The best beginner motorcycle should not be too powerful, too heavy, too tall, or too expensive. A bike with neutral ergonomics will help new riders learn clutch, throttle, and brake control. A small...
Category: Beginner Motorcycles
Choosing the right bike as a beginner rider can make all the difference. It is not just about safety (not riding a bike that’s too powerful), but about inspiring confidence.
Learning to ride a motorcycle for the first time can be intimidating. A motorcycle with a low seat height, comfortable riding position, and manageable power delivery will help you learn faster and make you a much better rider, sooner.
My personal opinion is that a second-hand dual sport is the perfect beginner motorcycle. You won’t freak out if (or when) you drop it, and you’ll most likely be able to sell it a year, when you’re ready for your dream bike, later at the same price.
Finally, and you can take my word for this… it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast, than it is holding back on a fast bike. It just is. And I guarantee that riding hard to get every pony out of a slower bike will make you a much better riding once you get your big, powerful sports bike or adventure bike one day.
Below are a bunch of posts on what I think about various bike models as a starter bike. Happy riding!
The Harley-Davidson Sportster is not a good beginner bike as it is very heavy, expensive to drop, too powerful for a complete beginner, and has very uncomfortable suspension. If you have some riding...
When I was in school, all I wanted was a sports bike like the Yamaha R6 or R1. I remember watching Moto GP and WorldSBK and dreaming of getting a sports bike as soon as I am old enough. Judging...
The Yamaha YZ 125 is not a good motorcycle for complete beginners as it is very tall and the power delivery is abrupt. The Yamaha YZ 125 is, however, a good bike to learn proper riding technique, as...
The Yamaha TW200 is the perfect beginner motorcycle. The TW200's small engine, low seat height and light weight means it is not intimidating for a new rider starting to learn balance or clutch and...
So you are looking for your first bike and are wondering whether a 650 cc is a good beginner motorcycle. I've owned many different 650 cc motorcycles, and ridden many more over the years, and this is...