Starter Bike
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,578
Likes: 4
From: Northern California
RE: Starter Bike
The first bike has to physically fit the rider and shoud not be so powerful to get the rider into trouble. A first bike in the 250cc 350cc range is about right. A dual purpose bike is a good choice. You will know within a year if the rider is suited to a larger bike, road bike,dirt bike, or has lost interest.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 11,317
Likes: 11
From: Tucson, Az
RE: Starter Bike
What does he want? After I retired from the real world I had a job for a short time selling Metrics which I really enjoyed. One thing I saw happen quite often was someone buying a 'starter' bike and buying a bike too small. Like a matter of just a few months later they were back wanting to get a real motorcycle. I would be cautious of that when selecting.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 0
From: Hoboken, New Jersey
RE: Starter Bike
If he has never been in control of a motorcycle in his life, I strongly suggest either a dirt bike, or a dual purpose. Let him get the feel for the bike on the dirt where it will not hurt him or the bike as much when he goes down. I would instruct him until he could confidently control the bike in traffic, and then and only then would I put him on the street with it....and even then he would start out on a Sunday in some way out of the way industrial area where there will be almost no traffic at all. Then slowly introduce him to more and more traffic.
He is a young man.....he has all the time in the world to learn and learn correctly.
After he gets his MC endorsement, he should then attend one of the safety courses....like with the MSF.
He is a young man.....he has all the time in the world to learn and learn correctly.
After he gets his MC endorsement, he should then attend one of the safety courses....like with the MSF.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 2
From: Windsor, CO
RE: Starter Bike
Bought my oldest a Honda Shadow for his first several years ago. The middle one got a Suzuki Marauder 800 for his first. Both bikes were good cruisers that were easy on the pocket book. As for a dual sport, I understand your thinking but the type of ride is just as important as having a ride. I ended giving both kids a choice and they both went for cruisers. If the money is the same then let him pick ...
Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 542
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Starter Bike
My first bike was a suzuki gs500f, I rode it about 200 miles before I had to file a lawsuit against them because it blew 3 head gaskets. Long Story... So really my first bike I really learned anything on was a brand new 2007 Sportster I bought for myself. Who says your son has to lay the bike down while learning? Let him learn in style!
Edit: By the way, I was NEVER even NEAR a motorcycle of any kind before I purchased mine. Knew nothing about em at all but I wanted one lol. I have learned just fine on a bike that many of you say is far above what a Starter bike should be? [sm=lildevil.gif]
Edit: By the way, I was NEVER even NEAR a motorcycle of any kind before I purchased mine. Knew nothing about em at all but I wanted one lol. I have learned just fine on a bike that many of you say is far above what a Starter bike should be? [sm=lildevil.gif]
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 15
From: Senoia, Ga., by way of Miami, Fl..
RE: Starter Bike
Lots of good advise so far... I bought my son a Yamaha TTR 125(he was 11 at the time) for $950.. He dropped it a few times, but got the hang of it pretty quickly and lost interest.. So, I sold it for $950 a year later.. No harm, no foul, didnt cost me a dime.. While I had the bike, not only did he learn how to ride fairly well, but so did my wife and my buddy's wife and son. That investment gave 4 peope a little experience on two wheels..
So, when he gets old enough and interested enough, I wont feel as nervous about putting him on just about anything else as a first time bike. Obviously it's going to be different, but he'll have the memory of being able to handle it.. There are several angles to look at it. You could start with a "learner" like the riding class' use, ie: Blast or Nighthawk for less than $3k. But it will get old quick and you'll be looking for a new bike in 6mo. You could start with an old Sportie, great little bike (1200) that's fun to ride. But, they arent made for distance riding and, they will get old quickly too.. I've found here recently, you can get an old Evo for $5-7k, about the same as a Sportie.. Hard to beat that.. There's even a guy on the board here looking at a '95 Wide Glide for$6k..
So, in closing.. I'm a fan of the dirt bike to learn on if you have room assuming you size it right and go with a 4 stroke. If he's timid I wouldnt want to put him on the street untill he was confident anyhow.. You'll enjoy it too.. Then you can sell it and get him a big bike so he could ride with dad..
So, when he gets old enough and interested enough, I wont feel as nervous about putting him on just about anything else as a first time bike. Obviously it's going to be different, but he'll have the memory of being able to handle it.. There are several angles to look at it. You could start with a "learner" like the riding class' use, ie: Blast or Nighthawk for less than $3k. But it will get old quick and you'll be looking for a new bike in 6mo. You could start with an old Sportie, great little bike (1200) that's fun to ride. But, they arent made for distance riding and, they will get old quickly too.. I've found here recently, you can get an old Evo for $5-7k, about the same as a Sportie.. Hard to beat that.. There's even a guy on the board here looking at a '95 Wide Glide for$6k..
So, in closing.. I'm a fan of the dirt bike to learn on if you have room assuming you size it right and go with a 4 stroke. If he's timid I wouldnt want to put him on the street untill he was confident anyhow.. You'll enjoy it too.. Then you can sell it and get him a big bike so he could ride with dad..
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 408
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Starter Bike
I also think the first bike should fit the rider.
My oldest son is 6'2 and weighs 250 or a little better, for his firts bike we got a Honda 750 Magna. Made him ride it around in the back yard for three or four days doing donughnuts and figure 8s to get use to riding. Second reason was so if he dropped it it would be on a soft surface. Bike fits him well, he likes it but is thinking of getting a bigger cruiser, and at his size he can easily handle it.
Youngest son is 5'8 and barely a buck 30, he got a Kawasaki Ninja250. Wife and I tried to tell him it was too small,and to get a Honda Rebel 250.Then if he outgrew it my wife would buy it from him and she would keep it. He absolutly had to have the Crotch Rocket styleand insisted he wouldn't want bigger becausetheNinja will run over 100MPH and he wouldnt want anything bigger for a long time. That was in Jul or Aug, now he is mad because he wants a bigger bike and I am not in a hurry to go help him trade it in, and by the way his momma dont want a Crotch Rocket.
My oldest son is 6'2 and weighs 250 or a little better, for his firts bike we got a Honda 750 Magna. Made him ride it around in the back yard for three or four days doing donughnuts and figure 8s to get use to riding. Second reason was so if he dropped it it would be on a soft surface. Bike fits him well, he likes it but is thinking of getting a bigger cruiser, and at his size he can easily handle it.
Youngest son is 5'8 and barely a buck 30, he got a Kawasaki Ninja250. Wife and I tried to tell him it was too small,and to get a Honda Rebel 250.Then if he outgrew it my wife would buy it from him and she would keep it. He absolutly had to have the Crotch Rocket styleand insisted he wouldn't want bigger becausetheNinja will run over 100MPH and he wouldnt want anything bigger for a long time. That was in Jul or Aug, now he is mad because he wants a bigger bike and I am not in a hurry to go help him trade it in, and by the way his momma dont want a Crotch Rocket.
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