Chris
So I know that a 250 is the ideal bike for a beginner, but I don't know why a 650 would be difficult for a beginner. Can you list me some cons for buying a 650cc if you're a beginner?
Answer
When I was a kid, there were a lot of bikes around in the under-250cc range. Most of us, our first bike was a 90 or a 125, or a big hairy-chested freeway-legal 150! 8^) Elvis Presley made a film called Roustabout, about a motorcycle bum who joins a carnival, and he rode around on a big, menacing-looking Honda 305! The biggest bike Honda made in those days was a 350!
In those days, they used to say there was no reason a motorcycle needed to be bigger than 250cc! People routinely crossed the continent on them. But that was in the day when US highways were 45-50 mph. A 250 is all the motorcycle you will ever need if you never need to go faster than 50 mph.
Today a 250cc bike is about the smallest you can get (except for a scooter or a moped or something). We get the 'first bike' question here a lot and a lot of people insist you should learn on a 250 because it's small and light and easy to manage. Which is true.
BUT these days most people are going to want to cruise on the highway, and a 250 is just inadequate. A Honda Rebel 250 or Kawasaki Ninja 250 will go 70 mph (on a good day with the wind behind you) but the suspension isn't designed for that speed so the bike is all over the road, not comfortable and not safe. A good gust of wind can put you over one lane, and if there's a car there, you're toast. Plus the throttle is wide open, you have no power in reserve.
It really depends on how you see yourself riding. If you're just riding to school and back, to work and back, and perhaps the occasional weekend ride on back roads, a 250 would be fine. But if you ever want to go more than 2 or 3 miles on an Interstate, you need at least 500cc and 650cc is better.
A 500 or 650 is bigger/heavier than a 250, but I don't think it's that much more. A normal 18 year old could handle it. So long as you can sit on the bike with both feet flat on the ground.
People talk about 'too much power'. But in my mind that's not a problem. The bike is not going to just take off with you like a wild horse. If you're mature enough to ride a bike in the first place, you use only as much power as you need. A little extra, in reserve, is a good thing, when you want to pass someone on the freeway. If you aren't mature enough, you can get your fool neck broke just as easily on a 250.
Anyway that's what I think.
When I was a kid, there were a lot of bikes around in the under-250cc range. Most of us, our first bike was a 90 or a 125, or a big hairy-chested freeway-legal 150! 8^) Elvis Presley made a film called Roustabout, about a motorcycle bum who joins a carnival, and he rode around on a big, menacing-looking Honda 305! The biggest bike Honda made in those days was a 350!
In those days, they used to say there was no reason a motorcycle needed to be bigger than 250cc! People routinely crossed the continent on them. But that was in the day when US highways were 45-50 mph. A 250 is all the motorcycle you will ever need if you never need to go faster than 50 mph.
Today a 250cc bike is about the smallest you can get (except for a scooter or a moped or something). We get the 'first bike' question here a lot and a lot of people insist you should learn on a 250 because it's small and light and easy to manage. Which is true.
BUT these days most people are going to want to cruise on the highway, and a 250 is just inadequate. A Honda Rebel 250 or Kawasaki Ninja 250 will go 70 mph (on a good day with the wind behind you) but the suspension isn't designed for that speed so the bike is all over the road, not comfortable and not safe. A good gust of wind can put you over one lane, and if there's a car there, you're toast. Plus the throttle is wide open, you have no power in reserve.
It really depends on how you see yourself riding. If you're just riding to school and back, to work and back, and perhaps the occasional weekend ride on back roads, a 250 would be fine. But if you ever want to go more than 2 or 3 miles on an Interstate, you need at least 500cc and 650cc is better.
A 500 or 650 is bigger/heavier than a 250, but I don't think it's that much more. A normal 18 year old could handle it. So long as you can sit on the bike with both feet flat on the ground.
People talk about 'too much power'. But in my mind that's not a problem. The bike is not going to just take off with you like a wild horse. If you're mature enough to ride a bike in the first place, you use only as much power as you need. A little extra, in reserve, is a good thing, when you want to pass someone on the freeway. If you aren't mature enough, you can get your fool neck broke just as easily on a 250.
Anyway that's what I think.
First bike.?
