Yam. I'm 61 passed my full UK test in March. 40 years experience driving a manual car and rode a Honda 250 40 years ago. First bike in March was a Triumph Tiger Sport 660 and after 6 months bought a Triumph Street Triple 765R. For me it's been perfect. As a mature rider, I don't want to race or squid. I go fast when it's safe. I know how much it hurts to get hit by a car, which happened riding a cycle, don't wanna do it again. Love the videos.
Rode for years then stopped when I had kids, last summer purchased a Triumph 660 and in all homes it’s the perfect bike for me,it goes fast enough it’s ok on the highway and good in the city. I’ve added some comfort to it so for now it’s perfect.
quite parallel to my own experience, IMHO if you don't love the occasional bit of speed and accelleration you aint getting the full biking deal, and it's nice to know it's there, but i mainly just pootle about the lanes taking in the countryside and enjoying the ride for it's own sake. GL
@ time will tell, hopefully he doenst get hurt. He will have to elevate his skill level super quick but at least he’s recording to get tips and advice from other riders
Man that dude just posted another video where he's doing 100mph+ pulls, running red lights, trying to race everyone and dropping his bike... went from "i'm taking it easy, i don't know how to shift or lean, this thing is heavy I can't balance on it, I'm going 5 under the speed limit" just a couple weeks ago. I hate to say it, but he's on the squid to sushi path.
Its a simple equation really; Ego + overconfidence in ability + 1000cc sportbike = crashed bike with the chance of a dead squid. So many people here on yt get overconfident after like a month of riding..
First time rider, aged 55. Started this past summer with the MSF course… Picked up a KAWA Z500 SE, and it’s been a great learning machine for me. MSF skills have already saved my butt a few times from clueless car drivers. Have already put 1,700 miles on it, and I’m thinking of getting a Z900 this spring, and that’ll be the one I keep for several years. Have been loving the learning journey and finally realizing a childhood dream of mine.
Apart from the adjustable suspensions, I don't see any advantage in the Z900 I have a similar profile and I got an Eliminator, which I don't intend to change.
Just be careful with that extra rear wheel power. It'll be easy to spin up the rear from a junction turn or leaned over. I don't know what the traction control is like on the bike. Enjoy.
when i passed my test i asked the instructor if he thought i should get a smaller cc bike as my first 'big bike' jumping from a 125cc, say a 500cc or 300cc, and his answer surprised me, he said 'ride what you wan't', it's all about how you use the right hand', and as i fancied a 750cc hornet that's what i bought with a few reservations as to if it may have been a bit too much of a jump for me to handle. After the first ride it was obvious there wasn't a bit of it, it was fun and easy to ride. I did spend a year before taking my test to learn the biking craft which taught me a lot and i suppose being in my 60's helped, but id say as long as u aint stupid, go for it, but if you ride stupid you will be an organ donor no matter what the bike. GL
Smaller cc bikes are good for learning the basics but they’re not going to teach you how to manage the power of a litre bike. You want to master a powerful bike, you have to ride powerful bikes. People think riding small bikes for a decade will make you a master rider compared to someone that started big. It doesn’t, just like driving a car for 30 years doesn’t make you a master driver who can suddenly control the power of. Hellcat or ZR1 after decades driving Civics and Altimas. Going full throttle on a 750cc is a lot different than going full throttle on a GAXR1000, Busa, ZX10r or something.
I think personally it’s all about getting road miles…..road miles=experience. Experience of near misses stupid other drivers and stupid decisions by yourself.The smaller cc and less throttle sensitive bike usually have a bigger margin for error.And allow a safer way to build up the mileage with a better safety bubble so to speak
I picked up an MT07 for my first bike at 18 and I’m pretty skinny and standing at 5’9. It fits me so well and it’s pretty torquey and quick enough. Love that machine and it’s really nice to learn how to stay safe on the roads and understand how to hit the twisties and lean into the bends and curves. Gotta have respect for bikes
@@Google_Does_Evil_Now Personally I don’t think MT-07s are good beginner bikes, you’ve really gotta baby them when you’re learning because they are not forgiving at all, super torquey and I’m pretty sure even the newest model doesn’t have traction control. I’ve got a couple friends with them and I passed my license on one, great bike but if you start on one you really gotta be careful
I fall into your third example. I’m 54 years old on early medical retirement. I have wanted to ride for the last 40 years but always doubted that it would be safe. I watched your videos for months before I made the decision to get my temps. All the MSF courses near me are booked solid until 4/25. I plan to take it then but have already ridden a few thousand miles on the bike I bought. Your channel made a lot of sense to me about keeping it cheap and sensible for my first bike. I saw the review on the CFMoto 300NK and found a brand new one for just over $2K at a local dealer. They delivered it that day and that evening, I dropped it. The next day I made myself practice for eight hours straight and dropped it a few more times. I chose to ride on dirt and gravel versus the street and am very happy I did. I never dropped the bike again. It’s been a blast. A few weeks later I bought a second bike at another huge discount. I bought the 650 AdVentura to use on the highway when I go to see my grandkids. I did drop that one but I made an adjustment to the rear brake lever and fixed the height to keep me balanced. Both bikes are still amazingly fun. I practice hard on the 300 then apply those skills to the 650. Eventually I’ll get a nice sport touring bike, but that’s after the MSF. Thanks for your channel.
Better to get training early as you will get into bad habits that can be hard to break...... that said, I'm from the UK and our bike tests are a lot more involved than in America
Wild that you've already crashed multiple times but you've never had an instructor. Too much freedom ;-)) Have you phoned a local instructor? Phone one. Meet him. You'll have so much fun with him. Riding with someone who's just going to make you a better rider is so much fun. I like your "just do it" attitude. Now "just phone an instructor" :-))
@DandJAcres667 also, I tried the learning by crashing thing when I was much younger. Being of a similar age, I certainly wouldn't want to be trying it now!!😅
@@Google_Does_Evil_Now I have my class scheduled. The first few days were more of a slow speed drop than a crash. I’ve ridden thousands of miles since and keep going over things from MotoJitsu, Yamie Noob. And Dan Dan the fireman. I’m very far from what I want to be but the basics are practiced daily ( except for now, 10 inches of hard pack snow on my driveway).
@@DandJAcres667 you're doing really well. I remember the slow speed drops too. I was a kid, it was on dirt and grass. A mixture of dirt bikes and then road bikes. I think your 300 choice as a first bike is clever. More than enough power to learn on. Wise choice. Be careful on the more powerful bikes because the rear tyre can break free so quickly especially if you're turning at a junction from a stop or leaning over. I once got caught out on a new Honda Fireblades and the rear tyre broke free and it went onto its side. I scrubbed the waxy cr4p off that tyre with soapy water and a cleaning scrubber! :-)) I recognise those channel names. I've seen some of their stuff. In Britain we have a thing called Bikesafe, fun by police bikers. We get to ride on the road with them for a while and they assess and give feedback on our riding. Good fun. As a treat for yourself do consider an hour with an instructor. It's actually so much fun. :-)
45 years ago, I bought a Suzuki GS1000S with clip-ons and race fairing. I was 18 and all my older friends told me I would want to upgrade from a smaller bike anyway. I weighed 64kg, totally lacked confidence, and had never before ridden any small or big motorcycle. At that time, there was no motorcycle license needed. I traveled all over Europe with it. It completely changed my life for the better. Never had an accident in the 15 years I rode it. Yes, I would strongly suggest to start with a 300 now. But still; I survived, and had fun!
