Whats an ideal FIRST bike ?

[Galant]

So cool! I've been looking at getting a bike myself. Never ridden one, but here in the USA they have what they call MSF course (Motorcycle Safety Foundation). By taking and passing one of these two day courses you get your full licence and a decent reduction for insurance. Everyone here swears by them, I'm planning on attending one, if they have similar in the UK, it might be a good idea.

I hear that two of the fave starter bikes are the Suzuki GS500 and the Kawasaki Ninja 250 or 500. Apparently it's also recommended you don't start on a 600cc or greater sportsbike. Whilst you might get by, the chances are that it'll be difficult to handle with the bursts of speed and riding position (motor skills not yet developed), and since most people drop their bike once while learning, you risk damaging all that gorgeous and expensive fairing.

After getting a decent foundation on the used bike you've bought, then you can feel comfortable upgrading to something bigger, better and newer that you'll not only be able to handle safely, but less likely to damage.

That's what I hear anyway.

Apparently if you go for a cruiser/standard instead of a sportsbike then you can go higher in cc's for your first.

[RVF500]

I hear that two of the fave starter bikes are the Suzuki GS500 and the Kawasaki Ninja 250 or 500. Apparently it's also recommended you don't start on a 600cc or greater sportsbike. Whilst you might get by, the chances are that it'll be difficult to handle with the bursts of speed and riding position (motor skills not yet developed), and since most people drop their bike once while learning, you risk damaging all that gorgeous and expensive fairing.

Yep, those fairings are expensive. Dropping the thing off the stand in the garage can be bloody expensive let alone watching it slide along the road. Sportsbikes can be a bit single minded too. The CBR600 is pretty friendly but I'm not sure insurance companies would agree. The learning curve is continuous as well.

Reading all this has determined that the race machine needs to be resurrected for this season. It's off for a service for the end of the month then it's back to Brands Hatch to re-aquaint myself with it's curves. If you don't hear from me for a while it means I've high sided out of Clearways. But hey...don't take life too seriously.....you won't get out of it alive

[Rave]

But hey...don't take life too seriously.....you won't get out of it alive

Galant, the Kawasaki Ninja 250 wouldn't be a bad idea as a sub-33hp bike after he's passed his test. Over here it's called the GPX250 though. I'm amazed they still make it actually, they stopped selling it here a long time ago, it's actually been introduced and then dropped twice now.

Rich :¬)

[Devilbod]

If your doing Motorways I would not be sure about anything lower than 250cc, because of lorries and vans, you need enough power to overtake confidently on a motorway because getting stuck behind a lorry or van and you have there slip stream to deal with, it's a problem I still get on long journeys - you get constantly buffeted from side to side and it saps your energy and consentration very quickly - especaily on a naked bike.
So you need enough power to accelerate for 50 - 70 mph fairly fast, 125's can be quick but they do run out of steam at the top end.
I take my hat off to you rich for doing it but hmm the fear...

I think it's better to have the power there and caution youself, rather than not having the power and getting into trouble and panicing because of it.

Everyone drop there bike it the law and I found out the hard way how much faring can be to replace - £300 for really nasty, cheap, wont last a year, to £1000 for orignal parts. There is of course crash mushroom thingys

I'd love to go around America on a bike, especaily to Daytona, Route 66..go watch the Eagles play.