Tips to Help You Get the Right Beginner Motorcycle for You

So you've decided to take up the art of motorcycle riding. I just started motorcycle riding about a year ago. It was scary to learn the art of motorcycle riding at first, and I still think I am learning more about motorcycle riding every time I go out on the road. There are many techniques to get used to, and improve on in motorcycle riding. If you're going to start motorcycle riding, you need to find a good beginner motorcycle. My first bike was (and still is) the Kawasaki Vulcan EN 500A. I felt, and still feel that the Kawasaki Vulcan EN 500A is a very good beginner motorcycle.

GOOD FIRST MOTORCYCLES says "I assure you that an inexperienced rider can get into big trouble very quickly on an 883 Sportster. Recommending 600cc and larger bikes to beginners is like sending children out to play on the freeway, and the results are both predictable and (often) tragic."

GOOD FIRST MOTORCYCLES also says that "My opinion is that small to medium displacement (125-250cc) motorcycles are most appropriate for new riders. They are generally lighter and easier to maneuver, easier to balance, cheaper to repair if damaged in a spill, and less likely to get the beginning rider into trouble. It might be worthwhile to pay attention to the seat height figures given for the motorcycles below, as it is reassuring for most inexperienced (and also experienced!) riders to be able to put both feet on the ground when stopped. Light weight is an advantage, as is a low center of gravity, particularly for low speed maneuvering."

From my experience with motorcycles, I think a good beginner motorcycle is anything with a displacement of 500cc or lower. My Kawasaki Vulcan EN 500A has a 498cc displacement, and I think that it was the perfect beginner motorcycle for me.