[Jeff in Kentucky]

Most adult beginners would be better off with an automatic scooter for safety and luggage space, but our culture is all about bigger and more stylish are better- very few 250cc motorcycles are being sold in the US. This is starting to change some, especially if gasoline gets to 4 dollars a gallon again, like it did after we attacked Afghanistan and Iraq.

Most of Consumer Reports online is by subscription, but here is a short free article:

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/march-2009/cars/scooters-and-motorcycles/overview/scooters-and-motorcycles-ov.htm