What size motorcycle is best for a beginner?? 600 or 1,000?

Question

I am trying to find out which bike would be best for a beginning rider... let me know.... also any info on specific bikes.... thanks

Answer 1

water cooled, a 600 would be a touch much and could run away from u. a 1000cc bike will kill u if this bike is a water cooled crotch rocket. if this is a cruiser, that's slightly different. it's better if a beginner stay under 500 cc's if its a crotch rocket. air cooled bikes are a bit different....they have slightly less power than water cooled. from experience, a 750cc water cooled cruiser packs as much power as a 1200cc air cooled bike.

Answer 2

There aren't many (ok, any!) liter-class bikes I would say are good for a beginner - they're usually either too heavy, too powerful, or both. My rule of thumb is that a good first bike is no more than 50 hp, and should be light enough that you can easily pick it up if you drop it. Learning to ride a motorcycle is enough work as it is, without having to worry about accidental wheelies or holding it upright if you stop at an oil-soaked intersection.

600 cc's is not a bad size for a first cruiser or dual sport (essentially a roadgoing version of a dirt bike). It's a bit too wild for a first sport bike, as the 600 class is full of 100 hp race-replica monsters. If you are looking at a sport bike, I would recommend a 500 cc or smaller twin. I've got a Suzuki GS500F myself - it's got more than enough power to keep up with highway traffic, but just not that much more than enough power to scare a first-time rider.

I'd also recommend taking the Motorcycle Safety Foundation class, or other riding lessons. These will give you a chance to learn the basics of the controls in a safe environment with a teacher watching you.

Answer 3

I started riding 4 years ago on a Honda Rebel 250 cc and rode it for 1 year. Then I moved up to a Honda VLX600 for 3 years and this year I'm on a Honda Shadow 750, and each bike took a while to get used to. I would really recommend that you start smaller and work up. Forget the machismo for a little while and become a proficient rider first. A beginning pilot doesn't fly a 747 right off the bat, eh?? Take a look at the Buell Blast 495cc - it's an absolutely fantastic/torquey blast of a ride - change the mufflers and you can hear it coming 10 blocks from home.

Answer 4

Well I started out on a YZ 80 Dirt Bike, And Worked my way up to a CR 250, Then to a Ninja 500. Now I am riding a FZ1000.
I would say that you should go take a riding class (Most Harley Shops have one for around $250-$300} Then it depends if you want a cruiser or a crotch rocket. I would say get a 600 jumping on a 1000 right off isn't the best Idea.

Answer 5

You really ARE new to riding! The answer: NEITHER ONE!

A sportbike is like piloting a fighter jet, and all a literbike will get you is more speed. Can you pilot an FA-18?

A smaller bike like a GS500F is better for a newbie. Anyone that tells you "just be careful" would love nothing more than to take out a FAT life insurance policy on you. So what if 1000cc is only 1/4 of the displacement your SUV has? A bike is also 1/10 the weight!

Take an MSF course first. The bikes they use are small and slow, but don't be fooled into thinking you can handle a race bike right after.

How long does it take to learn how to ride a motorcycle?

The rest of your life.

How long that is depends on you.

Answer 6

I had a honda dream about 35 years ago. Decided to get a motorcycle last year, and got a honda twinstar 200. It is a great bike for around town,and to learn on. Light weight, easy to start, etc. My daughter paid $200 for a short course, and bought a 750. After she had the 750 a year, (and 12000 miles,) she got an 1100. I don't like her 1100. It is very heavy. good on the road, but a tank around town. After riding the 200 for a year and about 2000 miles, I got a 500. Questions--How tall, and strong is the rider? Different bikes have different seat heights. For a beginner, I would strongly recommend the 200 4 stroke twinstar, or something similar. It will go about 60 mph top speed, but I'm not comfortable on it at that speed. It is great putting around town, and up to 45 or so mph.

Answer 7

The first thing I would do is take a sanctioned bike riding course. They usually use 150's or 200's and that should get you the basic feeling of riding. I would then get one no larger than 500 and as u learn move up into the bigger bikes. I would stay away from the crotch rockets for a couple of years as the insurance is as deadly as the bikes. I also would not carry passengers for a couple of years as well until you get the know your bike really good. Good luck and safe riding.

Answer 8

i can say from personal experience that a 600 cc sport bike is enough to give a beginner in a world of trouble before he realizes what he just got himself into. i took a ride on a buddy's 600 sport bike, and although i've been on cruiser's for the past 3 years, i found out almost the hard way i wasnt ready to just jump on a 600 ninja.
if u do insist on getting a 600cc sport bike, invest in some good gear that will save ur skin from getting rubbed off. and wear a helmet. it doesnt take much to get a catastrophic head injury if u go down, and u will go down quicker on a rocket than a cruiser. forgiving....they're not.

Answer 9

You probably will get alot of different opinions on this, but heres my experience.
I started at age 16 on the road on a Yamaha DT175 on/off road bike. Light, easy to handle, learn on.
Moved yp to a 400 Yamaha, still a light bike, was a xs400 road bike, not powerful, easy to corner, stop, start, got my licence with that bike. Rode that bike for a few years, also a kz400.
Moved up to a 550 Honda(still own it) and an xs 650 Special. More power, still easy to handle, though the 550 is kind of top heavy, meaning it feels like it wants to lean over farther than you may want it to in a turn.
Moved up again to a Honda CB900, lotta power, heaver bike, bigger bike, longer wheelbase. Also owned a 1200cc Harley Sportster too. Also have ridden MANY different bikes, including big-twin Harleys, wicked powerful crotck rockets, and a VAlkarie that is probably the biggest bike I ever got on.
Today I own the 1975 cb550, and a pretty nice 1982 CB900C.
I am glad that I started on lighter, easier to handle bikes, and put alot of miles on all of them. Alot of the important skills are slow speed manuvers, starting, stopping turning, pulling up to gas pumps, tollbooths, avoiding dogs, kids other cars. Its best to hone them skills on a lighter bike first, and move up to a bigger bike in a couple years. Bigger bikes react slower generally in corners and such, but have way more power.
Check out
http://www.msf-usa.org/
few friends learned through the beginning rider program.
I'd say too, go looking at a few dealerships, see what you like, see what feels compfortable, and look on ebay at bikes too. Lotta bikes on there.

Answer 10

I bought my first bike a year ago. It is a Yahama V-star 650 Classic. I love it and it has plenty of power without being too heavy. It has the lowest center of gravity in its class and rides really smooth. I had never drove a bike at all untill I drove away from the dealership!
I would not suggest getting anything much bigger due to your inexperiance with the balance and such.
If you are looking for a street bike, a 500 or so would do you justice as a beginner!

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 11

ooh i like these answers. No one mentioned fuel injected vs/carberated. I myself have riden a 600 for 2 years now. My first bike I rode on was a 00 honda 250 cc bike. dont remember the model. TAKE THE MSF COURSE FIRST. depending on your height and weight, starting on a 250 would be totally rediculous. I am 6'1'' and 175 lbs. There wasnt anything pushing me with a 250cc. I have a 94 Yamaha 600FZR almost impossible to wheely and nice handling. Carburated is nice to keep my front tire on the ground.