Started on a used, lightly dropped, 2024 Ninja 650 about 6 months ago. So far, it’s been absolutely incredible, BUT, I’m a 6’0, athletic guy who did gymnastics for 15 years as a kid, joined the Army, several other things that made me VERY confident that I would be okay on it right off rip. Spent about 3 weeks doing slow speed drills in a parking lot before ever taking it onto the road, used only backroads for a while, etc.
@@chukamakalaka im not him but i also started on a ninja 650 as someone who rode dirt bikes as a kid, bike is very torquey and jumpy in lower gears which can sometimes be scary, even though its a "slow" bike it still goes 0-60 in 3.5s and has enough power to be scary when using too much throttle, also brakes are crazy strong and I dont have abs so I have locked my rear wheel a few times from braking too hard but I think its the perfect "beginner plus" bike if you have some experience
I honestly say it depends from person to person some people been riding bikes for years and are still terrible. Im at the point where I started to think guys already riding bikes talk all this nonsense scarring off people making them feel like they so badass. I have never been on a bike got on a 1000 and road off with zero struggle however im like you sporty active confident awake aware and been riding cars for 24 years with not a single accident. Not everyone should get on a 1000 but you can definitely do it.
I started on a hayabusa. I would NEVER recommend it to anyone else. It worked for me because I respected that bike. I knew at any moment it could kill me or someone else. I suggest anyone getting into bikes to start on something low powered to learn. Yammie hits the nail on the head
Im starting on the Chinese 250 yammie hates. Thing goes 86 with rpms @ 8000 on 6th gear. And it used to scare me in the beginning lol. The more I drill on it the more it becomes a toy
I have a gen 2. My main concern with a new rider isn’t the power, it’s quite manageable and easy to ride with extremely smooth power delivery. The biggest concern would be the weight at low speeds for new riders.
My first bike was a R3 at the age of 34, I'm short and have alot of experience riding dirt bikes and farm bikes, now I'm on a R7 but to this day I still wish I had my R3 as well as my R7. The R3 was so much fun and I loved over taking the bigger bikes in the twisties, just really had to ride it hard in the straights but 100% worth it for the fun I had on it and even done track days on the R3. Thanks Yammy for helping me make the decision for the R3 as I watched some of your videos before I brought a bike
I did my training on a MT-07 and bought one for myself after I got my license. It fits me fine, and it gives my the fun I'm looking for. I took out a few other bikes for a few testrides, faster, bigger, more tech, more grunt and I'm still happy I choose the MT-07 for myself. But everyone is different.
I started on a 2004 Ducati monster 620. This was last year after 20 hours of lessons and 2 exams. I did just fine but it really just depends on what type of rider you are.
I just bought my first bike a couple weeks ago (can't ride because winter) I'm 30 and passed the MSF course in the fall and I purchased a 2025 indian sport scout. It's a 1250cc bike with 105hp. Probably a bit to much for a first bike but I fell in love with that bike when I saw it.
It's me. I'm Ted. I was 31, 6'5", 245lbs, moderate dirt bike and extensive manual experience. I went with a Triumph Scrambler 1200 xe and never looked back
Hey man i am 19 6ft 4 (looseing weight lol dont worry) 360 lbs i rode a bunch of dirt biked younger and rode pedal bikes bought my first bike for 800$ a 600 f4i salavege title only regret i have is buying a salvage title.
if your in america, with your long straight roads and intersections with space, you might have less chance of dying on a 600cc and up. if you're in any other country, it is far higher. it's just a matter of how soon you have to test your turning, correction, emergency braking, etc. and the accidents are worse get a 50hp bike and move up when you earn it
TURBO BUSA BABY! been on a bmx like 10 year's bra. Can skid and wheelie pretty good. We all going to die why drag it out. Live fast die young ride even faster. See you in squad haven yam. No one gets out alive. 😘
I've been riding 50cc mopeds for going on 30 years now, riding motorcycles for the better part of 20 years. I've had a 200+ hp electric bike, it was mind bogglingly fast. Like stupidly fast. The only time I could somewhat use the power on the road was from the lights onto the motorway and even than the 130km/h speedlimit arrives in about 3 seconds. Same with my old SRV750, probably the fastest maxiscooter on the planet, and it was just boring to me. I could never use all of the bike. So I started downsizing. 48kW electric maxiscooter for commuting, 50cc moped for just messing about with and darting around town and an extensively modified XADV750 for vacation adventure time. I don't care about going fast, there are about as many speed cameras around here as there are trees lining the roads. Besides to me it's much more fun to ride a slow bike fast than to ride a fast bike slow.
So true, on one of the bike courses I did there was this guy on a 650 and I was on 250 and we came into this twisty bit and he was like man this is twisty and instructor was like now it gets fun and he was slowing me down following around the corners. Power mostly seems useful in a straight line or by those who know how to ride well through corners
Yammie and SRK Cycles convinced me to start on the BMW G310R. Absolutely love the bike and put 15k on it in 3 years and then bought a Trident 660. I still can't beat my BMW lap times on the triumph, though. That little bike handles so good and the reverse spinning motor allows you to scrape the pegs off with confidence!
52 Years old and passed my training. First bike I picked up is a Kawasaki Versys X300.................................................................. AND I love it.
im 20 have a lot of mountain biking experience i bought a crf 230f a month ago every fun i have a car driving licence im going to get o motorcycle one soon and yes i want a busa ( i live in Brasil so every thing is like double or triple expensive compared to the USA and yet a first gen busa is quite affordable) yes i am a busa boy 😅
I started riding for the first time last year at 25 years old. I bought a used 2023 Yamaha mt07 because I wanted a bike that I could learn on but want to keep for an extended period of time. I grew up driving manual for a decade and consider myself intelligent and competent for most things. I got my permit and started riding around my neighborhood not going past 30 mph to get a hold of the bike. Confidence came fast and I slowly moved to faster roads. I then took the msf course and passed with flying colors. That was the best summer and I have a strong comfortable relationship with my bike! I tell people as long as you’re not stupid you can start on 600-700 bikes. I know my riding limits and won’t surpass them. I haven’t dropped my bike or ever worried it’s too much! It’s plenty fast but also can be forgiving on little mistakes! I think if you have some experience with manuals or bikes the mt07 could definitely be on the list provided you have common sense!
