The size of your first bike: Opinions, myths and facts.

[flying_hun]

175. First two bikes were 175's. I probably wouldn't suggest a 175 today, but at the time there was a 55 mph national speed limit, and the Washington State Patrol was very enthusiastic in its enforcement. That said, the whole "you'll outgrow it" thing tends to be kind of stupid. Most riders can't get the max out of 60 bhp for more than a few seconds at a time, yet you see posts of people telling you that without 160 bhp you're going to be bored/slow/left behind.

Most riders would benefit from less power, less weight, and more training. Spend the money on more training instead of displacement.

 

[gixxerjeff]

175. First two bikes were 175's. I probably wouldn't suggest a 175 today, but at the time there was a 55 mph national speed limit, and the Washington State Patrol was very enthusiastic in its enforcement. That said, the whole "you'll outgrow it" thing tends to be kind of stupid. Most riders can't get the max out of 60 bhp for more than a few seconds at a time, yet you see posts of people telling you that without 160 bhp you're going to be bored/slow/left behind.

Most riders would benefit from less power, less weight, and more training. Spend the money on more training instead of displacement.

It's so good to see you post, Hun.
I enjoyed our time on the Grief Ride.
PM me if you ever want to head back out there and want some company.

 

[Gary856]

I dropped my first bike (Suzuki GS500E) a bunch of times just learning and low-sided it once. It was a sacrificial lamb. At $1,700 that didn’t hurt much financially, plus a cheap bike like that was easy to sell.

Second bike was a Yamaha YZF600R, third was a Suzuki SV650N. They were moe powerful and more premium in comparison, but they weren’t easier to ride; I was always a bit leary that the bikes might bite me somehow. It wasn’t until my fourth bike (Suzuki DR400SM) that I felt comfortable to really explore the riding dynamics. With its light weight, long-travel suspension and easy power, the DRZ was less fear-inducing, more forgiving and playful, so I felt comfortable taking corners differently on each ride to see how the bike reacted. Rough roads, dirt trails, rain rides were fun on the DRZ. I was able to transfer what I learned on the DRZ to more powerful bikes, including a ZX-10R at the time.

Nowadays I'm always worried about the possibility of hitting deer on backroads, so I don't need that much power unless it's on the freeway.

 

[Enchanter]

175. First two bikes were 175's. I probably wouldn't suggest a 175 today, but at the time there was a 55 mph national speed limit, and the Washington State Patrol was very enthusiastic in its enforcement. That said, the whole "you'll outgrow it" thing tends to be kind of stupid. Most riders can't get the max out of 60 bhp for more than a few seconds at a time, yet you see posts of people telling you that without 160 bhp you're going to be bored/slow/left behind.

Most riders would benefit from less power, less weight, and more training. Spend the money on more training instead of displacement.

BOOM! Absolutely stellar post. I'm going to put that last sentence on the wall in my classroom.

Once again you win teh BARFs!

 

[John2023]

It’s not so much the power as that can be controlled by your right hand. I’d say that weight is the biggest factor.

Agree, my first bike was big and powerful. I can control the power but not the weight.

I've seen folks start on various types of motorcycles from little (Ninja 250) to big (HD and other big cruisers) to powerful (liter bikes, Busa) and those with the right mental compacity, attitude, and common sense tend to do better than the others regardless of bike type. Based on what I've seen over the years, it's not so much about the bike but more so the rider and how he/she goes about learning how to ride.

 

[Tally Whacker]

My advice is this: If you can ride a bicycle AND drive a car with a clutch, you can ride a motorcycle.

Start with a cheap used bike of smallish size- don't worry- it'll take a while to outgrow a Ninja 500 or the like, and by then you'll have an idea where your interests lie.
Used, because it is guaranteed you'll drop your first bike at some point. You may not crash, but you'll pull into a gas station and hit a diesel spill, or a patch of moss on a driveway, or simply forget to put the kickstand down.
Smallish, because picking up a big bike is a real pain and learning on a bike that's responsive to your inputs is a very good thing.

 

[flying_hun]

It's so good to see you post, Hun.
I enjoyed our time on the Grief Ride.
PM me if you ever want to head back out there and want some company.

Thanks. That was a good day. It was nice meeting you.

