Where to start looking for your first motorcycle?
With an understanding of two things. The first thing is your safety! The second is comfort. Both are impossible if you don’t understand why you need a motorcycle! After all, motorcycle classes are not an extra line in the PTS, but an important criterion in determining applicability.
Where, who and with whom will travel
Here are the basic questions you need to answer for yourself to ensure you understand which motorcycle to buy and not regret your choice. Let's start with the last one - with whom.
With no one. If you are just starting to master motorcycle technology, then wait a while with passengers. After all, the weight distribution and inertia of a motorcycle in the presence of a passenger are completely different, plus, there is a high probability of inappropriate behavior of the passenger. And until you learn to confidently handle a bike, it is strictly not recommended to ride someone. Therefore, when choosing the first model, first of all you need to look at your own comfort, and not about the large back seat or its tilt in your direction (so that the girl would snuggle closer).
Ratio between motorcycle and driver dimensions
Even a technically ideal vehicle will be difficult to drive if the rider is not comfortable. You must take into account your own anthropometry. Therefore, the rule “the lighter and smaller, the better for a beginner” is not entirely correct - for a two-meter and one hundred kilogram “guy” riding some “Honda Dio” will be uncomfortable and even dangerous.
Free, correct fit (and different classes have their own), trouble-free control of the controls, good visibility (including from the mirrors), lack of stiffness and pressure, but no unnecessary movements in the saddle, on the pegs and levers - this is the required minimum . The maximum is when you also visually like the motorcycle itself and the way you look on it, because thoughts about being comical do not contribute to attentiveness. The ideal is if all this is combined with safety precautions.
Each motorcycle has its own roads
If a motorcycle is necessary for everyday driving around the city, then a small small-capacity motorcycle will be “the thing.” On a moped or scooter it will be easy to “break through” the taffy, just park and maneuver, but on the contrary, it will be difficult to overheat even a “fifty kopeck” over short distances. If the intended “habitat of the iron horse” is country roads, dirt roads, areas with a large number of curbs, different types of surfaces, then it makes sense to look at models with high ground clearance, decent suspension travel and large wheels. The worse the roads, the more “specialized” the motorcycle should be. For medium and long distances, it is better to choose models with good wind protection and a low center of gravity.
Hold off on buying a sportbike
Wind in your face, adrenaline, mobility and maneuverability, attention of the opposite sex - all this can be obtained on any motorcycle. But when motorcycling experience is limited to a motor school site or country dirt roads, there is no need to rush. That is, a sports motorcycle for beginners is definitely a bad choice. Attention, muscle memory, the ability to determine the situation in a split second and respond correctly to it come with time. But a sports motorcycle does not give it and does not forgive mistakes, and not only yours - poor-quality coating, unsuitable fluids, unqualified service (and qualified service costs a pretty penny, which we will talk about later) - all this needs to be taken into account.
The largest number of accidents on city streets and highways involving motorcyclists occurs with newcomers to “sports”!
Nobody forbids mastering a sportbike from scratch. But it’s better to do this on a motorcycle track, under the supervision of an experienced instructor, gaining road experience on a calmer vehicle. If absolutely not, then let us remind you that today there are enough motorcycles and scooters with good dynamics, but not so sensitive accelerator and some limitation of power and speed, stylized as “sports”. For the first time they will be enough, and then you can take more serious equipment
How much does it cost to own a motorcycle?
And now we are not talking about the price of a specific model. Even absolutely sane people, when determining which motorcycle is best to buy for a beginner, forget that money for the purchase is not the last item of expenditure. When planning to join the motorcycle fraternity, you need to remember that you will also need money for:
- Training at a motorcycle school and obtaining a license
- Regular motorcycle maintenance (the more fashionable and modern the motorcycle, the more expensive)
- Proper storage and seasonal canning (if climatic conditions require it)
- Periodic registration of insurance
- Purchasing quality equipment
None of these points should be ignored or tried to save too much!
Yes, a normal helmet or jacket costs from 9,000-11,000 rubles each, and obtaining a category “A” driver’s license in Moscow will cost 15,000 rubles or even more. But a one-time fine for driving without a license costs 8,000-16,000 rubles, and 2,000 rubles. cast for just one finger.
