what kind of bike should i start with

[alamocityskateshop777]

i am a beginner and would like to know what kind of bike i should start with...i have never been on a bike but am going to buy one soon...

[Clint]

Welcome to the forum. A little search goes a long way on that topic.

Click to search

[karin]

Start with something small.... maybe a GS500. I started with a Ninja 250 and then moved up to a Katana 600. Alot of it depends on your size and if you have any experience riding.

alot of people say do not buy a gsx-r600 as your first bike, but if thats what series you want, go with the smallest. if you want an sz650, go for that. its a really nice looking bike. go to www.suzukicycles.com to find out what type of bike you want, then search around... maybe sportrider.com or just around to find reviews of that bike.

[Memphis]

never tryed one but I like the way the new gs500f look. They look like a sport bike but without all the crazy power. I started off with a gsx-r 600. Got it about 2 months ago and had lil riding experience, but I felt comfortable on handling bikes. Year before I was practicing to take my test so I learned how to manuever a bike, but the gsx-r are quick bikes and hard to keep the speeds down with all the power they have.

Only reason I got a 600 when everyone suggests not to get a gsx-r for a first bike is b/c of my $ flow. I knew I needed a bike I would love to ride for the next 3-5 years and I did not want one I so so wanted.

The end result is your choice, you need something you know you will love to ride, not something someone told you to get that that is only so so. You will hate it within a year.

[tlwisner]

Originally Posted by alamocityskateshop777

i am a beginner and would like to know what kind of bike i should start with...i have never been on a bike but am going to buy one soon...

First bike? Small and used. It's your first bike, not your last. You can easily find a used smaller bike, ride it for a year and then resell it for about as much as you paid for it. Insurance cost is much lower, and if you do something bad to it while learning, the $$$ is also lower.

My 2 cents worth...

I liked my first bike so much, a used '02 GZ 250, that I kept it and still ride it as well as my 1000cc non-Suzuki (oops, sorry) bike.

First, DO NOT LAUGH.

Okay. Run, don't walk, to your local Suzuki dealership and look into a Burgman 400 or 650 (depending mostly, on your physical size rather than power needs).

In the last 35 years, I've had lots of different bikes. This one is by far the best handling (believe it, or don't), the most comfortable, and the friendliest street bike I've ever owned.

Expect that cruiser and sportbike riders will think you're gay - and then blast around them in the twisties!

why did they name it the burgman? sounds lke burgerman to me. like a pizza guy would but it or something.

[ZX-10R Urza]

be it was made fo those fast pizza runs. w00t!

I agree. The name is stupid. No doubt. But I got over it after the first ride.

[DrBob]

I agree with tlwisner: buy a cheep, small, very used bike. You ARE going to drop it learning to ride, and you don't want to break you r heart when you scratch up a brand-new bike. You are also going to outgrow any small bike you can learn on, but will not be able to handle a bigger bike you will not outgrow, so buy a cheepy and see what kind of riding you emjoy and do the most: do you carve up mountain roads, cruise to the local Dairy Queen, take long trips, or just ride to work and back to save gas? Until you figure this out, you don't know what the best bike for you would be: sport bike, cruiser, touring bike, or standard.

Play around on it for the summer, and then towards the end of the riding season, when bikes are cheeper, buy yourself a larger, new bike that you will be happy with for a few years. And sell your cheepy for what you paid for it to a friend who wants to start riding but doesn't know what type of bike to start with...

[Dwayne Hicks]

Originally Posted by soad

why did they name it the burgman? sounds lke burgerman to me. like a pizza guy would but it or something.

We have a burger take away here in Pretoria called Big Al's Burgers. A friend of mine (from Seattle) insists on calling it 'Big Gay Al's burgers'...

Sorry - just thought I'd share that with you!

Ta
Dwayne

[Dwayne Hicks]

You ARE going to drop it learning to ride, and you don't want to break you r heart when you scratch up a brand-new bike.

I would like to ask a question. Is it abnormal for me to be a relatively new rider (approx 9 months now, and 4850 miles behind me) and not to have dropped my bike? Or am I just too careful? Or with it only being a 125, and only going about 65 mph top speed with only 11hp, that it is too slow to be dropped? (Always here to ask stupid questions! )

Regards
Dwayne

[bat4255]

Like wasions I have a Burgman, however I started with a 90cc, then progressed to 150cc, 305cc, 500 cc, and 2 - 750cc. machines. I have always felt, start small so when it falls on you, you can get used to picking it up.
I started out dirt riding (guaranteed to fall). At slower speeds it not quit as bad when you fall, and dirt is usually softer than the highway.
You also find out real quick what different road surfaces are like (wet, muddy, slippery, gravel, etc.) and what gear it important.

If your starting out on the road, Get a cheap one 1st.

My son started with a GSX-R 600. I thought it might be too much for a 1st bike.

It did work out, he is carefull, knows "Squids" are stupid, wears the proper gear, and thinks the MSF Classes are great.

Oh yea and in the 1st. week it fell over in a parking lot, broke the signal.

It also helps to be mechanicaly inclined if you you buy a beater.

[Uncle Bob]

Would say that you've been lucky so far. The factors you mention may help explain it, maybe the lighter weight allowed you to save a drop or two by being able to hold it up whereas had you been on a heavier bike it would have gone down.

Then again maybe you're just the exception that confirms the rule.