Shoei is a name synonymous with quality helmets and for good reason: they make some of the best helmets out there; used by professional racers and everyday commuters alike. My first (and current) helmet was a Shoei TZ-R and it has served me well throughout my years of riding. When the opportunity arose to test out the new Shoei RF-1000 I was very excited to see what improvements were made over my TZ-R....read more 
The driveway leading out of the parking lot from "The Motorcycle Man" sloped upwards at around a 25-30 degree angle. I rode the bike up to the point where the front wheel was about a foot from the edge of the road and most of the bike was on the incline. On the S40 I probably could have kept the bike from rolling backwards by either applying the front/rear brake or just pressing down with my feet and holding the bike without applying the brakes. The S50 didn’t allow both options....read more 
The new bike was showing about 160 miles on the odometer at the start of the first weekend of riding, as a result of the three 50'ish mile first impression mini test rides that I'd managed to squeeze in during the previous evenings after work.. Fresh oil had been put into the engine at that early mileage mark in an effort to ensure any initial break-in impurities were removed....read more 
Like a one-two punch I am releasing part 3 of this review just a day after part 2. During this ride Gary throws off his rose colored glasses and looks deep down for any problems with the brand new 2008 Ninja 250. Will these new found 'nits' outweigh all of the benefits of the new ninja?
Only one way to find out!...read more 
Now is the long awaited second part in the 4 part review of the all new 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250. Part 1 was more of an easy going ride, but we all knew that wouldn't last long. For this ride Gary starts to open the bike up a bit more and tests the limits of the suspension. Stay tuned for Parts 3 and 4 where Gary takes the bike to even more extreme lean angles and higher rev limits!...read more 
The 2008 Ninja 250 is the bike everyone is talking about this year since it has received a MAJOR face lift from the engineers at Kawasaki. Best Beginner Motorcycles was lucky enough to catch up with Gary Jaehne, the author of Sportbiking- The Real World: The Advanced Riders Handbook and Sportbiking - The Real World 2: Rider and Bike Tuning Handbook. Gary Recently purchased one of the '08 Ninja 250s and has written a 4 part ride report of his experience....read more 
There are a lot of things that are great about the USA: The constitution, action movies, and our love of all things powerful. Unfortunately sometimes the American way can limit some of the things that we get access too, one being smaller displacement motorcycles that actually look good! The Honda CBR 125R is one example that can be found in Japan, Europe, and Australia that has me wishing we didn't love everything so big 'n bad in America....read more 
The Suzuki DRZ 400 SM is a great performing motorcycle with enough power to be fun on the freeways or in the city. It is geared more towards the street compared it's brother the Suzuki DRZ 400S which comes with nobbier tires and a little more torque. Read on for the full review!...read more 
The Kawasaki KLX250S is a dual sport that does everything well, and if you decide to add a couple modifications it does everything exceptionally well!...read more 
The suzuki DR200SE is a smaller displacement dual-sport that would make a great beginner motorcycle. It feels at home on the surface streets, or in the dirt with a robust engine with enough torque to get you over the hills or out of dangerous traffic!...read more 
The Buell Blast is a very good beginner motorcycle, although it is a tad basic compared to other bikes in it's class. Buell is a branch of the Harley Davidson company that makes sportbikes instead of cruisers. People are very passionate about the type of motorcycle they like, usually they either love sportsbikes, or they love Harleys. That makes the Buell family of bikes something of an odd duck in the two wheeled world. So how does it measure up when compared to the likes of Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki or Yamaha?...read more 
The Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD is one beginner motorcycle that can hang with the big boys. It's powerful, great looking, with a sound to match. Definitely one of the better beginner motorcycles out there....read more 
When it comes to beginner motorcycles, most of them have a general 'look' to them that gives them away as being not as powerful as their 600cc+ cousins. One company that is looking to change that in an amazing way is Hyosung with their sleek and modern looking 125cc and 250cc motorcycles. The Hyosung GT250R looks like the beautiful offspring from Suzuki GSXR and a Ducati 748. The only thing that gives away its displacement is the 250R sticker on the side fairing, and by the styling you may think that's a misprint!!...read more 
