I came to the same realization when I first started riding. Besides, the fuel efficiency and power:weight is amazing vs. cars. Look at 250ccs or cruisers for their lower insurance cost. I recommend the Kawasaki Ninja 250R. That was my trainer bike. This thread is very helpful for all those interested like you. http://www.sportbikes.net/forums/ne...eginner-motorcycle-mind-check-list-first.html
Triumph Bonneville: comfortable, quiet & plenty of tweaking options that are available (for looks & performance) if you ever want it to look sportier or like a Harley-type. Very versatile.
If I were getting a bike to ride mostly in town, I'd get a Suzuki DR-Z400SM, and it also happens to be a fantastic beginner bike. It's a supermoto, which is basically a lower, stiffer, dirt-bike (really dual sport), made for really quick acceleration and handling. You don't want to make any long trips on it, but it's easy to learn on, handles great, won't scratch much if you drop it, and it's a ton of fun in the twisties or on a track.
Thanks for the advice guys. I've been sniffing around about Honda Rebels, Kawasaki Vulcan (500s), etc. I don't need something that I can take off-road or on a track, it will be mostly an in-town commuter that hits a freeway every now and again. So comfort and reliability are the biggest factors, but something that can reliably hit 60 mph is a concern, especially for a bigger guy like me (I'm 6'2" 220lbs, and I hear that beginner bikes can be a hard fit for us). The Triumph is definitely up my alley in terms of use and aesthetics, and something I would likely never outgrow. Daedalus, is 250cc something I would regret in that respect?
You have to decide if you prefer a cruiser or a road bike. And budget. I would suggest a Kawasaki 900 or a Suzuki Boulevard 800 size bike as a starter. Small enough to learn on but big enough to feel comfortable if you had to take occasional or short rides on the freeway or highways. Both these bikes are less expensive than a Sportster and will be a lot more comfortable. Look better too IMO. If you are commuting in town its the perfect size bike, and the upright position will be comfortable. Some people simply stay on that size bike, others opt to get a bigger bike if they start longer faster rides or riding two up. If a road bike, seems the smaller bikes are plenty fast. You may want to look at bikes designed more for comfort than speed, and they have sport bikes with hard bags and windshields (they call them sport touring bikes) that have bigger engines for longer rides and hard bags to stow luggage and stuff. They get pretty expensive and probably a "next bike". Honda makes a really good one called the ST1300, but it looks like they make a smaller version called the NT700 thay may be one to look at. I strongly recommend taking the Motorcycle riding class. It usually is affordable, you learn/develop important skills on *their* bikes (better to drop one of theirs than your own) and you even get discounts on insurance and spare yourself a test at Motor Vehicles. btw, they usually team you on a 125cc or 250cc bike so you will get the feel of that size bike. Riding the figure eight in a box on a larger bike will be much harder.
Those small cruisers feel cramped for me, and you're bigger than I am. I'd go at least 750cc, or Sportster 883. Honestly, though, cruisers are crappy to learn on. They handle poorly, and don't give you the confidence you want when you're starting off. A Bonneville might be the coolest-looking bike that seems to be pretty easy for a beginner, but it'll be expensive for what you get.
i agree completely w/this. Yes. Once you're comfortable on 2 wheels (a month or less), you'll shake your head about the anxiety you felt toward the difference between a 250cc & a 600-1000cc. Ultimately, a slow bike is dangerous, truly. Agreed. Though 2nd hand one, basic BonnieBlacks come at a great price...most Bonnies are loved by their owners, who are typically conservative riders that take care of their machines. Plus, in 3 years, just by changing a few things (bars, seat, rear fender...too many little cosmetics too mention - let alone performance tweaks) you can re-invent the very same bike.
Hmm, a quick search of the secondary market shows little to nothing in the way of Bonneville's. I guess their owners really are loyal. Knowing what I know now, I'd say a 600cc Cruiser (even if it is a bad learner bike, I absolutely plan on taking a lot of instruction courses) is what I'm after, likely used, somewhere between 4000-5000. Doubt I'll be able to find a higher-end bike for that, but there seems to be quite a few Suzuki Boulevards and Kawasaki Vulcans in that neighborhood.
my friend bought his used w/2000mi for $4k....had to pick it up in North Carolina http://triumph.gulfcoastmotorcycle.com/home_triumph.asp better to strike up conversation w/someone in parts/service...they'll know & be more likely to help
Terrible to learn on. Hard to turn, body position has you less in touch with the road, clunky shifting, exhausting to drive because of wind. I would get a SV650, Honda 599 Ducati 695/696/796 or something similar.
Have you considered an SV650? They're kind of on the high end of power for a beginner bike, but it's not unmanageable. Much less power than a 600cc 4-cyl supersport, with much more manageable power delivery. Much better handling, more comfortable, and more powerful than a 600cc cruiser. They're a popular bike, relatively cheap, and there should be plenty available lightly used under $4000. I'd highly recommend that over a cruiser of any kind.
I hate that they changed the frame. The first one was so much sweeter. You could probably find one of these for next to nothing
no matter what you get, you've got to post the pic! I'm getting the beginnings of of stage-1 motor-vehicle-shopping-high.
