What kind of cycle would you recommend to someone who has never ridden before?

Answer 1

After I took my riders course and passed, My first bike was a 2004 YZF Yamaha R6 (which is a 600cc). I loved it at the time! For your first bike you should never get a new bike unless your confident that you would not drop it. Or unless you buy frame sliders to protect the bike if it falls. Also you should NEVER get a bike over 750cc for your first bike and first ride. It's just WAY to much power for a rookie. Like I said, I started off with a R6 (600cc) , later after about a year and a half I upgraded to a Suzuki GSX-R 1000. Which is 1000cc. I love this freaking bike, After my first year, I started stunning on my R6 and showing off at www.stuntwars.com I do wheelies for about 2miles which is my longest one so far and also other stunts on my bike. I now do them on my GSX-R 1000. Which is a big difference! A whole lot more power. Anyways, I suggest you get a sport bike, A 600cc or a 750cc GSX-R by Suzuki. They are the best EVER, by experience as a stunter and a rider! BE AWARE!!!! If you get a sports bike, You will get the erge to go fast and curious how much power that machine has. Any bike, I garantee! Unless your one who is just a laid back person who just has one to look nice and customize it to show off. Have fun shopping for a GSX-R!

CAP

Answer 2

Start out with a "beater." That's a bike that is mechanically sound but isn't all that much to look at. You can get some amazing deals if you look around, and pick up an older Japanese cruiser for $1500 or less if you really look. Anywhere between 250-750cc would be suitable unless you are a very small person, but a 400-500cc would be best. You're going to really put some wear and tear on the clutch and starter while you are learning to ride, and at some point your bike will be laying on its side, either because you dropped it or because you haven't learned all the subtle in's and out's of parking and you parked it in a place were it would either fall over or get hit by a car. You really don't want to burn the clutch out of a new (or new-ish) Harley or have to pop the dents out. Start with something that won't break your heart when you hurt it, and get some experience. After a few months you will be ready to pick out a newer, fancier bike.

Some examples: Yamaha Virago, Honda Rebel or Shadow, Kawasaki Ninja (little one) (some people do like sportbikes better than cruisers!), etc.

And definitely take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course first thing. You will be glad you did!

Answer 3

I would recommend you first take the MSF course and learn to ride their bike! After you learn how to avoid a crash, then make a decision about what bike is best suited for your needs. A 250cc bike sounds safe, but it might be a bad purchase if you outgrow it in six months. A 600 might be too much power. So take the course and get a feel for riding. Afterward you wont be a person who has never ridden before. Then you'll buy a bike that you actually enjoy for a few years.
Good luck and keep the shiny side up ;-)

Answer 4

That depends upon your size & comfortness in handling one. My wife is short & has a hard time no matter what. Some are heavy, some less so. It also depends upon your ability to maintain it or others around to assist you. If you buy an old one because of price, the chains streatch & you need to know how to adjust them after a few hundred miles. Some are belt driven, but heavier. Some are shaft (mine) & you only have it sevice every 10,000 miles. You need to think if you intend to keep you motor for nearly for ever or trade it in on something else after you gain experience. Depending upon the state you are in & it's laws, some small scooters reide very well & get exceptionally good gas mileage, but are not able to take the parking lot corners because their radious is too long. I agree you should take a motor cycle course & I like the little 250 Honda. But it will not do well on a high way & passing semi's or them passing you. Good luck & don't cjhicken out & change your mind. Just start riding & be safe.

Answer 5

There's three things I would recommend doing before picking out your first bike, in no particular order: Decide what general type of bike you want, take a weekend class in how to ride, and go to dealers and sit on a few bikes to see what feels comfortable.

While most people just notice two sorts of bikes - sport bikes and cruisers - there's a couple more styles out there.

Standards - Styling may be anywhere from retro to futuristic. These bikes have your feet somewhere between under your hips and under your knees, and your back pretty much upright. Best size for beginners is 250 to 500 cc.

Cruisers - Bikes with traditional styling that have your feet out in front of you and your back upright. Beginner friendly models are usually in the 250 to 750 cc range.

Sportbikes - These have aerodynamic plastic fairings and a riding position that ranges from standard to leaned over forward with your feet almost behind you. Like standards, stick with ones from 250 to 500 cc if you've never ridden.

Dual sports - Basically, street legal dirtbikes. These have a very upright riding position. Pretty much all the single cylinder ones are OK for beginners as long as you're tall enough.

Scooters - The big ones are as powerful as a small motorcycle and able to keep up with freeway traffic. Distinguished by their step-through design. Riding position is very similar to driving a pickup truck. Most of these are beginner friendly.

The classes. They're available through the MSF and other groups. Contact whatever branch of the state government issues driver's licenses and they will have a list of approved classes. These normally take place over a weekend and will provide a bike for you to ride.

Testing out bikes. Dealers will let you sit on the bikes, but it's polite to ask first. Things to check:

Is the bike light enough that you can pick it up if you drop it?
Put your feet on the pegs. Is the riding position comfortable?
Are all the controls where they are easy to reach?
Can you get both feet flat on the ground while sitting on it?

Answer 6

Listen to Bluff Mike. Take the course! When you get done, you'll be on your way to being a safe, competent rider and you'll be a licensed rider with a 10% insurance discount endorsement on your license. Matter of fact, you'll even drive a car better! If I were you, I'd wait till I had my licence FROM THE MSF to decide on what bike to get, simply because with all the knowlege you'll gain, your priorities may change, resulting in you wanting a different bike than you want now. Ride safe, good luck and stay the f'uck away from minivans!

Answer 7

First take the MSF Beginning riders course. MSF uses 125-250cc motorcycles to train on. This is a great chance to see what would fit you well. Plus, once you pass, you get a discount on insurance.

Kawasaki still has a 125cc cruiser. Honda has the 250cc Rebel and Nighthawk, and Suzuki has a 250cc bike as well. I did my MSF class on the Suzuki 250cc and found it a good bike, but they wouldn't let me on the road with it. Good luck
Ride Safe

Craig

Answer 8

A Kawasaki Eliminator 125 is what I learned on as well as a Honda Rebel 250 and the eliminator handled better and felt like it had more power.

Answer 9

A tricycle.

You asked, "What kind of cycle would you recommend to someone who has never ridden before."

These other people are SO off target.

Answer 10

Noone follows this rule anymore, but my uncle always told me to always own a bike that I can pick up off the ground on my own. Sooner or later, something dumb happens, and you're going to have to pick it up. Especially for a new rider. I started on an old 600cc Yamaha. That was pretty good.