I'll suggest my opine, even thou you slab riders will not agree. Get him a used cheap plated dirt bike and make him ride it in sand until he is good at it. Say a drz400.....cheap and easy to mod to make 45hp at less than 300lbs.

After that, any bike is easy.

 

On the contrary, I think you are 100% correct FM. I think all my years of dirt are what gave me an edge on the street. Kids without dirtbikes....now that is just wrong!

 

I started on dirt bikes at around 14 and while I agree that it gives a good grounding in how to control a bike, I'm not convinced that it's necessary to be good on the street. It helps most if you ride a lot in the wet or on poor surfaces. Cornering and braking techniques are quite a bit different.

That apart, it doesn't solve this kids issue of needing transport.

Rob

 

Personally I prefer a dirt (dual-sport) bike aroiund town. A road bike if he is going to tour or do distance.

 

I started out on a 250 at 18 years old and rode it for one season. I laid it down not going around 30 in shorts and a t shirt, but I was wearing my gloves and a helmet.



That is the result of the wreck, not a whole lot of damage but still enough make you think as to if this were to happen to your son on a 250, you would know the bike at most can't go faster than his car(most likely). However if you let him start out on a 500 or 600 the results could be a lot worse.

It's just like everyone here is saying, it takes self control to ride a bike the way you should. The engine size doesn't really change whether or not you have self control, but it does limit how fast you can go.

Start him out on a 250 for at least a year and then after that if he or you wants to sell it to get a bigger bike then do so. I don't regret starting out on a 250, but I know if I started out on the 750 I have now I probably wouldn't be posting here.

For me, the difference between this;




and this



is the body style. The only reason I have the size of a bike that I do is because I like the way it looks. The kind of bike that you start out on has to do from my perspective as whether or not your son has enough self control to operate a 650 as his first bike. If he doesn't then start him out on a 250, because it will save money regardless =)

Hope you got some further insight from my babbling.

 

That was some good babbling metalcore.

I will reiterate that once anyone is in "class with a bunch of hot heads, nothing can happen to them attitudes and work on bikes", that peer pressure is dangerous. You may know your son, but it is his choice in how he interprets the lessons that were taught by the family and life itself outside of the family. I can babble too metalcore

 

Another vote here for the 250. And, I will add the 500 has more power than you would think. But its another one of those good starter bikes, lightweight and lower power. I agree with the peer pressure statements too. That is one of the biggest problem with a young rider is his buddies telling him to go faster and that bigger is better. I started on a Honda XL100S dual purpose and I'm really glad I did. I crashed that bike and all I had to do was replace the clutch lever.

 

make sure he wears his gear. i had a 500 last season and ride a 650 now.

 

I just started riding last April and never rode before that. I got the 650r. I am glad I did. I plan on keeping it for 2 more years before maybe upgrading. But the thing about the 650r is that it was great to learn on, and now that I have some experience, it still excites me. It has enough power to please.
I am in my 30's though, so I am more tame than what your boy might be.
GL!

 

250 will be too small!! 500 is just right. That is what my 19 yro started out with for his first bike. He traded up recently, really didn't NEED to, just wanted to.

I now have it for sale in the Classifieds/Trade section of this forum.
https://www.kawasakiforums.com/forum...t.php?p=359432

PS - No matter what size bike he gets, ATGATT (all the gear all the time) is essential!!!! Full face helmet, good boots to protect ankles, good gloves with armor, armor pants, armor jacket. No excuse not to wear it, ever!

My son on his new bike on a ride with me: