[chinoy]

http://www.askmen.com/top_10/cars/top-10-starter-bikes_10.html

An interesting read.

[ace.cafe]

Out of those 10, I'd pick  the Triumph Bonneville, and go out and buy a different new rotor for that front disc brake. One thatt would look like it belonged on a Triumph.

That "swirly" front brake rotor is ludicrous on the Bonneville.
But, I'd pick  the Bonneville first anyway.
Harley would be 2nd choice.

[ERC]

How come no ROYAL ENFIELD on there in the top ten?  ERC   

[single]

Right on,Ace.RE is an experts'bike,not really suitable for a beginner.Is that smug enuff fer ya?

[Sam Simons]

"How come no ROYAL ENFIELD on there in the top ten?"

Because,ERC, todays  motorcyclist has to wreak of 'cool',and  'stud-liness',despite the fact that a great many of 'em don't know what the fuk they're doing (or why).
RE's lack the plastic fenders,garish pallet of colors,flashes,skulls,etc., and therefore
ain't gonna make the list.......tsk,tsk.

[mrunderhill1975a]

Sam, don't hold back,.......tell us what you really think.

[UncleErnie]

I can't imagine the BMW, Duc, or Bonneville as first bikes- they're too heavy.

I do agree with the Suzukis.  I waold have added a Yamaha XT250 and Kawasaki Ninja 250.
I really think used bikes are best to learn on so you don't worry as much about dropping them.

[birdmove]

    I don't agree with the list either. The Suzuki TU250 is a great choice. How about the Suzuki GZ250?? Kawasaki Vulcan 500=good choice. The 500cc water cooled vertical twin engine is the same as the 500 Nnja, only with less power on top and more mid range.This is a potent little motor, but can easily be ridden sedately without getting away from a newbie. Honda CRF230M is a good choice, though the dual sport model would be more versatile, and off road is the best way to start out and learn how to handle a motorcyle. That's how I started some 48 years ago and it has served me well.BMW F650 GS=bad choice.This is the new water cooled vertical twin engine also used in the F800 GS and F800 GT and F800S (discontinued). A little too much for a newbie in both weight and power.Pretty expensive for a bike that most likely will be dropped. Suzuki GS500F. I'm mixed about this one. The 500cc air cooled vertical twin, like the Vulcan 500, can be easily ridden sedately, but has enough power on top to entertain a more experienced rider.My problem is all the expensive fairing parts that will most likely be dropped and broken. A used naked model would be way better.Monster 696. Too expensive for a beginner. Few riders will adjust the desmodromic valves as they are a bitch. A smaller cheaper bike would be better.Yamaha FZ6R-too much expensive body work to get broken in a drop. Sportster-since when is an 883cc motorcycle a beginners bike? I have an XL883, and it's not so much the power as the weight and size of the bike. When I started riding an 883 was a big bike.Triumph Bonnie-same as the Sporty.Too big and heavy and expensive.Ninja 500.I had one. Great bike, but a beginner would be smart to get a naked motorcycle to start with. This 500 Ninja engine is a great one. Reliable as hell;fast when you wind it up;mine averaged 66 mpg too.

     Starter bikes, in my opinion, would be something like the Yamaha XT225,XT250,Suzuki TU250,GZ250,naked GS500, possibly S40,Honda 250 Rebel,250 Nighthawk,one of the older Honda 350-400 twins,Kawasaki Vulcan 500,KLR250.

   I started on an old Trail 90, then a Scrambler 90 and on and on.Many were dual sports.The best way to learn how to handle a bike in an endless variety of conditions is off road. I'd rather drop a motorcycle in the dirt than on blacktop where you may also get run over. And why not a Royal Enfield?

   Just my opinions.

[blueberry]

$12,000.00 for a starter bike? Just about any  250cc/under 400 lb bike will do for a starter.The Vulcan 500 is good if you are a larger person or are older and wiser. Out of the 10, only the TU250 and Vulcan are starter bikes, in my opinion.

[Jeri Danger]

Hi
A sporty,monster or Bonnie as a first bike?
Excuse me?
Jeri

[Sam Simons]

"Sam, don't hold back,......."

I can't help it,underhill,these self proclaimed or self assumed experts irk me.....and,
unless (they're) challenged, they're believed......Hell,any motorcyclist likely has his/her
"Top Ten",therefore the opinion(s) of this group of dummies is unnecessary.....Damn,whomever follows their suggestions is a sad individual indeed,IMO. It's great entertainment(maybe),sparks lively conversation(like ours),but really has no substance for making a purchase by.....I'm preaching to the choir,I
know.

[ERC]

I think most of the "testers" get paid for their opinion.  ERC   

[Sam Simons]

I agree,ERC.  Real motorcycle journalists are few & far between nowadays,IMO. Writers such as (the late) Bob Braverman, or present day
talent such as Kevin Cameron,Alan Girdler or Peter Egan are accurate information resources,and have been for decades. I've not seen any of the above mentioned ever
do a "Top Ten" article.....with good reason.