What is a good FIRST MOTORCYLE to get?

I want to get a Ducati or a Suzuki. I know they're more expensive. But I'm gonna get a 600 to start with (after I take riding lessons). What's a good bike to start with, how much should I spend and HOW MUCH IS MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS 23???

If you are intent on going with a bigger bike than a 250, at least go with one of the lower HP models. The Suzuki SV650, or the GS500F would be a great bike to start with. Stay away from the Gixxer 600, or any on the in-line 4 Supersport 600s. Go used, so you aren't in so much agony when you drop it that first time. I'd wait a few years and then trade up to the Ducati Monster once your skills are honed.

The motorcycle insurance is a tough call. It will vary greatly based on may factors, such as where you live, your driving record, even your credit history! Shop around a lot, all the insurance companies use different formulas for coming up with your rate.

just dont get one that goes really fast(i the beginning)

Hey, I m ridining since I was 18, i m 38 now, never in an accident thanks dog ;-).
Get something in between sport and '' scooter'' and so i can enjoy it.
If u wanna get a Suzuki get a SV650 super reliable fun to drive and cheap insurance because not considered street bike. I would say best option ever. If U go for DUCATI get a 600 Monster to begin with. However it s more expensive than sv650 less reliable and I would say less fun to ride but it has a lot of style ... Ride safe. d

I'm glad to see you are taking a class, that helped me a lot. My first bike I got last summer, it was a 1990 VFR 750, looks like the CBR (in fact uses many of it's parts) but with less power and a much more comfortable riding position. The bike was old and classified as a cruiser so I got full coverage for like $300/yr. and the bike only cost me less than $3000 However, I'm sorry to say that I got over-confident and thought I was much better than I was and after just a few months I jumped her into a ditch.

I'm 20 and I bought a suzuki GSX-R 1000 this last summer, needless to mention I'm much more cautious now but my insurence from most major companies was over $5000/yr.! (with a perfect driving record, I never claimed the VFR)
I looked around and found an insurence company supported by AIG insurence called foremost insurence that gives me the same coverage for only $1500/yr. which is a lot, I'm just saying shop around and try these guys out and that it depends heavily on your bike.

What you should say to yourself is "ok, I'm a new rider, I'm more than likely at the very least going to drop my bike in my first year." This was my mindset going in and I got something cheaper so when it happened I didn't lose everything.

If I was you I would go for an older (1990's) honda CBR or VFR (600 or 750). It will lower your insurence a lot and you will have plenty of power. I'm thinking you like sports bikes and to get a ducati sports bike (748, 749, etc.) now would be very impractical. Buy something cheap and get used to riding before you buy something flashy and expensive.

The Suzuki SV650 is a good beginner bike, but it's naked (no ferrings (plastic on the sides)) so it looks like a harley, not a ducati, but this greatly lowers the cost of both the bike and the insurence. An older GSX-R 600 would be a great choice as well, although suzuki doesn't hold up as well as honda, and the 90's GSX kinda look like ****... if you ask me.

you should probably not spend less than around $3000 on a sport bike, when you buy a junker car and it breaks down on the interstate it's no big deal, when you buy a junker bike and it breaks down on the interstate... you die
Good luck and please be safe!

I would get a bike that is 3-6 years old, in the 600cc range and NOT a Ducati. You will tip your bike over at least once, hopefully at less than 5 MPH. It will cost you 10x as much with a Ducati as the Suzuki.

I highly reccommend getting a "universal" style bike at the beginning. Ride it for a year and then sell it. Spend about $2000 to $3000, depending on how rich you are. You will learn so much about yourself and your needs/wants in that year that you will be much smarter spending real money on something you really want.

suzuki bandit 600 its a good bike reliable and cheap but they dont make it anymore so parts are a bit harder to find
see you on the roads

I agree with Chris C. Buy a 3 to 5 year old bike and save the money on your first bike. Shy away from the temptation to get a sportbike. At 23 the insurance is going to KILL you if the bike doesn't. Most accidents today happen with younger riders on sportbikes. Also, sportbikes are more likely to be stolen.

Norton 961 Commando

Is everyone crazy out here!

Stay off a 600 for at least a year, lessons or not!

Get a 250, and ride it for one season, that way you can get the first fall out of the way, without being dead!

It is extremely rare to hear of anyone who hasn't crashed (I crashed at 16, I was legal, and it was not even close to being my fault).

Get advice from your instructors, and don't become the "boy racer", they are often known as the stain in the turn over there!

Not trying to scare you off a bike, but it takes at least double the skill of driving a car for even the 250! You need time before you get a 600, one twist too far, and BOOM!

Biggest bike I have owned was a Honda CBX, fastest was a Hurricane 750, and it would do 200, (yes, it was modified, thank you). Smallest bike: a 40cc BaldeZ Moby, and my boss busted his a** on that.

Ride smart, so you can ride tomorrow, that is my advice to you!

The most important thing with a first bike is that you'll want one that will be forgiving of newbie mistakes. You don't want to have brakes that lock up at the touch of a finger, or enough power to do a wheelie if you hit a pothole and lose control of the throttle for a second.A GSXR600 is not going to make learning to ride easy at all; it's designed for getting an experienced rider around the track as soon as possible. You'll get to be a faster rider if you start on a slower bike, simply because it'll give you more confidence and let you push it harder.

If you're willing to start on a 500, I'd recommend a Suzuki GS500F. I've had one for over a year, and it's a little bit faster than my Corvette off the line. They make great all-around bikes.

If you *have* to go over that magic 600 number, I'd recommend looking into a Ducati Monster 600 / 620 / 695 (the "little monster" changed size over its run) or a Suzuki SV650. These are still a lot of bike for a beginner, but you'll have an easier time learning how to ride than on a race replica sport bike. SV650s hold their own against race replica bikes on the ammatuer racing circuit simply because they're quite controllable.

I would buy a 2-3 year old bike which is under 600cc, use it until i get used to it, then sell it, then buy the bike you really want. Going for a first bike too powerful will cause you harm if your not careful with it, or if your not mature enough to handle it.