 

[musiclucho]

My first bike was a Honda XLR125 that I bought from my older brother. I think is not about the size but how much fun and learning experiences you can have with the bike. A decent used bike that you are not too afraid to practice on (including drooping the bike during the process) it is a good bike to learn.

 

[littlebeast]

My advice is this: If you can ride a bicycle AND drive a car with a clutch, you can ride a motorcycle.

Start with a cheap used bike of smallish size- don't worry- it'll take a while to outgrow a Ninja 500 or the like, and by then you'll have an idea where your interests lie.
Used, because it is guaranteed you'll drop your first bike at some point. You may not crash, but you'll pull into a gas station and hit a diesel spill, or a patch of moss on a driveway, or simply forget to put the kickstand down.
Smallish, because picking up a big bike is a real pain and learning on a bike that's responsive to your inputs is a very good thing.

i may be an anomaly. car with a clutch? no problem (from my first car in HS through multiple others up to current). motos? no problem. also spent 20 years riding horses competitively (jumpers). bicycles? don’t have the skill. last time i tried to ride one, i hit a car. a parked car. i have no logical explanation.

 

[Tally Whacker]

You are indeed a special one, LB.

 

[mean dad]

my first bike was a parallel twin '89 kz440. cut my teeth learning how to ride and wrench.

Same.
Well, not same same, I think mine was a few years older than yours. In fact I just found the piston I saved from rebuilding that bike.

 

[Das MotorRad]

Same.
Well, not same same, I think mine was a few years older than yours. In fact I just found the piston I saved from rebuilding that bike.

i just looked and it was actually an '82!

wish i saved my top end, i had to replace the top end shortly after buying it; it would burn a quart of oil every 500 miles. finally swapped after it dumped oil out the breather onto my rear tire as i was entering the freeway. that was an experience! burning oil is okay, pissing oil on the ground? not so much

 

[mean dad]

My learning curve was on the vertical part with that bike.

Put a cigarette sized hole in the piston but it still ran.

 

[Escape pod]

I had to choose between a N minibike (that I dreamed about) with the Briggs & Stratton engine or the used Honda trail 55. I went with the 55. No regrets to the day.

 

[SFMCjohn]

god bless Kawasaki ... holes in the piston and they still run.

my Kawasaki intro to having to work on my own bikes was the EX500 ... I owned and club raced probably ten of them ... my price was $400. I'd buy it whether I need it or not at that asking price, just for the parts.

I rode an EX500 I got for $400 across the USA in four days to see "The Art of the Motorcycle" show at the Guggenheim in 1998. loved that little vertical-twin engine--I'd have happily ridden one around the world with its mighty 30 hp, if I'd ever have found the motivation.

anyway, fun thread. I started on a 50 cc moped, and my first bike I owned brand new was 1340 cc, because I didn't know any better. still own that bike, 40 years later--it qualifies for membership in the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, now.

 

[Escape pod]

moped

 

[GAJ]

moped
View attachment 581757

Correction; John's Moped.

 

[stratslingr77]

I'm curious which fully loaded BMW the guy from the OP bought...if it's a GS, there are worse choices for a first bike north of a liter. The GS has a low center of gravity, fantastic brakes and great handling. It's a very forgiving bike to ride.

All that said, I don't advocate for a big boxer GS as a first bike. But then again, my first bike was a HD Sportster 1200 Custom so what do i know?

 

[SFMCjohn]

Correction; John's Moped.

a fun thing about this thread is how certain bikes crop up ... my wife was a big pre-gen, oval-tube frame, carb'd SV650 fan. She owned several of those, both the naked and the S versions.

and Mr @GAJ 's left-turned BMW K75s continues into the future in the form of that bike's seat now being on my own 1988 K75s, when he gifted the seat to me, golly--maybe five years ago, now.

 

[GAJ]

a fun thing about this thread is how certain bikes crop up ... my wife was a big pre-gen, oval-tube frame, carb'd SV650 fan. She owned several of those, both the naked and the S versions.

and Mr @GAJ 's left-turned BMW K75s continues into the future in the form of that bike's seat now being on my own 1988 K75s, when he gifted the seat to me, golly--maybe five years ago, now.

Too bad I didn't pull the much better leather Corbin with removable backrest off before it went god knows where.

I loved that bike, bias ply tires and all.