Not always, but many require additional expenses:
- Protective bars (sliders) that will protect the rider and reduce the cost of repairs after a fall (and you will fall, believe me, bruises, contusions and more serious injuries for those who have been in the saddle for many years)
- Lighting equipment and mirrors - not only budget, but also expensive models cannot always boast of the ideality of these design elements, plus, we remember about personal anthropometry
- Cases and trunks - if you need to carry something, but the standard equipment is insufficient
- Secure parking – not everyone has their own garage and a space in the official parking lot
Attention Muscovites and guests!
Parking of two-wheeled motor vehicles in city paid parking lots is free. But this does not mean that you will not have to pay for violating traffic rules regarding placing a motorcycle in a temporary parking lot! And leaving a motorcycle for a long time somewhere in the yard unattended is not a good idea.
What are the classes of motorcycles?
If all of the above doesn’t scare you and the question of how to choose your first motorcycle is still relevant for you, it’s time to get acquainted with the classes of two-wheeled vehicles, because they are the ones who determine applicability.
Road motorcycles
"Classics of the genre". Their design is as versatile as possible, and such a motorcycle can be ridden around the city, on the highway, and, with some luck, even on off-road dirt roads. Simplicity and convenience of controls, the most upright landing, mostly average size, power and dynamics, although there are “slopes” up and down. They often have standard safety features and small glove compartments for tools. It is almost always possible to install additional components, such as luggage racks, wardrobe trunks, cigarette lighters, and so on.
Please note that in recent years, “road bikes” have begun to be styled as sportbikes and “street bikes” with the help of a plastic or metal body kit, but the character of such models and design features will not allow them to fully “chase” or stunt. So if you are crazy about “sports”, but are a neophyte in the motorcycle world, this is a good alternative for the first season.
Cruisers
This class and its variety, choppers, are associated with the concept of “bikers” and are often called “Harleys” by the domestic public. A loose fit, an abundance of chrome, smooth and impressive contours, a solid size, a low center of gravity, and often wheels of different diameters and widths prevent them from being confused with anything else. Heavy cruisers are designed for quiet driving over long distances, but their medium- and small-capacity versions are quite suitable for daily use.
Another thing is that the impressive size, weight and landing features can create some difficulties for a beginner, especially in the city. Therefore, if you are in love with this class, we recommend starting with lighter and simpler models, especially since selling them on the secondary market will not be a problem later.
Scooter
Their main technical and visual feature is the hooded body and the power unit shifted to the rear wheel. Together, this allows you to protect the driver, passenger and units from splashes and wind, as well as provide luggage space, which is sometimes quite impressive. But the skin is mostly plastic, suffers from stones and debris flying from the road, and cracks from vibrations, which significantly spoils the visual appeal. Wheel sizes vary from 10 inches on small models to 13-15 inches on maxi scooters
Most modern models are equipped with a variator, that is, there is no need to change gears. And if the goal is to get comfortable on the road, to get used to the presence of other road users, then this is the best motorcycle for beginners, especially considering the variety of sizes and characteristics.
Scooteretta
A kind of hybrid of a light road bike and a scooter. Most models have a semi-automatic transmission (there is a switch, but no clutch lever), wheels with a diameter of 16-17 inches, a motorcycle engine with a volume of 50-125 cm3, a chain drive and a partially hooded body.
Honda Cuper Cab, its most famous clone - Viper Active and many of its Chinese brothers are very popular in the periphery, guaranteeing low fuel consumption and relatively calm overcoming of any roads, even dirt tracks.
Off-road motorcycles
Long-travel suspension, “serious” large-diameter tires, significant ground clearance - everything you need to not pay attention to the surface and the presence of the road as a whole. But full-fledged cross-country motorcycles and “hard enduro” are not intended for riding on public roads. They have high windage, short service life, terrible stability on flat hard surfaces, a small tank and low cruising speed.
You should choose a “clean” SUV as your first motorcycle only when you strive to conquer “virgin lands” on a regular basis or live in the wilderness. But, in the category there are “civilian” versions - universal motorcycles with less cross-country ability, but more suitable for developed roads. And most importantly, such models are equipped with all the necessary lighting equipment and are certified.
