Yet another First Motorcycle Question...?

Question

I'm 5'11", 215 lbs, Just finished the MSF course in Florida, my only bike experience was in class, I'm now looking for my first motorcycle...(Cruiser style)

EVERYBODY has a different opinion on what a first motorcycle should be. All salesmen from the dealers I've gone to plus two "ol'timers" I personally know who are daily riders insist I'll be unhappy and bored on anything less than 1000cc. My MSF instructor advises a 600-800cc range bike, and most of the internet advises 125-500cc range for beginners. The kick in the *** comes from the lack of meaningful data that is communicated when we speak of motorcycles in mere cubic centimeters of displacement.

In my research, there isn't an exact linear relationship between CC's, weight, HorsePower, and Torque. ie a CBR600RR can and will get me in trouble faster than a Vstar1100 according to its physics. Can anybody help me make sense of all this information? My fav bike is the VTX 1300@57 hp, and 74 ft.lbs. Torque, 650 lbs.

Answer 1

Go with what fits you.

They make screaming fast 650 class bikes, you a big guy, and you may find a cruiser the way to go.

Answer 2

sounds like you know what you like,go for it .

using numbers to decide what kind of bike you like is like trying to use a geometrical formula to determine what shape of woman you like.  you just know it when you see it.

stop all the over analyzing & mental masterbation. no one can tell you what you like & if you play with your mind too much it will go off on you.

Answer 3

You want the lowest weight. This is what a new rider should look for. Not horsepower, not torque.

With that being said you want a Ninja 250R.

Ideologically this is the best bike but some people convince themselves, like salesmen, that they need a bigger bike. Maybe bc everyone else is on a bigger bike. Not the case. You need to do the speedlimit, that's it. And that Ninja 250R will do 110 mph. A 1000cc bike will take your wallet out to eat, not pay for the bill, slip it a sleeping pill, then murder it (your wallet) on insurance costs. lol.

Answer 4

The answer is get wht you want...you dont have to start on a 125 if you have self-control....if you are a daredevil you may not want the gsxr1000 as it goes 102mph in first gear....You will only get in trouble if you decide to! I have been pulled over on my 1000 several times, the cops were even nice enough to close the road for me to get my attention because I couldnt hear them behind me, but as long as you like what you get and can respect it get what you want.