Starter bike

[lugnut]

My son is going to be in California this summer and is interested in learning to ride. He's 24, 6', 160 #. I think 250cc's is reasonable for a first bike and am putting some feelers out to see if there are any good deals on a used 250 of any sort.

I'll check craigslist when he gets here.

Anyone think he should start out on something else? he was thinking smaller, I told him he'd be fine with a 250 and it would have enough power for some freeway riding, which a smaller bike could find problematic.

[elfboy]

I'd not dip below a 250 for safety reasons actually (highway etc...). I generally recommend older 500s as starters for folks

[wackyiraqi]

Kawi EX500
Suzuki GS500
Kawi ER-6N

Maybe an SV650, but the inline twins are a lot more predictable and n00b-friendly than the V.

[twostroke]

I generally recommend older 500s as starters for folks[/quote]. He can use my cr500.

[seric]

I highly recommend ex250's. They are fun fucking bikes, even when you're done learning on them. They made them unchanged until recently for almost 20 years so parts are a non issue. And everyone I know who's owned one, wishes they kept it. You can learn riding techniques on a 250 at low speed which you need to be going much faster to duplicate on a larger bike.

That's my argument for 250's. Specifically EX250's. No one I know who I've convinced to buy one has regretted it. I wish I had one in my garage.

[epim]

Ive made noise about wanting an ex250 myself, I just havent figured out how to make my legs fit yet.

[Jeremiah]

I have to agree here... the Ninja EX250 is one hell of a bike. Quick, responsive and you can beat the crap out of it and it still starts. Get a used one and there's still tons of parts for them out there. I think it also gets 1.8 bazillion miles to the gallon!

Later