in a week and they are not known to be desireable on resale. I am not advocating everyone should get a 1000cc and thats the only answer, I just dont want you to make the mistake of getting a bike that you will hate in a week. Stay around the 600 cc displacement range. And a motorcycle as a primary commmuter vehicle is not a great idea (snow/rain etc) but its the most fun you can have on the road!

Answer 3

I really think you should reconsider gettinga sport bike first. While the Ninja 250 is an excellent machine, it is not a pussycat, it is a small tiger. The temptation to cut up and ride beyond your ability will be pretty great.
The Rebel is a good first bike. It is a tad more sedate, and yet has good style and fair performance. It will allow you to learn the ins and outs of riding without that whole "dying" thing.
Oh, and have you considered "weather" as a factor? Riding in the rain, sleet, snow, fog, cold, wind, etc. can make for interesting challenges. As a full-time commuter vehicle, a bike may not be a great choice.
Just my .02 Ameribucks.

Answer 4

You don't want a full-on sportbike, not yet anyways. I recommend either a Suzuki GS500 or SV650. Both would be great commuters, and easy to learn on. The GS would be a little cheaper, and a little slower, while the SV is kinda half way between a GS500 and a GSX-R600. Don't let your pride get yourself hurt. These bike are still gonna be faster than the average car, and capable of getting your knee down & wheelies when your ready for that kinda thing. Proper sportbikes are overkill IMO. My '99 R6 went over 100kph (60mph) in first gear. They are built for the track, not the street. Hope this helps.

Answer 5

get a rebel, they are absolutely the perfect bike for beginners, great gas mileage, easy to handel, they are small, so you don't have to hold up a lot of weight at stops. As for getting comfy, it is a matter of security in yourself, can you trust yourself to know what to do in an emergency. Feeling and getting to know your bike is key, making it apart of your skin while you ride, keeps you from crashing, most bike crashes are because a person, is to stiff from nerves to roll with the bikes motions, when you take a curve you have to move with the bike, and then there are the show offs who think they know it all and move too much. Balance is what is important. I you don't think you are quiet ready for a bike, get a scooter, they have the same gas mileage and flexibility, but can move more like a car,

Answer 6

I'm not a fan of sports bikes but I'd ride a Kawasaki Ninja R600. I'm a petite chick. Anway, the best thing u can do is go to dealers and sit on bikes you like to feel them out. Make sure your feet reach the floor. Then, when you are ready to buy you can search the want ad press to find a used model of the bike(s) you like. The big 4 are good. Big 4 = Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda, and Yamaha. I'm not a fan of Harely or BMW. Just my oppinion tho. Good luck and ride safe.

Answer 7

A small light weight bike would be best for you starting out.
A ninja 250 or a Honda Rebel

If you would like to look at some bikes there are about 50 different photos to look at from a site I once visited.
Go look at the Motorcycles at.
http://www.photocarshowplus.com

Answer 8

Ninja 500. Im in the same situation. Live in NYC and commute to school / work/ long trip home on weekend. The 500 is the best thing i could have bought. I get 200 miles without having to hit the reserve and its a blast to ride. I think i found my first long term relationship.
Just started riding 3 weeks ago-you pick it up in day. just ride like your invisible.

Answer 9

A good beginner sport bike new is the Kawasaki Ninja 250R. Get used to the urge to scream down the hiway before you jump up to a larger displacement. The urge to upgrade will come on fast so keep the 250 in premo shape in order to trade up. The price is right also.

Answer 10

I'm in about the same situation, first bike, and I bought a 2002 suzuki katana 600. Its considered a "sport-standard" because it has the sport styling and engine but the suspention and guages are set up more like cruiser. Its a great beginner bike thats easy to ride.