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Something makes me want to say Ducati, somewhere in the neighborhood of 1000cc, last century. A Ducati aficionado will be able to tell you more.

Something makes me want to say Ducati, somewhere in the neighborhood of 1000cc, last century. A Ducati aficionado will be able to tell you more.

Where are you going to ride? In the woods, you will appreciate the 200, a bike that can haul you but you can haul too, if necessary. For desert, you will appreciate the power of the 500. If both, Rick Siemen says the 200 is all the trail bike anybody needs. I weigh as much as you do, and I...

Many ducati riders got their start on the 250 Diana. You could do worse.

You can expect a used 125 in particular to be well-thrashed by the time it goes on the block. A 200cc four stroke is much likely to still be worth riding a few years down the road.

I think you need to change your ways. You may be a farm boy, but there's no reason you should be seen as a yokel. Buy a dual sport bike. Leave the Harleys to the chimps.

Motorcycles don't have crash ratings. They crash-test cars, but not bikes. Harleys are slower than other bikes, so you don't have excess speed to get you into trouble. OTOH, they don't handle particularly well, and their brakes are indifferent at best, so they will hit obstacles that other bikes...

Stock. Anything else makes you sound like a sociopath.

A Harley is a good starter bike for a woman or someone small in stature because of the low seat height and modest performance. The problem is that you are so limited if you want to really learn to ride. You would do better to learn on a serious motorcycle, or series of bikes. Then, if you decide...

You might be a little tall for the 150, but not the 230, which should fit you fine, and need less maintenance than the crf250f,

If you ride a dirt bike, you have the basic control skills. The rider course will teach you much more than that, however: good riding habits, hazard identification and avoidance, and some roadcraft. Some of the material may seem overly simple and basic too you, but overall, the course is well...

You can get weather protection from a modern synthetic riding suit. Their primary purpose is crash protection, and some are more waterproof than others, but except for the mesh products, they will all keep you dry to a greater or lesser degree. Leathers will keep the rain out for a while, but...

No one who calls a sport bike a crotch rocket should get anywhere near one. That's a term used only by the clueless and by enemies of the sport. Start out with a dual sport bike or a middle aged beater. A dualie is best because you learn more bike control skills sooner. It's easy to ride and...

By spikes, do you mean knobs, as are typically found on dirt bikes? Dirt bike tires are commonly referred to as "knobbies". There are knobby tires that are road legal in the States, referred to as "DOT knobbies", because the Department of Transportation approves them for road use. Examples are...

If you ride a dirt bike, you have the basic control skills. The rider course will teach you much more than that, however: good riding habits, hazard identification and avoidance, and some roadcraft. Some of the material may seem overly simple and basic too you, but overall, the course is well...

Cutting the exhaust typically entails cutting the tail pipe out of the muffler with a hole saw, and welding a new end cap in place that has a bigger exit pipe. Another common dodge is to drill holes in the end of the muffler in a circle around the tail pipe. The simplest way to open up your air...

Cutting the exhaust typically entails cutting the tail pipe out of the muffler with a hole saw, and welding a new end cap in place that has a bigger exit pipe. Another common dodge is to drill holes in the end of the muffler in a circle around the tail pipe. The simplest way to open up your air...

If you ride a dirt bike, you have the basic control skills. The rider course will teach you much more than that, however: good riding habits, hazard identification and avoidance, and some roadcraft. Some of the material may seem overly simple and basic too you, but overall, the course is well...

Why couldn't you? Robert Pirsig made his legendary trip from St. Paul to Missoula on a 305 Honda, 2-up with his son. That bike was just a bored-out version of a 250. Modern 250s are a lot more road-worthy than Pirsig's, and a lot more reliable. There are quite a few riders who have seen a lot...

I think a sport bike capable of 150mph is too much power for a beginner, but there is nothing wrong with a single or twin of up to 650cc. A sport bike, standard or dual sport bike will work fine. It really depends on what you can find and your budget. There is something to be said for starting...