12-22-2008, 02:19 PM
Depends on what you're learning to ride.
Ninja 250 was one of the best bikes I ever had. Got it cheap. Hopped it up. Rode it like I stole it for 3 years. Excellent bike to learn 'crotch rocket' style riding. Moved all the way up thru a GSX then on to an R1. I don't think any of the 600cc sport bikes are good 'basic' bikes. Most take considerate skill and aren't very forgiving.
Honda Rebel 250/450 are great small bikes. Lot's of women ride these because they are light, dependable, and easy to ride. Most people start on these and move up to Harley's, V-Stars, and others in the cruiser range.
Honda Shadow (up to 650cc) are great 'standard' bikes (confusing to some that 'standard' and 'cruiser' are used interchangeably on several bikes). You can even go back to the late 70's and thru the 80's with Nomads, V45's, V65's, and the LTD's. These are what most kids of the 70's think of when they think of motorcycles...and YEAH, back then a 650 or 750cc was a BIG bike.
I currently have a Vstar 650. My wife got it for me after making me get rid of my sportbike. (uh...something about blowing by her at WELL over 140...and me being WELL over 40....and she wasn't going to raise 4 kids alone...). I would consider it a beginner bike and it's a 650cc. I am a small guy but you can ride these new 650cc's like they are big wheels. Massive improvment in weight and rideability is the biggest reason why a 650cc is now considered 'small'. Harley and the others are making bikes with 1300, 1400, 1800, and BIGGER engines now.
And yeah, once the kids are gone I will have my butt back on some kind of sport bike. The other poster talked about Buell's...sweet bikes...that new XB9 transparent blue version is cool as crap.
Man, didn't mean to write a book...tooo much coffee on a Monday morning.
Jay
Ninja 250 was one of the best bikes I ever had. Got it cheap. Hopped it up. Rode it like I stole it for 3 years. Excellent bike to learn 'crotch rocket' style riding. Moved all the way up thru a GSX then on to an R1. I don't think any of the 600cc sport bikes are good 'basic' bikes. Most take considerate skill and aren't very forgiving.
Honda Rebel 250/450 are great small bikes. Lot's of women ride these because they are light, dependable, and easy to ride. Most people start on these and move up to Harley's, V-Stars, and others in the cruiser range.
Honda Shadow (up to 650cc) are great 'standard' bikes (confusing to some that 'standard' and 'cruiser' are used interchangeably on several bikes). You can even go back to the late 70's and thru the 80's with Nomads, V45's, V65's, and the LTD's. These are what most kids of the 70's think of when they think of motorcycles...and YEAH, back then a 650 or 750cc was a BIG bike.
I currently have a Vstar 650. My wife got it for me after making me get rid of my sportbike. (uh...something about blowing by her at WELL over 140...and me being WELL over 40....and she wasn't going to raise 4 kids alone...). I would consider it a beginner bike and it's a 650cc. I am a small guy but you can ride these new 650cc's like they are big wheels. Massive improvment in weight and rideability is the biggest reason why a 650cc is now considered 'small'. Harley and the others are making bikes with 1300, 1400, 1800, and BIGGER engines now.
And yeah, once the kids are gone I will have my butt back on some kind of sport bike. The other poster talked about Buell's...sweet bikes...that new XB9 transparent blue version is cool as crap.
Man, didn't mean to write a book...tooo much coffee on a Monday morning.
Jay