What is a good motorbike for learners?

Oracle · 12-04-2011, 11:33 AM

Hi,
I'm thinking of a motor bike and during the winter the prices are really attractive!
I had a Yamaha 400 back in the day for a month or so... So basically I'm back to zero and need to learn again.

I will attend the school sometime late spring (here we still have big snow dumps in March and May)

Could I ask for your opinion. What is a good bike for learners? (with a long term in mind)

Note: I don't need to go super fast and I don't like the Harley D. loud bikes.

Thanks for your input!

Reg · 12-04-2011, 11:43 AM

I'd recommend a small CC endouro bike if you can find one. They are light and decent for on/off road but not so much for highway driving. Insurance should be cheap and if it falls over there is less to worry about. Honda makes a CBR250 streetbike that would also be nice.

Be careful. People do not see you on a bike as easily and as such you have to be always on the defensive.

dlockhart · 12-04-2011, 11:45 AM

SV 650 it will take you from putting around block or touring across the country and on to the racetrack if you desire. And do it cheaply.

My "little" brother and a SV race bike he bought for $1500

That is a first gen (with carbs ) the second gen has FI but performance wise it is a wash.

(think of SVs as the spec miata of the bike world)

varmint · 11:50 AM

you're probably not going to neat the SV650.

get a real full face helmet.
take the msf course.
the first most effective performance upgrade is a good set of tires.

Oracle · 12-04-2011, 11:56 AM

Excellent, keep them coming.. (taking notes here).

I'm really liking those Ducati Monster.. The external frame looks really nice!

dlockhart · 12-04-2011, 12:03 PM

The other one that comes to mind is a KLR650. It is the stone hammer of dual sport/ adventure tourers. Coincidentally my little brother also has one of thoses too. The only issues with the dual sport types is the seat height as many beginners like being able to "flat foot" it when stopping.
They do okay up to 70-75 mph and get great fuel economy doing commuter/run-about duty and with decent tires you can play in the mud

LakeCleElum · 12-04-2011, 12:03 PM

You want light weight, moderate power and low seat height to get started and be comfortable. The seat height thing rules out most modern endro/dual sport bikes.

You say "long-term", so assume you want to keep it a year or two before moving up? I'm not a fan of the "cruiser style" at all, but they do sit low. Any of the 4 Japanese companies make really reliable bikes. I'd say anything from a 400 to 650cc that you feel comfortable sitting on, making sure you can put both feet flat on the ground. G'luck...

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

"learner bike" and "long term bike" are two different things. Learning about riding is a long term effort, but I digress.

I assume this is for pavement? But a used bike that you don't mind dropping. SV650 is a good choice, Ninja 500 is another classic one. Most anything will do - just make sure it is well maintained and everything works. Take the MSF course and wear full gear. As in full gear - real motorcycle boots, pants, jacket, gloves, and helmet.

I bought a Monster 620 as a "re-entry" bike and quickly moved to something else as it was a bit small for my taste. I moved to a Truimph Speed 4 then eventually back to Ducatis, an Aprilia, and now have had the same BMW R1200GS for the past 3 years. If you really want a Duc, find a 620 and learn on that, then sell it for something later on.

Dueller · 12-04-2011, 12:06 PM

Two mid-2000 Sv650's "naked"....can probably pick up for $2500 or less in good shaped used.

HardDrive · 05:34 PM

A small bore Ducati Monster could be a good learning bike, but they are not cheap to maintain. Unless you have access to ethanol free gas, do not buy 2005+ Monster. They have plastic gas tanks, and the ethanol in NA fuel destroys them. Ducati is currently the subject of a class action lawsuit because of it.

I think a SV650 could be a good start. A friend of mine has a Kawasaki Vulcan 500 that she loves.

crustychief · crustychief's Garage

Good advice here, some worth repeating. Good Tires ( and brakes ), Quality riding gear, dress for the fall ( not the season ). DOT and Snell rated full helmet.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I took the MSF course and was the best in the class, which was pretty scary. Got 100% on everything and felt woefully unprepared when I bought a bike in NJ two weekends later and rode it 350 miles to my folks' house and back to VA. I was not even close to ready for that. In the class they recommended not buying anything under 650cc's because I'd outgrow it quickly. I got a 2004 BMW R1150R and sold it eight mos. later for $1k more than I paid for it, having put 8k miles on it. I'm on my second R1200GS now and average 800-1000 miles a month on her. If I had all the money in the world, I'd still ride the same bike, but would have a dirt bike for serious off-roading.

