New Rider, First bike: Which one??? (Guide to choosing your first ride)

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Thanks for the compliment. I'm very happy with her and get many compliments on the road. Most people have never heard of a Kymco Venox (I hadn't either till a couple of months ago)... and nobody believes me it's only a 250.
Fortunately saddle bags and windshield can be purchased aftermarket, so you could always ad them on ;)

I had a lot of fun riding the Honda CBR 125 at the riding training institute and I'm sure you will have many fun days riding yours.
Good luck and happy and safe riding. :)


skitta said:
Congratulations, Stryker! What a great-looking bike. Really nice pictures. Must admit, I felt a twinge of jealousy ;) I wanted my first bike to come with saddlebags (for all my girly stuff) and a windshield. Hopefully my next bike will. I'm riding a Honda CBR125r right now and more than likely will do so for at least another season. I'm happy with my bike. Just wish I had more time to ride.

Take care, and happy and safe riding!
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Here's an odd notion for you. I AM a race car driver (well, Rally cars technically). I am happier sliding sideways on ice and snow at 100kms/hr than anywhere else. I have won series and provincial champoinships. I have TWO truly fast German sports cars. And track time in them - big tracks - like Mosport. And my first bike? A 45hp dual sport. I KNEW that motorbikes had nothing to do with cars. Maybe being a racer made me that much more in tune with the differences? A true student of driving (and I'm still learning all the time!) can appreciated the difference. And take it easy on a bike. And take training. And buy a learner's bike first.

There's far more shame in buying big, going fast and crashing than taking it slow - learning and being around to go truly fast, safely - when you've got your skills up.

RK
 
Okay so I just got my M1, going to go for the riding course soon, and I've convinced my dad to buy me a bike, him, and some of my other friends said I should start with a 250cc, but I feel like I would get really bored of it after a short time. Now I know it's not going to be my last bike, but I'm 18 and a student, so I don't see myself getting a new bike every few years. I got a jetta when I was 17, and got bored of it within 6 months after doing some 200km/h, so I need something that will keep my interested for at least a few years. I've got my choices narrowed down to the ninja 250 or 400, (i'm open to other suggestions, but i like pretty looking bikes :D) Should I go with the 250 or just go with my gut and get the 400?
i'm 5'5.5 and 130 lbs if that helps, and a girl.
 
A 400cc isn't going to blow your mind that much more than a 250 would. I believe that a new rider would be relatively safe on one. But at your age insurance might be a factor. Look into rates and check the difference between the two. Not to mention the 400 is the same size as the 650R, so we're talking a bigger and heavier bike. Not totally undoable, but again, not as small and flickable as the 250.

And do *not* assume you'll grow "bored" of a 250. There are plenty of 250 owners here who would tell you otherwise. And if going 200+kmh on every vehicle you own is the only way for you to get your kicks, you might want to reconsider buying a shiny new bike only to have it taken away at the roadside. Dad will not be pleased.
 
Well, I'm not looking for something to blow my mind just yet, that'll require some experience or if I stop caring about my life or something. Does an added 50 lbs or so make a huge difference on balance and handling. If insurance rates aren't too different, would a 400cc make more sense because I'd like to move up with the size over time anyway. When you say the 400cc won't blow my mind much more than the 250cc, how much more (or less) different is it, I don't know anyone with a 400cc so I haven't been able to get a clear description of the difference.
 
uma said:
Well, I'm not looking for something to blow my mind just yet, that'll require some experience or if I stop caring about my life or something.
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Fair enough. ;)

Does an added 50 lbs or so make a huge difference on balance and handling. If insurance rates aren't too different, would a 400cc make more sense because I'd like to move up with the size over time anyway. When you say the 400cc won't blow my mind much more than the 250cc, how much more (or less) different is it, I don't know anyone with a 400cc so I haven't been able to get a clear description of the difference.
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Hopefully someone who's ridden the 400 and can compare it to the 250 will chime in here. Personally I've only ridden the 650R, and have butt-tested the 250R many a-times. I can only point out the differences between the two that can be factors in newb-friendliness.

As for whether it makes sense? Only you can answer that question, and it sounds like you already have. It sounds like you want the 400R. Have you sat on both bikes yet? And do yourself a favour and check insurance rates before you do anything else - that alone might be your deciding factor.
 
