Motorcycles: I am a 24 year old female and I am interested in buying a motorcycle.?

Question

I don't know how to ride yet. Do you have any suggestions on a "good" first time bike? Also is it true they are cheaper in the winter? Any tips you have would be greatly appreicated.

Answer 1

First off...Good for you!

The best bike for smaller women I have found is the Kawasaki Ninja 250 Sport. It's easy to ride and light weight, but fast enough to ride on the highway if you want to. A female friend of mine has been riding one for over 10 years. She is on her third one now. She keeps buying the same bike everytime. Get's about 80 mpg. and go's over 130mph.

You can get a male friend who rides to teach you the basic's.
Simple rule is go slow, you do less damage, lean just like to would on a bicycle to turn.
Brake with both brakes at the same time.

Answer 2

I applaud your decision to get a bike. They can be a lot of fun, or get you very dead very quickly. I encourage you to take the STAR or similar programs to learn to ride safely ( they provide the bike). Then, I always encourage new people to ride a small dirt bike wearing full safety gear to learn the do's and don'ts of riding. It is a lot safer to sharpen your skills on the dirt rather than on the asphalt. I firmly believe that my early days of desert racing on dirt bikes has made me a much safer and more capable rider.
Next, you need to be esxposed to different types of bikes, and explain what your riding needs are.
Are you looking for something to ride surface streets during the week, and maybe do a little trail riding on the weekends? if so, you should look into an "enduro" type bike which is a cross between a street legal bike, and a dirt bike.
If you want highway cruising and maybe some trips, then you need a cruiser.
If you're looking for pure go fast ( which I hope your not) and not longer trips, look into crotch rockets.
Yes bikes are generally cheaper at the beginning of winter, dealers are wanting to move out last years inventory, and sales are generally slower. Right now Harley has a $99.00 down and $99.00 a month deal on a 1200 sportster. Some people starting out on bikes love sportsters, others don't.
Go around to all the dealerships you can find. Look at, all the different models each one offers. Ask permission to sit on them to see if you fit ( both feet should be flat on the ground when sitting) and get a feeling for the weight. Lighter bkes are only a couple hundred pounds, my '07 Harley "ultra" weighs about 800 lbs empty. Obviously, you are not gonna want a bike that big to learn on. Remember too, that there are only two types of riders, those that have been knocked down, and those that will be knocked down. Wear proper gear.
In the end, it doesn't matter what you ride, as long as you ride.

Answer 3

Before you look for a motorcycle go take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic Rider Course and learn how to ride the right way, the first time! While you're learning all the skills you need to keep your motorcycle on its wheels, ask your classmates and instructors about their motorcycles and experiences, you'll learn alot!

My suggestions on the subject of which bike...I learned on a Suzuki GZ250...a very affordable light bike! It's a Cruiser-style bike, so it's a good step towards a Harley, or similar bike, if you like that style. Basically, any 250cc motorcycle makes a good learner bike...find one you like and can afford, and especially one that's comfortable for you!

Yes, motorcycles are cheaper in Winter, because fewer people buy them in winter....also go for a previous model year bike.

Be safe! Wear all of your PPE everytime you ride!

Answer 4

I was about your age when I took an MSF course and got my cycle license. The experience will be invaluable and life-saving. Seriously. I had men who had never been to a class offer to teach me, but it is easy to forget to tell a newbie something that is ingrained and automatic after years of riding, plus it is easy to teach a bad habit that will take longer to unlearn.

Your first bike depends on what you will be using the bike for, how tall you are and what you are willing to spend on initial cost and maintenance.

My first bike was a Suzuki Savage 650 cruiser because I am average height (5' 4") and I planned on taking road trips with it. It is belt-driven (read: low maintenance > no chain readjustments), air-cooled (also low maintenance > no costly coolant/radiator problems), has easy-to-grab clutch and brakes (I have small hands), handles well (nimble), better torque for longer rides (more power), lightweight (easy to pick up).

Buy bikes at the end of the summer season, when the dealers are looking to get rid of their summer inventory and stock up on their winter snowmobiles (I live in Michigan).

If all you plan on doing is riding around town, like speed, don't mind a higher seat height and more maintenance, get a sportbike. Be sure to buy some thick leathers and a full-faced helmet. I was in a low speed (under 20 mph) accident with my first bike, and if I didn't have my FF helmet on, I wouldn't have half my face right now.

*BTW, you don't need to know how to drive a stick shift to learn how to ride a bike. It may help for some, but in general it's not a deal-breaker.

Answer 5

Yes bikes are cheap around now. And expensive from say March to August.
Can you ride a bicycle ? If not, learn that first.
I went to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course first and got my license before I got my Suzuki GZ250. From someone who bought the bike first, then went to class and then fell at the exam, and broke her leg.
And at my class there was another girl, her boyfriend had already given her a bike, but she fell twice and gave up. So better go to class first and find out if riding is for you, and then get a bike.

Answer 6

yes you can get a better deal in the winter. If you are looking for the right first bike i would highly suggest that you buy a bike that is comfortable, make sure that when you are stopped and sitting on it that both of your feet can touch the ground without the bike leaning. I would suggest something like a intruder or some lo-rider style of bike. Good luck and wear your helmet

Answer 7

first thing u have to do is take a motorcycle improvement course so u learn how to ride and fix some things on it and the bike all depends on your style if u just want to cruise and have a good time i would go with a harley or if u want speed and an adrenaline rush go with a street bike like a ninja or a honda as far as buying one cheaper in the winter i have never heard of that one before but i would check it out just to be sure good luck in your choice of bike though!!!!

Answer 8

I am looking at a Rebel 250 for my first bike. My neighbor is a motorcycle junkie and he has been helping me out on this. Rebels have a good resale value as well for when you are ready to move to a bigger bike.

If you are worried about the clutch you can look into an older one called a Hondamatic. They only made them in 78,79,80,81 BUT you can find them pretty cheap on Ebay. They are only high and low gear and very easy to fix if needed.

Answer 9

awww how sweet
buy a Kawasaki 250 Ninja
In my opinion that bike is an easy bike to ride, that bike would make a beginner look like a pro
that bike is a "do everything" bike, it has the speed to keep up with traffic and most any other bike, its reliable, easy to maintain and has a great resale value, its less expensive to buy as new, and buying a used one is a great buy.

Answer 10

LOL, first make sure you can drive a manual transmissions car. The bike will similar but the clutch is on the lift hand and the gear shifter is on your left foot. You start off with a smaller displacemnt motorcycle (ie: 250cc, 400cc. 600cc, etc...) and Id even recommend taking a driving course specifically for motorcycles. Notorcycles are alot of fun but its a whole different realm of driving skills involved. Do your homework before rding one.