@@diptarupghosh4431 I recently was ripping around in a field on a honda supercub with a buddy who couldn't bicycle in the back. Ended with a lowside IN A STRAIGHT LINE, he literally leaned into the fall, will never EVER ride with a guy who can't bike again. To answer your question, apparently yes
I just got a 2009 Vulcan 500. Not my top pick for a beginner bike but I could not beat the deal. Only 6,000 miles and in like new condition, ready to ride for $1850. Can't beat that.
That was my first bike also!! Picked it up for $1300. After tires and new chain/sprockets it was ready to ride. I did enjoy it while I had it. I taught my wife to ride on it also. As u said, not the top choice, but can be had for a good price. Sold it last year for 1700$.
I feel you, but this video is a great start for that. Also all those 60hp and up are basically bikes you will enjoy at any time of your riding career. These are quite the Gems.
Those 800cc cruisers are a great first bike for the big guys out there. I'm 235, and my vulcan 800 casually cruises on the highway, forward controls keep my legs in a slight bend, and my knees don't hit the bars at full lock like they did on the rebel 250 I did my test on.
And with full gear! A friend of mine crashed an R6 and now he has a fucked up knee and ugly road rash because he thought "it's just a quick trip to try it out, I won't need all my gear". Also the bike wasn't his
@@alexreitler I’m really sorry to hear that. That’s really unfortunate It’s always good to learn for others.Your friend should’ve done these 6 things to prevent him from crashing on a R6. 1:Add stickers to his helmet. 2: WEAR DAINSE! 3: REV BOMB NONSTOP.! 4: Do some crazy Dank Whoolies!!! 5: keep it under 5K RPM. 6: Brag to everyone that you’re R6 does 186MPH on the highway.
Love my Hawk GT, picked it up 4 years ago as a second bike for cheap. Cleaned the carb and it has worked ever since. It's a great way to get onto the track at low cost.
In the Netherlands december 5th is actually a really great holiday. Since we dont really celebrate christmas here, we have something similar. He's called Sinterklaas (pronounced similar to Santa Claus), arrives on the 2nd saturday of november, stays until his birthday (you guessed it, december 5th), and gives smaller gifts to all children weekly (usually on saturdays too), and a big boxing day like event on december 5th. Honestly it's really fun and a pretty big country wide event. Pretty funny that something really different is known in other countries for december 5th :)
But what about the 250cc sport bikes of the late 80’s & early 90’s Spite my boy? Tiny inline 4’s that scream up to 20,000rpm and make more power than the 300cc & 400cc bikes of today!! You can’t go wrong
Started riding on a GS500F 7 years ago and recently sold it in favor of a sportster, so the wife and I can go cruise on. This vid might have just opened my eyes to the van van as a cheap to go bike for when I want take off by myself out in the hills.
My first bike was an '08 Aprilia Shiver 750. It was a great call because I put it in Rain mode for the first season, Touring for the 2nd season and Sport for the following 3 seasons! It was amazing and I sold it for what I paid originally... 5 years and 15k km later! $4600 CAD with 17k km on it! You can get them for $3500 CAD now!
My first bike was Suzuki C50 it was a great bike. Bought it brand new but it was 2 years old so got a screaming deal on it. Rode it for 4 years and put a lowering kit, forward controls and custom exhaust on it and sold it for $200 more than I bought it for.
@@HobbiesWithMike yeah it gets the job done sure it wasn't a spectacular crazy nice bike but it is what got me riding on the road. It is easy to punch down on a C50 as it isn't taken seriously which is unfortunate.
Glad to see the love for small dual sport thumpers. They're great urban assault vehicles. That's all I've ever owned until getting myself a G310GS for my 60th birthday. Same fun but more refined. You don't look like a hoon... unless you're ripping dank nooners in a church parking lot.
I’m on my second season on my xt250 love it. I need more padding on my seat. It goes between 70-80mph no sprocket change yet. Hopped some curbs occasionally to avoid traffic and take it on some trails.
My first (and at this point, only) bike was a (2004?) KTM LC4 640 Enduro. It was my Dad's bike but i'm a few inches taller at 6'4 so it became mine as soon as i hit 17. The thing is an absolute dream for farm county hick i truly am. Took the thing on camping trips, daily commutes, casual rides around the area and on a few trail i probably wasn't suppose to be riding on. I will say that i never feel like that bike could tip on me like the few others i've ridden. Seriously, duel sports are amazing beginner bikes if you have some access to land to get you over the fear of dumping it.
@yammie : I used to ride a friend's Yamaha FZ 16 during my college in 2012.. Loved it, modded it, crashed it, rebuilt it. Now, 9 years later the bug bit hard and I got myself a used 2015 Triumph Street Triple 675 with 22,000 kms on the clock for 4,50,000 INR (~6000 USD). The initial days were nervous, cautious, the bike needed work as it sat on the showroom floor for over a year. Changed oil, coolant, cleaned throttle body, changed front tyres as they were almost "V" shaped and handling was horrible, washed, clayed, detailed, . Previous owner had done some very useful and tasteful mods to it including sliders for fork, swingarm, chassis, cover for engine, gearbox, radiator, tail tidy, 1" bar risers, manual idle adjustment and an SC slip on. There is still more to do like brake fluid change and bleed, coolant flush, throttle calibration, factory Arrow remap, etc but it's been so satisfying to get out on 2 wheels again after so long. Thanks Yam for inspiring me and giving me confidence as a returning rider.