Great, responsible and down to earth content. Hopefully you live long enough to buy whatever bike you want, but respect the learning curve and ride safe, just like Yammie said.
I started on a gsxr 750. I'm 46 and responsible. No ego. I just don't want to but something small and spend money later on in wanting something bigger so I went with something in the middle
I don't always agree with everything you have to say, but this video is spot on! I've been riding for decades and have made my fair share of mistakes as well as a few that ended up with me either just dropping my bike or outright laying it down (crashing). Aldo glad you left all joking aside because of the possibility of someone getting seriously hurt or worse. Great delivery on the differences of how it isn't a one answer fits all. Lots of variables in the equation of what the bests bike . . . Thanks!!
I started on a 600, was no ego or anything. But I will say that I knew what I was getting into and I put A LOT of research and time into it before I bought it. And I don't regret it for a second. It completely depends on YOU and how much you know and prepare for what you're getting into.
I had ridden multiple bikes before I graduated to a Sportster S. That 1250cc,94 torque monster took me by surprise. I blipped the throttle on the first day and dropped it back to road mode for six months. I recall twitching on that throttle twice after that while in road mode in the first three months and then rode for three months without blipping the throttle before I put it back into sport. It stays in sport mode even in winter but I am confident I control the beast. I would think getting an older GSX1000 without power modes could have health repercussions.
Totally agree with you, that you should listen to experienced people, I've studied " listened" to you Yams and others, for a year before I even bought a motorcycle, been daily for 4 years, love it!! 1, it's made me a better motorcyclist, 2, it's made me understand the importance of constantly improving your skills( including listening to those who know obviously more than I ) 3, it saved me from " laying her down" , saved my bike and my life, multiple times, .... thank you Yams and others ( but yeah, Yams is 💯 on that one ) 🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙
I started riding at 17. Did my CBT on a 50cc moped then brought a Yamaha YBR125 to learn to ride with. My dads side of the family has a history with bikes so he taught me how to ride. I did slide out once due to braking too hard in the rain which was a valuable lesson learned.
Samantha, 62, 5'10", coordinated, athletic, road friend's and brother's dirt bikes in tweens, studious and interested in technique. Started on an Aprilia RS 660 a little over a year ago and did 10 track days last season. It was the perfect bike for me. Everyone is different. Good point Yam!
Great advice. I've been riding tiny 50cc Piaggio NRG scooter for 10+ years and then stopped for another 15 years (except some rental 125cc scooters during our vacation). Last season I decided to start riding again and purchased 2008 Yamaha XT660X. So far I'm pretty happy with it and can't wait for the next season to start!
First bike 2009 r1 full Bolton and tuned! Never regretted it!!! Just respect the power, learn the bike and enjoy yourself! Most definitely be a defensive rider in traffic.
I'm 34 and started last year on a '23 MT-09 having never ridden a bike since the 50cc moped days. Did the motorcycle license test and everything (I live in Europe), passed first go. However i'm not stupid and understand how vehicles work so it works fine still. Winter came along but i managed to get almost 1000 miles racked up last year before parking it during winter. Can't wait for summer!
I started on a 1992 CBR600 F1 in 1992. Loved that bike. It’s a classic now. Then to a 1999 ZX750 then a 2005 R1, Then a 2007 Gsxr1000.. Had a kid and took 12 years off and now I’m back with a 2025 Ducati V4S. Only been down once and it was all my fault. Ride safe not stupid 🤘🏾💯
I believe a Yamaha PW50 is a great bike for a 5 year old boy. I would never consider buying a 5 year old boy, for his first motorcycle, a 1000cc motorcycle. That would be just too heavy and too tall! So, for my youngest grandson, I bought him a Yamaha PW50 and couldn't be happier with that decision. Plus, compared to a GSXR1000, it's about $17,000 cheaper. I'm not slamming the GSXr1000, because they are great, reliable, handle well at high speeds, but for a 5 year old to have as his first motorcycle, it's just too much.
IMO, , without starting with a 1000cc, you should not start with too little either. You can learn bad habit that will hurt or kill you from a too small bike. I'm a 6'' 260lbs dude, after quitting the bike world for a few years after a good fear on my SV1000. I've been back on wheel with a duke 390 to relearn the base, for 2 year I've blasted that little thing. Braking anywhere but especially accelerating everywhere, full throttle, all the time because my weight was keeping the bike traction. When I've changed my Duke for a Z900 I've almost kill myself in the first week because you cant drive a z900 like a 390, 1/4 throttle on a z900 is full throttle on a 390. You can tell me It was a too much to change my 390 for a z900 right away, and you're probably right, but if I had started again with a bike more suited to my size, I would have learned a lot more. Safety is a good thing but to much and it doesnt serve you. p.s english not my first language.
This People clearly overlook this. Being able to disrespect a small cc bike does not equate to safe riding. But like he said he gets to keep making “content”
I rode dirt bikes for 10 years. My 1985 Honda VFR500 Interceptor was still thrilling. 40 years later, still going strong. Off road racing on 250 two strokes, plus a ton of miles on 900RRs and VFRs. Peace ..
When I started riding at 18 I picked up an 03 929r with a power commander. Never road anything on 2 wheels other than the schwin or had a manual car. I'm the brain dead minority that survived, but I have gotten all my buddies to start on ninja 300s. Now I just got a 24 z900 delivered last week I got a good deal on. Good luck everyone, be safe and make good decisions out there, ride safe.
First bike at 30 was a 600 Bandit S (in line four). rode it for a few years but sold it as I was stuck in a company car for 13 years. 13 years after that sale at 52, I fancied another bike. Bought an MT09 (new). It’s all good. If you can drive even averagely well and respect and understand the road, you can ride anything. I’m ATGATT and went thru all the required training in the UK so I’m good thanks.
First time rider. Started last summer at 37. Bought a Yamaha Dragstar 1100 Custom then took the MSF. Thanks Yam for inspiring me over the last 8 years! Dedication to watching your videos are one of the reasons my wife said yes.
My first STEET BIKE was a brand new, off the showroom floor, 07 R6. But im the gigga chad that was ripping 2 strokes from the age of 7. I was whipping my YZ250 over jumps and racing local club motocross for years. R6 turned out to be a great choice, I loved that bike.
A friend of mines started practicing riding his grandparents bike that was way too much for a beginner, it was heavily tuned and he rode it around going slowly but never dropped it. He then bought a cbr600rr and was riding it to school and work. I started practicing on his 600 and quickly got the hang of it. The only thing about that is the fundamentals you learn on lower cc bikes are way better than trying to learn them on a 600cc. We’re both in high school still and I plan to buy my bike before graduating.