Sportbikes
We have already said that a sports motorcycle is suitable for a beginner only if it is mastered on an equipped track and under the supervision of an experienced instructor. Anything that can rightfully be called a sportbike is too powerful, fast, heavy and unsafe (arch bars and sliders are absent here, and often impossible even as an option).
Additionally, true sports bikes are often made with expensive materials and technology, and their initial cost is much higher than most other classes. And due to the high risk of falls, we strongly do not recommend buying such a bike first - even if everything ends well for the owner, thoughts about the cost of repairs will discourage the love of motor riding for a long time.
Tourers
Touring motorcycles are not the best choice as a first choice. With a lot of advantages, an attractive appearance, and a bunch of useful options, they have two serious drawbacks for beginners - very heavy weight and an extremely “toothy” price tag. The class is divided into three types according to purpose and use:
- Luxury tourers – for long distances and ideal surfaces.
- Tour-enduro – off-road motorcycles for “green tourism” (the large weight of two wheels does not allow such equipment to be a full-fledged “all-terrain vehicle”);
- Sports-touring motorcycles are a hybrid of a tourist, a cruiser and a sportbike, which can cost the same as all of them combined.
But, since many people ride a motorcycle for long trips and a sense of freedom, we will still include a couple of “adequate” models in our rating of motorcycles for beginners.
Gasoline or battery?
Also, in accordance with adult models, children's motocross motorcycles can run on gasoline or electricity.
The advantages of electric copies are: • savings on gasoline and oil - the charge comes from a regular outlet; • good torque, so acceleration occurs quickly; • large range of revolutions per minute; • noiselessness.
The disadvantages include: • the need for frequent recharging; • lack of a conventional gearbox.
The main advantages of gasoline models include: • large power reserve; • excellent dynamic performance; • high safety due to the shifted center of gravity.
In addition, all leading manufacturers produce children's motorcycles only in “gasoline” versions. The main disadvantage of such mini-crosses is the need to purchase gasoline and oil and mix them in the required proportions before refueling.
TOP 10 best motorcycles for a beginner in 2022
Due to differences in classes, as well as the fact that everyone’s financial capabilities are different, we tried to form our TOP motorcycles for beginners based on a balance of criteria such as stylistic preferences, price and technical characteristics. Moreover, the last point does not imply the best performance in its class, but its optimality for those who are just learning to drive a motorcycle or have minimal experience. And we looked for such “cars” based on a couple per type - a budget option and a more expensive model, as well as, if possible, the closest alternatives. So, let's go have a look...
Yamaha YBR125
Yamaha began producing this lightweight, small-capacity road motorcycle back in 2004, and to date, 4 generations have been presented. This is a truly universal model that will be easy for a beginner to handle, even if she is a fragile girl. If we take into account reliability, controllability, stability, convenience and dynamism, then this is the best that a beginner can buy with only 72,000 rubles (on the secondary market).
But it’s not for nothing that “Yubrik” is called so affectionately; for a large guy or man it will not be entirely comfortable, so if you have dimensions of 185 cm, 90 kg and have an additional 35,000 rubles in reserve, we advise you to take a closer look at its direct competitor - updated Honda CB125. It is slightly larger, similar in design and characteristics (torque is even slightly larger), and also has a very useful feature for a beginner - a gear indicator (shows not only “neutral”, but also a specific gear).
Bajaj Dominar 400
In the heavier and more expensive segment, the competition is much higher, but the product of the Indian concern is more suitable for a beginner due to its relatively calm nature (when compared with analogues of the KTM series). Last year, the engine of this model received two camshafts and became “heavier” to 40 hp. at 35 N/m. The exhaust system was adjusted, a 43-mm upside-down fork was installed, and the instrument panel was modified. In good condition, you can try to find such a used Bajaj for 230,000-250,000 rubles.
Accordingly, the main competitor of “Dominar” in the road motorcycle category – the BMW G310R, with a cost of 72,000-85,000 rubles more and much more expensive maintenance, can now rely only on its own “branding” and... still a slightly higher quality assembly.
Honda PCX150
Scooters are a very difficult category to choose. The abundance of manufacturers and the incredible variety of characteristics, as well as regular updates, make any rating subjective and of little relevance. But, if you remember the price, characteristics “for a beginner,” and also focus only on models that have already proven themselves, then you can settle on this Honda for 180,000-220,000 rubles. No longer a small-capacity vehicle, but not yet a “sofa”, thanks to the 14 wheels, this “Maksik” feels great in the city and suburbs, where a 150 cc engine can accelerate it to 120 km/h, and water cooling will prevent overheating.