Started on the Twin brother of the Honda NT650 Hawk - the NTV 650. Same bike - where the NT650 have got the swing arm from a VFR RC36 the NTV650 got shaft drive. Lovely mashine!
Picked up a 2005 BMWF650GS with high mileage for $2500 in 2020. Awesome bike. The thumper engine is solid, and seat height was not an issue. I’m only 5’7” and flat foot it all day. Had to replace the fork seals, which was not too bad. And yes, I took it off road. Nothing too hard core, but I was impressed up until I bottomed the front end out on a pretty big ditch. Best news is I sold it for profit last month and put down a deposit on a new KLX so I can off road with my son.
I grew up riding dirt bike and when I turned 16 my dad gave me his old (not really 2017)Honda Crf250 dual sport he never rode put some street tire and wheels on it and rode it everywhere I still have it and love riding it to work everyday
My beginner bike is a 2010 Monster 696 and I absolutely love it. I paid $5k for it with 4200 miles in the pearl white/red frame configuration and I cannot imagine a better bike for the price.
I have a 2019klx 250 and I love it. Paid 5725otd brand new for it a year ago. It looks awesome too with the digital camo and blacked out engine and everything else. I would say get that over the dual sport he recommended.
I own a Royal Enfield Continental GT 650. It has a 648 cc parallel twin - air cooled engine that produces a power of 47 bhp @ 7250 rpm and 52 Nm torque. It has a 6 speed transmission, electronic fuel injection, slipper Clutch with dual disc brake, which is more than what I need to cruise on the streets of New Delhi. I love it!
F650 dakar (earlier gs model) is also good one that you didnt mention with the f650gs. f650 funduro for even cheaper one if you dont mind carbs. BMW K75 or R1100rs for easy fuel injected cafe racer conversion with almost no manufacturing of custom parts included. ;)
My dad has a Honda NTV 650 (basically an NT650) since university and it's the first bike I rode on. I will turn 18 in August and I will ride it as my second motorcycle. Absolutely hyped, especially the raw V2 is great. Carbs suck but one sided swing arm and shaft drive are pretty sick.
I just bought an NTV650 (hawk for the Americans) and has to be the best all round bike I’ve ever ridden. Definitely recommend giving one a ride if you get the chance.
My first and current bike is a 2009 yamaha fz6 s2. It had about 29k miles and I only spent 1300 on it. I shopped around a long time got a great deal and all I've done since I bought it is basic maintenance with no problems at all.
I own Honda Hawk European version the NTV650 with steal frame and shaft drive. It is heavier than the Hawk, but I has been great zero problems first bike. Got it for dirt cheap - 1100 EUR. Looking forward to buying a Triumph Bonneville Street Twin as my second bike. Thanks for the great content! Keep it up!
My son had two NT650’s at different times and recently sold the second one in Austin. Parts are getting harder and harder to find. There are plenty Hawk groups online.
What’s the #1 best starter bike for a complete novice rider with these parameters: age 57; height 6’1”; weight 230 lbs.; to use for on road touring (& camping trips) with occasional dirt roads and suburban general fun riding; price not an issue; aesthetically flexible but love the Triumph Bonneville line and the adventure bikes like the BMW GS series; prefer upright seating position; safety and ease of use are paramount criteria.
I keep watching these videos 😭😭😭 they're so addictive and I appreciate the tips and tricks and what not to do's, I'm a new rider waiting on appointments to get everything done so I can ride, my bike, 1st one this 31yr old dude has ever owned is a haosen hawk 250 rps dual sport, I don't need fast to start, I want adventure
My first bike was a Honda Hawk GT. They are an AWESOME first bike. So light and nimble. The nightmare is dealing with the carbs if they need to be rebuilt. Hordpower has the rebuild kits but yanking them out of the vee is a major PITA.
You can get a Royal Enfield 650 for not much more than the Kawasaki W650 and for the slight premium you get a bike with similar power, fuel injection and a 3 year warranty (and very clean engine internals according to F9).
Years ago I owned a Honda Hawk NT 650 GT. Loved that bike. It was the easiest bike I ever rode. It was very light, could lay it into a corner like no other and was a damn good looking bike. It topped out at 131 mph, without a jacket or helmet because they added wind resistance & slowed me down about 5 mph. I sold it after I bought my Vmax, and then I heard the lady who bought it from me dumped it and it got run over by a truck. RIP my beloved Hawk... you were a great bike!
