Bike suggestions

Hey guys, I found this site this morning, and I really like how much help everyone is, so I decided to join and create a topic of my own.  
I'm in high school, and I just got my first job.  I really want a bike because it has always interested me and I plan on working all summer to get a bike before school starts.  I am really interested the in Yamaha r6 raven.  But I have read around the forum and many people have suggested not to buy a 600cc bike for their first bike.  I have a very low budget, and I don't really want to buy two bikes, such as a 250 and then buy another bike a few months later.  Is this logical? Or do you guys think I could sell a 250 fairly easily, and then buy an r6 after that, after saving for a while longer?  

Hi T,

Sign up and take the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's basic rider course and learn to ride on their bike...that would give you a little experience with a small displacement bike. You might decide that the 250cc bikes they use for the course would be enough to deal with as a beginning rider. The reality is that you will probably drop the bike several times before you really get the hang of things. Better to do that with a less expensive, lighter, smaller displacement bike. There is less chance of you having a serious injury that way. And take from someone who has been riding a while....there are those that have crashed and those that will. It is pretty much inevitable. The smaller lighter bike is less likely to do permanent damage to you...take it from somebody who just crashed a month ago, it really hurts bad when you do. The bigger and heavier the machine, when you get in it's way while it is falling down, it really hurts a lot more. So try the MSF BRC and see what you think. Another thing to consider, is the small displacement bikes in local driving will do much better on fuel consumption than larger ones. The cost of operation is something you need to crank into your decision about which bike to buy. A lot of folks end up getting the same kind of bike they use in the BRC. And that wouldnt be a bad move. You will learn much and less painfully with a lower powered bike than with a 600-650 class bike which, in general, has the capability to outrun most cars. Until you get some experience, the smaller bike is a better choice. Later, you will have more money and a new 650 might make good sense say 2 or 3 years down the road. Until then, you can ride a less expensive bike to buy, insure and maintain
and still have a heck of a lot of fun with it. Feel free to drop me a note with your questions if you would like to.  

Thanks a lot! I think that I will try out this course.  I have looked into the course, it's pretty cheap and it says it voids the riding portion of your motorcycle license exam.  I think that I will sign up for this in the near future.  But I have also been looking at some 250's that I would be interested in riding.  I was looking at the Kawasaki ninja 250R, and the Honda CBR 250.  Is their an overall better bike between the two, or is it preference?  

The MSF course is definitely a must, it might even save you money on insurance.  And I'm glad you decided to go with 250.  With that said how can you not like the new ninja 250?  I've owned two Kawasaki's and they are great bikes.  With the restyling they just did for 2008 I don't see how you can go wrong.  The bike looks great, the performance from any Kawi is great, and the resale value is good.  

Welcome to the forums!  These guys are spot on - take the MSF course!  You will be very glad that you did.  It is extremely helpful.  Before you look at bikes, look at insurance.  Someone your age will pay through the ears with a super sport like the R6!  If you're on a tight budget, the insurance alone will probably hurt you.

Secondly, a 250 to start is a great idea and to answer your question of selling it, you shouldn't have any problem.  250's are always in demand from new riders and they hold their value fairly well.  I suggest buying the Kawi 250R and learning with that until you get more comfortable, then go with R6 (that's what I ride and I love it).

Don't overlook a used bike as well.  It won't cost you as much, the insurance will be less and if you happen to put the bike down, you won't cry quite as hard about having to repair that expensive plastic.

Hope this helps.  Stop back at some point and let us know what you end up going with.