What size bike shoud a newbie buy?

[billythefish]

i met a guy at the isle of man TT last year who was in a wheelchair. he had sold his duc 916 and bought a WR400 enduro bike as he thought it would be safer.  in the first week of owning it he went over the bars whilst offroading and broke his neck.  

whatever size the bike, people that try to run before they can walk will mess up.  

to learn all basic bike skills in a short time you cant beat a supermotard imo.

[snofrog]

to learn all basic bike skills in a short time you cant beat a supermotard imo.

can you get one of those with a b 12 motor in it ? might be fun M

[billythefish]

not quite   , but KTM are bringing out a 900  

[Red01]

not quite   , but KTM are bringing out a 900  

Actually, it's a 950... same engine as the 950 Adventure.

[NHBubba]

Right on! I started on a '78 Honda Hawk 400, which is actually listed as a recommended starter bike on one of those links. The thing was slow as molases, and about as high performance as my bum! But it was a helluva lot of fun and a great learner-bike.

I never took the MSF or anything like that. I was taught by my father and later got some additional pointers now and then from his friend, who has since become an MSF instructor. I don't know why I didn't go for the MSF, but the idea just didn't occur to us then. At the ripe age of 16 I just about aced my NH state licensing test (not hard thing to do). While there I watched guys twice my age and size flunk left and right on bikes they had no business riding. One was on a Kawi 900cc sport bike. He was a Navy kid from the local base (we got talking while waiting for the proctor). I felt bad for him, but he just couldn't handle the bike. He really had no business being on it..

Fast forward a few years. I'm up at the DMV getting my license renewed. In the interest of avoiding work for a little longer I wander out into the parking lot and watch the latest batch taking their tests. Lined up are half a dozen guys, mostly late 20's and early 30's, mounted on heavy 'power-cruisers' or big-buck sport bikes.. all are having trouble w/ the test, some are failing. Next up this kid who couldn't have been more than 16-17 years old rolls through the grid on his ratty, ugly dual-sport. The kid aces the test, makes it look easy. Near the end the proctor turns to the crowd watching and comments "Now that folks, is how it's done!" ... Kid musta felt like a million bucks. He was mounted on a bike he could handle and was ready to prove it!

A guy on another forum I frequent just announced the other day that he bought himself a brand new R1. He doesn't have his license yet and hasn't even done the MSF. (Fortunately we convinced him to sign up ASAP.) The poor kid had to suffer through a page or so of "Bad move kid" and "Sell it before you kill yourself kid" comments. These bikes really should be taxed or something.. some way of discouraging their sale!

[jwalters]

Unless you are over 6'3" tall or are extremely overweight (meaning well over 300lbs), even the smallest 250cc motorcycle will be able to accommodate you without difficultly. To provide an example, the Ninja 250R has a load limit of 348 pounds. That is more than sufficient to accommodate a heavier rider in full gear and still leave plenty of space for cargo in tank, tail and saddle bags. Or enough to allow two-up riding between two average weight individuals.

The idea that bigger riders need bigger bikes is almost laughable. It's like saying small drivers need Honda Civics but bigger drivers only 100 pounds heavier need to drive Hummers to get around. Or Corvettes with plenty of power to pull their ample frames, as the analogy goes. It is only because of the small physical size of bikes compared to their users that this train of thought even exists. It simply doesn't hold up to scrutiny. A look at any motorcycle owner's manual will confirm that for you.

My first motorcycle was my B12.  I've felt comfortable on atvs, 3 wheelers, and such since I was a little kid working on a farm.  I think mental maturity is the most important factor, when considering weather or not one can handle a larger bike or not, and those of us who grew up on these sort of vehicles may take to motorcycles faster.

I take issue with the argument that larger people (weight-wise) don't need bigger bikes.  I agree with the author that height is more of a consideration than weight, and being 6'8" and 300lbs, I suffer from both extremes.  I feel this makes me a good judge in this case.

I have ridden a Ninja 250R as the author mentioned above, and I have bottem the darn thing out on reletively good roads.  So I disagree with his statement.  

What the author fails to point out is that usually larger bikes have beefier stock suspension and tends to compensate for heavier riders.  He also hasn't made the connection between frames seat height and engine size.  Unfortunately, the two seem to go hand in hand.  Usually, the larger the CC's the larger the frame and/or seat height.

Also, IMHO, larger riders can get away with man handling a larger motorcycle once in a while, should a potential tip over occur.

It is too bad, that the American market doesnt support more street bikes in the 250CC - 600CC range.  The japanese market is strong in this area, but the number of American bikes in this engine size seems to be shrinking.

Oh ya, for the record, I don't fit well in Honda civics, but I would drive one if I could get my legs around the steering wheel, man they get good milage!  I also wish I still had my honda helix!  Man, that was a ride!
jesse