An alternative in the category could be: an inexpensive fuel-injected Honda Pantheon 150 (if you can find this old model in acceptable condition); slightly more expensive than the Yamaha NM-X125.
Piaggio MP3300
Among the more expensive scooters aimed at a beginner, it would be right to highlight this Italian model with a slightly futuristic design. Its special feature is two wheels at the front, which, due to the special suspension design, can move at different levels and provide excellent stability. Although this is a tricycle, the wheels are located close together, so maneuverability and maneuverability in the city are excellent. The cruising speed of the 300 cc version on the highway is about 110-120 km/h, which is not very convenient on highways, but overall it is enough. The cost of an MP3, depending on the year and condition, fluctuates around 215,000 rubles for a used 250 and above.
If you believe the rumors about the bad behavior of such “undertrikes”, pay attention to the neo-retro Vespa GTS Super 300 IE for the same money or the SYM Joymax 300 (about 72,000 rubles cheaper).
Honda Steed 400/600
Choosing a cruiser for a beginner is even more difficult than choosing a scooter. Here the weight of the motorcycle, and therefore the confidence in driving without experience, directly depends on the cubic capacity. At the same time, small-capacity cruisers are such only in name and appearance, but in reality, the same road cruisers with lower and higher heights are definitely not suitable. But the Steed from HONDA is something, thanks to its incredible reliability and very low seat height. This motorcycle is also very popular because it can be tuned endlessly. Production ended in the early 2000s, but with proper care and maintenance, a 40-year-old Honda Steed is not a problem, and you can buy such a device from 180,000 rubles.
The design of the motorcycle is quite comfortable for people with different anthropometry. But if for some reason you don’t really like this model, then you can always choose something from the range that is a little more expensive - Yamaha Virago or DragStar.
Kawasaki Vulcan S
For many novice motorcyclists, one of the main problems is starting. We get lost surrounded by cars, we are afraid of stalling at a traffic light, we worry about it and... we stall when it turns green. The high-speed cruiser “Vulcan” can start with virtually no throttle, which will add confidence to the beginner, and the ABS system (optional) will forgive mistakes when braking. If you consider that a brand new 650 cc Kawasaki, along with all its advantages, costs “only” 540,000-580,000 rubles, then you can take a closer look at representatives of the same price and power range of the Suzuki Intruder series or the “shadow” (Honda Shadow ). And for fans of the most famous name in the cruiser/chopper category, we recommend the relatively new Harley-Davidson Street 750.
Yamaha WR250R
An instructor should tell you how to choose an off-road motorcycle. But the presented soft-enduro, a “civilian” version of a lightweight cross-country motorcycle, is certainly suitable even for a beginner. This lightweight bike, with good handling and water cooling, is unlikely to jump over logs or climb rocks, but it rides great on light off-road conditions and allows you to practice the necessary skills. At the same time, there won’t be any particular problems on a track with a hard, even surface. Plus, this model has a wide variety of family, over time you can switch to the WR250F hard or WR250X motard. The cost of a used motorcycle in good condition is from 200,000 rubles.
Suzuki RM-Z450
A cross-country motorcycle with a fairly calm character for 450 cc. It is unlikely that you will be able to win immediately and against everyone at motocross competitions with it, but you can definitely become a confident user of this type of equipment. For a beginner, it’s better to take the version after 2005, when the model was equipped with an improved engine with fuel injection and a 5-speed gearbox. They also improved the chassis, suspension and lightened the frame. The average price of a “cross bike” in recent years is up to 720,000 rubles; a used one can be found for half the price. Main competitors: Honda CRF450R, Kawasaki KX450F and Yamaha YZ450F
CF-Moto 650 TK
A category such as budget motorcycles for beginners in the touring class might be an unattainable dream. However, the Chinese motorcycle industry, that part of it that makes (relatively) normal equipment, comes to the rescue. Good endurance, well-thought-out design, ABS is already in the database, a lot of spare parts stores in Russia, the world and the Internet, and a price of about 400,000 rubles will allow you to start mastering motorcycle routes for thousands of kilometers (or at least hundreds) at once. The main thing is not to spare money on maintenance.
