[BRWSaver]

Well, I’m new to this forum, but I’ve been riding for years. I did use some info gleaned here, and some of my own knowledge, in a blog I wrote recently for Savings.com:

http://www.savings.com/blog/post/Join-the-Motorcycle-Club-Tips-for-Transitioning-from-Four-Wheels-to-Two.html

I’d love some input as far as the bikes, and techniques I recommended, from some folks who are a little closer to their first time. Feel free to post here, or on the blog (which requires you register, sorry). I will add any suggestions I get here to the blog myself.

Woody

[WeaponZero]

I have to say the naming of the Kawasaki ZL600 Eliminator as a beginner bike wasn’t the best idea. It’s a cruiser yes but its’ powered by a “retuned for midrange” version of the original Kawasaki Ninja ZX600 sportbike engine. It is NOT a beginner bike. Also, finding a used NT650 Hawk would be like winning the lottery. They were only made/sold for like 3 years back in the 80s and there are so few around today they’re practically collector’s items.

[CBBaron]

I think you may want to add the supermotos like KLX250SF, WR250X and DRZ400SM and probably thier dual-sport equivalents. They are a little more expensive than some of the other styles but they are light, easy to handle, and dropping one results in minimal if any cost.

As mentioned a couple of those bikes are pretty rare and a newbie is not likely to see one. I think i would not mention bikes that have been out of production for more than a decade or were not common when built.

Craig

[BRWSaver]

The Hawk is hard to find? Sorry, I’m in Southern California and I can find several on craigslist on any given week, though they are usually more than $2000. It got on the list because there are few sport bike type bikes that are beginner friendly, and I wanted to include as many as possible. The easy choices in that category are the Ninja and GS500.

The 1996 Kawasaki ZL600 made 61HP, the 1986 made more, about 70. In HP and torque it makes less than the SV650, which everyone thinks makes a great beginner bike.

I would love to put the supermotard bikes on there, but I was trying to list only bikes with low buy in prices. though it does look like you can get the smaller ones used pretty cheap, so I will add them. I think I got caught in the same trap that confuses many beginners, the model name alphabet soup. Unless you are very familiar with the manufacturers offerings, its easy to get confused between the play bikes, enduros, dual sports, and motards. Many of them with just a 1 letter difference in name.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

This guy in Ohio works on Honda Hawks, including making them as fast as an SV650, and is a good source for parts for them:

http://www.hordpower.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=1&zenid=1627083db886492de1e9af167551d652

[TrialsRider]

I like what you say “But the real best way to learn to ride is to ride dirt bikes…”
Is that a Suzuki TC90 on your blog, always nice to see the model and vintage info on bike pics, helps people to realize they don’t start at 250cc.

[Author]

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