Comments on: Recommending a First Motorcycle

By: Albert Wells

Albert Wells — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:53:16 +0000

I doubt there is a set rule for everyone. There are so many variables to take into consideration. Age; fitness level; general health (no dizziness allowed); balancing skills; body size; experience with standard shifts; self-confidence etc.

I bought the big HD Classic touring bike after taking a weekend motorcycle training course. I had ridden a Honda 250 in the ’60’s (over 40 years ago), so this was a major change. I fired it up…took a turn around the corner and felt the bike ready to take a dive to its side. I managed to hold it up, but thought to myself…what the hell did I just do !

I have since learned to ride it, and how to pick it up , but more importantly, I’ve gained a healthy respect heft and power of the bike and have learned to keep my ego in check and stay within my level of experience.

Would I recommend this size bike to a new rider…no way…chances are they would become discouraged very quickly about riding. Not only are the maintenance and insurance costs high, the bike is not very forgiving of classic errors, such as spinning the back tire in soft sand or the left over winter salt. Pull the front brake with the front wheel at an angle and it will pull you to the ground like a magnet!

While motor size 750 cc or less would be ideal, not everyone can ride a MC that small, and for people who are tall, it would cramp their body very quickly! So how does one choose? Go to the shows and demo rides. Sit on lots of models and seat configurations and the bike will choose you!

By: Cliff

Cliff — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:33:26 +0000

My first bike was and is 2008 ninja 250r, (the one with the new bigger sport bike look) and I must say she runs just fine and will keep up with almost anything on the street, except maybe mustangs. It’s fast enough to put you in jail if your speeding on the road if your not responsible. If your a real nutso It can pop wheelies but not really enough to throw you backward. I’ve had a few unintentional wheely moments and on a bigger bike those moments could wind up lethal in the blink of an eye. Drop the clutch at 12 grand and the front wheel will go up and/or u may loose traction but it hasen’t and is not likely to loose you or flip backwards on top of you. Its a great bike to learn on and is forgiving, after 4 months and 2000 miles with 70 mpg I’ll say I’m more that satisfied~but i’ll be looking forward to a gsxr 750 and track days.-drive safely-and responsibly-and its always a good ideal to work your way up-for as you climb that mountain of experience and skill all it may take is one slip to end it all, your safety gear is safety line, a motorcycle course is like mapping out your path. Play it safe and your will rise to the top and beyond. because you never stop.

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 15:35:28 +0000

My first bike was a Yamaha Virago 535 and it was light enough and the seat hight low enough (I’m 5′3″) that I was able to feel very comfortable on it. If you start on a bike that’s too big and are scared you’ll never progress to needing or wanting to upgrade to a bigger bike.
I put about 10, 000 miles on that Virago and would still have it today if I hadn’t needed more power. We hit about 60 mph headwinds on one trip and my poor Virago could only manage 45 mph in 4th gear. Having started to take regular week long trips of about 4500 miles, I needed more power and a bigger gas tank. But I still miss that bike. I don’t know why Yamaha stopped making the Virago – great bikes.

By: john

john — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:10:10 +0000

my fourth bike is a 2008 ninja 250r and it’s my favorite so far.

By: Spencer

Spencer — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:25:11 +0000

I have read some of the comments and found them very interesting. I though the statement made in the above article was spot on. What would be a first bike “worlds fastest production bike – great bike, but bad idea. That about sums it up really, because there are some absolutely fantastic bikes out there and there are some fantastic riders out there and neither of them have appeared over night. The research and technology of bikes has grown and grown to where we are today and tomorrows bike is going to be somewhat different and better (fingers crossed). The same anology can be use for the rider he doesn’t wake up a good rider this has to be gained with experience and has they say “experience doesn’t come without pain, embarrasement and mistakes” so today he is a descent rider, but tomorrow he is a better rider. I have rider off and on (literally) for the last 40yrs I was riding motorbikes as a teenager that were unsuitable for the road, but great for the deserted lanes (not recommended in todays busy lanes) some of these bike had only two gears. The point I am making is I have a vast amount of experience, yet there are some bikes I would hesitate to select as being unnecessary fast for the roads or too big and cumbersome for their selective use.

So, what would the first bike, well I don’t think money comes into it from my perspective.

Selection Process: Based on a new bike

1. What do I want the bike for, commuting, working, touring, or leisure
2. Am I familiar with the model Yes/No
3. Am I able to pick it up of the floor Y/N
4. Is it easy to manouvre in parking Y/N
5. Is it managble in heavy traffic
6. Can I afford to be wrong and make the wrong selection

Maybe people should not be able to buy or ride a certain bikes without proof of ex-amount of time on a bike. How this is acheived is another question. Maybe the onus should be put on the Dealership and refuse to sell a fast bike to an inexperienced customer, but that will never happen. I have left myself with several unanswere questions now, and no further to answering the original question, never mind there maybe something in there that can be made use of.