What's the suitable motorcycle for beginners?

Some of the things I would look for in a motorcycle for a novice rider:

   ●Relatively small engine displacement. Here in the U.S., the smallest common displacement is around 250cc—in other countries, this is considered enormous. A smaller engine limits top speed, and allows for a very controllable power output, an advantage for a rider who hasn’t learned precise throttle control yet.

   ●Light weight. 400 pounds, ideally, and not more than 500 pounds. This can prevent tip-over accidents where a rider isn’t used to handling the weight of the vehicle.

   ●Lack of plastic fairings. These get cracked if the bike tips over, and can be rather expensive to repair or replace.

   ●1- or 2-cylinder engine. Typically, these make most of their torque at a lower rev range, and are more useful for a beginner than a seasoned racer.

   ●Used. The idea here is to learn, and pass it on to the next rider who needs to learn. You don’t need to make all your mistakes on a brand-new bike.

   ●Low seat height. This is mainly about confidence at stoplights, but that’s an important thing. It’s nice to be able to put both feet flat on the ground when you’re not moving.

   ●Upright seating position. Race bikes have that crouched-over position, and it can be comfortable when you’re riding at a pretty good speed—the wind blast will relieve a lot of the weight on your wrists. A standard, dual-sport, or cruiser motorcycle will have a much more upright position.

Bikes that meet these criteria:

   ●Any Honda CB from 250–400cc (CB250, CB300, CB400, etc.). The Nighthawk is a very competent machine (I learned on one!) and meets pretty much all the above criteria, and can generally be had for a fairly reasonable price.

   ●Honda Rebel. A cute little cruiser with a nearly indestructible engine. Especially good for smaller riders. A bit lacking in the suspension department.

   ●Yamaha Virago 250. Pretty similar to the Rebel.

   ●Honda CBR250. This violates the “no plastic” rule, but if you can learn without dropping it, you’ll have an extremely competent machine that will last you for years.

   ●Kawasaki Ninja 250. The littlest Ninja is a real motorcycle, acts like one, and is completely capable of triple-digits speeds if you have the patience. This one also violates the no-plastic rule, but it might just be worth it. These have been around for decades, and are well-proven.

   ●Kawasaki KLR250. A dual-sport that’s excellent for rough road, and commutes well on-road and off.