5String43 · 12-04-2011, 02:12 PM

I'd think you'd want something small and light, like a dual-purpose bike or something. Honda makes a pair, and which one you might choose would depend on how big you are and how much you want to spend. One's the very well-known XR650L, which has been around a long time, and the other is the CRF230L. These are both simple, relatively light, and a blast to ride.

I would not recommend a Kawasaki KLR ("Killer") 650. They're relatively heavy and hard to handle, in my experience.

Ducati Monster? Wonderful beasts! During my seven-year term at Cycle World I did the initial road test on that bike and have loved them ever since - I've owned a string of Ducks. But as much as I love Ducatis, I don't think that's a good bike for someone relearning. Like any sportbike, they're fast and they'll make you believe you're indestructable. Which clearly none of us is.

Most important, though, please, please do take a Motorcycle Safety Foundation riding course once you get your bike. And remember that every single automobile and truck driver is a homicidal maniac who looking for you.

HHI944 · 12-04-2011, 02:28 PM

Bah, to hell with all this pansy stuff, get yourself a D16RR and be done with it!

That shoulda been on green, but I'm mobiles and didn't feel like messing with the colors.
I learned on a Suzuki GS500, cheap, moderate power, stable and easy to work on.

dewolf · 12-04-2011, 02:35 PM

Just bought my son the 250 version of this bike. Made in Korea and Hyosung used to make bikes for Suzuki. In fact the motor is based on the SV650 but makes more power. They ride very well and sound awesome with a pipe.

djmcmath · 12-04-2011, 03:17 PM

I've got a 1980 Honda 400 that's been a learner bike for me, as well as for a number of people I've known. Cheap, reliable, forgiving. It isn't as exciting as a "real" motorcycle," but it's worked great for me.

Dan

Noah930 · Noah930's Garage

I'm also a fan of the SV650 (without bodywork/fairings). The Ninja 500 (or what they used to call them before they stuck plastic on them, the EX500) is another good beginner bike. Or if you can find a Suzuki GS550ES. Those might not be the bikes you dream about owning, but they're good platforms on which to learn to ride properly. And you can usually sell them for about what you paid for them.

Buy used. Avoid fairings (you'll be shocked the first time you price out a replacement panel). There's a high likelihood you'll drop your first bike (or second or third). It might not even be at speed, but in your driveway or at a stop sign when you put your foot down on a spot of oil.

MSF. That's a no brainer.

I'm a proponent of the mantra: Dress for the crash, not for the ride. Proper gear can be protective and tolerable/comfortable even in the heat of summer.

Better/smarter/more careful riders than you have been hurt/killed.

edit: Oh, and I think a 600/620 Monster can be a decent first bike. Maybe even a 750. You'll hear lots of admonitions to avoid the marque because of reliability and maintenance. Ducks may not be the gas-n-go appliances Japanese bikes seem to be, but I don't think Ducati reliability or maintenance is ridiculous, either. Just remember that anytime the terms "Italian" and "electrical" are put together, there's reason for suspicion. But in general a lot of Ducati stuff (just like on Japanese bikes) can be DIY. Possibly the only maintenance issue that is different are the timing belt changes that are necessary about every 6K miles or 2 years. You can DIY, but it seems like a lot of Ducati owners just as soon have their dealers do so. Just like a lot of Porsche owners would just as soon have a shop change out their worn CV joints, as opposed to DIYing it in the driveway. I'd also advise to avoid the plastic-tanked (2005+) Ducatis. Particularly if you're thinking of owning it for any length of time. I think that's a ticking time bomb.

Reg · 12-04-2011, 05:29 PM

Noah

I had a GS550 as well and agree that woud be a good choice too along with the SV and EX500s.

The naked bikes are cool but get one with a 1/4 fairing or something. I could not get over how much difference the tiny fairing the GS had made vs riding the CBX550 I also had that had no fairing. That was a cool bike too.

Reg · 12-04-2011, 05:40 PM

amazing how that small fairing cut the wind.

Normy · 12-04-2011, 05:43 PM

Honda CB-750-Four. Fast enough to get you enthused, but not fast enough to kill you.

I recommend the old CB-750-Four's found on eBay. I've owned two, one of which I kept in my living room in Orlando for 7 years. They don't leak, they start on the first or second kick, they don't eat fuel, they DO collect a crowd when you bring a perfect version to a motorcycle meet, and you can ride the thing 500 miles in one day and not be hurting. I know- I've done this.

N!