What would be a good beginner sport motorcycle?? Mainly for city street riding?

[gus_vortech]

I am 5'10" -11" 160 lbs, i am doing research and found best to ask the people, what is a good bike to start out with.
I will be riding this bike to school and back, At most about 5 miles each way. I know that I want a sport looking bike, and i consider myself responsible and definitely not looking into racing my bike. My riding will be mainly on streets.
I am also taking the Motorcycle Riding Course.
I have heard people say 250cc others 600cc.. i know that for the very beginning, until i get fully comfortable with this used bike, that i wont be using it to its max capabilities, but i would like to have that extra push in case i needed or just for a random fun ride.

Thanks for your responses.
**Thanks for your answers, it definitely feels like a 600cc would do it, so i guess i would like to get more suggestions on 600cc engine bikes on the sporty line.
Im 26 yrs old getting my engineering degree, fooling around is the last on the to-do list, I got my head on my shoulders. I'd much rather ride like a granny than to mess around with a sports bike.
Also Miami traffic sucks, its why i only want to use the bike to commute to school.
...And maybe a gig or two.

 

[It's That Guy]

A 250 would be more than adequate to get to school and back, but you're right, once you get a bike you'll find yourself going for long rides on weekends, so a 650 is better.

I would stay away from the deadly serious single-purpose sport bikes--Suzuki GSX-R, Yamaha R1/R6, Honda CBR, etc. They are wonderful bikes if you like that kind of riding, but they are not for beginners.

But there are a lot of 'sporty' bike that have sport-bike styling, and they are plenty fast and handle well enough that you can have a lot of fun, but still forgiving enough to learn on. The Kawasaki Ninja line is always brought up here, and they're fine, but also Honda 599, Suzuki GS500 or SV650, Yamaha (I forget the model). Some of these bikes are derived from the serious sport bikes, they have the same engine, but a wider powerband, less twitchy steering, more comfortable seating arrangement, etc.

Don't worry about having too much power. Assuming you're grown up enough to handle it, you don't need to use every HP every second. But there are times when it comes in handy. What you're concerned with in a first bike is size and weight. Smaller bike are more manageable, but a 650 is not too big for someone your size. Back in the 1960s when I started riding, 650 was considered big, but today it is only medium-sized.

All the Japanese mfgrs make a very good product--well-engineered, reliable, long-lived, economical. I'd say to get a used bike to start, something 5-10 years old, old enough to be depreciated but not so old that you can't get parts. Learn to ride on this bike for 6 months or a year, and then you can sell it for about what you paid for it, and by then you'll have a better idea of what you really want.

It's good that you're taking the course. Half of all motorcycle accidents happen to people with less than a year's riding experience. So safety should be your first concern in starting out.

OTOH, it's really as much fun as it looks. 8^) Good luck!

 

[Beth]

Well, I'd recommend a 600. Only because once you are feeling comfortable on the 250, you'll want more power.
But if you can afford to buy a cheaper 250 to learn on, I'd recommend it. If your finances don't, then get a good used 600.

My first bike is a Yamaha R6S - 600cc. Now, I love my bike, but honestly when I first started trying to get on it, I was scared shitless. Even after taking the MSF course, I was afraid I'd hit the throttle too hard and wheelie it and break me and the bike. And look like an idiot. I won't say I've fully grown comfortable with my bike, I'm still sort of timid, and most people would probably say that since I'm not racing up and down the freeway everyday, I ride like a grandma lol.

Make sure you take the MSF course if you haven't already. They teach you a lot.

Also be sure to get some really good gear. If you go down, it'll save your skin.

 

[Jason]

Honda V 45 or V 65 hold their value are cheap used and run forever. more sporty would be CBR 600 or NiNJA 600 are fun your gonna like whatever you end up with and always want more after you ride a while