My rules of thumb for a first sport bike are under 50 hp and from a reputable manufacturer. There's a couple of very good choices in the US market. Kawasaki has the Ninja 250 and 500, Buell has the Blast, Suzuki makes the GS500F, and it's probably time to promote the Hyosung Comet 250 to the "reputable manufacturer" category too. All of these can keep up with highway traffic, although the Hyosung is going to be struggling from what I hear.
These "small" bikes are still a lot of fun to ride on a winding road. And learning how to push a small bike to its limits will teach you a lot about fast riding and bike control.
My recommendation is to go and visit dealers and sit on the bikes to see which one feels right for you. You should be able to get your feet flat on the floor while sitting on it, and the riding position should feel comfortable. Any discomfort you feel in the showroom will seriously hurt after riding for an hour.
Also, you'll want to take lessons from a riding school, such as the ones run by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. They'll give you a lot of valuable tips and practice time in a safe environment, and if you pass the class you'll get your license in most states without any further testing.
2007-04-14 02:17:07
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answer #1
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answered by Mad Scientist Matt 5
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The 250/500 would be a great starter bike as mentioned above. However, I don't have any riding experience and just bought my first beek 6 days ago. Just got delivered the other day!! Anyways, I bought the GSXR-600. I loved the style of it. They come in 3 sizes. 600/750/1000. The 750/1000 would be a big mistake for a first bike. The 600 has alot of power as well. If you want a nice bike check that one out. It's powerful yet is a semi-decent beginner bike. Although, if you are concerned about power then the 500 would be the way to go.
2007-04-13 19:56:12
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answer #2
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answered by Brian S 1
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First motorcycle should NOT be a sport bike. Until you have learned how to ride well, stick with a basic bike. Even a small sport bike is really powerful and can get away from you in a big hurry.
If this is truly your first bike, no previous dirt bike experience or anything, I say stick with something 500cc or less. Get something low enough to be easy to handle. Get something cheap, you'll likely upgrade after one year anyway.
My first bike was a Honda CB650 Custom. Not a fast bike, but still much faster than anything I'd driven before that.
Good luck, and enjoy your ride.
2007-04-13 22:13:58
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answer #3
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answered by rohak1212 7
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I like the Ninja 250.
Buell Blast is more a naked bike, but handles well and is really fun to ride.
2007-04-13 20:29:30
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answer #4
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answered by MusicMan 4
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a 500cc or smaller will bore you too quickly. I'd suggest a 600. The Honda CBR600 is a great bike. Enough power to kill yourself, but not enough to give you a death sentence.
2007-04-13 20:46:42
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answer #5
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answered by dvas1147 3
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a ninja 500 would be great to start on.just shop around on price.it al depends on experiance and what size you want.i have a enduro(first bike)so i dont know much on sportbikes.
just look at the 250 and 500 and compare the price on them.
2007-04-13 19:45:51
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answer #6
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answered by Rev.Lakar 1
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Buy a good 600 and take it easy until you are comfortable with it.
2007-04-14 09:34:38
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answer #7
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answered by atvman_400 5
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Kawasaki 250R / 500R
2007-04-14 02:32:00
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answer #8
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answered by Star-Scream 2
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either a yamaha yzf-r1 of a ninja
2007-04-13 21:03:23
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answer #9
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answered by A Guy 3
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another vote for the gsxr 600...
2007-04-13 20:12:24
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answer #10
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answered by Shakespeare, William 4
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