New to this

[bikerbaby]

I'm looking for my first bike...any advice???

[ɹǝʍoןandɹǝʍoן]

I would get something from the late 80's, early 90's that you don't mind dropping face down on the pavement. like a honda cb500 or suz. gs500.

[bikerbaby]

I'm having an issue cause i'm a small girl, it seems the bikes are heavier than i thought.

[Pigman]

Welcome.....ninja 250

[DucDave]

Welcome.....ninja 250

Good start...!

[bikerbaby]

Ok DucDave, calm down! I'm 22 i've riden dirt bikes my whole life, my family rides, yes I've taken the safety course and started riding street this summer on a friends bike. Now I want my own...I've got gear, cost me a fortune cause I neglected to do my research. Thats why im asking for help to pick out a bike

[Stoneman]

Okay. Let's NOT turn this into something it isn't. She asked a simple question and is looking for advice. Can we NOT be COMPLETE assholes please?

[bikerbaby]

Thank You Stoneman!

[Pittenger5]

250 or SV.

[csmutty]

You can ride on the back of my bike...


Yeah but seriously, kawasaki ex250, kawasaki ex500, suzuki gs500, honda cbr250 for sportier bikes. There is also the suzuki tu250x which I have actually fallen in love with. How much money do you have to play with?

[csmutty]

Stoner sucks.

[StrayNut]

I'm having an issue cause i'm a small girl, it seems the bikes are heavier than i thought.

5'0" here. I have a Honda CB-1.

The short bike list - great list for short riders.

Smaller displacement Honda CB's and Suzuki GS's are lightweight and easier to control. Definitely go with something you don't mind dropping.

Think about cruiser vs. standard vs. sport - going for long, leisurely rides? City commutes? Twisties and track days? That would determine whether you go for something low-slung with your feet kicked out, like a Rebel 250, an old-school classic where you sit straight up, like the 70's CBs, or a sport bike where you're crouched forward. I've only just dipped my toe into the sport bike world so I don't know much about ones like the Ninja, but there are plenty of people on here who can tell you all about that.

[bikerbaby]

Thanks StrayNut! I've looked at a few honda's but they're not as "pretty" as I want my bike to be. and I know everyone says get a junky bike first cause I'm gonna crash, but I made it all summer so I like I can handle something decent. I've got $3,000. and I'm not short 5'6" but skinny...seems I need to hit the gym to hold up a bike.

[Pittenger5]

You aint bench pressing the bike. Unless youre like 80 pounds, I cant imagine you having trouble

[csmutty]

You can get a newer ninja 250 for about 3 grand.

[RandyO]

I'm having an issue cause i'm a small girl, it seems the bikes are heavier than i thought.

how small, my ex is only 4-11 tough when it comes to sport/sport touring or standard bikes, there are plenty of cruisers

the bike my ex fell in love with but never could afford was a Ducati Monster 600

before they were upsized to 620, the Monster 600s that were imported to the US were built specificly for the small female market

[Lucas]

Ninja two fiddy.

[SVRACER01]

Okay. Let's NOT turn this into something it isn't. She asked a simple question and is looking for advice. Can we NOT be COMPLETE assholes please?

HI!! are you new too?

[schleppy]

Honda Rebel 250, no question. You can pick them up for next to nothing, they crash really well, are as reliable as an anvil, and are VERY light and low to ground.

Myself and a friend trained a few smaller gals using his Rebel 250. We never had a single issue. It's a very fun little bike too.

[SVRACER01]

another vote for a ninja 250 or 500 here. get an older one. other than the body work they havent changed in like 20 years. get an older one for $1000 (maybe less) and just ride it. this will be a good opportunity to really see if this is what you want to do and help you decide what you would like next. ride it for a year or 2 (or a couple few thousand miles) and chances are you will be able to sell it for close to what you paid for it if you decide to move onto another bike or if you havent completely destroyed it.
im sure you already know this but.......youre gonna drop it....guaranteed. dont spend the $$$ on a shiny new one. it wont stay that way for long. youve ridden dirt bikes, so you know what i mean.

[scubasteveRR]

Thanks StrayNut! I've looked at a few honda's but they're not as "pretty" as I want my bike to be. and I know everyone says get a junky bike first cause I'm gonna crash, but I made it all summer so I like I can handle something decent. I've got $3,000. and I'm not short 5'6" but skinny...seems I need to hit the gym to hold up a bike.

when you say pretty I would specify what "pretty" means because this is according to ones personal taste.

What bike did you ride this summer, did you like it? the way it rode, the looks.

what style of bikes do you like.... sport, sport touring, naked, fighters, motards?

[butcher bergs]

Ok DucDave, calm down!

Don't mind Dave. He gets excited easily.


Good luck on your search and welcome to the short bus.

[FZR]

Ninja 250, Hyosung GT250, GS500, Ninja EX500, they're all tame and lighter bikes that can be easily learned upon

[ThisBitch]

I started riding street bikes when I was 21 as well. My first bike was a Ninja 250 and I still regret selling it. I eventually upgraded to the Ninja 650r, but I would ride my 250 once a week or so just because its so light and nimble.

[OreoGaborio]

I'll give you the same advise I give everyone that passes through my MSF classroom:

1 - it's your FIRST street bike, not your last.
2 - find a bike that fits the "job requirements".

In other words, you're not stuck with this bike for the rest of your life so there's no reason to go out and find the "perfect bike" that you simply fall in love with. Buy a bike that you can EASILY AFFORD, that that INSPIRES CONFIDENCE and that is EASY TO STAY IN CONTROL OF... a bike that YOU can ride, not a bike that will ride you.

If you get too hung up on aesthetics, then there's a good chance you'll up with a bike that doesn't "fit the job". So try and keep emotion out of it. Don't just go out and buy the bike that you think is the prettiest. If you can do that, then you'll find plenty of good choices within your budget.