Don't buy a auto,,thats a scooter,lol If you looking a great all around bike get a ninja 250. I taught my son and wife to ride one in about 15 minutes. That's the basics,,starting off,stopping,upshifting,etc. Like light enough to handle when you stall it and not enough power to throw you off if you gag it. The bike is highly capable of running highways speeds and can be a blast in the mountains. Look around you should be able to find a nice one for 1200-1500 bucks. Plus they are easy sells when and if to go larger. You are going to drop the bike so don't look for anything pristine.

 

I would go to the MSF Basic Rider Course before addressing this question. JM2c

 

I agree its a great coarse but you need to know the fundamentals first.

 

Yeah, I wanna buy something to keep in the garage to mess around on before I go for the coarse.

 

i have been wanting a bike for a few years now, but always scared to kinda pull the trigger. I have ZERO experience with riding a motorcycle. Something about getting the clutch and foot pedals correct that's kinda holding me back. Thought about just getting something that has a DCT like an aprilia or a Honda nc700x. But realistically I'd like to start off with something used around 2-3k. Possible to get a nice bike to start off with? Looking for something sportier or naked.

What do I need to stay away from?

Motorcycles.

 

Ive been riding motorcycles of some sort for right at 40 yrs,,,started when I was young on dirtbikes. Its truly one of the most enjoyable,relaxing,often exhilarating things you can ever do.

 

Take the class. The best way to learn and you get a discount on insurance.
Start with a 500cc bike. A 250 will have you wanting a new bike in 3 months.
Harley uses Street 5oo's for their Riders Edge course. My daughter never rode a bike before and got a handle on it really fast in their class on the 500. I'm planning to buy her a Street 750 when she graduates from UNCG undergrad.

 

Good and solid advice. I followed this path, and it worked. My 1st bike was a Suzuki GS500.

 

Find a friend that has a dirt bike and learn on that first. Then take the MSF class. Then decide what bike to buy.

 

That's a good idea right there.

 

My oldest son started on an SV650 which is great first bike and many people stay with the bike, I've seen many of them on Deals Gap. There are a ton of them on the used market and there are a ton of after market parts for them. It really is a great 1st bike.

 

OK,, Ill agree on that,,,Ive had a 01 and 03 Sv650 and a 03 sv1000. The 650 is a great bike

 

I showed up at my MSF course, on Ft. Bragg, with never having even sat on a motorcycle. I thought it was a great course, I had good instructors, and by the end of the course, even though I was on this TINY honda 250cc, I felt comfy riding.

I will be buying a motorcycle once I get a new job. (hopefully)

 

My first was a Kaw 440LTD. Parallel twin. Within 6 months I wished I had started off larger.
My last was a 2009 Buell XB12Ss. My next will be a Victory Cruiser.

 

There can be only one,,,and it is a 5th Gen VFR.

 

Back in the day you didn't have to have a motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license. When it became a law I took the test in SC on this around 1985.

With forward controls it couldn't even turn sharp enough to get around the last pylon. The SC Examiner passed me anyway.

 

Back in the day you didn't have to have a motorcycle endorsement on your driver's license. When it became a law I took the test in SC on this around 1985.

With forward controls it couldn't even turn sharp enough to get around the last pylon. The SC Examiner passed me anyway.
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Do you know that 98% of all Harleys ever made are still on the road,,,,

The other 2% actually made it home

 

There's a lot of great options to start with. I started on a Honda Rebel 250 and to get the fundamentals and the basics it was a great but I will say once you get comfortable it will have you wanting a larger bike to ride. After that I got a CBR 600RR then sold that and built a bobber off of an old Sportster. I've had buddies start riding on R1's (Not the best idea) and I have had buddies learn on 600's, 750's, shadows etc.

