Whats the right motorbike to start learning on...?

Question

I'm looking for a motorbike to start learning on. Just not sure which is the best one to start learning on. I have had a little bit of motorcross experience, not sure if that will help with road rules though lol. Anyway i'm quite a light weight so not sure if that will effect what size bike I should look for. It would just be to get me from " a 2 b ", no stunts, Maybe the occasional couple of hour long rides. I've thought about an FXR 150 but not quite sure. Any opinions on what I should look for...?
Thanks

Answer 1

a 125 cc or a moped

Answer 2

wow- a lot of people on here are really wrong.
you do NOT want a 600cc bike as your first road going bike.
you have no road experiance, and although the dirt bike experiance will help, you dont wanna be comparing that to an R1 or a Magna
start off small- eveyone should.
if you get a 125cc bike, youll find they have a high resale value, so you wont lose a lot of money on one that is looked after.
get a small bike- 125 to 250 is great, especially for what you wanna use it for.
dont go getting something just because you want to look good on it- learn first and that can come later. you can guarentee also that youll drop it so be prepared for that.
just use your head to stay alive- youve ridden before so you know that riding a bike is not always about speed, but the freedom that comes with it.
so, before you commit, you need to sit on one, and figure out what you can use safely and comfortably
fxr150 sounds like a sound choice, and much more clued up that some people on here 'get a Magna...'
some food for thought...
honda cg125- old boots...just runs and runs
yamaha ybr125 new boots, just runs and runs and v. cheap
suzuki gn125/250 old old old boots. very cheap
honda cm125/250 as above
kawasaki ninja250 sportier standard bike. 110mph top speed, and very light
rebel 125/250 small light cruiser
suzuki intruder 125/250 as above
hyosung comet 250/r (build quality questionable) fun as a naked and a mean looking fully faired 'r' version

make sure you make a choice based on your needs rather than somone else's

Answer 3

You have been answered a lot already and it is clear that it will be easier for people to help if we can ascertain where you are from, as the regulation between the countries can vary a lot.

I would reccomend where ever you are that rather than actually buy the small bike you are looking at, you use some of that money to take a really good training school that will loan you a bike to learn on at their courses and get through your test. In the mean time while you are doing that, talk to the instructors and other bikers who can see you, asses your ability and they will be better set to advise you. It is a fact that many people buy small bikes to get through their test, thinking that they will be happy to keep and use it and then very quicly decide they want something a bit bigger or different.

No one can reccomend a bike definitively as it is such a personal thing, like what is the best music etc. I have 13 bikes and still keep looking for more - it becomes a passion!

Good luck

Answer 4

Motorbike experience will help because you'll know the clutch and how the bike will react. The road rules you'll learn as you go, experience definitely saves lives. I learned the road on a Honda Magna. It was a 700cc engine. It was a good one. It had some power but nothing crazy. The frame was like a Sportster. I would highly recommend taking a riders safety course. They'll teach you everything a newby should know and you'll get your bike license when you pass. It could save your life, so it's worth it. It'll give you an idea of what kind of bike to get too. See you on the road.

Answer 5

First - take an Motorcycle Safety Foundation class before you spend any $. Every state has an MSF office, and classes are offered all over the country. You can search for the MSF web site or you can contact any MC dealer in your area to find out about what's offered in your area.

For starting off, since you have some comfort on a bike. I'd suggest going for the bike you ultimately want. All bikes, regardless of size, are the same once moving. Where people get in trouble is moving them in a parking lot or slow speed maneuvers.

My wife started (never rode as the "driver" before) on a Honda 600 Shadow VTX (might have the VTX part wrong). Then within 3 months was ready to more than ready move up - she went straight for a BMW R1200CLC - which is a huge bike. Also depends on who you ride with. If you ride by yourself you might not be in such a hurry to move up. If, like my wife, your riding with a bunch of people on larger bikes - the smaller cc bikes can't keep up. Also, she had to fill up on gas twice as often which became a pain.

