150cc too small?

Question

im 19, 5'10", 170 lbs... im looking for a starter bike

does it matter if its 2 or 4 stroke? why?

this would be a dirtbike, just used for driving on trails.....no stunts or anything like that

Answer 1

I'd go with a 250cc if I were you. 150cc is good for recreational use, but if you want to hit some jumps, the suspension on it won't handle it. It also depends on what you're going to do. If you're planning on freestyle, then a 2 stroke is easier to make gear changes in the air if need be, or to set up to hit a jump. Cross country or racing, you defiantly want 4 stokes, no doubt. You would probably also want to 250cc for a more comfortable ride, 150's are too small for long distances and you probably won't get very far.

Since it's a starter, you probably will just spend the first 4 or so months just getting used to riding. It's confusing at first for some people, for me, I couldn't even get the clutch right at first and I would always use too much gas. It takes time in order for everything to become second nature and just know what to do all the time, in all situations. So depending on how much you are willing to spend and what you are looking to do, decide what's going to be the least hassle free. You can't use the same bike for cross country as you would for freestyle, the suspension, stroke, and gear changes are all depending on what you want to do. You weight 170, so 150 might not be enough to give you flexablity. I'd go with a decent 4 stroke 250cc, 2 stroke is an option you can consider later. Remember to have good gear also.

Answer 2

Hey,

I have a 150cc 4 stroke scooter (Bajaj Chetak, look it up, it is a great bike) and I am 270 pounds 6'2".

There are lots of people who say that 150 is too small, and this is BUNK!

150 is an excellent starter bike. You will have to counter steer, but not so much as to make it hard to do. You can go as high as a 250, and you will likely be OK, but it will depend on your use. If you are in an urban, (or suburban) area, and you don't go on the Interstates, 150cc bikes are fine.

Most people choose a bike that is way too big for what they need. Many people choose a bike for fuel economy, just to negate that by buying a 1200! A 1200 gets 35 to 40MPG, so you might as well get a car.

2 stroke vs. 4 stroke: On the street, 4 stroke is an advantage, with a wider power band, making hills easier to climb. 2 stroke engines put out the same hydrocarbons as a diesel bus, which is a bad thing, plus fuel economy and maintenance are better on a 4 stroke.

Happy riding, hope to see you out there!

Answer 3

I presume you're in the United States. If so, you'll have a hard time finding a quality built motorcycle with a 150 cc motor, although there are some good scooters in that size class. The appropriate size depends on what you're doing with it.

With a 150, you'll be able to get it around town and get phenomenal gas mileage doing this. But these scooters typically won't go much faster than 60 mph. It's not a good idea to take one on the Interstate.

Most 250 cc motorcycles can go on the Interstate, but will be pretty much at full throttle just to keep up with traffic. The Kawasaki Ninja 250 is more powerful than most other 250s and has no trouble keeping up with traffic if you give it some good revs. A 250 is a good first bike because it's light and easy to control.

Beyond 250s, the bikes get heavier and faster, making them a bit harder to manage. As a general rule, most anything in the 500 cc and under range is still something you can hop on after you take a riding class without endangering yourself, however. Sport bikes take a dramatic turn for the wild and crazy at the 600 cc level.

Answer 4

Yeah, that's a little too small. The CRF 230 or TT-R 230 might be a good choice if you are looking for something inexpensive and not expecting a ton of power.

Answer 5

At 5ft 10inches you could handle anything above 5-600cc ,My wife is 5ft 4our and she just bought a 250cc for starter bike and 3 weeks later shes talking about the 750cc shadows

Answer 6

Thats really small, I would start on a 350 or 450. I'm 5'11 and rode my gf's 250 one time and it felt like my knee were in my chin.

Answer 7

A 150cc is too small for full size rider street use. Stick with 4-stroke, 2-strokes have narrow power bands and require more maintenance.
Since you're a new Rider I’m combining 2 of my previous answers to similar questions to try to provide as much information as possible. Hope it helps
EVERYTHING is different when riding as opposed to driving.
Example, on standard motorcycle, uphill to a Stop Sign:
Come to a stop with right hand [R/H] on front brake, right foot [R/F] on rear brake, L/H on clutch & L/F on pavement. Hold motorcycle with rear brake [R/F], release front brake [R/H], use throttle [R/H] with clutch [L/H] to take off.

It is critically important to learn as many situations as possible, away from traffic, before mixing in with other vehicles. Riding courses are a great start, but rein in your confidence for the 1st 1k miles & don't even think about riding a passenger before then!

It would be easier to learn on a machine like a Ridley or one of the older Hondamatics. But even then remember you are out n the open, harder to see & easy to ignore.

Read more in the sites below.

http://totalmotorcycle.com/welcome.htm
http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/
http://ridleymotorcycles.com/

First, take a riding course. Here in TX there is a 2-day course with everything, including motorcycle, provided.
http://www.texasmtc.com/index.html...

Second, since there are a million used bikes out there, especially the beginner sizes, with less than 10,000 miles` on them, shop used. You will lose too much money on a new machine, plus you often get things like saddlebags [for carrying stuff] w/the pkg instead of as expensive extras.

Third, I would not recommend you buy anything under 450cc. You'll outgrow it in a matter of weeks. Plus, in most tight situations, motorcycles need to power out; this doesn’t require a rocket, but you’ll want enough motor.

Fourth, awesome bike my wife bought for herself, but not cheap, Ridley Auto-Glide.http://ridleymotorcycles.com/

Above all, take your time, ride at least 300 miles out of town before entering traffic & don't ride a passenger until you have at least 1,000 miles under your tires.

Riding over 33 years, Iron Butt Association member, 6 years MC shops, Former Riding instructor.

Ride safe & Ride straight.

Answer 8

if you are going to do any highway riding, or any kind of long distances, then yes, it is too small...

Answer 9

150cc is good for a top speed of about 55 mph with a 4 stroke engine, and about 64 or so if it is a 2 stroke.

Depending on your budget, most find that the 150cc is perfect for tooling around town, it will keep up with traffic and will accelerate at a reasonable pace. HOWEVER, most folks get the bug to get more power, just for the ability to get on the highways. 250cc will get you on most highways safely, but with you size even that might not be safe on Interstate Highways hat carry 70-75 mph traffic.

The cost between the 150 and 250s are not all that great, depending on the make you are looking at.

4 strokes are less maintenance intensive, more fuel efficient, and much cleaner running than 2 strokes, and will last a good deal longer as well. 2 strokes are definitely 'stronger' when it comes to performance from like displacements. The two offer different things to consider, power or durability. With a quality bike, it is a matter of choice, as the 2 strokes are very well made and with good care can last as long as you care to have the bike.

Answer 10

At the height you are a 150cc would be like riding a mini bike for you. You need to look possibly for a 250cc to suit your size better. You could try a 125cc but think that may also be a bit too small.

The 250cc would be a better beginners option and a lot more forgiving to a beginner although they can be a bugger to start at times.