What would be a good bike for a beginner?

Brokinarrow · 04-06-2010, 02:14 PM

So I'm thinking of getting a motorcycle eventually. What would be a good bike for a beginner rider? I don't want a sport/street bike, would like something I can cruise on comfortably and ride back and forth to work on nice days. Also, I'll be looking at USED bikes, cheap and reliable is the goal.

Blownhotrodder · 04-06-2010, 02:50 PM

Depends on alot of things, how tall are you, your size, budget, and overall what fells comfortable to you.

Brokinarrow · 04-06-2010, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blownhotrodder

Depends on alot of things, how tall are you, your size, budget, and overall what fells comfortable to you.

heh, see? This is why I ask

Ok, I'm 5' 9", 200 lbs. I'd like to keep the price under $4,000 or so. Comfort wise, I think as long as it's not a street bike, or something I have to lean over/into to ride I'd be good. Something similar to this perhaps

masterofpuppets · 04-06-2010, 03:16 PM

A 2007 used Harley 883 sporty would be a good bike for your size. Don't know what they're running for off the top of my head though. Do not even look at pre-2007 sporties. Carbs and rigid mounted engines = no no

Blownhotrodder · 04-06-2010, 03:17 PM

What is that a kawi 500, cant tell. Personally I kinda like the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 custom like this one.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2008-...item2a06155202

You should be able to find a nice one around $4K or so.

Zeus · 04-06-2010, 03:20 PM

I'm in the same boat. I like cruisers more than streetbikes.

I strongly suggest a Honda for your first bike. Honda Shadow is a nice bike which is comparable to a Harley, except its cleaner, cheaper and more reliable. If you want something smaller, easier and cheaper, get a Honda Rebel.

http://powersports.honda.com/street/cruisers.aspx

Go to the Honda site, pick one out, and then find it used and cheap on Craigslist.

Brokinarrow · 04-06-2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeus

I'm in the same boat. I like cruisers more than streetbikes.

I strongly suggest a Honda for your first bike. Honda Shadow is a nice bike which is comparable to a Harley, except its cleaner, cheaper and more reliable. If you want something smaller, easier and cheaper, get a Honda Rebel.

http://powersports.honda.com/street/cruisers.aspx

Go to the Honda site, pick one out, and then find it used and cheap on Craigslist.

O.O wow, you can get a rebel for around $4k NEW.... think that may be the winner there, thanks for the advice guys!

Blownhotrodder · 04-06-2010, 03:28 PM

Dont go too small on the cc's. At first it may seem ok but when you get better at riding it will be way to weak. Also consider fuel injection vs. carb.

Zeus · 04-06-2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brokinarrow

O.O wow, you can get a rebel for around $4k NEW.... think that may be the winner there, thanks for the advice guys!

You can find them for 2.5k-3k with less than 3000 miles on them.... that's what I'd do.

Generally with bikes, you buy a beginner bike, learn everything on it... get good... then get bored. You sell it. Its easy to sell bikes because of people in your situation.

If you do buy a rebel, rest assured you'll master riding in no time.... but after a year you'll want something bigger. I'd move up to a shadow 600cc+ .

After you've mastered that, you can ride anything.

Dave Coyle · 04-06-2010, 03:35 PM

Too bad you live so far from me, I have the bike you are looking for at the price you can afford. I have a Suzuki Maurder 800. I bought it new in 2003, a 2002 model, it's black and has just over the 10,000 mile mark. I have added saddle bags, back rest, windshield, Vance and Hines pipes and had the carbs re-jet for the pipes. I just put new tires on her last season and put about 600 miles on them. I really have not road it much is why I am selling her. I want $2500 for her. If anyone is interested in this and lives near me, PM me.

Brokinarrow · 04-06-2010, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeus

You can find them for 2.5k-3k with less than 3000 miles on them.... that's what I'd do.

Generally with bikes, you buy a beginner bike, learn everything on it... get good... then get bored. You sell it. Its easy to sell bikes because of people in your situation.

If you do buy a rebel, rest assured you'll master riding in no time.... but after a year you'll want something bigger. I'd move up to a shadow 600cc+ .

After you've mastered that, you can ride anything.

