What is a good, cheap starter bike?

Question

I'm a total newb when it comes to motorcycles, and have very little experience. But I really want to buy one, but dont want to spend more than around $1500. Dont care about looks. What would be a good bike for me? Thanks alot.

Answer 1

Go to any motorcycle dealer and look at the used bikes. Might have to do a little work on them here and there but at least you'll know your bike when something does go wrong down the line. Never know you might find something you love a lot more then all these newer bikes

Answer 2

There are lots of bikes that would be good for a 1st bike.

First it depends on what kind of riding you want to do.  If you plan on just riding around town on city streets, then a 250 is a good size to learn on.  In fact if you plan never to go on the freeway, a scooter would do just fine.   If you will have to do longer trips on the freeway (like, say, a 10-mile commute), then you want something a little bigger, 500 or 650.  If you want to ride on lots of dirt roads you want a 'dual sport' or something like that.

Sport bikes, I mean -real- sport bikes like the GSX-R and CBR and R6, are serious single-purpose machines.  They are twitchy like thoroughbred racehorses. Not good for learning.  But many bikes look 'sporty', are fast, and handle well, like the Ninja, but are more standard, general-purpose bikes, which would be good.  Cruisers are easy to learn and handle because they have a low center of gravity and a low seat, and they are a nice general-purpose bike.

For your first bike you don't want anything new and shiny.  You're going to be hard on your first bike!  Get something 5-10 years old, maybe even with a few scuffs and bruises already on it.  After a  year you can sell it and get what you really wanted, and you will have a better idea then of what you really want.

Oh yes, one more thing.  Make sure you can sit on the bike and put both feet flat on the ground.  Very important.

Answer 3

Go to your local honda dealership and ask to see there used bikes.  A lot of people will get a good starter bike, ride it for awhile then trade it in on something bigger.  The bike is not new anymore but it is really close to it. And a lot cheaper.