If you're looking for a good bike for tooling around town, hold the phone because The Kawasaki Eliminator is the bike for you! The Eliminator offers classic motorcycle styling and an engine that will keep a new rider out of trouble. The small frame and less powerful engine make it ideal for those who predominantly stick to street riding. In addition to the control you get from the lower horsepower, this bike and has a cool vintage look about it. With chrome in all the right places, and the stretched fuel tank you'll be sure to attract double-takes from the passerby. Out of all the features of this motorcycle the best thing would probably be it's seat height. It comes in at an amazingly low 26.8 inches, that's even lower than the Kawasaki Ninja 250 (29.3 in. inches) that is famous for being a bike great for smaller riders. In fact the Eliminator 125 has the distinction of being the smallest production model motorcycle in the United States....read more 
The Yamaha Virago 250 has the classic standard cruiser look without the unmanageable power and torque that a new motorcyclist doesn't need while learning the basics of riding. Out of all of the standard style motorcycles I have to say that I really like the look of the Virago the best. Not only is it small and nimble, but it has a fair amount of chrome on it to satisfy most appetites....read more 
The Honda Rebel 250 is the perfect bike for you if you prefer more of a cruiser style motorcycle instead of a sportbike like the Kawasaki Ninja 250. It is light weight and very easy to handle, plus its relaxed riding position allows you to cruise around all day in comfort. The Honda rebel is powered by an air cooled 234cc V-twin engine, this engine has been around for decades and the engineers at honda have perfected every inch of it. Unfortunately since this engine design has been around, it may look a little bit dated, which can be a plus or a minus depending on your perspective....read more 
The Suzuki GS500 is probably the perfect beginner motorcycle for someone who is confident in their ability to quickly grasp the basic motorcycle concepts. Its a pretty small motorcycle, but its also powerful enough to lug around some of the bigger guys (250 lbs+!!) with relative ease. It gets great gas mileage overall, the only thing that is a little annoying is since it is carburated it takes liberal use of choke to get this bike to warm up on cool days/nights, but after it gets warmed up it is an absolute joy to ride....read more 
Honda Hawk GTI have heard great things about the Honda Hawk GT 650. For an older bike I think it is one of the most stylish with its single sided swing arm and angular features. Although naked v-twins are becoming more popular now, when honda introduced the Hawk NT650 in the late 80's it was anything but the norm. The motorcycle may be 650cc's but it is definitely an easier bike to control than other 600cc+ machines, this is because of the way the V-twin delivers the power to the rear wheel. In fact, some riders have found the Hawk to be a bit sluggish, but for a beginner bike that is exactly what we want. Manageable power in a small package is what the Hawk is all about, and it does it well....read more 
If you want a motorcycle that has proven itself time and time again, look no further than the Kawasaki Ninja 500R. The 500R is the older brother to the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, and boasts a beefier engine coming in at nearly 500cc's. The basic design of the 500R has changed little since it was introduced in the late 80's, but over time the engineers over at Kawasaki have added bits and pieces to bring this classic into the modern era....read more 
The Suzuki SV650 is a motorcycle that is hard to pin down. Most motorcycles that are great for the experienced rider are much too powerful for someone new to the hobby of motorcycling. On the other hand, most beginner motorcycles are too underpowered and veteran riders are left wanting more. This has led new riders buying 600cc+ motorcycles in an effort to 'plan ahead' for when they are experienced. Unfortunately these type of motorcycles were designed for racing and therefore are not very newbie friendly....read more 
The Kawasaki Ninja 250r is the ultimate starter motorcycle for a new rider. It's nimble, light, and gets great gas mileage. Although the look of it may be a bit 'aged' compared to some of the newer style of 600cc motorcycles, I personally think that the bike holds its own aesthetically... especially the 2007 black color scheme. I think you will be hard pressed to find another 250cc machine that looks as good and handles as well....read more 
Practice Emergency Stops:
Go to an empty parking lot and drive 25mph or so and then practice stopping as fast and as short as possible. Practicing these types of stops in a safe environment will build good habits when you have to do it for real.
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