Drcracker
I've saved up, and want to buy a cbr 1000 rr for my first bike. everybody I know says it will get me killed since its my first bike. But, I've always wanted one. I grew up riding a bike, I can do wheelies, bunny hops. So, do you guys think I could survive? Also, does anybody know how much insurance would be for an 18 year old with a cbr 1000 rr?
Answer
i ride my motorcycle everyday. as a kid i grew up riding dirt bikes and four wheelers. but even with all the experience it still does not prepare you for what you will need to know for riding on the street. it is a whole different ball game. on the trails you ride more offensively. on the street it is defense. expect everyone you approach to pull out in front of you. expect someone to run the traffic light each time. oh yea dont forget the guy who just about missed his turn. that hurts too. bottom line is that no matter what size or type of bike you ride there is always a chance of getting hurt or killed. the main thing is to be mature with you riding habits. true bikes typically are faster then cars but if you will notice those speed limit signs are for all vehicles. obey them and you will be much safer. just remember defenseive driving. as far as the bike you want. everyone who says you will get hurt on it is probably right. even after years of riding atv and dirt bikes my first street bike was a yamaha virago 250. yes i said 250. and i am 6 ft tall and weigh 210 lbs. but at 100 mpg it was nice. i rode it for a year or so. enjoy cruising and had a great time...but guess what. my friend got a crotch rocket. guess who else got one? ME. it was a katana 650 maybe 600 cant remember now which it is they make. but either way. i rode it stupid. but the funny thing was that when me and all the guys hit the mountains to ride i could still smoke the 1000's. why? cause i could maintain a better speed. there bikes where faster. but they would be going so fast approaching a curve that they would be standing on the brakes as they approach it. i could just roll out of the throttle, set myself up, and then roll back into the throttle and accelerate through the curve while the big bikes are playing braking games. i finally grew out of the crotch rocket phase. now i am on a harley davidson road king. like it much better. carry the tent, sleeping bag, stop somewhere and pick up a chick and take a weekend get away. cant beat it. oh yea, as far as ins goes. my 250 was 125 per year liability. katanta was 800 per year full coverage, and the harley is 360 per year full coverage. my friend who bought a ninja 636. full coverage was 3200 per year. he was 26 and married at the time. so use those numbers to go by. and i am 30 years old now. just be careful and ride smart
i ride my motorcycle everyday. as a kid i grew up riding dirt bikes and four wheelers. but even with all the experience it still does not prepare you for what you will need to know for riding on the street. it is a whole different ball game. on the trails you ride more offensively. on the street it is defense. expect everyone you approach to pull out in front of you. expect someone to run the traffic light each time. oh yea dont forget the guy who just about missed his turn. that hurts too. bottom line is that no matter what size or type of bike you ride there is always a chance of getting hurt or killed. the main thing is to be mature with you riding habits. true bikes typically are faster then cars but if you will notice those speed limit signs are for all vehicles. obey them and you will be much safer. just remember defenseive driving. as far as the bike you want. everyone who says you will get hurt on it is probably right. even after years of riding atv and dirt bikes my first street bike was a yamaha virago 250. yes i said 250. and i am 6 ft tall and weigh 210 lbs. but at 100 mpg it was nice. i rode it for a year or so. enjoy cruising and had a great time...but guess what. my friend got a crotch rocket. guess who else got one? ME. it was a katana 650 maybe 600 cant remember now which it is they make. but either way. i rode it stupid. but the funny thing was that when me and all the guys hit the mountains to ride i could still smoke the 1000's. why? cause i could maintain a better speed. there bikes where faster. but they would be going so fast approaching a curve that they would be standing on the brakes as they approach it. i could just roll out of the throttle, set myself up, and then roll back into the throttle and accelerate through the curve while the big bikes are playing braking games. i finally grew out of the crotch rocket phase. now i am on a harley davidson road king. like it much better. carry the tent, sleeping bag, stop somewhere and pick up a chick and take a weekend get away. cant beat it. oh yea, as far as ins goes. my 250 was 125 per year liability. katanta was 800 per year full coverage, and the harley is 360 per year full coverage. my friend who bought a ninja 636. full coverage was 3200 per year. he was 26 and married at the time. so use those numbers to go by. and i am 30 years old now. just be careful and ride smart
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Title Post: Why a 250 bike for beginner?
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Rating: 94% based on 932 ratings. 4,1 user reviews.
Author: Unknown
Thanks For Coming To My Blog
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