Best Bike for Learning

[littledan]

Hello all,

I'm taking my motorcycle license course in a couple of weeks. I'd like to get a inexpensive bike to learn on for this season. I have already started acquiring gear, and I will be riding with the full setup because I value my life/skin over money. I'm pretty short (5'6" ~145lbs of pure muscle) so I would like something with a relatively low seat height. I've sat on bikes with ~32" seat heights and i'm on my tip toes both sides. At that height I would probably have to one cheek sneak it.

For my first season, I am thinking of getting a small displacement bike, that will be easier to learn proper technique. My plan is to ride that for 1-2 seasons until I am comfortable wringing it out. I wouldn't be wringing it out on the street, but at a track like stratotech if i can find an open lapping session of some sort. I am very inexperienced, having only ridden a small dirtbike that I used to rip around on in the parking lot of my buddy's shop.
Most of the guys i talk to about the subject, keep dismissing my idea of getting a smaller bike and try to pressure me into a 600 saying "oh you'll get sick of a small bike so fast" and "you'll regret it". None of these guys have ridden on the track and I question their actual riding abilities. I have one good friend who has raced motocross from a young age and has done the YSR racing circuit for a year or two. He was definitely supportive of a smaller bike.

So I'm trying to settle on which bike to purchase. The short short list in increasing cc order is the Honda CBR125R, Kawasaki ninja 250, and the ninja 650. does anyone own one of these machines and have any feedback? Will i get sick of the 125 after a few rides? I'm not so much interested in straight line speed, more in learning proper cornering technique, up and down shifts, threshold braking, riding position and hand/foot position etc. I have seen some 125r in the $1800 range which is quite attractive from a budget point of view. My gear will cost me about $2500 so I don't want to rack up too high a purchase price on the bike itself.

Let me know your thoughts!

[Troll-ol]

The 125 are really slow, like a 125cbr makes 13 hp. I would at least go for a 250, unless you're still young/or a woman. For a street bike I would want at least 250cc.

Edit: the 0-60 time for the 125 is 14 seconds, which is so slow for a bike.

[interlude]

get a cbr f4i and lower it

[BrknFngrs]

I vote Ninja 500

[kevie88]

Get a ninja 250. Great little bike! I haven't ridden the new 400 Kawi but I think that's a great option as well.

After 20 years of riding and roadracing/trackdays, I own a 400cc bike! Little bikes are a blast. Don't let people tell you you need a 600+cc to have fun.

[bituerbo]

Get a used 600 or 650, carb'd is better than fuel injection for learning, as the throttle delay is a very forgiving side effect.

I bought my 2006 ZZR600 in '06, and I'm still happy with the performance. If I had bought anything smaller, I would have had to upgrade already.

Next bike will be a 1000... or 848 but that's still a ways off.

[Cos]

If you weight under 175 lbs I voted the 250. If you weight over 175 I say the 650.

The wife has a 250 and she loves it. For me I ride it and it is pretty slow. Still fun as hell though.

[RC-Cola]

I recently purchased a Ninja 250 simply for the reason that i wanted to get back into riding and not scare that crap out of myself everytime I get on the bike.

I'm 6'0 tall and 195 lbs, I've already had the bike on Deerfoot on several occasions and have maintain with traffic no problem. I'd say that I can't rip it up to 140km/h instantly, but again I didn't want that to start.

In addition, there are a lot of them around so I know that I'll retain the value of the bike. If I ride it a fair bit this summer I'll sell it in Aug/Sept and look at getting a bigger bike, if I don't then I'm simply out a helmet and riding gear.

Last thing is buy your gear online, except your helmet. Gear will cost about 50% of what you pay locally. Watch review videos and comments on site, teh community is pretty good about giving straight answers. I'd suggest Revzilla or Sports Bike Track Gear

[Ukyo8]

You'll get sick of a small bike in a couple of weeks, just make sure that you buy a used one so that you can resell it without a loss.

[Cos]

Originally posted by Ukyo8
You'll get sick of a small bike in a couple of weeks, just make sure that you buy a used one so that you can resell it without a loss.

That isnt always true. I know people who have ridden the 125 Honda or 250 Ninja for 2 years now and still love it.

[Ukyo8]

Originally posted by Cos


That isnt always true. I know people who have ridden the 125 Honda or 250 Ninja for 2 years now and still love it.

Do they have vaginas?

[Cos]

Originally posted by Ukyo8


Do they have vaginas?

one does

[Ukyo8]

Originally posted by Cos


one does

That's what I thought lol

Kidding aside though, you can ride a litre bike just as responsibly as small bike, it all comes down to the rider.
Some people are more comfortable with learning on a small bike and then moving up, but I just don't relate because the first bike I've ever ridden was a 1600cc Harley haha
Then I moved onto a 750 gsxr for a couple of months, and then I got a litre bike.

I just thought I'd mention to the OP that it's a good idea to buy a used small bike so that he doesn't take a depreciation hit in case he wan't to move to a larger bike later on.

[Go4Long]

The 250 is the greatest learning bike there is...it's a LOT of fun, and pretty impossible to do anything on it that will make it react in an unexpected way...650's are also great starters. I personally started on a 600, but to each their own.

To throw another wrench in the mix, Honda did release a CBR 250 this year, and if it's anything like the 125 it'll be a great learner...just with enough power to actually go places.

[Cos]

Originally posted by Ukyo8


That's what I thought lol

Kidding aside though, you can ride a litre bike just as responsibly as small bike, it all comes down to the rider.
Some people are more comfortable with learning on a small bike and then moving up, but I just don't relate because the first bike I've ever ridden was a 1600cc Harley haha
Then I moved onto a 750 gsxr for a couple of months, and then I got a litre bike.

I just thought I'd mention to the OP that it's a good idea to buy a used small bike so that he doesn't take a depreciation hit in case he wan't to move to a larger bike later on.

Dont get me wrong I agree 100%. I have had every iteration of bike except a 750.

I guess what I am trying to say is not EVEYONE cares about speed. That is why people still buy scooters, cruisers, enduro's. Some people just like having a small bike and some dont want the speed.

I, for one, am NOT someone who can ride a slow bike. I only take my wifes bike around the community. However it is fun as hell reving the 250 up to 11,000 and still be legal on the street.

[Go4Long]

that's why I loved the wife's 250 too :P you could ride it like a complete asshole and still not be doing anything wrong :P

[Toilet_D]

Originally posted by Ukyo8


Do they have vaginas?

Oh you!

[RiceMonkey]

Originally posted by Cos


one does

No Wonder

[AndyL]

I'm so going to go against the grain here... I've made my mistakes (my FJ1100 is probably still down at the bottom of kickinghorse canyon); and learned from some great riders - and now I mop up 5-6 bike wrecks a night. It's always the same stories...

Crotch rockets should never be your first bike. Why do I say this - because as a new rider you're going to make mistakes. Add lots of power, and some 'nimble' handling characteristics (read instability) - you're asking to become a statistic.

If it were me - I'd be hunting for something like a suzuki bandit GSF - A nice middle road bike. Not much plastic to replace when you do fuck up (and you will) reasonable power, decent handling as you're a little longer with a bit more rake than a crotch rocket. And the more upright seating position - keeps your head up naturally; so you're more likely to actually be watching for people doing stupid sh*t in front of you.

My .02, take it or leave it.

[Troll-ol]

I'm hoping to get a 200cc for my 1st bike, its a 2 stroke so plenty of low end torque. Might not be fast but it will run a high 14 quarter mile.