What is the smallest CC motorcycle that can handle the highway?

Question

I want to get a beginners motorcycle that can handle the highway (80 MPH).

Answer 1

Any Honda w/ 250cc should do the trick.  

Answer 2

If you are new to motorcycles and want to start riding, I would HIGHLY recommend an on-off road motorcycle. It would be hard to explain what a blast these bikes are. They are also perfect for new riders

They are usually light and nimble which is not only fun but good on gas and bikes like this that have small motors (250) get more from the motor, because they are so light.

Fixing these bikes is cheap if you drop them and they very tough, more "bullet proof" than standard street bikes. You can take them more places and they are more forgiving because they are so easy to ride.

Once you learn to ride, these types of bike will make taking the motorcycle driving test very easy, and since they are so tough, inexpensive and easy to ride, they are great bikes to teach others to ride without worring about damaging thousands of dollars of plastic, gas tanks, etc.

I've had dozens of motorcycles and I think the dual purpose bikes have been my favorites, even over bikes like vfr's and gsxr's which require more money, care and caution. Currently I have a 'motard', a dirt bike with street tires. I was one of the first in my area to start riding a motard and now everbodies got one because these bikes are so much fun!

They have sold these bikes everywhere from 125cc to 650cc. Sometimes they can be harder to find because they last forever and nobody wants to let loose of them.

Wear a helmet and have a blast!

Answer 3

250cc. Honda Nighthawk or better...Ninja 250.  Assuming you are less than 250 lbs either should serve your needs.

Answer 4

The problem is not so much being able to do the speed but have the stability for 80mph.

For example a small bike such as my 175cc two stroke will run down the highway at 80 mph all day but it is very light. When a semi or other vehicle passes you the wind buffeting can be severe.

Also a windy day will leave you driving down the road at a severe angle and this increases with speed and the less weight a bike has.

Combine a windy day with a light bike at 80 mph and it can be very dangerous-especially for a beginner.

Pick something whose top speed is more than 80 mph. You don't want to be running down the road with the throttle pegged out all the time. If this is the case it will be hard to make 80 mph in the wind or on hills.

I would go with something in the 350-400cc range. It really depends on you and how skilled you are at riding, just remember bigger bikes are more stable on the highway but harder to learn on at low speeds.

Before going on the highway get familiar with riding it. Do not learn to ride on the highway, learn at slower speeds and graduate to slower highways before jumping on the interstate and cranking it up to 80 mph. Take a safety course

Answer 5

You can get a good scooter that has at least 150cc engine, but that's a scooter and not necessarily a motorcycle.

Answer 6

a 250cc motorcycle is the minimum allowed on freeways and highways