Check out local MC dealers, most will have demo days and some even have demo bikes that they will let you try. After you take the MSF class and have your license, go check out some of these demo opportunities to find what is the biggest bike you feel comfortable on.

Regarding what to look at, if your into dual sport (off road + road) you might look at the BMWs. It helps if your tall or at least have long legs if your going to ride a BMW though.


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One other thing regarding dropping the bike. ANYONE can pick up ANY MC (ok, maybe not a bosshoss) by themselves. There is a very small lady who travels around the country teaching a class for women on how to pick up a bike. Check her out at Americade (www.tourexpo.com).

Answer 6

If you're a girl, you may not want anything heavier than a 650 cc motorcycle. The weight is the biggest thing to deal with as you learn to ride. Sitting at a traffic light trying to hold it up with one leg can be a little daunting. Plus you want one that hangs low enough so your feet are not on their tippy toes.

You may find a Honda 350 or 400 more to your liking. A used Honda Rebel is a pretty easy bike for girls to learn to ride.

If you like superbikes, well then obviously a 650 or 750 cc Yamaha, Honda, Kawasaki or Suzuki would appeal to you more.

If you're just into cruising, then the Rebel is a nice bike to have to cruise that won't dent your wallet all that much.

Answer 7

u alredy got off rd experience so that will stand you in good stead for on road survival.As to wot bike?As a 1st bike i wouldnt by new,not saying u will av a bad accident but u r gonna make a few mistake like dropping it,an rxs100 is an easy bike to ride,work on,as fast as a 125 insurance is 45% lower,depends on wot u want,but if u r patiant you can pick up a lot of bike 4 little money anyway good luck to you an if i can be of any help let me know

Answer 8

a 2007 Boulevard S50
a pretty good price for $6,499.00With the Boulevard S50, you get a combination of V-twin power and radical cruiser styling in a lightweight and incredibly agile package. Its dry weight of just 443 pounds and its low, 27.6-inch seat height make the S50 perfect for maneuvering through tight city traffic. When you get out on the highway, its comfortable riding position encourages you to kick back and cruise. What's more, it has a variety of features that enhance its smooth performance, so you'll find yourself racking up the miles in comfort. Like every Boulevard Cruiser, its heart and soul are found in its V-twin powerplant, which cranks out an impressive amount of torque for outstanding acceleration. So if you're looking for lean cruiser styling, nimble handling and performance you can count on, you've got it - with the 2006 Boulevard .

Answer 9

in fact getting your license you're able to be able to desire to be 12, in any different case it truly is considered "legal" if the age standards on the motorbike are under what you rather are, so if this is for 12 and under and your 14, your ok. even with the undeniable fact that it truly is considered "unlawful" while you're under the motorbike age standards, ex: sixteen and older and you're 14, unlawful. even with the undeniable fact that it truly is okay in case you journey a extra physically powerful classification cc while you're with an grownup 18 or older. So in case you have a trx 250 ex, an atv, this is for sixteen+ teenagers and you're 14 (no longer asserting you're) and while you're with a sibling or parent over 18 and with adventure, it truly is ok to journey it. as long through fact the motorbike is acceptable.

Answer 10

def best to start on a 125 and get in some experience on the roads before moving to a bigger bike. unless you want to go direct access you cant ride anything bigger on L plates anyway
depends what you like. i love the cruisers and got a 125 shadow to learn on and i love it. it is not too heavy but it gives the impression of a much bigger bike. it can go an steady 60 mph and ive taken it on the motorway( after i passed my test of course) without too much problems although i have stuggled with high winds.

Answer 11

I assume you are in the US, because we have very strict rules for learner machines.

If you are under 21 you have to pass a test on a machine between 100 and 125 cc.

No matter what you get, you will drop it, so for a first bike get an old one you don't mind scratching or denting. Also old bikes are more fun, you soon learn how to fix them.