Don’t know how many people will see this… but worth a shot. Started 3 years ago on a RC390. Absolutely loved it and put 16k miles on it. Outgrew it in the sense of it got a little more boring and I wanted to focus on daily driving a bike. So cruise control was a must. Now I’m on a Superduke GT! Absolutely loving it. Went from 390cc to 1290cc. Almost 4x the bike haha
That’s what I did, so my first street bike was a DR 650. It was something I was already comfortable with. Just needed to adapt the skills to the street.
This is true, also when you drop them they're usually 100% fine except for a few small scratches, maybe a bent lever or bar. Not the case if you drop a nice shiny spot bike, even at zero miles per hour... I had a Suzuki DRZ-400 for one summer to explore new trails, I just didn't really vibe with it (on or off road) so I sold it when I found a beautiful, low mile, bone stock K5 Gixxer 1K at my local dealer. When it comes to dirt/ dual-sport bikes I'm now, unfortunately, a huge KTM fan. I can't imagine a "dual sport" getting much better than a 2018 300-XCW (somehow I got it plated and insured with no questions asked). It's always a riot, no matter where you ride it or how fast you're going (excluding the highway). About as light as a YZ-125 but with YZ-450F power levels. Perfection? Probably not, but close enough for me 😁
i'm in france and got my A2 license in september yet i still chose to start on a 125 cc and i don't regret it because i can learn and i'll have all the time later to enjoy bigger bikes
Started on a Harley Vrod in 2016 while in my low 30’s. No motorcycle experience…just sports cars and road bicycle racing. Have motorcycled 4000 miles a year on average since. Changed to touring bikes and sport bikes since then. No accidents. It’s all in your mentality.
Here in my State, Victoria, Australia you can only have a maximum 660cc bike for your Learner Permit and then the next 3 years while in your Probationary License. I’m 56yo and on my Learner Permit and my first bike (you won’t like it Mr Newb! 😂) is a 2024 CBR500R and I absolutely love it. I seriously can’t see why anyone would need any more power than that as they learn to ride a motorcycle. Craig - Australia
5'5 man here, I started on a fz07, did brc and arc and had Manual car experience, the fz07 was a great starter bike for me imo, now i ride a zx6r and im more than happy with it been riding for 4 years now
My first bike at 26 years old was a 2020 r3. Im 5’8” and 140lbs so its the perfect size to learn on(the r7 was out of budget for me) and I couldnt be happier. I wanted to be able to maximize my skill level on a smaller bike before moving up and its worked out amazing. I can ride my r3 to ITS limits, and its incredibly fun doing so. Now when I hop on the R9 i’ll be far more confident in my ability to control the bike around fast turns etc
I've been riding dirt bikes for 30+ years, both racing and play riding. I got my first street bike 2 years ago. I started with a DRZ400. I rode that for a year,then graduated to a VFR800 . I'm glad I started out on something that felt familiar and got the basics down before getting something bigger.
Never rode anything. Bought my first bike. 2022 Ducati monster 937. Has different modes to help a beginner ease into it. Makes similar hp to a 600 4 cylinder. Perfect starter imo
My MSF I was on a Kawasaki Eliminator (probably a 125), so I did a step up to the Vulcan S 650 for my first bike. Everything was in the same place, just a touch bigger, and I knew it would keep up with traffic. Was a great beginner bike choice to get comfortable on.
Passed my test (UK) 18 months ago and let my ego choose the bike lol I bought a 2018 Africa twin adventure sports... It's been a steep learning curve but I'm now loving the bike and what it can do
by doing all it takes to get a uk licence you've proven you have the skills to adapt to it, i think whatever you choose takes a lot of getting familiar with. I honestly believe it's in countries like the USA when you can ride what you want with little restriction or requirements for training that can be a big problem
I started out on a Honda Trail 90 in my late teens. I progressed up in bike sizes that eventually included a Harley Sportser Ironhead before getting a Harley Softail. I'm now riding a Moto Guzzi VII Stone. For me, this was a good way to do it.
Back in 1977 I went straight from a Yamaha RD350 to a Suzuki GS750 and a year later I had a Suzuki GS1000E. And two years after that I had a GS1100E. I had no problem at all, whatsoever. Period!! It was a silky smooth transition.
I'm a 38 yo man. I took weekly driving lessons on a Suzuki SV650 from may 2023 to jan 2024. Then got my license and bought a 2020 Z900. First month drove it around in rainmode that cuts power in halve sort of. I now own the bike for almost a year and I have put around 18.000 kms on it. Drove in Luxemburg, in the Eiffel in Germany, in the French Alpes and all round the Netherlands. I feel very comfortable on my bike and enjoyed every second with it. I do all maintenance myself and I signed up for extra lessons on a circuit in July this year. What a blast so far and I am looking forward to increase my skill level even more. 🥳😎👍
If you are in your 30's and have respect for the machine, I think you can learn on a powerful bike you feel comfortable on after MSF. Everyone else should probably start on a 60hp bike. I just started on a XSR900, no problem for me because I am not pushing my limits, I'm learning quickly but comfortably. Don't get me wrong, If money wasn't an object, I would've started on a smaller bike and upgraded later.
It all depends on the rider. If he/she doesn't have skills, a scooter would do. I started on a Hayabusa...maybe it did helped that I was a semi-pro cyclist 🤷🏽♂️
I'm 31 years old, 5'9", close to 200lbs, never been on a two-wheeled anything except for a bicycle. I've wanted a motorcycle for probably at least 11 or 12 years at this point, but could never justify what is essentially a toy, until now. I've almost always had a manual car, too. After much research, I decided I wanted a Honda CB650R, I knew I wanted an inline 4, and its just about the only modern option left, and I just so happened to come across a used one for sale. I'm signed up for my safety course in the spring and will be ready to start riding!
Isn't England great? 😂 125 all day bud, then do your full test when you're fully confident on that bike and you'll smash it, then go for something like a 400-650, our roads are completely different to americas and a lot tighter, if you ride a 650 here, it's probably enough, because it's more open over there, they can ride the bigger 600-1000cc bikes, honestly my mates got an s1000rr and the only place he can really use it is donnington, and I'm still quicker than him at most tracks with the sv650s with swapped out suspension 😂
I started on a 50cc beta sumo, perfect learner, tiny but It could do anything offroad in the Ardennes to terrorising the air in Amsterdam I was already 20yrs cause motorcycle license would take at least a year to get. now I have Moto Guzzi 750. Starting on a small bike It's really good to find out what you would really like eventually
i bought a new kawasaki zx4rr in October, just hit 1000 miles today. its one of the best options out there if its in your price range, you can flash the ecu for 200 bucks and you have a brand new motorcycle when you graduate from the relatively calm power of it being factory. and you also get the awesome inline 4 noise without having to own a 600 or a 1000.
Did my course on a cb 500... then bought a gsxs 750 which i rode for 2 years. Also went to a riding school and rode an r6 and gsxr 600 on track. I now ride a speed triple 1200rs and absolutely love it! Not a lot of riding experience prior... just some dirtbike here and there. I think it's all about your state of mind! You need to have respect for the power a motorcycle brings to the table! There is a time and place for fast riding and there is a time and place for being smart! The machine is not the problem, its usually the people that use them!