We find it difficult to name something similar in this class that is equally reliable, inexpensive and controllable!
Kawasaki Versys 650, BMW F800GT and Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa
If the budget is not limited, then the choice of a touring motorcycle will depend on the intended routes and preferred riding style. Therefore, in this category we present you with three options to choose from - enduro tour for 600,000-650,000 rubles, classic tour for 720,000 and sports tour for 1,080,000 rubles. respectively. Listing the advantages of these models is long and tedious, but there is a lot of information about them on the Internet, so you can choose the type that you like and carefully study the characteristics and reviews.
Or go off the beaten path and ride the Honda Gold Wing, although choosing a roughly 400-kilogram motorcycle as your first choice requires considerable size and strength, or an enormous ego.
Which motorcycle should you choose first? 15 models for beginners
In urban conditions, a motorcycle provides an undeniable advantage in maneuverability and speed of movement, which is why the number of owners of two-wheeled vehicles is growing rapidly from year to year. More and more “first-season riders” are appearing in the ranks of motorcycle enthusiasts, many of whom are asking the age-old question “which motorcycle should I buy first?” We tried to summarize all the parting words from “experienced” people regarding the purchase of their first motorcycle in one huge review.
Of course, it is not possible to combine all the options (especially among used motorcycles), so we limited ourselves to the models published in the catalog and tried to offer a generalized selection of new motorcycles for a wide variety of budgets and tasks. All models listed in the review can be purchased in the showrooms of official dealers in stock or on order. Well, we will tell you which used models to choose as your first motorcycle in the next issues of the magazine.
Purpose of the motorcycle
First, you need to decide why you are buying a motorcycle. Where do you plan to travel with it most often? Let’s say, moving around Moscow every day will be more convenient on a small-capacity scooter than on a shiny, lame cruiser, because image, especially in 30-degree heat, is nothing in this case. For driving mainly on paved intercity roads, it makes sense to pay attention to the bonneted (plastic-lined) versions of motorcycles, and for bad roads it is better to choose a motorcycle with a long-travel suspension - it will better cope with uneven surfaces at the entrance to your summer cottage.
You need to choose a motorcycle with your heart, but in your choice it is also recommended to proceed from the physical characteristics of the owner. Being a two-meter athlete, you should not consider purchasing equipment that is too small and vice versa - it is important not to overestimate your capabilities by choosing an overly powerful or heavy device.
Expensive equipment and an abundance of electronic systems do not guarantee the safety of a beginner who chooses a sportbike as his first motorcycle.
The lighter the motorcycle, the easier it is to control it at low, and therefore suitable for learning, speeds. In the future, most of these nuances will be leveled out by experience, but in this case we are talking about buying a first motorcycle for 1-2 seasons.
Motorcycle classes
Motorcycles can be divided into several classes, depending on their design, appearance and intended purpose. Here are the main ones:
Road
The easiest place to start is with classic road bikes. On most “road bikes” you are provided with the correct seating position and easy adaptation to motorcycle controls. Often, road motorcycles have a plastic fairing and sometimes look like the so-called. “sportbikes”, although, of course, they are not such.
Road motorcycles are comfortable for city and highway riding and are sometimes called "all-rounders". Modern models are usually equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) and sometimes with a stability control system (TCS). These “electronic assistants” are designed to make it easier to control the bike and prevent such dangerous situations as wheel locking during emergency braking, or, on the contrary, slipping of the rear tire during acceleration (“drift”). However, such systems are often installed on motorcycles of other classes.
Cruisers
Motorcycles of the Cruiser class are often mistakenly called “choppers,” but unlike the classic chopper with an extended fork and a rigid “hardtail” rear suspension, cruisers are quite suitable for daily use. These “limousines” are designed for leisurely movement on good quality roads and suburban highways. However, there are also “wolves in sheep’s clothing”: uncompromising power cruisers, whose acceleration and handling are reminiscent of sportbikes (though such “steroid jocks” are prohibitively expensive to match their characteristics).
Cruisers, due to their too loose fit and low maneuverability, are not the best choice as a first motorcycle; in addition, some of them are quite heavy and wide for moving along narrow city aisles. But sometimes these bikes are so consistent with the style and charisma of the owner that there are no other options left except buying a cruiser.
