Good Starter Bikes



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Used Starter Bikes

1. Early to mid-80s Yamaha XS650 or 850. Almost a carbon copy of a Triumph but they work and are almost impossible to kill. $1000 ought to be enough.

2. Mid-80s Honda CB550, 650 or 750. They have classic looks, are frighteningly dependable and accelerate, stop and turn fairly well. Parts are cheap and plentiful because they made a bunch. $2000 should get you a dang near perfect one.

3. Suzuki Bandit 600. The motorcycle magazines loved them. They are new enough they shouldn’t have any issues, are bulletproof and you won’t outgrow it.

New Starter Bikes

1. Suzuki SV650. The perfect beginner’s bike. Cheap, good power and handling. Everyone who owns one raves about it. Easily upgradeable if you need more go fast, they are a really, really, really popular bike for entry level race classes so parts are easy to find and you can get really sticky rubber for them. (Side note: I believe strongly in having more traction than you need rather than less so I buy really expensive soft tires, that way I know I can count on them in an emergency to do what I ask. I willingly trade dollars for security.) An alternate choice would be the new Kawasaki 650 Ninja, a little softer but is supposed to be a very nice entry level bike. $7000

2. Ducati Monster or SS in 620 or 800cc’s. How can you not love an Italian motorcycle or car? They look sexy, they sound sexy, they feel sexy. My wife’s 900ss is absolutely amazing in corners and tells you exactly how much change is left from that dime you just ran over. If I didn’t own a Buell, I’d buy a Duc. Ducatis are more expensive to maintain than your average Japanese bike. For some (especially my honey) the trade-off is worth every penny of the 6000-mile service bill. $7500 – 8500.

3. Buell XB9SX Comfy, will tell you the change to the 100th of a cent, has more than enough power for a street legal motorcycle, and American (probably only matters to me). A Buell is kind of like a Camaro or Mustang; it’s a really visceral, aggressive almost living thing that says, “Hey, I’m bored man, let’s go find somethin’ to do.” The next thing you know you’re in a jail cell in a small town for going 70 mph over the posted speed limit. $8800

So there is my list. None of these bikes has a particularly peaky powerband, so as long as you are smooth with the throttle and remember your right wrist controls, the speed they should be fine. They also have good to insanely good brakes and good to incredible suspensions.

scott AT alphacorse.com