New to site

I am new to the site and just want to say hello to all of you. Probably within the next year or two,I may get my first bike. I am looking at the Yamaha Star line of bikes,...especially the V-Star Classic 650. Would this be too big a bike to start out on or not? I am told the smaller bikes like 250s,the wind can really blow you all over the place since those 250cc bikes are so light. Also,...what is your opinion of ABATE motorcycle courses? I need to learn to ride first,too.  

SeaNymphMan:
I am new to the site and just want to say hello to all of you. Probably within the next year or two,I may get my first bike. I am looking at the Yamaha Star line of bikes,...especially the V-Star Classic 650. Would this be too big a bike to start out on or not? I am told the smaller bikes like 250s,the wind can really blow you all over the place since those 250cc bikes are so light. Also,...what is your opinion of ABATE motorcycle courses? I need to learn to ride first,too.

Welcome to the site! I too am looking to purchase my first motorcycle by the end of this year. I have heard the same about 250cc bikes, that they are very light and do not hold up very well. I am still leaning toward the Ninja 250, simply because I am 5'2 and a beginner. I would like to gain more experience before I move on to a bigger bike. I am planning on buying a used one, so even if I get tired of it quickly, I feel that it won't be a huge loss when I decide to trade.

I don't know anything about ABATE, I took my class through MSF which is very reputable. I passed and now i'm waiting to take the written test at the DMV.

Good luck with whatever bike you decide to ride.  

Thanks for your response. I am not sure ,but does the MSF have a website that I can check out to see if they have classes in my area? Maybe I should try them instead of ABATE!  

SeaNymphMan:
Thanks for your response. I am not sure ,but does the MSF have a website that I can check out to see if they have classes in my area? Maybe I should try them instead of ABATE!

http://www.msf-usa.org/

I'm sure they'll have a class in your area.  

Thanks for that information,...I will check it out!  

The 250cc bikes are fine.  You can go anywhere on them.   If I had any money I'd try one of big four 250 enduros.

Joe  

I had thought about Yamaha's V-Star 250(formerly called Virago)or Honda's
Rebel 250 as first bikes. Still might do so,but I still like that V-Star Classic
650 V-Twin. How are these bikes as starters,Joe? Would you recommend them? I like
the cruiser style motorcycles,BTW(by the way).  

Rule one: I think everyone should start out on a dirt bike.    Get a street legal 250 and ride trails, learn to slide the front and back ends.   Climb some hills.  Wear all the gear and crash-crash again-then crash some more.  (I've lost count of how many times I fell off in the dirt) Learn to  wheelie and spin donuts.   You rarely get hurt bad trail riding unless you do really insane stuff.  Did I mention no cars hitting you in the dirt?

Once you are confident off road, controlling the bike on the street will be so easy you can devote all your brain power to dodging idiot car drivers.  

Anyway, lots of people have started with a 650 and survived so I may be biased.

Joe  

Being an "inexperienced/beginning"rider,...I feel that after looking at the bigger bikes,the smaller 250cc bikes such as Honda's Rebel/Nighthawk,Yamaha's V-Star 250,
etc. would be best to start out on for me. I can always go out on a country road and practice shifting,braking,etc. Lot less traffic on a lonely country road vs
a state highway,interstate,etc. Plus,country roads have lower speed limits,...usually 45 MPH or lower. I think starting out on a big bike may be too intimidating at first. Start small and work my way up as I gain experience,..ya
think? No offense,Joe,...but I am not into the dirt bikes. I take safety seriously,too. When I am out in my fishing boat,I do not start the outboard
UNTIL my life jacket is on,...and when the boat is under power,that life jacket IS
on. Same will go for riding a motorcycle,...no starting the engine UNTIL the helmet
and any other protective gear is on. I am outta here for now,...gonna go look at some motorcycles.  

Joe gave you some GREAT advice. If you don't want to take the advice of an experienced rider, you're assuming risk with an outcome you may not like. The thing about street riding is that you don't get many chances to slide or break traction. If it happens for the first time in traffic, like on a bend with gravel, you may wind up in oncoming or face first into a tree.  I've ridden dirt and street, and trust me, trust Joe, you don't want to try figuring these things out on the fly with an SUV coming at you at 45 mph.  

I would always say to take a MSF course.  They help in the confidence.  
I took the class years before I was ever on a dirt bike.  Yes, the dirt biek did help a lot with learning how to relax and let the ass end slide around, but I loved that I was able to get out with my friends and family and ride even if I went slow on a 250cc.  

SeaNymphMan, I was in your position about a year ago. Had never ridden and was wondering what to do.

I scheduled the MSF course (they were booked over a month out) and got a good used bike in the interim. I got a '99 V Star 1100 and couldn't be happier. I realize it's a lot of bike for a beginner, but not too much. I wanted a bike I wouldn't outgrow soon because I knew I wouldn't have the money to upgrade. Unless you have the resources, I'd consider that. You may want a bigger bike then a 250 within a couple months. I'd suggest a 650 might be OK but know of many who got the 650 and wanted more after 6 months or so.

My father-in-law, who also started riding when I did after a long absence from riding got a Vulcan 900 and is very happy with it. Star also has a nice 950 that (from what I've read and been told at a nearby Yamaha dealer) matches the 1100 from a performance standpoint but gets better mileage and is less costly to get into.

I think Joe's advice on learning to ride in the dirt is good if you want to take the time for that learning curve (though ti sounds like you don't), but what I did was control my desire to get out on the road and practiced for at least a month in nearly school parking lots when class was out, repeating the drills from my MSF class until I felt confident enough to get out on the open road. I still remember how going 20 mph in my neighborhood felt like I was speeding crazily.

When I felt ready, I started going out on lesser-used roads and in new housing developments to build my skills before taking to the open road and mixing it in traffic. Even then (and now), I rode (and ride) with caution and a keen eye on cars and trucks because they're not necessarily watching out for us. The vast majority of close calls I had were drivers talking on cell phones.

To sum it up (and as you'll learn in an MSF or other safety class) take it at your speed, don't rush things, and be careful. Talk to experienced riders and learn from them.

And enjoy the ride. Ride safe, watch out for cagers on cell phones, and thank The Man Upstairs for every safe ride.