How many people here actually started on a 250cc?

Answer 1

i didnt and i dont know anyone who has. i think its a waste of money

Answer 2

Well, I rode dirt bikes as a kid, so I started out at 80cc. Upon graduating to street bikes, I started on a borrowed 100cc Yamaha, then worked my way up to a 650cc Triumph Bonneville within a few months. Mind you, that one only had 37 horsepower. It is more about horsepower than engine capacity, really. "Small" 600cc bikes these days can have 120 horsepower... and that is a LOT for a beginner.

If you live in Europe, there are requirements placed on what you can ride when learning. There are a lot more motorcycle riders in Europe, so this was all based on practical knowledege of the "right way" to learn how to ride. It works something like this:

You first get an "L" (learner) showing you can manage a bike during a 2 day basic course and theory test. You can then ride any "learner approved" bike of limited horsepower. Many bike manufacturers make kits that restrict the hp of bigger bikes to the hp so you can ride them right away. After riding experience, you can apply for a "P" (provisional) license. You take an advanced class and test on your skills. You keep a P for a year. Then you can ride larger bikes.

Most of the European riders I know can ride rings around us Yanks, so I would say that though this isn't the law here, these are some good rules of thumb to "live" by. In terms of training, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses in the U.S. work very similar to the European theory. Florida just passed a law that you have to take a basic safety course before getting a motorcycle permit there...

Answer 3

I started in the dirt in '65 on a Bonanza mini bike. Then later in '71 when I got my permit to drive/ride I got a Yamaha 200cc scrambler. It got stolen and I replaced it with another 200 twin... this time a regular street model. Then a Honda CB350 Four, a Yamaha RD350... Jeez!! Those were the days!!! Great little bikes! As someone already mentioned... there are not many choices anymore compared to then. I don't think so many Harley riders would be insisting that they started on a Sporster if Sprints were still around. Or Triumph Tiger Cub and BSA Gold Stars!

Answer 4

I actually started on a 125CC Puch that I bought at Sears. It was my first bike I had it 2 weeks and did a beautiful power slide under a flat bed truck. Change from street to dirt tires rode in the dirt for a year and destroyed the bike. In that year though I raced unsanctioned motocross. That is where I really learned to handle a bike. I have since been moving up 350 650 1100 now at 1500CC test drove the Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 first year out. Grabbed rubber in 2nd gear and backed of the throttle at 150 MPH and was only at 3/4 throttle. too scarey!!!!!!

Answer 5

I have started riding on a 125 but I don't recommend it because the speed is not suitable for highway travel. Here in PA they offer free motorcycle safety course and provide motorcycles for the course, They are 250's and most of them are Honda Shadows. These are good training cycles and are not very expensive. However, if this will be your first bike buy used and pay cash, get the experience of riding before moving up to bigger and more expensive bikes. I have had friends who bought big bikes like Goldwings and rode only a few times then selling them at a loss because they weren't ready for a big bike. Nothing wrong with starting small and working up to bigger later on. In fact the smaller bike will normally sell quicker when you are ready to move up, then use the money for your next bike.

Source(s):

25 years motorcycling, owner of Goldwing and Harley Sportster, member of "HOG" and Christian Motorcyclist Association.

Answer 6

In 1974 I got my first bike,a 1972 Yamaha DT 250 Dualie.Beat the heck out of it and learned to ride in the dirt and on the street.What a blast.Went through the upgrades to a Harley and have now graduated to a Vulcan 2000.My current bike is no beginner ride.Knock on wood but I have never dumped a big bike or had any serious injuries.

Answer 7

I started on a Honda 1980 CB100 in 1988. In the UK you have to be sub-125cc as a learner. Once I passed my test I got a Yamaha 250. After a few larger bikes I moved to the US and didn't ride for several years. Last year I bought a CB650 to take my US test with and to tech my wife to ride this year. The hope is she will adopt the CB650 and I can upgrade - probably to a Honda ST11-1200 or a BMW K-series.

Answer 8

Not me! I wanted to start small because I was nervous but both my husband and the dealership guy said I'd be bored in no time.

I ended up with a V4 600.

They were right - I was bored with THAT in two years.

And I do not in any way regret not starting smaller. The only thing I would change is that I'd get the Magna first. For one thing, it was fast enough (at the time) that I wouldn't have gotten bored, it was heavier which gave it a more stable feel, AND I could get accessories for it! Which was something I wanted to do after a while, and couldn't with the piece of crap I bought.

Not only that but I had it lowered. Seems an odd thing to do to a bike with a 28" seat height, but it really really helped my confidence.

Answer 9

I learned on a 250 Honda Rebel at a Honda training course. MY first bike however was a 750 Spirit and now a 650 Vstar Custom. If you take a rider course theres really no n eed to start that low considering how quick youll want to move up since those types of bikes really dont offer much. For croth rockets go for 500s or 600s, I tried the 600 GXSR and it was good maybe a little much but it was fine as long as you give yourself room to progress(parking lot-neighborhood-around town-state highway-freeways). Good luck, always wear your helmet adn ride hard.

Answer 10

Started on a 250 on the street, but that was years after I started dirt bike riding on a 100, then 200, then 250.

Now I'm on a 600cc streetbike - still on the 250cc dirt bike though!

Even with all my years of dirt experience, I was very glad to start on a cheap, low powered street bike like my SRX250 - it was way fun, totally unintimidating, and I was really riding it to the limit when I finally moved to a new bike.

Answer 11

I took the MSC on a 250cc and moved immediately to a 650. After 2 years I moved up to a 1450 and will probably stay with that for a while.