Rookie Rides

Purchasing your first bike can be a nerve-wracking experience. You want to get a bike that you feel comfortable riding and handling, but not something so basic that you’ll get sick of it quickly.

Two very important things to consider when purchasing your first bike are weight and seat height. In terms of bike weight, you want something that you can easily maneuver and learn to balance and handle well. A bike that’s too heavy is harder to brake and accelerate, and is not as easy to balance. On your first bike you want a seat height that allows you to be able to touch both feet on the ground when stopped. While some more experienced riders may only use one foot to balance, starting out you want both feet able to reach the ground. This will also give you more stability and help with balance.

Of course, there are very different styles of bikes available, which make choosing the perfect one even more difficult.

Cruisers, such as the Yamaha Virago 250 or the Kawasaki Vulcan 500, are for more relaxed rides. While these bikes may be more popular among the older crowd, mid-sized cruisers are perfect to learn on, and are affordable. Most cruisers have a low seat height and are easy to maneuver. These bikes are very versatile and good for long or short rides, highway or city driving.

Standard bikes are popular due to their comfortable position and versatility. These bikes are a little “cooler” than cruisers, but not quite as fast as the sportbikes. A good standard bike is the Honda Nighthawk 250 or the Suzuki TU250. Some standard bikes can have a little too much horsepower though for rookies, so be sure to investigate before you buy. A bike with 250cc or less is probably a good place to start.

Touring bikes are great for long distance rides and are very comfortable, but are not great bikes for beginners. These bikes, including the Yamaha FJR 1300, can be heavier and more powerful than other bikes. These bikes are heavy, expensive, and hard to maneuver, making them a bad choice for beginners.

Finally we have sportbikes. These bikes are popular among younger generations and are built with speed in mind. Sportbikes are very lightweight, but are extremely powerful, and can make riding unpleasant for those who are not experienced. In addition, many sportbikes can become costly, even to replace parts. If you’re looking for a rookie sportbike, check out the Kawasaki Ninja 250R.

These few ideas should get you started on your big purchase. Over the next few weeks we’ll go over different beginner bikes in depth, highlighting the pros and cons of each one. If there’s a particular bike you’re considering that you would like an opinion on, let us know!

-Julie