[BlackKnight]

I am new to riding with no real experience.

I am about 5’9 220 and was interested in your opinions for a good starter bike.

I was thinking of either a Yamaha V Star Classic 650, Yamaha V Star 250, or a Kawasaki Vulcan 500.

Of all the 250’s out there I love the V Star looks but my concern is the size. Would the bike be too small for a starter or perfect for someone my build who would use it on country roads and rarely exceed 50 MPH?

My primary use would be commuting about 20 miles round trip to work when conditions allow.

I want something, safe, dependable, and not too powerful while I build my confidence as a new rider.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[eternal05]

Elwood covered the bases already, but I would just go further to say that, based on the use cases you describe, the V-Star 250 is the perfect bike for you. The only issue I’ve known people to have with it are a) trouble with speeds in excess of 80mph, and b) trouble for tall (well over 6′) riders. You seem to avoid both of those issues.

It’s a great beginner bike! I rode one during my MSF course and it’s very easy to learn on.

[owlie]

I didn’t get a chance to sit on a V-Star 250 when I was looking around for a bike and it is too bad. I did sit on the V-Star 650 and it really struck me as being a heavy bike.

I went with the Suzuki S40, and from a weight standpoint, I’m glad that I did. Learning on it has been a challenge, but the 160lb difference between it and the V-Star has probably made the difference between a few bruises and broken bones. It definitely makes it easier to pick up.

From a power standpoint, starting with a 250 might have been a better option. Getting the hang of the clutch has been interesting. It isn’t very forgiving if you don’t know what you are doing. Before every ride, I spend 10 minutes in my driveway playing with the friction zone, and that has made alot of difference the last couple of weeks.

[Author]

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