Posts Tagged ‘Honda Rebel’
Honda Rebel starter bike. Image via Wikipedia
Starter motorcycles are the 250 c.c. motorcycles that I see many people start to learn on. They are light, easy to control, and affordable. The most popular is the Honda Rebel, so I’ll go with it for my pick as the best starter motorcycle. If you want the sport bike look and feel, go for the Kawasaki Ninja 250.
Here’s the problem with the Honda Rebel. It’s low! To low for many tall people. It also doesn’t have the power that a slightly larger motorcycle would have. The same could be said for the Ninja 250. For just a little more money, you could buy a Suzuki GS500 and have a very manageable motorcycle that you will not outgrow quickly. Carefully consider your options before buying. If you get it wrong, the small starter bikes do hold their value very well due the demand for them.
If you are a responsible rider, the GS500 is not powerful enough to really get you into trouble, yet it will be powerful enough for long highway speed rides once your skills are up to speed. The key decision factors to a starter motorcycle are:
- Can you touch flat footed on the ground?
- Is the motorcycle light enough for you to handle and pick up if dropped.
- Can you afford the insurance and payments? Sport bike styles are always more expensive to insure.
- Can you get a decent resale value when you trade up later?
- Is there a model that can be both a starter bike and a long term bike that fits me? If so buy it.
I use these examples because they are the most popular. Check out the comparable models for price and other features you like. It’s not uncommon for a Suzuki or Yamaha 250 to cost less new than what a used Honda Rebel costs, and these other brands are quality motorcycles too.
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