I say a 400 is the perfect size starter bike. It’s light weight. They still look good. Their nimble. And they are a blast to go through the gears and ride.
I got my motorcycle license years ago in 1983. I started on a 1983 Honda XL250RC second hand (about a month old) with 1000km on the clock with a whole 20 ponies. Great for learning. Then bought a brand spanking 1983 Honda XR200RD, trading in the XL for what I bought it for, with 24HP and quite a bit less weight. Great fun. Now I have a couple of even smaller Hondas, a couple of XR150L's with a whopping 12 ponies and an XR190L with 14 ponies that I ride everywhere. They will all do the speed limit here at 100km/h (60mph) with a little headroom. Having so much fun on these little things.
One of Yam's better videos. Started on a Ninja 300 and after a year I was pulling away from 600's and liter bikes in the mountains. Ride a 600 now and after riding the 300 for a few years, it really helped me be a good rider on a larger bike. Currently riding a 04 CB600F. Also got into riding dirt about 2 years ago. Riding dirt added a lot of tools to my arsenal as a rider. Everyone should try both. Find a Moto Gymkhana group in your area as well. The seasoned guys are always willing to help you be better, and it really translates well for faster riding through corners.
Grew up riding dirt bikes. Thousands of hours on dirt, dunes, gravel, etc. Now in my 30’s I finally got a road bike. I got an xsr900. It’s a lot of bike for my first road machine, but manageable due to my experience on bikes in general. I always suggest people run a few tanks of fuel through a dirtbike, then look at a mt03 or mt07 max as a first bike.
I’ve rode dirt bikes for like 5 years so I have riding experience and I decided to go with a z900. I don’t regret it at all,great power and I won’t be growing out of it anytime soon
I started riding 3 years ago on a 750 honda magna. I took the course when i was 44 and a year later i bought 1100 rebel. I rode it for a year before I tried sport mode.
Thank you for reiterating that liter bikes aren't always appropriate for beginners. I feel like there is so much pressure and condescension online towards newbies who start with a smaller, lower cc bike. It is nice to hear someone telling people the truth
im planning on getting a z650 as my first bike. i went to a nearby dealer to look at some bikes, while i was there i talked to one of the workers about what he thought about a z650 as a starter bike. he said a z650 is a bit big for a starter, but if you do get a 650 as a starter bike then you wont have to worry about buying a new bike a year or 2 later after you get comfortable with riding. when i get my bike i am only going to be using it for going back and forth to work, and nowhere else for probably the first month, or until i am more comfortable with it. then i will move on to a little bit of highway riding. im not getting a bike to be a menace on the road. i am only wanting a safe and fun ride, obeying traffic laws, while only slightly speeding at a max of 90mph on a highway. surface roads- 65 max unless passing.
New rider here, age 43 with 1 year experience on bikes and 20 years in manual cars and 44t HGVs. I have to say i agree with what yammie is saying to some extent. I bought a 2021 street triple 765R and rode it in rain mode for the first 6 months because it was more forgiving for a newbie. I think if you have the self control and the dexterity to operate a throttle/clutch with care and finesse, you will be ok on anything. The problem is when you dont and the teenager in your head tells you to stick it in sport and crack the throttle. Imo the street triple is perfect even for someone new but mature. Very predictable and it takes care of you with the electronics package. I dont regret my purchase.
I bought a 17' CBR500R as my first bike after taking the MSF course a little over a year ago. It's now for sell and I plan on getting a 600RR next. I was once told by a friend who also rides but has way more experience than I do to stay with my starter bike for a year because I actually wanted to upgrade at the 6 month mark. BUT! I took his advice, and now I have a whole year under my belt and I think I'm ready to move up.
I listened to Yammy and I started with taking the MSF basic course got a NC700x and put 10,000 miles then I moved to the CBR650F put 6,000 miles , then to my current 2018 CBR1000RR and have put so far 22,000 original miles. I am 59 years old right now and love to ride .
i bought my first motorcycle 2 years ago when i was 22. and ill fully admit it was trial by fire. but being 6 foot 3 and having some riding experience with dirt bikes and mountain bikes i chose to get an r6. i would not recommend this for anyone it was not a great choice on my part. but im disciplined and i was able to learn a lot on that bike. im now riding a yamaha r1 and i am very happy with it. some might say im not experienced enough for this bike but i have zero issues controlling it and im not intimidated to ride it and have fun in the twisties.
first bike Suzuki gt 185 .Survived and learnt,65 now still riding .Had super bikes now downsized to a Tracer 7.Still alive some of my old fast , crazy friends are not
Yammie my man, I hadn’t ridden a bike for over 40 years and I picked up a 2022 Honda Rebel CMX1100 DCT and started riding again! Thank you Honda for the “Rain Mode” on the bike until I got used to its power! I had to have RESPECT for the power the bike has! Just low and slow baby, low and freakin’ slow. 😎👍
Started with the S1000XR and still believe this was a good choise. After 4 years i have over 100 000 kms on this bike, all year all weather, today in -3 centigrade. 35000 of these kms lane filtering through brussels and antwerp rush hour
First street bike: In 1990 at the age of 20 years old I bought a 1990 Kawasaki Ninja ZX10 (1000cc). Aced the riding skills test with that bike. No issues at all the entire time I owned it. I had ridden dirt bikes since I was 8 years old, so I had experience, just no street experience at that point. I’ve since owned a variety of bikes: Harley, Ducati, Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha…..superbikes, sport bikes, cruisers, dual sports, dirt bikes. Is it ideal for everyone, maybe not, but it’s also not always a hard stop either. 👍🏻
It's amazing to me how things have changed over the years. I learned on my dad's 500 BSA Royal Star back about 1968, and people said wow you're starting on something that big? My bikes were 500 Triumph T-100, 750 Matchless, CB450 Honda, CB750 Honda and CB1100F Honda (those last 3 all new) and then after 30 years away from bikes, a well used GSX1100F Suzuki. I'm 73 now and find it incredible that it's common for some to start out on a 70hp bike. Honesty I'd be dead at 16 if I'd have had that option.
