Best Beginner Bike

A

AlanSmith7

Wannabie Member
which bike would be best for a beginner motorcycle under a 6-7k budget??
A 2011 gsxr 600 around 6.5k, 2014 Ducati Moster 696 around 6K, or 2021 Ninja 400 ABS?

Thanks in advance.
 
AlanSmith7 said:
which bike would be best for a beginner motorcycle under a 6-7k budget??
A 2011 gsxr 600 around 6.5k, 2014 Ducati Moster 696 around 6K, or 2021 Ninja 400 ABS?

Thanks in advance.
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What businesses are in your area to fix each? If there is really great support then try that bike but if there is one or fewer places nearby - skip that bike.
 
Is this a trick question?

What's your experience level? MSF Course? The Gixxer and the Ducati are bikes I would not consider as a first bike or a learner bike. I like the Ninja in this equation, it's more manageable power and has ABS, I'm not super familiar with it, but familiar enough to know it makes a better bike to learn good riding habits on than the other two. JMHO
 
In the UK, unless over a certain age, we are not allowed to ride anything over 45bhp ish until we have been riding 2 years. We have 3 motorcycle licences too: 125cc max from 17yrs, 45bhp until 21yrs, then unlimited if you take the full power test.
When I started riding, we just had one licence for bikes, <125cc on L plates, any bike after passing test.
I'd honestly suggest the Kawasaki to a new rider, they can learn how to actually ride on a bike like that rather than learn how to open a throttle on the straight bits. Saying that though, the Ducati Monster is a pussycat, so would not be an awful choice if you could afford it and the servicing and tires for it.
I'd personally avoid sportsbikes like the Gixer until the new rider has learn't roadcraft and how to ride motorcycles well, it is capable of around 150mph, that is not learner bike speeds.
 
I have ridden the GS 1250 for about 3 years and few cruisers but never been on any sports bike. My main concern is to get a bike for the weekend fun and maybe on-track racing. Ninja 400 with parallel twin and DOHC looks quite a decent bike.
Have few shops around where they work on the bikes and the people there suggested choosing between a ninja or a monster? I visited a few places today and I really liked the Ninja 400 looks and Specs plus this way I will have a little peace of mind that I am not buying someone else problems. :) Lol.
BTW, what would you recommend for the luggage? Is it really practical to put a Tank Bag on a sports bike? would it not be hard to drive the bike as the handlebars are quite low and you have to lean forward to grip them?
 
AlanSmith7 said:
I have ridden the GS 1250 for about 3 years and few cruisers but never been on any sports bike. My main concern is to get a bike for the weekend fun and maybe on-track racing. Ninja 400 with parallel twin and DOHC looks quite a decent bike.
Have few shops around where they work on the bikes and the people there suggested choosing between a ninja or a monster? I visited a few places today and I really liked the Ninja 400 looks and Specs plus this way I will have a little peace of mind that I am not buying someone else problems. :) Lol.
BTW, what would you recommend for the luggage? Is it really practical to put a Tank Bag on a sports bike? would it not be hard to drive the bike as the handlebars are quite low and you have to lean forward to grip them?
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Sounds like the Ninja is the one you want.

Luggage - back in the day, Corbin made some sportbike luggage . Looks like they still do some according to the picture- https://www.corbin.com/product/bags.shtml

There is always nylon as an option too. Saddlebags make refueling the tank easier ;)
 
Go with the Ninja :D I have a soft spot for Kawis, still owning 2 of them. I have a tail bag for my KZ that fits snugly and provides a rider backrest, which is nice, and has plenty of storage space in it.

-John
 
I think we need to clarify 'beginner' here ... having ridden a GS1250 for 3 three years, why are you looking at a beginner bike? Do you feel that coming off a 1250 GS towards a sportier road bike requires you to go for a beginner bike? I'd say not. The transition should be more than do-able. Unless I'm missing something?
 
Riderguide said:
I think we need to clarify 'beginner' here ... having ridden a GS1250 for 3 three years, why are you looking at a beginner bike? Do you feel that coming off a 1250 GS towards a sportier road bike requires you to go for a beginner bike? I'd say not. The transition should be more than do-able. Unless I'm missing something?
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Ya I somewhat agree here, 3 years (depending on the amount of seat time) is plenty to hopefully learn decent riding habits, throttle control, friction zone, etc.

That being said I'd still skip the Gixxer, it's a track bike and the insurance is gonna be stupid high on it anyway.

It's more fun to ride a slow bike fast, than to ride a fast bike slow.
 
My perspective in a short answer on what the best beginner bike should be is: go with the bike that you are most passionate about and which can be ridden safely using a conservative appraisal of your riding abilities.

The longer answer would be a more complicated analysis of various factors like rider height/weight, budget, insurance, type of riding, style of riding, previous driving experience, compentence in similar activities etc the end result is going to be different for each rider's own personal circumstances.
 
Not enough information to answer really. I would ask, why only those few? What is your riding experience? Where do you live and plan to ride? Do you have any ergonomic considerations?
 
I've been riding for about 4 5 years but only the cruisers or Naked bikes and never been on any sports bike. and Nah don't have ergonomic considerations I just want to learn to ride a sports bike for some weekend funs. what would you recommend?
 
AlanSmith7 said:
I've been riding for about 4 5 years but only the cruisers or Naked bikes and never been on any sports bike. and Nah don't have ergonomic considerations I just want to learn to ride a sports bike for some weekend funs. what would you recommend?
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Something like a Ninja 400 or an older 600... something with decent but not overwhelming power, good ergos that fit you, and a dealer network like HippoDrone said. A newer bike with a reduced-power "rain" mode would be nice to get used to before upping the ante with the full zoot.

-John
 
AlanSmith7 said:
I've been riding for about 4 5 years but only the cruisers or Naked bikes and never been on any sports bike. and Nah don't have ergonomic considerations I just want to learn to ride a sports bike for some weekend funs. what would you recommend?
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I don't have any recommendation for sportbikes as I don't ride them. I have too many ergonomic considerations to make it possible or desirable. If it were me, I'd look at a Kawasaki or Suzuki, something that hasn't been too abused, which is difficult. Ducatis of that vintage are desmo and if you don't do your own work, it will be expensive to keep up. For luggage, look at GIvi or Shad.
 
With it being for you, rather then a total noob. I'd say grab a bike with 20-50bhp more than you have currently, with it being a sportsbike, it will be a huge wedge lighter, but you are used to the power so won't be scary, but will be perky! :-)
 
As a beginner, I would go for a bike under 500cc.


In fact, if you are a complete beginner, never ever ridden a bike, start with something even smaller, like a 125cc bike.

However, if you have ridden something smaller before and you are looking for a first bigger beginner bike, I would look for something around the 500c.

I started with a scooter and then bought a CBR500r as my first big bike. Awesome bike for beginners. Plenty of power for your riding skills at that stage.

and now as my third bike, I went for a Z900.
 
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