Well, thank you for your input :) I've sat on a 250, but this was when I wasn't totally into bikes so I didn't pay attention too closely. You're right about me wanting the 400R, and you're right about insurance being the deciding factor! I'm going to have to get some quotes for the final decision:cool:
 
Get a 250 that is in high demand...something that you can sell in a year or two for about the same as what you paid for it. Your a new rider and you dont know the dangers of quick acceleration and high speeds like 200km/h you did in a car. Your insurance will be ALOT cheaper with the 250 during your first year or two. Your a small girl so a 250 would fit you perfect, it wouldnt look too small. oh, and whatever bike you do get, make sure it has some fall protection items on it.
 
You have a point. This is kind of a dumb question...but I shouldn't get a brand new bike right? I just don't want to have any mechanical problems because going to the mechanic is such a pain and headache.
 
Anything five years old or newer you can think of as new unless it's a high mileage bike, then you'd want to see the maintenance records and be more cautious.

Those 250's are pretty big compared to the cbr125, and once you do your course you'll have a MUCH better idea of what you like and dislike. Your inseam plays a big factor in which ride height suits you, as some people have a challenge at stops and starts with bikes they can't flat foot on.

I tend to like riders getting a bike that they can afford, so if you were coordinated and responsible, I would suggest the 400, but if weight and coordination were a problem, I'd hope you'd choose a lower powered bike so beginner's mistakes are more forgiving.

I started on a 500 and thought the acceleration was scary, 10,000 kilometres later I was supremely bored with it, and upgraded to a bike better capable of long distance riding.

Later on I had the chance to ride my first bike again, and found that I was now skilled enough to notice the poor handling at higher speeds. But my first season on it was magical. :)

Wait for the course before you make up your mind. The new 250's are large, and can be a handful. They're tons of fun to ride, even for me. :D
 
Interesting how so many members of this forum literally lambasted me for advising a brand new rider against buying a CBR600RR only a few months ago.
 
stormcat said:
Interesting how so many members of this forum literally lambasted me for advising a brand new rider against buying a CBR600RR only a few months ago.
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What? It's a grey area bike.










;)
 
Rotten_Ronnie said:
Anything five years old or newer you can think of as new unless it's a high mileage bike, then you'd want to see the maintenance records and be more cautious.
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Yeah, I've been looking for bikes that are 2006 and up :) And just out of curiosity, around what point would a ninja 250/400 be considered high mileage...I'm sure it's not the same as a car so I have no clue. I'm actually starting to lean towards the 250, but I'll know for sure once I've done the course and gotten insurance quotes on the two.
 
hey guys...just got my first bike here in canada i used to ride back home and had a few bikes back there but here i decide to go with 07 shadow i didn't go for a big ride yet...got the bike today and rides very smooth...{by the way..i'm brazilian and i'm looking for brazilian or portuguese riders so we can make a portuguese speaking group}but first of all i want to ride...so anyone out there that want go for a ride please let me know!!!!!!
 
The SV650 is an EXCELLENT starter bike. I highly recommend it.
 
AttilaGy said:
Perhaps look at a Honda VFR!!:)
Great ergonomics, you can tour for hours without a break, good power, not as sensitive as SS's and a good realiable motorcycle overall!!
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I disagree, I started out on a VFR and yes it is a great bike but it is alot heavier than a SS. I only rode the VFR for a few months until I was hit by a cager, the following year I bought a CBR1000 and never looked back. The sport bikes are much lighter, more nimble, well balnced, with great brakes and find them easier to ride and for that reason I would have to say that for my first bike I would definitely buy a 600 SS because they don't have a lot of low end power until you reach 9000rpm unlike the liter bikes which just haul a s s from the start.
 
I bought a CJ360T as my first bike. Dropped some weight on it and cafe'd it out a bit. Dirt cheap to insure and it's good for bopping around the city. If I had a do over I'd probably go with a Honda CB550.
 
I bought the new Honda cbr250 this year for my first bike. I have been very pleased with it. Yes, I will upgrade in the next year or two. But I may actually hang on to this bike because it is so much fun to ride. Perfect starter bike in my opinion.
 
Great article....I worked with a girl who bought a 650 Shadow as her first bike...she dropped $10,000 on it and the day she was suppoed to show up to work with it, she called in sick because she was in the hospital. When I saw her at work next and asked her what happened, she said she "crashed the bike into the first car she saw" and wrote it off. She said it was too powerful for her and she couldn't control it. Case-in-point
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