I’m 26 and looking to get into riding motorcycles. I’m on the smaller side 5’6 and I’m thinking of getting a Yamaha r3 as my first bike. I really like the look of all Yamaha bikes but the r3s look really great especially with the 2024 and 2025 white colorway. You have been the first channel I watched when I decided to get into motorcycles and been using your videos to figure out the best route into this new hobby. Thanks for the videos 🤟🏽🫡
As a kid of 15 started riding smaller dirt bikes, YZ 80 then progressed to YZ 125 at 17 and enjoyed squiding for a couple of years. Decided to ride on the street and bought a 1986 Ninja 600RR. Had a lot of fun but adjusted quickly. Had a couple of close calls and decided to stop riding street bikes and stuck to dirt again. Was pushed bye my bro to try his Honda CBF 650 and I was hooked again. Pulled the trigger on the 2021 MT 09 and kept it in rain mode for a month before I started getting better. Of course I took the MSF a year before the purchase. Today I’m on a fully worked 2023 MT 10 and although it’s an animal in torque I don’t ride past what I feel comfortable doing. 57 years and I need to work the next day. Riding dirt bikes and being on two wheels since I was 5 helps. I’m scared for those with barely any experience on two wheels and getting something with a lot of power
From what I’ve learned, motorcycles can be one of the most fun vehicles you can buy under the correct circumstances. I started riding dirt bikes when I was around 5 years old and absolutely loved it. It taught me how to ride motorcycles while keeping me in a controlled environment. Once I got older, I learned there is a hell of a difference between the dirt and the street. Because of this, I went for my Ninja 400 I bought from a family friend. It’s really helped me strengthen the basic fundamentals of riding while being incredibly fun. No matter what you think of yourself, ALWAYS start on a lower CC for what you want to do. Like Yammie Noob said, lower cc’s are a lot more forgiving than higher cc’s, so learn the basics on something small so you can stay safe on the bigger bikes you want.
35+ years of riding and currently own a 22 BMW s1krr and got to ride my buddies 24 Kawasaki Ninja 500 and truely loved it and would be a great starter sportbike
Yam. I'm 61 passed my full UK test in March. 40 years experience driving a manual car and rode a Honda 250 40 years ago. First bike in March was a Triumph Tiger Sport 660 and after 6 months bought a Triumph Street Triple 765R. For me it's been perfect. As a mature rider, I don't want to race or squid. I go fast when it's safe. I know how much it hurts to get hit by a car, which happened riding a cycle, don't wanna do it again. Love the videos.
Yam , Yam
Rode for years then stopped when I had kids, last summer purchased a Triumph 660 and in all homes it’s the perfect bike for me,it goes fast enough it’s ok on the highway and good in the city. I’ve added some comfort to it so for now it’s perfect.
Welcome to the family 🎉
quite parallel to my own experience, IMHO if you don't love the occasional bit of speed and accelleration you aint getting the full biking deal, and it's nice to know it's there, but i mainly just pootle about the lanes taking in the countryside and enjoying the ride for it's own sake. GL
In all fairness there's nothing sluggish about a 765, they still fly and the finish and paint is second to none, bike of the decade
Can’t lie that guy popped up in my feed and I’m following him to see how his 1000cc journey is gonna end up
I bet he will end up with a totaled motorcycle.
He looked like he barely knew how to ride a bicycle
We’ll see 💀😭
@ time will tell, hopefully he doenst get hurt. He will have to elevate his skill level super quick but at least he’s recording to get tips and advice from other riders
Looks like he already dropped it four days ago
@BUILTMARO2.0T It's your life. You can do what you want.
But you will only have yourself to blame if you get hurt.
You were riding recklessly.
Man that dude just posted another video where he's doing 100mph+ pulls, running red lights, trying to race everyone and dropping his bike... went from "i'm taking it easy, i don't know how to shift or lean, this thing is heavy I can't balance on it, I'm going 5 under the speed limit" just a couple weeks ago. I hate to say it, but he's on the squid to sushi path.
@@RimsaltRon Textbook example of the Dunning Kruger in full effect on that dude… he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know yet.
Lmao relax 🤣💀
Its probably a good troll account. He might be good and faking lol
@@BUILTMARO2.0T Yeah. You go tell his family that after the cops call them to say that their son isnt coming home.
Its a simple equation really;
Ego + overconfidence in ability + 1000cc sportbike = crashed bike with the chance of a dead squid.
So many people here on yt get overconfident after like a month of riding..
First time rider, aged 55. Started this past summer with the MSF course… Picked up a KAWA Z500 SE, and it’s been a great learning machine for me. MSF skills have already saved my butt a few times from clueless car drivers. Have already put 1,700 miles on it, and I’m thinking of getting a Z900 this spring, and that’ll be the one I keep for several years. Have been loving the learning journey and finally realizing a childhood dream of mine.
Z900 is all you’ll ever need.
Congrats on the bike purchase!
z900 is my 2 year goal too
Apart from the adjustable suspensions, I don't see any advantage in the Z900
I have a similar profile and I got an Eliminator, which I don't intend to change.
Just be careful with that extra rear wheel power. It'll be easy to spin up the rear from a junction turn or leaned over. I don't know what the traction control is like on the bike.
Enjoy.
Saw yammies comment on that video and just knew it’d become a video
Same
which video lol
@@gelleganza BUILTMARO video
lmfaooo i saw it too but didn’t think noob would diss him like that😭😭
@@chloevega5711if you watch the kids video he just looks so uneasy it’s honestly scary
when i passed my test i asked the instructor if he thought i should get a smaller cc bike as my first 'big bike' jumping from a 125cc, say a 500cc or 300cc, and his answer surprised me, he said 'ride what you wan't', it's all about how you use the right hand', and as i fancied a 750cc hornet that's what i bought with a few reservations as to if it may have been a bit too much of a jump for me to handle. After the first ride it was obvious there wasn't a bit of it, it was fun and easy to ride. I did spend a year before taking my test to learn the biking craft which taught me a lot and i suppose being in my 60's helped, but id say as long as u aint stupid, go for it, but if you ride stupid you will be an organ donor no matter what the bike. GL
Smaller cc bikes are good for learning the basics but they’re not going to teach you how to manage the power of a litre bike. You want to master a powerful bike, you have to ride powerful bikes.
People think riding small bikes for a decade will make you a master rider compared to someone that started big. It doesn’t, just like driving a car for 30 years doesn’t make you a master driver who can suddenly control the power of. Hellcat or ZR1 after decades driving Civics and Altimas.
Going full throttle on a 750cc is a lot different than going full throttle on a GAXR1000, Busa, ZX10r or something.
I think personally it’s all about getting road miles…..road miles=experience.
Experience of near misses stupid other drivers and stupid decisions by yourself.The smaller cc and less throttle sensitive bike usually have a bigger margin for error.And allow a safer way to build up the mileage with a better safety bubble so to speak
I picked up an MT07 for my first bike at 18 and I’m pretty skinny and standing at 5’9. It fits me so well and it’s pretty torquey and quick enough. Love that machine and it’s really nice to learn how to stay safe on the roads and understand how to hit the twisties and lean into the bends and curves. Gotta have respect for bikes
Does your country have a pathway for motorbike sizes?
What's the rear like for slipping and sliding on the throttle accidently?
