i'm thinking of learning how to ride & getting a motorcycle, but i really don't know where to start.

i've never rode one in my life, but i want a gas saving alternative to my truck & they're cheap. i want to find somewhere to learn in the area since i don't know any older experienced riders around here. i've been looking around to find what's a good starting size. some places say 250, some say thats too small. some say a 500. theres a nice ninja 250 around for sale:
http://augusta.craigslist.org/mcy/1771355686.html

this is a sporty looking bike, i don't want one thats gonna go 100mph in 2nd gear, but one that looks sporty & i can enjoy. is this a good start? im ~5'9" 160lbs

im more than open to feedback, advice, etc. thanks!

 

depends alot on what you want to do with it. first advice is to take the msf

http://www.msf-usa.org/

course over a weekend. even then you're probably not going to be equipped to battle serious traffic, but it's much better than just trying to learn from a friend, and it might give you an idea of if it's something you like or not.

if you do, you'll outgrow a 250 extremely quickly, unless you're just putting around town.

My first and only bike was a honda pacific coast, which is the most boring bike out there, but I knew I wanted to commute 60 miles a day and they had the most storage capacity, and I drag a lot of stuff back and forth to work.

I'm actually ready to give it up due to everyone around here gabbing on their phones, texting, and not paying attention to actually driving.

 

Take a motorcycle safety course, then you'll know what to expect and learn something in the process.
JMHO

 

thanks, i'll check that out.

and yea, that's what the consensus seemed to be. a 250 is a good place to start & learn. but then after that, it's not gonna get the job done for ya. but i dont wanna start off big & regret that, and have the bike toss me off ya know. i see the jump from 250 to 600.. is there no 400 or 500 in there thats reasonably affordable? thanks guys

 

You will severly regret getting a 250 and if your not being stupid a 600 is a good bike and wont throw you off. Or just do it and get a gsxr1000

 

Do yourself a favor and look into the Suzuki DRZ-400 supermoto. It is an absolute blast to ride cheap to buy (you can find very clean used ones for $3500) and will last a long time. I've owned a few sportbikes and enjoyed them all but a supermoto is just the way to go for street riding in my eyes. If you want to do track days or drag racing then a sportbike would be a great choice. But for something to hop on Sunday mornings and go terrorize the neighborhood with, it's a supermoto every time. What ever you ride make sure you respect it and wear gear.

 

looks like a dirtbike. yea, in SC it's not state law to wear a helmet. i'm like really, it takes a law to make people wear a helmet?!? i plan to be as protected as possible, i like the way motorcycle jackets look anyway

idk what this is, but maybe i could trade this guy my JL 12s for it haha
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/mcy/1784066064.html

 

that's part of the class, but great advice.

when I see flip flops, shorts and tank tops, i cringe.

 

well, i been reading around more & more. so basically what i'm gettin is a 250 is a good starter point, but won't provide you the joy of riding a bike after you learn how. i 600 is also a good starting point as long as its not a super-sport bike. something like a GSX-R right? (which sucks cuz those are some nice looking bikes). most people kept recommending the suzuki 500, or a ninja 600 but not the ZZR600.. sound right?

 

this will make manual f150's day when he sees this post

 

Before I say anything else -- I highly recommend taking at least the Basic MSF course. I think it should be made a law that one should have to pass it to get a "M" endorsement.

I got a Ninja 250R... I love it.

 

yea the 09 ninja up in my first post looks like an awesome bike, tons of fun, & a great starting point. but everyone is saying it's after that that matters. and yea, i'm definitely gonna take that MSF course. there's one here in Augusta!

 

I think you should start on a 250... trust me, a 250 Ninja is plenty for a while. I have had no issues with speed or power of my bike. I actually like how it's doing me well with a nice 68 mpg to the highest of 75.5 mpg. The only reason why you'd get anything higher is to go faster. I don't get the point (let alone the thrill) of why people like doing 160+ mph on a bike. Let alone do 0-60 mph in less than 4 seconds... there's no point.

I see getting a higher cc motor on a Harley is different. They weigh a lot more and needs the extra power to even move. To have anything higher than a 600 cc on a street bike, is just a waste.

My next bike is going to be a Harley cruiser 1200 or 883, but I want to roll some good miles on this before getting another bike. Even if I get a new bike, I'm keeping this one until the engine grenades... and even then, I might just rebuild it. As long as it don't get wrecked, I'm keeping it.

 

i am leaning towards the ninja 250 considering i've never even been on a motorcycle in my life

 

Take the course. Take it easy at first. Wear a helmet, full finger gloves, boots, etc. Dress for the crash and not the prom. Leave the shorts, tank tops and flip-flops for the idiots.