Scooters
The scooter is an excellent vehicle for city riding due to its small dimensions, the presence of a luggage rack under the saddle and minimal fuel consumption. There is no need to operate a gearbox on a scooter, since most models have a CVT.
The engine capacity of modern “mopeds” ranges from 50 cm3 to... 800 cm3 for new models. In addition, ABS is very common among new bikes. But the popularity of scooters as the first two-wheeled vehicle has decreased somewhat, since a driver’s license has been required to drive even the simplest fifty-kopeck scooters since 2013.
All-terrain
An all-terrain motorcycle will give you that feeling of freedom that experienced motorcyclists talk about. You no longer need to think about the quality of the road surface or its availability in general - the long-travel suspension will easily cope with all the bumps on your way.
You will have to pay for cross-country ability with lower cruising speed on the highway, a modest gas tank and high windage. We will only talk about dual-use models - uncompromising “enduro” and “evil” motocross motorcycles are not suitable for the first season at all, except in cases where a beginner aims to use the equipment exclusively in closed areas and is ready to transport the motorcycle to the place of “rides” in a trailer.
Sports
Sports motorcycles are the right choice for track riding. But riding a “sportbike” around the city can become a deadly activity for a beginner: according to the sad statistics of motorcycle accidents, the majority of accidents occur among owners of “sports” who failed to control the “explosive” projectile. And every fall on a lightweight “plastic” motorcycle costs the would-be motorcycle racer a very substantial amount - a rare “sport” can be equipped with the safety bars that are so necessary for a beginner, because their installation often requires breaking the integrity of the fairing.
But the aesthetics and power of sports motorcycles are so attractive to novice bikers (and, to be honest, girls who love motorcycles), that we will consider several options suitable for an inexperienced motorcyclist in this class.
Tourist
Motorcycles of the tourist class can be divided into all-terrain, luxury and sport-tourism.
All-terrain tourists are distinguished by increased suspension travel, high ground clearance and good wind protection (however, their use on real off-road terrain is limited by their rather large weight). Luxury tourers combine passenger and driver comfort, luggage capacity and greater weight, which has a positive effect on stability when driving at high speeds in a straight line. The catalog of options on such bikes is usually comparable to a telephone directory, and the price is far beyond the average budget for a first motorcycle. Well, sports touring models are distinguished by a powerful engine, comfortable seating and an unattainably high price tag.
Based on a combination of factors, a touring motorcycle is not the best choice for a beginner, however, there are exceptions here too...
Options for motorcycles suitable for the first season.
The reality is that you can get on and ride on any motorcycle, absolutely any cubic capacity. However, it is important to understand that riding a powerful bike is associated with a high level of risk and it is worth starting your acquaintance with the world of motorcycles with “friendly” bikes. Such motorcycles will not present surprises when you suddenly open the gas and will be predictable in handling and deceleration.
We have selected several worthy options for the first season in each class of motorcycles and in different budget ranges - from 150 to 750 thousand rubles for a new unit from the showroom.
Please note that the photographs of motorcycles are prepared in real scale - you can evaluate the ratio of the dimensions of different models and even “try on” them to suit your height (on the motorcycle page).
Road
Honda CB125
Honda fans will not ignore the small-capacity CB125. This motorcycle is an excellent alternative to the memorable Yamaha YBR125 - at a lower price, the CB125 has a little more torque, has a more laconic design, and also has a built-in indicator of the selected gear, which is an extremely useful option for both beginners and experienced motorcyclists. Having larger dimensions than the YBR, the small-capacity Honda looks and feels less “bicycle-like,” which has a positive effect on the comfort of movement. Well, Yubra itself will be recommended to you by fellow motorcyclists as a universal answer to all occasions, which it was when it cost 75–90,000 rubles.
However, the YBR125 still remains the most accessible Yamaha model for a beginner, because... its closest twin, the Fazer250 (known on the foreign market as the YBR250) costs 255,000 rubles, apparently in the company’s desire to get rid of family ties with the inexpensive Ubers, including the price.