@@Google_Does_Evil_Now Personally I don’t think MT-07s are good beginner bikes, you’ve really gotta baby them when you’re learning because they are not forgiving at all, super torquey and I’m pretty sure even the newest model doesn’t have traction control. I’ve got a couple friends with them and I passed my license on one, great bike but if you start on one you really gotta be careful
I fall into your third example. I’m 54 years old on early medical retirement. I have wanted to ride for the last 40 years but always doubted that it would be safe. I watched your videos for months before I made the decision to get my temps. All the MSF courses near me are booked solid until 4/25. I plan to take it then but have already ridden a few thousand miles on the bike I bought.
Your channel made a lot of sense to me about keeping it cheap and sensible for my first bike. I saw the review on the CFMoto 300NK and found a brand new one for just over $2K at a local dealer. They delivered it that day and that evening, I dropped it. The next day I made myself practice for eight hours straight and dropped it a few more times. I chose to ride on dirt and gravel versus the street and am very happy I did. I never dropped the bike again. It’s been a blast.
A few weeks later I bought a second bike at another huge discount. I bought the 650 AdVentura to use on the highway when I go to see my grandkids. I did drop that one but I made an adjustment to the rear brake lever and fixed the height to keep me balanced.
Both bikes are still amazingly fun. I practice hard on the 300 then apply those skills to the 650. Eventually I’ll get a nice sport touring bike, but that’s after the MSF.
Thanks for your channel.
Better to get training early as you will get into bad habits that can be hard to break...... that said, I'm from the UK and our bike tests are a lot more involved than in America
Wild that you've already crashed multiple times but you've never had an instructor. Too much freedom ;-))
Have you phoned a local instructor? Phone one. Meet him. You'll have so much fun with him. Riding with someone who's just going to make you a better rider is so much fun.
I like your "just do it" attitude. Now "just phone an instructor" :-))
@DandJAcres667 also, I tried the learning by crashing thing when I was much younger. Being of a similar age, I certainly wouldn't want to be trying it now!!😅
@@Google_Does_Evil_Now I have my class scheduled. The first few days were more of a slow speed drop than a crash. I’ve ridden thousands of miles since and keep going over things from MotoJitsu, Yamie Noob. And Dan Dan the fireman. I’m very far from what I want to be but the basics are practiced daily ( except for now, 10 inches of hard pack snow on my driveway).
@@DandJAcres667 you're doing really well. I remember the slow speed drops too. I was a kid, it was on dirt and grass. A mixture of dirt bikes and then road bikes.
I think your 300 choice as a first bike is clever. More than enough power to learn on. Wise choice.
Be careful on the more powerful bikes because the rear tyre can break free so quickly especially if you're turning at a junction from a stop or leaning over. I once got caught out on a new Honda Fireblades and the rear tyre broke free and it went onto its side. I scrubbed the waxy cr4p off that tyre with soapy water and a cleaning scrubber! :-))
I recognise those channel names. I've seen some of their stuff.
In Britain we have a thing called Bikesafe, fun by police bikers. We get to ride on the road with them for a while and they assess and give feedback on our riding. Good fun.
As a treat for yourself do consider an hour with an instructor. It's actually so much fun.
:-)
45 years ago, I bought a Suzuki GS1000S with clip-ons and race fairing. I was 18 and all my older friends told me I would want to upgrade from a smaller bike anyway. I weighed 64kg, totally lacked confidence, and had never before ridden any small or big motorcycle. At that time, there was no motorcycle license needed. I traveled all over Europe with it. It completely changed my life for the better. Never had an accident in the 15 years I rode it. Yes, I would strongly suggest to start with a 300 now. But still; I survived, and had fun!
Started on a used, lightly dropped, 2024 Ninja 650 about 6 months ago. So far, it’s been absolutely incredible, BUT, I’m a 6’0, athletic guy who did gymnastics for 15 years as a kid, joined the Army, several other things that made me VERY confident that I would be okay on it right off rip. Spent about 3 weeks doing slow speed drills in a parking lot before ever taking it onto the road, used only backroads for a while, etc.
What are your challenges starting with that bike so far?
@@chukamakalaka im not him but i also started on a ninja 650 as someone who rode dirt bikes as a kid, bike is very torquey and jumpy in lower gears which can sometimes be scary, even though its a "slow" bike it still goes 0-60 in 3.5s and has enough power to be scary when using too much throttle, also brakes are crazy strong and I dont have abs so I have locked my rear wheel a few times from braking too hard but I think its the perfect "beginner plus" bike if you have some experience
I honestly say it depends from person to person some people been riding bikes for years and are still terrible. Im at the point where I started to think guys already riding bikes talk all this nonsense scarring off people making them feel like they so badass. I have never been on a bike got on a 1000 and road off with zero struggle however im like you sporty active confident awake aware and been riding cars for 24 years with not a single accident. Not everyone should get on a 1000 but you can definitely do it.
100%!!!!! I've been riding for 4 seasons now. I started learning from your channel and keep coming back
I started on a R3, and then my son. Still use it to go around town and short rides. Perfect bike.
Beta
I agree with Yam, nobody should start on a liter bike... Insurance will be crazy and power / skill level is unforgiving.
I started on a hayabusa. I would NEVER recommend it to anyone else. It worked for me because I respected that bike. I knew at any moment it could kill me or someone else. I suggest anyone getting into bikes to start on something low powered to learn. Yammie hits the nail on the head
haha now that IS a bit extreme
Im starting on the Chinese 250 yammie hates.
Thing goes 86 with rpms @ 8000 on 6th gear. And it used to scare me in the beginning lol.
The more I drill on it the more it becomes a toy
I have a gen 2. My main concern with a new rider isn’t the power, it’s quite manageable and easy to ride with extremely smooth power delivery.
The biggest concern would be the weight at low speeds for new riders.
How long ago was that?
@@noahknight4039 Bingo, The power tells you to stop imo. Slow speed turning? your dropping it if your new no doubt.
My first bike was a R3 at the age of 34, I'm short and have alot of experience riding dirt bikes and farm bikes, now I'm on a R7 but to this day I still wish I had my R3 as well as my R7. The R3 was so much fun and I loved over taking the bigger bikes in the twisties, just really had to ride it hard in the straights but 100% worth it for the fun I had on it and even done track days on the R3. Thanks Yammy for helping me make the decision for the R3 as I watched some of your videos before I brought a bike
I did my training on a MT-07 and bought one for myself after I got my license. It fits me fine, and it gives my the fun I'm looking for. I took out a few other bikes for a few testrides, faster, bigger, more tech, more grunt and I'm still happy I choose the MT-07 for myself. But everyone is different.
I never road a motorcycle till I was at the course. I ended up buying a ninja 400 and it was a good choice for me.
I started on a 2004 Ducati monster 620. This was last year after 20 hours of lessons and 2 exams. I did just fine but it really just depends on what type of rider you are.
I just bought my first bike a couple weeks ago (can't ride because winter) I'm 30 and passed the MSF course in the fall and I purchased a 2025 indian sport scout. It's a 1250cc bike with 105hp. Probably a bit to much for a first bike but I fell in love with that bike when I saw it.
