SPORTBIKE Motorcycle easy driving-safety?

Question

My question is regarding how easy it is to drive a sportbike.

My son who is 19 years old wants to buy a sportbike. His choice is a Yamaha 250 I think.

My worry is that one time many years ago, he tried to ride a 1982 around that DIRT BIKE. It was a choke one where you had to kick start it, then hold down the throttle, and then slowly release it. If you released it to quickly you would pop the front end tire, and that's what happened to him, and he got hurt. It was on dirt so he got scaped up good, and damaged the bike which wasn't his.

My question is are these SPORTBIKES easy to ride? is the popping the clutch possible with these?

Any idea for good cheap sportbike that i'm sure would be riden often.

Thanks!

Answer 1

it takes a lot of effort to make the front end come up on it, yes if u take it to its rev limiter and drop the clutch it will come up. Most all sport bikes ride like a peddle bike vs. the swaying dancing motion of a cruser under u

sportbikes have stiffer shocks and won't pop wheelies with just a roll on gas tech till u get to the 600+cc supersports

owner of 1996 250 ninja 2005 ninja 500 and 2008 zzr600

find a 2008 or older "no reason to learn with brand new"

Answer 2

Bikes should always be shown respect and caution.  Now days bikes are generally all electronic start unless your getting a decently older used bike.  A 250 is a great starting size for beginners and lighter people.  The only concern for an accidental wheelie would really be caused from a miss shift to a lower gear at high RPMs.

Answer 3

Simply to add onto what other have recommended, sportbikes are designed with greater performance in mind (obviously) so their limits are wide and they are supremely capable with turning, stopping, and going.  "Cruisers" and tourning bikes have very confined limits and they don't do those basic things as well.  That all being said, you can exceed a sportbike's far-away limits because it gets to them faster while you can exceed a touring bike's limits quickly because their just so tight.  Popping the clutch is the least of his/your worries.  All-in-all you gotta respect them all like you would respect a firearm.

He will indeed strike to move up from a 250 in a very short period of time if he's like any red-blooded american youth.  Opening the door to the 250 is opening the door to everything else at some point, it's only a matter of time.  The quote "a 250 is the safest motorcycle in the world; it can just barely kill you" comes to mind but he's an adult now too so let's all cross our fingers -- we were all there at some point too and I'm still typing this message.

QFT:  Please get him into a MSF safety course.  It could make all the difference in the world for both of you.

Answer 4

first... it seems if he is coordinated, he can ride a sport bike. the choice of a 250 is good, a little small without much power, but a very good bike to learn on. just expect him to want a bigger bike in about a month cause all the other bikes will be bigger/faster, etc.

wheelies.... well, every bike can do wheelies. if he takes the rpm's up and lets the clutch go, expect the bike to come out from underneath him. with that said

GET HIM INTO A MSF SAFETY CLASS.

they will teach him all about the bike and what the controls are and how to do the basics. this only makes sense.

now for the bike, there are plenty of used bikes out there for him. 250, like i said is the best to learn on, but he will quickly want something bigger. i would suggest going with an old 600, or a ninja 500. they will be good and they will have plenty for him for years to come. plus, any bike will go fast enough to kill you. that's why you need to get him into the safety classes.

but biking is fun, and safe (if you are safe) and they get great gas mileage....

have fun and good luck