Bajaj Pulsar 200NS
In 2015, the Indian concern Bajaj literally burst into the Russian market with two new models - the “naked” Pulsar 200NS and its hooded version RS 200. For beginners, we recommend purchasing a version without plastic, because in the event of a fall, the minimum cladding on the “naked” version is practically not will suffer, which cannot be said about the version with a fairing.
Pulsar 200NS is a calm, friendly motorcycle with a modern fuel-injected engine and anti-lock braking system. The low saddle makes it possible for even short pilots to feel confident.
The cost of the Bajaj Pulsar 200NS in Russia starts from 179,000 rubles and is the most affordable “200” on the market. For those who prefer proven brands to new ones, we can recommend the KTM Duke 250. The Austrian Duke is an excellent city lighter. For a very reasonable amount, you will get a light and maneuverable motorcycle that will not give you offense in the city crowd.
Which motorcycles are better not to buy?
We won’t say categorically that a beginner won’t be able to handle any particular motorcycle. After all, in addition to objective factors, there are also subjective ones, for example, one’s own perseverance. Quite a few experienced motorcyclists started their journey with heavy “Urals” without a sidecar, powerful “one and a half trucks” scattered along the road from the interior of cheap “Chinese” cars or always sick “Voskhods”. And besides luck, there is a comparison. Example - the Honda Rebel is considered the most unsuccessful model of the brand in its class, but at the same time it will give odds to many representatives of the global automobile industry, and not only the Asian “no-names” and the Soviet “oldies”. Therefore, our small anti-rating is more of a recommendation that will help make choosing your first motorcycle a little easier.
- At least for the first time, forget about overly powerful and (or) heavy motorcycles, as well as those on which you feel like a circus strongman on a three-wheeled “Gnome”. In both cases, it will be difficult to cope with the technique, but it will be easy to “knock off the settings,” that is, to acquire the wrong skill.
- You should not purchase retro models for learning to ride a motorcycle, even if at one time they were considered the best in the world. Over 30 years, even with good care, the highest quality materials have already lost their margin of safety, but it is very difficult to find spare parts for equipment that has long been discontinued, and with constant downtime, it will take more than one season to gain and consolidate experience.
- Do not sacrifice quality for the sake of cost, unless you set yourself the goal of becoming not a motorcyclist, but a general-purpose mechanic. Constant repairs will take up money and time, and thoughts about the high probability of breakdown will deprive you of confidence on the road. In the first season you should only think about riding!
"China moto" against the global motorcycle industry
Today there are a lot of high-quality “Made in China” models. Moreover, to reduce the cost of production, a number of famous brands assemble some series in the Middle Kingdom, but at the same time, the quality and its control at such “Chinese enterprises are no worse than in Japan, Europe or the USA. Therefore, it is quite possible to consider a Chinese motorcycle as a training one if it is well assembled, and the brand is already known and has proven itself well.
Used vs new motorcycles
It's a lottery anyway. On the one hand, a bike that had already run should have shown all its disadvantages, on the other hand, it was not a fact, nor was it true that they had been eliminated. Therefore, when you only have enough money for a used one, it is better to borrow from your good friends, or invite a friend (or a paid consultant) who understands a particular model to view it.
In conclusion, we remind you that we and our article in no way claim to be the “ultimate truth.” Our goal is to warn novice riders about possible difficulties and mistakes, sharing the experience of those who have ridden a little more than others on two wheels. And we hope that we have helped you, at least a little, including deciding on the contenders for the title of “your first motorcycle.” We are waiting for comments and suggestions regarding new publications...
Children's motocross motorcycle. Buy at PITBIKER.RU
Model overview
If you are wondering which children's cross-country motorcycle with gasoline to buy, then we present to you the most popular models for different ages. KXD DB 703. A Chinese-made minicross for the youngest pilots - from 4 years old - it is safe, comfortable and easy to control. Among the features, it is worth noting the reinforced frame of the new model and special plastic of increased strength. 49 cc two-stroke single-cylinder engine. and a power of 3.6 hp. allows you to reach speeds of up to 50 km/h. Gas tank capacity is 1.5 liters. Price from 23 thousand rubles.
Models of children's pit bikes with a capacity of 50 cm3 and a wheel diameter of up to 12 inches
As you can see, it’s not at all difficult to buy a children’s motocross motorcycle, because today the market offers a wide variety of models, different in technical characteristics, design, and price level for children of all ages.
