If you want a rocket, a Ninja 250 is about your best bet for a beginner bike. It will do 100, has plenty of snort to get a newbie around, and is cheap.

If you want a cruiser, a Rebel 250 is about your best bet for a beginner bike. Or an older Shadow.

A 250cc bike will move a lot quicker than you'd believe and when you're ready to move up, you can sell it to another newbie rider pretty fast.

i have never rode a dirt bike or anything. im thinking bout a cruiser. but im willing on either. i have had people tell me to start with a bigger bike because they are more balanced. is there any truth to that. i am looking for a bike to go back and forth to work in. and a bike to ride for enjoyment. im not looking for the fastest bike. i was into speed when i was young but i hardly speed at all now. i was told a sport bike is the easiest to learn on.

I don't know if you're into "the outdoors" I see you're from AR, so you probably are since ya'll still have outhouses, right? J/K Anyhoo, I'd get an Enduro type bike. That way you can head out on trails and side roads and not worry about "getting dirty." Check out the Suzuki V-Strom 650, or the high end BMW F650, or KTM 690. These are bonafide Adventure bikes. :pca1::c:

R1 :moto:

well i love the outdoors. and the out house part, well there are still a couple that are still used every day in my area. i realy dont care if i get dirty.

im wanting a bike that wouldbe cheap also. that way when i wreck i wont be out a shit load of money.

Get a Hiboosa lol jk nah get a good learner bike first like something that already is used and already has a few dings and scratches so you wont be mad when you lay it over. I remember when i made the mistake of buying a brand new dirt bike when i was 14 and laying it over and messin it up pretty bad. An endro bike isnt too bad of an idea they are pretty mild bikes for the most part

thats what i was plannin on is getting a well used one. then buy a newer one once i get experinced.

real men get a busa with noss, a chrome swingarm, a thumpin system and a half helmet for their first bike! YEEEAAAYAH!:booo:

I'm an average, full size dude at 210 lbs, the 250cc bikes are scary as crap when I ride them because the suspension and brakes are so soft and chinsy. A suspension that can't be adjusted/setup to your weight will teach you unsafe riding habits. I do believe they're good bikes for featherweights and small girls for commuting only.

it can't be stressed enough that getting a small bike WILL NOT save your life, not being stupid on two wheels will. if you HAVE to get a tiny cc bike just so you won't go too fast you shouldn't be on a bike, in my opinion.

as far as the stability thing goes, rider weight has a fair amount to do with how a bike feels...say you have a pallet of bricks to move, put that pallet in the bed of an S10 or a 2500 diesel...average guy is not going to affect a larger bike's handling/stability as much as you're nowhere near max capacity.

since you've never ridden, two things to me that are an absolute must, as passed on from the smart people that taught me how to ride:

1: spend the $15 and get "A Twist of the Wrist 2" by Keith Code and read it...there are some absolute necessities in there about focus, mindset and body control that any rider needs to know...there's a lot to learning how to ride a bike that you don't have (and really can't afford) to learn the hard way.

2: take the Motorcycle Safety Course before you start riding, whether you already own a bike or not; you'll want to get a bike very soon after so you can practice on your own bike what you learn there.

as far as looking for a bike, I'd recommend going shopping at a few dealerships just to get a price baseline on new and used stuff, also to see what they recommend you get and if they have a used trade-in available. buying private party's the best way to get a smokin deal, also the best way to get a hunk of trash...so only go that route if you've got a buddy that knows bikes to go with you. a dealer trade in will be a bit more but typically they'll go through and inspect the bike, so look at the price as if you bought a private party bike and paid their service dept to look it over.

Honda and Yamaha both make very good bikes, especially the cruisers...they're well engineered, they just perform very well all around and there are plenty of different models available to basically match your style.
I'd say the V-Star, Shadow and VTX are the most popular jap cruisers. I know the shadow comes in a 750 and 1100, the VTX in a 1300 and 1800. I'd say if you're looking to eventually have a little fun or EVER take a passenger, the 1100-1300 bikes would suit you well. that shadow 750 is not enough power for my roommate and his girl, he's 180 lb and she's all of maybe 125...he'd much rather have the 1100.
another reason to go to some dealerships is to sit on different bikes and see what the differences look like in person rather than online.

thanks for the info and the great ideas.
im 5'5" and 230. so im needing somethin that aint real tall either

Since you've never ridden a motorcycle of ay sorts definately look into a saftey/riding course. Money well spent to possibly save your life.

I watched a kid try to leave the local dealership on a brand new crotch rocket> He must have never been on a bike in his life. It took close to 10 mins of just sitting there for him the get the courage to take off across the 4 lane rd. And he almost got wacked!!

I have a suzuki Drz400 enduro bike. I absolutely love it because we have miles of dirt roads around here to ride. Plus i ride it back and forth to work every day at 50mpg!! It's a tall bike though.