Beginners Bike - Cruiser or Sportbike?

Question

What do you usually suggest?

I see this question alot, and curious what other riders suggest. Do you suggest new riders to look at a smaller cruiser for 1st bike to learn on (Rebel, Virago, etc) or smaller sportbike (ninja, Nighthawk, etc) for 1st bike.

They both have pro's & con's regarding weight of bike, riding position, etc - but is one really easier to learn on then the other?

The question is not which bike to get - but which is easier to learn on - a cruiser style bike (upright riding position, heavier so not being pulled by the wind all over the road, - or a sport bike styled bike (compromising rider position for a newbie, but lighter weight & easier to maneuver).

In other words - if you were chosing between a Ninja 250 (sport styled bike) and a Rebel 250 (cruiser styled bike) - which is the easier to learn on for a beginner?

Cruiser vs Sport

Answer 1

I would suggest a rebel as a good bike to learn on. There is no reason to ride a small CC sportbike as they aren't really very sporty anyway. They also cost more money than basic cruisers.

If it were me, I'd just buy a $1000 bike off of craigslist so that if I drop it it doesn't matter much.

Answer 2

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It is a combination of the rider and the bike. Some bikes are more forgiving than others. And some riders are more skilled than others. What you asking about, "bigger sportbikes," really does not apply to your situation. Learn on a 250cc bike, yes. That is a very smart thing to do. But don't buy one. Go ahead and purchase a 500cc to 800cc bike. A 500 or 600cc bike is perfectly fine. The reason I say to stay away from a 250 is because you will likely be disappointed with the performance, the feel of the ride, and the overall image of you and your bike (it is a 250, think about how many 250's you are going to see out on the street, not as many as you will the mid sized sport bikes, 500 to 800). The bigger sportbikes you'll want to stay away from, are those above 800cc. The SuperBikes, the Sport Touring bikes (typically large engines). These bikes ride and feel great. They are fast, and they will likely put a new rider on the ground without proper training/practice. The misconception about all this is that people believe sports bikes are inherently dangerous. The truth is, all big bikes are. A 1000cc+ cruiser can take a new rider by surprise just as quick, especially for the fact that some super-cruisers are just as fast or faster than some super bikes. Good luck, and as we say here in North Carolina: Keep the rubber side down. . .

Answer 3

I would highly recommend a used Ducati Monster 620. I got one as my first bike and it's light and easy to ride with a comfortable riding position, plus it's more unique and uncommon than a Ninja or typical sport bike. Don't get misled by the 620cc's, it's a 2 valve v-twin so it is underpowered compaired to the typical Japanese sport bikes. The 620cc v-twin is roughly 62 horsepower and the bike weighs in at 380lbs, overall I think a beginner can handle this and not get bored right away either. Anyways, I got a Monster 620 and I think it's a great beginner bike.

Answer 4

Rather than going to one extreme or the other. Split the defference and go with a standard. Check out the suzuki sv650, Yamaha FZ6, Triumph street striple 675(my personal faveorite of the group), and Kawasaki 650r. All of these bikes have most or all of the comfort of a cruiser with near small sportbike performance and much lighter weight than a cruiser. They will deffinately help you get a grip on what you really want out of a bike in the long run and make you a better rider.

Answer 5

For beginners, cruiser.

Sport bikes, even the small ones, are very powerful machines and can get a novice rider in trouble in a big hurry. The riding position is a bit awkward and often the seat is higher than on a similarly sized cruiser.

Answer 6

The bike that will be best for you is the one that your most comfortable on. You don't know yet because you haven't been on many. Go tot he dealerships and check them out. Sit on them etc. From there make your decision. No one can tell you what bike will be your favorite but yourself. I think it's a popular question because new riders don't know which way to go. They only know what they see and hear from before. Who knows you might wind up on a Piaggio MP-3 bypassing all the sport bikes or "standard" riding styles. Do you ask other people what your favorite food is? I bet not. Same should go for your bike. It's an extension of yourself.

Answer 7

heavier the bike, the more the bike will absorb the bumps instead of u. i prefer cruisers and upright seating. i've ridden my bud's shadow-650, but it feels too small for me even with forward controls. i prefer to take my time and enjoy the ride. the obvious benifit of a bike is that its alot cheaper to run vs a cage anyday.

sport bikes are tempermental. they're designed to basically be an extenstion of the rider, but if the rider has no skill on a 750 and up, the bike will get away from them, and their first mistake can be their last. they have basically instant throttle response, and for a rookie, that's dangerous; grab a handful of throttle at the wrong time, and someone is going down. btw, insurance companies will seriously gouge u if u get a sport bike. enough squids have wrecked that insurance companies have put them in the highest risk bracket they have.

Answer 8

It depends if you have any experience at all to do with dirt bikes or atv's. If not I wouldn't advise you got a sport bike to learn on unless it's an older Katana etc. If you drop a honda custom it'll be ok, but it could write off an R6 on the other hand and with the speed and power you might end up in scary situations you aren't familiar with that could be unforgiving. Good luck!

Answer 9

i started on yamaha fazer 600 and still have it now, all the power of a sports bike but with the comfort riding position, plus they are cheap second hand or even new, anything naked really will do you well as a first big bike eg suzuki bandit honda hornet kawazaki er6n, just try and find one with a fairing or at least a screen.
cruisers especially big ones are not renowned for ease of riding especially cornering!!! lovely to look at though

Answer 10

A motorcycle (especially a sportbike) will do exactly what you accidentally tell it to do. If your right wrist isn't WELL trained, you will twitch when you hit a bump, which could send you and the bike out of control faster than your newbie brain can handle. And when you panic, you freeze, despite the bike now going faster and faster with you on it. Game over. The throttle isn't that sensitive when you learn how to control it, but therein lies the catch 22: you can't simply learn it without using it, which brings us back to the previous example.