Suggestions for first Motorcycle?

[cdaveytriesit]

Hey folks,

I'm new here. I posted a little intro on the introduction page(it isn't all that exciting, so you don't need to go look at it...unless you really want to. I'm saying--I wont stop you...alright, anyway...)

I'm looking for suggestions for my first motorcycle--where to buy, what to buy. I'm looking to get a small bike, probably a 250, and something really inexpensive(as I'm not in a great monetary position right now) that wont break down right away. I'm a fairly small female, so a smaller motorcycle is definitely a plus, I think--at least for learning, etc.

Anyway, nice to find this forum and hope to be riding with you folks soon!

Thanks!

Cait

[dan]

Hi Cait...

A 250 is about right for a first bike, much easier to learn on and the weight won't be a big issue. I'd get a year or two old bike off of ebay. You won't feel as bad if you drop it, and you can save your money for your next bike after you learn how to ride.

I must say though, learning in nyc is not the easiest thing to do... lots of traffic, bad roads, and crazy cab drivers. It would be best if you took a rider safety class as well.

The bike really depends what you like? sport bikes, vintage, etc

A few to look at are:

suzuki TU250X
honda nighthawk 250
kawasaki nija 250
kawasaki sherpa 250

good luck +d

[cdaveytriesit]

Thanks Dan!

Yeah, I think it should be okay. I plan on taking the motorcycle safety course, and I've driven a 15 pass van in NY(not the same, I know, but I understand the movement of the traffic).

I like the look of vintage cruiser bikes(similar to the one that is the logo for this site).

Thanks for the suggestions!

Cait

[dan]

The logo on this site is a Picasso! Dan Picasso that is... he's an artist in texas.

The bike is his amalgamation of a bunch of british motorcycles.

+d

[cdaveytriesit]

Oh ok, cool. I do like those euro-style bikes. I've been having fairly good luck finding some nice stuff on craigslist and ebay, just still saving money to actually buy something.

cait

[zg64]

A great bike (and my first) is the Kawasaki Ninja 250R. It's very easy to get used to, is cheap, light, gets great gas mileage, and is a lot more fun to ride than something like a Honda Rebel.

[James]

Hey Cait--

Congratulations on deciding to ride! I started last summer, and it's brought me lots of enjoyment. I hope it does the same for you.

One common starter bike is a Honda Rebel 250. It's small, light, easy to ride, and it generally gets good resale value. I'd agree with Dan that it's best to start off with a used bike, so that you won't stress out too much if you drop it.

That said, I have to admit that I myself didn't follow any of the advice I am now giving you. I started off with a bigger bike (a Harley Davidson Iron 883), and I got it brand new. What can I say? I fell in love with the thing, and I couldn't help myself. It's worked out fine for me, but the first month or so of ownership was extra stressful. Not only did I have to deal with the stress of learning to ride; I also had to worry about dinging up this beautiful, expensive new machine. It made the first month or so of riding very, very stressful. So if you're not in love with a particular bike just yet, I'd say go with a good reliable used bike that you won't mind beating up as you hone your riding skills.

Learning to ride in NYC traffic is definitely challenging. After you pass the MSF course, I'd recommend finding a route with moderate traffic and few pedestrians, where you can get the bike up to 30 mph or so while practicing going light to light. Riverside Drive is a good practice route if you live on the upper west side. Not sure about other neighborhoods.

Hope all this is helpful. Let us know what you end up getting. Ride safe, and have fun!

[cdaveytriesit]

Thanks! I ended up getting a 1980 Honda cm400t. It's a little bigger than I had originally planned, but was very inexpensive which was important to me for all the reasons listed above. I haven't even gotten a chance to ride it because the weather is so cold and I need to replace the tires and am getting new handlebars, and then of course can't do anything without insurance. I have to save up a little extra to get all of this together, then my friend is going to help me learn to actually ride the thing.

[James]

Congratulations on the bike! Yea, the startup costs to riding are annoying (the gear, the insurance, the bike, etc.), but once you get everything up and running, you'll be very, very happy.

A bit of unsolicited advice: unless your friend is a certified MSF instructor, I'd strongly recommend shelling out the dough for either a motorcycle safety course or some private riding lessons. Studies indicate that learning from friends and family is the least effective form of motorcycle training. People who learn from friends and family are three times more likely to get into accidents than people who took the MSF course. And they're two times more likely to get into accidents than people who simply taught themselves. I'm not making this up. It's in chapter one of David Hough's classic book, "Proficient Motorcycling," page 21 of the second edition. Check it out: http://www.themotorbookstore.com/1889540536.html

Nobody knows exactly why friends and family suck so catastrophically at riding instruction, but I'd say it's a simple question of training. Your friend may be a good rider, but that doesn't necessarily make her/him a good teacher. Also, your friend is more likely to go easy on you and spare your feelings when it comes to giving straight-up criticism, which may be nice for your friendship, but which doesn't exactly help you become a good rider.

On the off chance that you're still reading, let me point you to an MSF school here in NYC. You can take private lessons at their branch in Williamsburg. For the full-on MSF course, you have to go to their branch in the Bronx. Check it out: http://www.ridemss.com/

Okay, hope you don't mind the unsolicited advice. Whatever you decide to do, ride safe, and have fun!

[cdaveytriesit]

Yep, I read the whole post. Thanks!

[DavidL19]

My first bike 3 years ago was a Suzuki GS500E 2002. It was a great choice all my biker friends told me that this was the bike for a beginner if you don't want to buy a new bike in less than 6 months. They were right, it was easy to ride and learn on plus it is strong enough to have some fun with it later on. If you get a riding then post your routes on my online map site. You can save them to your own personal site or make it public to the world. I am trying to make a huge map of tons of lists, so if you have the time after riding for a bit post em at the links below. I am an affiliate of allstate and thus I use their web pages. Thanks and good luck on the bike choice.

David Lipsky
http://allstategarage.com/routes
http://allstategarage.com

[wildtransform]

I would recommend the Kawasaki ninja 250r. The bike is a masterpiece. I have been using it for almost a year, excellent sporting bike.

[cdaveytriesit]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!

I've actually been riding for a little while now with my 1980 Honda cm400t. It's not really the best bike at this point, definitely is consistently giving me greif, but it's also given me the chance to learn more about how motorcycles work so I can begin doing some of the minor fixing myself.

I drove from NY to Philadelphia to visit some friends. I drove out to Jones Beach, Far Rockaway and Coney Island. I've also just done a few rides around the city, getting lost and then finding my way back. Pretty soon I want to drive out to visit my parents in north-central PA.

It will definitely be better when I can afford a bike in good shape, but this one has been great to learn on!

[pirataye]

The Rebel 250 is a perfect bike for riding in town easy to handle, 50 - 60 mpg. The Rebel will have more power, and it wont cost alot.
This was my first bike and I still love it, there is no better bike out there, period! You will get a lot of respect for starting small.