Help for Motorcycle Beginners
Objective advice about Starter Motorcycles
What’s Your Type? - Cruisers - Standard - Sport - Enduro
Motorcycle beginners have a lot of fun ahead of them, shopping and comparing motorcycle models. Your starter motorcycle buying decision will be an important one… but there’s no reason it can’t be a fun learning process.
With my 22 years experience of riding, loving, reading and talking about, and following motorcycle models and makers, you’ll narrow down your best choices and have fun learning. Several factors will influence your beginning motorcycle buying decision, but perhaps the most important factor guiding you will be your desire. What kind of motorcycle do you want? In other words…
What kind of motorcycle really interests you?
If you long to ride with a laid back, relaxed mindset; if you see motorcycle riding as a time to unwind and forget about the world for a while, then I think your best beginner motorcycle should be a cruiser. Think Rebel, Vulcan, Star, VLX.
Enduro (Dual Purpose) Motorcycles
If getting off the street and hitting some bumps, fire roads, and puddles gets you exited; if you don’t mind getting a little dirty or sweaty, perhaps your best beginner motorcycle should be an Enduro. Think XR250, KLR250, XT225.
Motorcycle riding is one of the most exciting, intense things you can do in life, and sport riding on a high performance cycle is an experience like no other. Street sport riding, as well as off road riding, demands the highest level of skill and attention. If you see street riding as an intense sport, one which demands (and you can give) 100% of your focus, mentally and physically, then you need a sportbike.
The three motorcycles I recommend for new sport riders are: Kawasaki Ninja 250, Ninja 500, and Suzuki GS500. If you’re a new rider, I would recommend buying one of these new bikes; as a beginner you do not want to have to worry about a used bike’s peculiarities. Start fresh, start new. These three bikes are also easy on the wallet.
First of all, let’s make one thing clear: just because I recommend these sport motorcycles for beginners doesn’t mean they’re not a heck of a lot of fun for experienced riders, too. Each of these bikes delivers many smiles per miles. There isn’t necessarily a direct correlation to fun and raw horsepower. Some sport riders don’t want blistering jackrabbit speed, they don’t need the baddest, fastest or most expensive sportbike that’s on the market that year. Some riders prefer a small, flickable, light motorcycle that’s fun to ride in the twisty roads - heavier motorcycles simply are not fun when the speed limit signs are at 40mph. These three bikes all reward with excellent handling, agility, and power per weight. Some would say that these beginner sport motorcycles offer benefits that cycles twice or three times their price simply cannot offer. Sheer fun.
For younger new riders (under 21), shorter riders (5′8″ and below), and riders less than 160 pounds, I would reocmmend the Kawasaki Ninja 250. The littlest Ninja boasts an incredible rpm redline of 14,000 rpm. That makes for a lot of engine room to play and explore the powerband. Four valves per cylinder and liquid cooling means that the Ninja 250 is a well engineered, serious motorcycle despite its relatively small engine displacement. Why a Ninja 250? Relatively low motorcycle weight means you will have exceptional control, inspiring confidence early in your motorcycling career. You’ll come to appreciate the high revving engines, dual disc brakes, and aggressive sport handling. The Ninja line is among the most respected badge in sport riding.
The new Suzuki GS500F sports GSX-R styling. You might actually be mistaken for a small Gixxer.
If you’re really not sure yet of what specific type of riding you want to do, or don’t want to categorize your riding preferences now, then your best beginner motorcycle should be a standard motorcycle. Think Nighthawk 250, Eliminator 125, Buell Blast.
