Thinking about buying a motorcycle?
A lot has been said about what motorcycles are good for beginners and which ones aren't. We find that many people can be confused by this. Rather than throw out a list of "good and bad bikes for beginners", we thought we'd explain some of the reasoning behind what distinguishes good and bad beginner bikes. There are four basic issues to address: Engine size, weight, seating position, bodywork.
Engine Size
Many people are fond of saying that a motorcycle is not appropriate for beginners if it has an engine larger than a certain number of CCs. While we feel there is some truth to that, it is misleading. The reason behind this rule is simple: a motorcycle that is too powerful can literally "get away" from a beginner if they accidentally jerk the clutch or throttle. Likewise, sudden acceleration can startle the rider and thereby cause them to loose control. Therefore, we suggest the key is to avoid excessivley FAST motorcycles as opposed to ones with large engines. For example, a modern 600 CC Sport Bike can make close to 100 horsepower (if not more) and will weigh about 400 lbs. That gives it an acceleration capability that is many times higher than even the best sports car. On the other hand, a 750 CC cruiser would probably have half the power (if that) and might weigh 50% more than a sport bike. Even though the cruiser has a "larger" engine CC-wise, it is far less "accleration potential". Another example is among bikes of the same class. Consider the difference between a Kawasaki Ninja 500cc and the 600cc. The 500cc is a very mild mannered motorcycle that would be excellent for a beginner. It makes well under 50 HP and has a comfortable, beginner-friendly seating position. The 600 is geared towards professional racing, and has a much more powerful engine. Even though the engine is only a little bit bigger, the bikes are totally different. For these reasons, we suggest that what you be careful about when buying a beginner bike isn't so much engine size in CCs, but horsepower--and espeically horsepower with respect to weight. We think the following guidelines are appropriate:Standard Motorcycle
Any engine size should be acceptable
Sport Bike
No more than 500 cc. 600's and larger are really just street-converted race bikes and are not good beginner material.
Sport-touring
Many sport-touring bikes are really sportbikes with different bodywork added. Be wary. We suggest avoiding any sport-touring bike with the exception of base models--and only if you feel confident about your riding skills.
Cruiser
Most cruisers are mild mannered and any engine size up to about 800 ccs or thereabouts are generally manageable by beginners. The heavy weight of crusiers helps to offset their tendendency towards higher engine displacements.
Touring Bikes
Touring bikes fall into the same category as cruisers. We feel that touring bikes 800 CCs and under would be acceptable for most beginners.
Weight
There is a great deal of variance in the weight of motorcycles and this is very pertinent to beginning riders. The reason is simple: if a beginner doesn't balance or lean properly, how easy is it to correct that mistake and avoid an accident? It is significantly easier to correct the lean of a 350-lb standard than it is to muscle a 800-lb Harley. Lighter bikes can brake more quickly, and are generally easier to manuever around obsctacles. Light motorcycles are also easier to handle in parking lots, when loading into trailers, etc. The only bikes that tend to violate the weight principle are large cruisers and touring bikes. If you are looking for a cruiser or touring bike, then we suggest you avoid anything heavier than 600 lbs.
Seating position
Different types of motorcycles are designed for different uses, and their ergonomics reflect this. Sport bikes are made to go fast and handle well. Their seating positions are geared towards this--they hold the rider low to the body of the bike in a "tucked" position. While this is great for sport riding, it is fatiguing and is very much not suited to longer trips. On the other hand, most standards and crusiers have a much more upright riding position. This puts far less strain on the body and is much better suited to beginning riders. The drawback to this open, upright seating position is that wind blast becomes extreme when riding at freeway speed. This can make the ride uncomfortable. If you intend to ride on freeways often, invest in a windscreen.