Carbed Duactis arent bad if you service the carbs every 1000 miles and are super careful with the throttle and change your fuel filter regularly and you get the point
My first bike was a Hawk GT. It was slow, the tank was small, the carbs were finicky but it very well balanced and good mannered for a beginner. Now would be the perfect time for Honda to bring back an up-to-date Hawk GT and the single sided swing arm is a must.
i was starting to have self esteem issues about my first bike choice because you guys never mentioned it....ever. and then wham! top of the list baby. and you nailed why i bought it too.
I just got an F700 GS. It's my first bike and I rode about an hour back from picking it up. It was awesome and it got down the road fairly well without making feel like I was going to kill myself.
@@alecgarcia963 I just recently sold my TR650 Strada, it was an awesome step up from my starter bike (CRF250L), I’m looking forward to the next one, hopefully an SV650 or something similar
You guys are missing the Kawi Ninja 500R. 50 HP water cooled and a 6 speed gear box. they are perfect beginner bikes. i bought an 06 model for 900 bucks used.
Carburetors suck. I let mine sit and the carbs are giving me fits. I've cleaned them twice. Been trying to get it to run for a month. Im ready to junk it
That’s awesome. I’m about to get the Z400. I live in a university town that’s too small for the amount of traffic but speeds are mostly all at 35mph or lower. I will only occasionally be venturing out of the city and those roads are only 55mph limits. I’m a country boy and hate highways and even major roads. I prefer to stick mostly to back roads. So I figured this would be a good choice.
The Honda shadow phantom is a pretty great bike. And I would say it’s a great beginner bike but maybe a more advanced beginner? Only Becuase of the weight I’d say. It is a little heavy but not to bad. However there is very little aftermarket options for the shadow phantom. You’re stuck with maybe same pipes as everyone else and maybe some saddle bags if you’d like that. Headlight is terrible and the only option is aftermarket with a little fab work. I’ve been able to get mine to 96 mph so it’s got some power but I agree it’s not gonna dust that Harley when you see it. Now that the new rebel 1100 is out I think once the hype of a brand new bike is out it might replace the shadow for power and weight. Just not the big bulky cruiser look
I own a xt250 Yes it's slow, and wont teach you everything but shes super fun. Really lightweight in the dirt and other than highway speed she do just about anything. Something satisfying about dumping this bike picking it back up and she still ready to roll.
I have some of the coolest bikes ever made, Italian exotica, but most fun for the money if you are a new rider would be my budget project. A GasGas 250 two stroke from 2005, slightly modified to a trailbike instead of an enduro racer. I have ridden parts of "Euro Trail" in south Sweden of and with this 50 HP and 105 kgs it is very easy to pass what's a huge problem on a large KTM or BMW. The luggage has to be light but you can afford quite many nights in hostels or hotels if the bike costed 2500 € and a service, by yourself, costs 50 €......
I love my hawk GT - though my first ride after purchase had a cylinder seize completely. After a rebuild it runs great and I have a suspicion it will be appreciate in value in the coming years.
When I started riding 3 years ago, a buddy tried very hard to convince me to go with a dual sport. I went with the CBR500R because I only wanted a sports bike (and I loved it and still have it for now), but I'd be lying if I said that right now I didn't at least want a sumo with something like 80/20 tires for the occasional fun dirt trail rip while still tearing up the streets.
Great list, everything makes perfectly sense, no bullshitting at all. Although I usually come here for the memes haha. Only thing to note, maybe you could‘ve talked about the upright shaft in the Kawasaki W650/800, which makes this bike kinda special. And that it‘s been around before the Bonneville. Still great researching the used market only, this definitely can help a lot more people than a beginnerbike list with new bikes only, which noone in their early 20s can afford anyway.
My first bike was a 2001 Kawasaki W650 and I don’t know why it wasn’t more popular. I wanted a Triumph Bonnie but I didn’t have the money. That’s okay, the W fit my expectations perfectly. It was really good to see it showcased as the first bike in this video. Great video Spite! I tell everyone I know to subscribe (if only to get Yammie to turbo the Hyabusa and shut up about it! JK!). Ride on!
Guys, don't remove your rear fender, or your stock muffler. This trend has to stop now. Once you remove the stock muffler, your jetting will be slightly lean, and you'll never have the same clean low RPM throttle response, never. You'll need to reflash your ECU to get the torque back, you'll always lose something when you remove the stock muffler, especially on a carbureted bike, which is a nightmare to rejet. I drilled out the muffler on my 2002 Ninja, and it sounded a little better, but the engine ran slightly rough at 4000 rpms after that, and it was a little less smooth. My friend drilled out his SV1000 mufflers, and his bike had a rough spot too, with a slightly rougher throttle response. If you drill out the mufflers or replace the mufflers on an old Honda, it might not run at all, because the CV carbs are so oversized, and so finely tuned. It's just not worth messing up the factory jetting. Just leave your stock muffler on. Also, don't drill holes in the airbox, that is also a recipe for disaster, and will change your jetting drastically. Removing the fender is a really insecure attempt at trying to be more manly, and it looks absolutely ridiculous. Streetbikes require a rear license plate. Trying to hang the license plate on with bailing wire, is NOT an improvement.
