Seeing as there is no section that I could see for these old of Honda bikes I guess I will post here. I am 16 years old and planning on getting a street bike in a few years once I head off to college (when I am 18). So in the meantime I just want to pick up a cheap bike to learn to ride on, since I have never ridden a motorcycle before. On top of trying to find a bike that will work fine for me I have to convince my parents that these bikes are safer than me getting a street bike. And I know they know that I wouldn't be like the people here hitting 100mph+ in residential. But they are still stuck on the fact that everything bad that can happen will happen to me. I know the dangers of riding a bike and everything and I would plan on taking MSF course once I got a bike, but sadly they are still stuck on the word, "no". So anyways off that subject and back onto the bikes. Since I have never ridden before and low on money, no one is hiring here (damn recession I guess, lol). I was thinking about getting a cheap Honda Gold wing or these others bikes I found. One is a 1982 Honda CM450E for $1000 (Here) or 1972 Honda 125 Motorcycle for $500 (Here).

Although I like the first bike more I know it wont be for sale by the time I can convince my parents to allow me to purchase a bike, but just wondering are these fine bikes to learn to ride on?

*Also I buy everything for myself parents don't buy me anything. Just had to throw that in since I can foresee some posts. [sm=smiley36.gif]

 

An old Goldwing can be a bit of a handfull in the manouvering department & can be a bit pricey/complicated for someone on a budget to maintain. But they are a good machine, but big.
I would go with the 450 myself, the other looks like its not quite a dirt bike & not quite a road bike, A=B, then it would be crap on either.
Parents are the hardest things to get around, but heres a hint, as long as they know that your determined to do it, start asking your old man on advice about wot would be a good bike, ok your going to be seriously kissing his backside & you don't really have to get wot he recomends. but your gaining an allies & thats 50% on the yes/no vote & he gets to take some of the heat when you have your 1st **** up.
Go & do the riding course 1st up, take him with you, get him all excited, hit him for a loan!!
Good luck

 

You know what I would suggest? Get something like a XR400 or XR650 or something. I would almost say the XR400, because it is a light bike, and is fast enough to be around town, and the power to weight is still good that you can have your fun on it. But also the weight thing when it is light you'll get use to handling a bike and when you get into something with more weight you'll be like "whatever" Also if you are able to have some fun in the dirt, you'll get use to sliding the tires, and a good dirt rider learns street just that much faster. I have had many friends learn on dirt bikes and then when they get old enough they step up to street bikes. And they start off a lot faster than I did when i just started off from street bike.

 

If I were you, I'd give the Gold Wing a miss - nice bike, but heavy and hard to move around, and they get expensive when things go wrong.[X(]
Pacemaker's advice is sound - get Dad on your side - it's a long time ago for me (but Dad rode a bike in his youth) so while still difficult, it eventually worked.......
I'd go for something in the 250-450 range, a single or twin cylinder maybe an old Honda or (ugh) Yamaha. It's just to teach you the basics, and you're going to fall off it more than once, so looks aren't an issue - leave the "looking cool" 'till later - right now you need something reliable, that'll teach you the basics. Once you've done the course and have worked on the bike a bit, then get something a bit more powerful - I see far too many younger guys get straight on a 600 sports bike with no idea of what its able to do, and they wreck it while learning - expensive and pointless.
Good luck

 

No way on the Goldwing. At 16 that thing will be pretty heavy for you and will be unweildy (unless you are some HS heavyweight wrestling star) If you want cheap and easy to learn on, but a Rebel 250. You are probably small enough that it will fit fine and it will be new enough 2000+ easily, with many deals being had on even 04 models. It won't be the fastest thing but you'll get the hang of riding and insurance shouldn't kill your wallet. Heck, I'm thinking of giving my Aunt's 250 a try for a week just to get it back on the road and see what kind of milage a big guy can swueeze out of a little 250.

 

Hyabusa = Great beginner bike

But on a serious note. All those bikes are "street bikes" I think what you were trying to say was sport bikes? correct me if that was wrong.

(If im correct about the sport bike) I would say check out the new ninja 250's. The MSRP is only 3499 or something cheap like that. Since your only 16 could be a great way to start building up your credit too =] Use that one with the parents, couldnt hurt huh?

The new ninja 250 not only looks great, and would be sufficent enough for a beginner, but they hold their resale value suprisinly well, so you can upgrade to a 600.

Well thats my .02 Hope it helped somewhat

 

Well you didn't give us any real info....like are a big 16 or a little 16 have your parents been around bikes much ?could be a tough sell bein your only 16.so here's what I suggest...I like SurfnSCal's idea on the "Enduro Bike", 400 might be big though for somone who's never ridden, try something in the 250 class of street legal Enduro's or a "Dual Sport" they are a hybrid of dirt/street bike that are made from the manufacturer street legalyou can learn on and still hit some trails show Mom and Dad your responsible then move up from there[&:] .........just make damn sure you buy "Honda" that way it shows your smart too [8D]

 

No on the Goldwing. The 450 might be ok, but older bikes can be alot of work and parts can be hard to get. I would look at a newer Ninga 250 or even a Honda Rebel 250. They can be bought cheap and are both easy to ride and will not get away from you and parts are easy to get. The Ninja is going to be faster the the Rebel since it's a same sport bike VS a cruiser.

I think your smart for wanting to start off small and cheap at your age. Get some seat time in on a small cheap bike and then when your a bit older you will be ready for a nice 600 sport bike or bigger cruiser and will be a good rider.

Good luck and be safe.

 

Sorry for forgetting some info. I am about 6'0' to 6'1' and weigh about 155lbs. And yeah I haven't ridden a bike before or know how to shift, though I have been told the gist of how to but just have nothing to try on. But I guess that is the purpose of the course is to learn. But thanks everyone for the great feedback.

Well I have been trying to get on his good side, but like I said my parents think that everything that can go wrong will go wrong and that some old lady will pull out in front of me. My dad use to have quads and sand rails back in the day he would take down to Glamis, CA all the time, but he has never had a motorcycle so it is kind of hard getting him to feel it is ok.


Alright thanks. I will take a look to see if there is any for sale in my area. In my area all we have for sale is mainly dirt bikes and a lot of cruisers. So it shouldn't be too hard finding an XR, since I have seen a few.


Alright thanks for the info.


Yeah sorry about that. It was a bit late at night and I was tired. But I was referring to Sport bike as Street bikes and these basically as cruisers. Oh well. But I was thinking of getting a ninja 250, but I have only about $1,500 to work with and no job since not one place is hiring currently. So the ninja is out of the question since I know my parents wouldn't put any money into it. So I was planning on picking up a cheap bike this summer and just working on it and everything and taking MSF course then get a seasonal job since I know I can get a job then and then start riding my bike and get insurance. Since I know I can not pay for insurance

 

Ha, growing up my parents told me I would never have a bike too. Now they just accept that its a lifestyle.