The best thing that I could recommend and wish I had done it was the MSF class. From what I have heard it teaches you a lot in a couple days plus it lowers your insurance once you pass which is a plus. Also unfortuntly this is the time of year where people selling bikes want a premium for them which is understandable. It's nice out, people want bikes and they have them for sale. The end of fall and winter is the best time to pick one up. Good luck on your motorcycle adventure. They are fun

 

I had to tke MSF course to ride on base. I had been riding 20 years and still learned something. The advanced courses are great to hone your skills. The starter course used to give you a small bike to learn on. Take a class and you will be a much better rider. Good Luck and keep the rubber side down.

m

 

Here is a very good starter bike for someone wanting a cruiser. They are light and low to the ground with gobs of low end torque.
http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product Lines/Cycles/Products/Boulevard S40/2015/S40.aspx

 

I see people all the time on bikes and I just think to myself "wow, I bet that is such a great feeling" getting up early on a Sunday morning and just going for a drive, I feel like that's what I need.
I don't have any friends with Dirt bikes, but I do have a friend with a bike that might let me learn on. but I think he has a big bike.

 

I think you should get a small dual sport. DRZ400 or something like that.

WEAR GOOD GEAR.

Getting up on a weekend morning and going for a ride: so unbelievably awesome. It's everything you would hope it is.

 

Another take the course. It was the best money I have spent. I really knew nothing about riding a bike. In 2 days I had a great grasp on the skills needed to ride. My first bike was a cx550 that I paid $300 for and it was a good starter bike. When I moved to Florida a year later (2006) I bought a 98 Sportster 1200 with 26k on it. Still have it at 135k. The dealer rebuilt the top end at 75k because the gaskets were leaking (under the extended warranty) and other than that I put on it 1 belt, a coil pack, a brake line, exhausts and replaced the front fork seals. Holds its own on the hiway and is fun to ride. It was my daily rider in FL. Don't ride it as much here but still love to get on it and ride.

 

What do you guys think of those KTM 390 dukes?
I really like the look of those bikes.

 

What do you guys think of those KTM 390 dukes?
I really like the look of those bikes.

AWESOME BIKE. Super fun and handles great.

KTM: does singles and small bikes right.

 

Might go take a look at one sometime. If I can get one for a good deal, maybe the wifey would be more supportive.

 

Good luck. I love motorcycles so much, and always have. Was the first word I spoke. "Motorcycle". Always been passionate about them.

I encourage everyone who wants to learn to ride to do it. BUT:

I learned on minibikes, and went on from there, which is a huge advantage. And, after riding in the dirt for years, I went on to street bikes. In the Bay Area of CA where I am from, their is a huge culture for riding.
Riding has provided so much joy.

Unfortunately, it has caused indescribable heartache as well. I have seen things that can not be unseen. It is dangerous, and one must always have their wits about them. One must take an intelligent and proactive view on constantly learning and training. Check your ego in because you know nothing.
One mistake can indeed cost you your life. It leaves a lasting impression when you go out on a ride and see someone go down. Maybe to never get up again. Maybe screaming in pain first. To go home and figure out if you delete their phone number now? Do you keep all the emails? How do you talk to their girlfriend?boyfriend/mom/dad? Were you being too competitive and helped this happen? Why wasn't it you? This person was a great rider! Even better than you! Are you next?

Don't want to rain on the parade, just don't want to sugar coat the possibilities. Motorcycles on the street are nothing to screw around with.

Serious business that demands your full attention all the time. Which is actually what I like most about them!

 

What Dave said.

I grew up on two wheels exactly the same way. By the time I had my first street bike (Kawa triple) I had been through two mini-bikes and a dirt bike.

Even so, I managed to plow into a stopped car in heavy traffic in Charlotte and nearly got run over by a semi while I was lying in the street under the bike when I was 18. I walked away thankfully.

Later I bought an H-D, but sold it when I moved to Raleigh. Too dang many cars.

 

Check craigslist or other ads for used bikes. A lot of people buy a bike then don't ride it much, if you can find one with around 5000 miles it should be good even if they never changed the oil. Look for damage from accidents, scrapes or parts that look newer than the bike. You don't want any damage to the fork so check that good. Most new riders drop the bike once, that's why its good to buy used. A good starter can be anything from 250-750cc. NC has a lot of MC accidents, drivers are distracted or careless. Wear bright clothing and extra lights to be seen.

 

I think I am going to try and find something used for around 2-3k.

I completely understand about being safe, part of the reason I have waiting so long to get into it. My wife on the other hand is going to need some convincing still.

 

Get yourself a Goldwing. As a matter of fact I got one I'm thinking about selling...

 

Isn't a Goldwing a metric Geezer Glide, albeit a much faster one?