Yeah, good points there. I'll probably do this, my dad actually has a pretty nice Shadow that he rides. Aaaaand now that I see I could finance a new bike for around $100 a month... i might be gettin one sooner than I thought

Zeus · 04-06-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brokinarrow

Yeah, good points there. I'll probably do this, my dad actually has a pretty nice Shadow that he rides. Aaaaand now that I see I could finance a new bike for around $100 a month... i might be gettin one sooner than I thought

pictures when you get it!

Sax1031 · 04-06-2010, 04:02 PM

My first bike was a 2002 GSX-R1000 that I bought a few months after I turned 19. I am amazed I am still alive today. lol

Zeus · 04-06-2010, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sax1031

My first bike was a 2002 GSX-R1000 that I bought a few months after I turned 19. I am amazed I am still alive today. lol

+1

04-06-2010, 02:14 PM	#1
Brokinarrow Drives: 2012 Honda NC700x Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Indianola, IA Posts: 5,317 View My Garage	What would be a good bike for a beginner? So I'm thinking of getting a motorcycle eventually. What would be a good bike for a beginner rider? I don't want a sport/street bike, would like something I can cruise on comfortably and ride back and forth to work on nice days. Also, I'll be looking at USED bikes, cheap and reliable is the goal. __________________ Last edited by Brokinarrow; 04-09-2010 at 04:01 PM.

04-06-2010, 03:16 PM	#4
masterofpuppets Pulling your strings Drives: My girlfriend crazy with car talk Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 1,246	A 2007 used Harley 883 sporty would be a good bike for your size. Don't know what they're running for off the top of my head though. Do not even look at pre-2007 sporties. Carbs and rigid mounted engines = no no __________________

04-06-2010, 03:35 PM	#10
Dave Coyle Drives: 2010 SS , 1970 Z-28, 2002 Avalanche Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,524 View My Garage	Too bad you live so far from me, I have the bike you are looking for at the price you can afford. I have a Suzuki Maurder 800. I bought it new in 2003, a 2002 model, it's black and has just over the 10,000 mile mark. I have added saddle bags, back rest, windshield, Vance and Hines pipes and had the carbs re-jet for the pipes. I just put new tires on her last season and put about 600 miles on them. I really have not road it much is why I am selling her. I want $2500 for her. If anyone is interested in this and lives near me, PM me. __________________ IF IT'S WORTH HAVING, IT'S WORTH WAITING FOR!!!! (AND IT WAS) 434RWHP/403RWTQ Livernois Motorsports 2C Cam kit Kooks 1 7/8 LT Headers/Hi-Flo Cats/Corsa Exhaust Roto-Fab CAI / Port Intake Precission 2400/2800 Converter/3.73 AAM gears Livernois Motorsports Tune Best time: 11.97 @ 117 MPH

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04-06-2010, 02:50 PM	#2
Blownhotrodder Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Clarkesville , GEORGIA Posts: 1,857	Depends on alot of things, how tall are you, your size, budget, and overall what fells comfortable to you.

04-06-2010, 03:17 PM	#5
Blownhotrodder Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Clarkesville , GEORGIA Posts: 1,857	What is that a kawi 500, cant tell. Personally I kinda like the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 custom like this one. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2008-...item2a06155202 You should be able to find a nice one around $4K or so.

04-06-2010, 03:20 PM	#6
Zeus BOOOOOM MF'R!! Drives: to Chipotle daily Join Date: May 2009 Location: Flo-Rida Posts: 3,614	I'm in the same boat. I like cruisers more than streetbikes. I strongly suggest a Honda for your first bike. Honda Shadow is a nice bike which is comparable to a Harley, except its cleaner, cheaper and more reliable. If you want something smaller, easier and cheaper, get a Honda Rebel. http://powersports.honda.com/street/cruisers.aspx Go to the Honda site, pick one out, and then find it used and cheap on Craigslist.

04-06-2010, 03:28 PM	#8
Blownhotrodder Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Clarkesville , GEORGIA Posts: 1,857	Dont go too small on the cc's. At first it may seem ok but when you get better at riding it will be way to weak. Also consider fuel injection vs. carb.

04-06-2010, 04:02 PM	#13
Sax1031 Drives: 2000 Mustang GT Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Elgin,SC Posts: 2,707	My first bike was a 2002 GSX-R1000 that I bought a few months after I turned 19. I am amazed I am still alive today. lol