i started on 500 was great starter bike.

 

Though this topic is old there are will always be new riders!
As it has been stated, a lot does depend on the rider. I wanted to ride anything once I became interested and would have settled on for a 250. I read every book and web subject on riding for 4 months and took the MSF course before making a purchase, glad I did! This lady in my class purchased a beautiful Suzuki 750 before ever riding. First day she fell about 5 times and quit!
Once I had the money, I bought a new 08 ZX6r. Guy gave me the key and walked away. I sat on it and thought, what have I done? I was scared to ride home and poked around the lot for an hour! It's now or never! Grabbed my nuts and hit the highway. After five minuets I felt good and made it home safe. That 600 has a lot of ***** if you keep your rev's around 10!
Been riding it about 6 months now. Pulled over once for passing a cop over 120! Never saw him! He only got me cause I was getting off the exit and he finally caught up. He just told me to slow down and left. Thank you Jesus!
I will not lie, that throttle is addictive! I can ride with a slow stride but It's more fun to ride it like like you stole it!
A 600cc is not the bike to learn on but it is a good first or last purchase. I plan to get a ZX10r but will keep the ZX6r. If you want to stay on your toes and like to shift, a 600cc is the perfect bike. It will get out of the way and will be long gone before offending anyone! Thank You.

 

I'll say again (and again, and again, and again)

You'll learn more, learn it better, and learn it faster if you start on a 250. It's slow enough to give you time to think while you're riding flat out. If it's also slow enough to hold up traffic, that's only because you can't ride well enough to move up. You need about 12 months and 10,000 miles on one if you're serious about learning to ride properly.

Nearly all riders who start on bigger bikes, from the two year point and onwards, are simply not as good as those who put in the learning time on a smaller bike.

Rob

 

Besides size; cheap and used is a good starter bike- I must have dropped mine 10-12 times in the first year- somtimes it just falls all on its own........ no really must have been the gremlins
It would have really sucked to do that to a new bike.

 

that depends on a person's riding skill and maturity level.

Used Cars

 

first time rider on his first ever bike = ZERO skill

wanting to get a 600cc supersport bike as your first bike because it'll do 150mph down the road = ZERO maturity level

Personally I wish the USA would adopt the tiered license system that's used in some European countries. In that system for the first year of obtaining your license you are restricted to motorcycles under 33hp...... no argument, don't like it, don't start riding. Over here on the other hand you can be as stupid and retarded as your macho attitude can be the day you get your license. Hence why bikers are not as well liked over here as they are in other countries where people use and appreciate the small bikes.

 

there are more factors than just that involved.

over in europe most places allow motorcycles to split the lanes. since it is allowed it does not anger motorists.

in america a 250cc bike doesn't prevent a jerk from weaving through traffic splitting lanes even when its illegal. it only limits speed.

 

I think it also depends on your size. Me being 6-4, If I was a new rider on a 250, I would look like a grizzly bear on a tricycle. That would suck!

 

i've been wonderin that same thing. I'm lookin to buy a bike for the first time, cause all i've had is a little 180cc Honda. I'm a big guy at 6'1" and 270 lbs, but all my height is in my torso. Figured I'd ask to see what you guys thought on a bike that might fit, and haul my big self around..

 

Honda Rebel or Nighthawk 250 two cylinder air cooled is what the DMV uses here in Albuquerque to train and test for licenses. They get about 70 mpg, and the rebel looks like a little harley, you can get saddles bags and all kinds of aftermarket stuff for them!