It's me. I'm Ted. I was 31, 6'5", 245lbs, moderate dirt bike and extensive manual experience. I went with a Triumph Scrambler 1200 xe and never looked back
Hey man i am 19 6ft 4 (looseing weight lol dont worry) 360 lbs i rode a bunch of dirt biked younger and rode pedal bikes bought my first bike for 800$ a 600 f4i salavege title only regret i have is buying a salvage title.
0 views in 1 second bro you have really fallen off
Abolish qualified immunity.
Kane pixels got like 50k views in one hour today😅
Laaaaaaaaaaaaame of you to say that! Really Original there Buddy... 🤨
Attention deficiency?
It’s really sad😢
if your in america, with your long straight roads and intersections with space, you might have less chance of dying on a 600cc and up. if you're in any other country, it is far higher. it's just a matter of how soon you have to test your turning, correction, emergency braking, etc.
and the accidents are worse
get a 50hp bike and move up when you earn it
Mines 20hp lol
If you only have straight roads…. There is no point buying a bike that is entirely compromised to be able to corner at very high speeds.
@@noeeon9910royal Enfield? Haha
@@teej1987 not even. More like a type 63
Please keep doing this man, atleast once every year.
Thank you for your brutally honest video, love it.
TURBO BUSA BABY!
been on a bmx like 10 year's bra. Can skid and wheelie pretty good. We all going to die why drag it out. Live fast die young ride even faster. See you in squad haven yam. No one gets out alive. 😘
I've been riding 50cc mopeds for going on 30 years now, riding motorcycles for the better part of 20 years. I've had a 200+ hp electric bike, it was mind bogglingly fast. Like stupidly fast. The only time I could somewhat use the power on the road was from the lights onto the motorway and even than the 130km/h speedlimit arrives in about 3 seconds. Same with my old SRV750, probably the fastest maxiscooter on the planet, and it was just boring to me. I could never use all of the bike.
So I started downsizing. 48kW electric maxiscooter for commuting, 50cc moped for just messing about with and darting around town and an extensively modified XADV750 for vacation adventure time.
I don't care about going fast, there are about as many speed cameras around here as there are trees lining the roads. Besides to me it's much more fun to ride a slow bike fast than to ride a fast bike slow.
So true, on one of the bike courses I did there was this guy on a 650 and I was on 250 and we came into this twisty bit and he was like man this is twisty and instructor was like now it gets fun and he was slowing me down following around the corners. Power mostly seems useful in a straight line or by those who know how to ride well through corners
Yammie and SRK Cycles convinced me to start on the BMW G310R. Absolutely love the bike and put 15k on it in 3 years and then bought a Trident 660. I still can't beat my BMW lap times on the triumph, though. That little bike handles so good and the reverse spinning motor allows you to scrape the pegs off with confidence!
Started on a 2011 cbr1000rr and I don’t regret it! Been riding it for 2 years now
Like a squid? 🦑
A.T.G.A.T
Nice bike
I have a cb300r an I enjoy riding an learning on it. Might go up to a 650 or so an probably be happy there. An I have full gear just incase.
52 Years old and passed my training. First bike I picked up is a Kawasaki Versys X300.................................................................. AND I love it.
Versys 300 is a Kawsaki.
@ thanks for correcting me. Don’t know why I typed that
im 20 have a lot of mountain biking experience i bought a crf 230f a month ago every fun i have a car driving licence im going to get o motorcycle one soon and yes i want a busa ( i live in Brasil so every thing is like double or triple expensive compared to the USA and yet a first gen busa is quite affordable) yes i am a busa boy 😅
Yammie Teachers Pet
I started riding for the first time last year at 25 years old. I bought a used 2023 Yamaha mt07 because I wanted a bike that I could learn on but want to keep for an extended period of time. I grew up driving manual for a decade and consider myself intelligent and competent for most things. I got my permit and started riding around my neighborhood not going past 30 mph to get a hold of the bike. Confidence came fast and I slowly moved to faster roads. I then took the msf course and passed with flying colors. That was the best summer and I have a strong comfortable relationship with my bike! I tell people as long as you’re not stupid you can start on 600-700 bikes. I know my riding limits and won’t surpass them. I haven’t dropped my bike or ever worried it’s too much! It’s plenty fast but also can be forgiving on little mistakes! I think if you have some experience with manuals or bikes the mt07 could definitely be on the list provided you have common sense!
Great, responsible and down to earth content. Hopefully you live long enough to buy whatever bike you want, but respect the learning curve and ride safe, just like Yammie said.
I started on a gsxr 750. I'm 46 and responsible. No ego. I just don't want to but something small and spend money later on in wanting something bigger so I went with something in the middle
Great bike, imo There's no need for any more bike than what you have for street use
I don't always agree with everything you have to say, but this video is spot on! I've been riding for decades and have made my fair share of mistakes as well as a few that ended up with me either just dropping my bike or outright laying it down (crashing). Aldo glad you left all joking aside because of the possibility of someone getting seriously hurt or worse. Great delivery on the differences of how it isn't a one answer fits all. Lots of variables in the equation of what the bests bike . . . Thanks!!
I started on a 600, was no ego or anything. But I will say that I knew what I was getting into and I put A LOT of research and time into it before I bought it. And I don't regret it for a second. It completely depends on YOU and how much you know and prepare for what you're getting into.
I had ridden multiple bikes before I graduated to a Sportster S. That 1250cc,94 torque monster took me by surprise. I blipped the throttle on the first day and dropped it back to road mode for six months. I recall twitching on that throttle twice after that while in road mode in the first three months and then rode for three months without blipping the throttle before I put it back into sport. It stays in sport mode even in winter but I am confident I control the beast. I would think getting an older GSX1000 without power modes could have health repercussions.
Totally agree with you, that you should listen to experienced people, I've studied " listened" to you Yams and others, for a year before I even bought a motorcycle, been daily for 4 years, love it!! 1, it's made me a better motorcyclist, 2, it's made me understand the importance of constantly improving your skills( including listening to those who know obviously more than I ) 3, it saved me from " laying her down" , saved my bike and my life, multiple times, .... thank you Yams and others
( but yeah, Yams is 💯 on that one ) 🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙
I started riding at 17. Did my CBT on a 50cc moped then brought a Yamaha YBR125 to learn to ride with. My dads side of the family has a history with bikes so he taught me how to ride. I did slide out once due to braking too hard in the rain which was a valuable lesson learned.
Samantha, 62, 5'10", coordinated, athletic, road friend's and brother's dirt bikes in tweens, studious and interested in technique. Started on an Aprilia RS 660 a little over a year ago and did 10 track days last season. It was the perfect bike for me. Everyone is different. Good point Yam!
Great advice. I've been riding tiny 50cc Piaggio NRG scooter for 10+ years and then stopped for another 15 years (except some rental 125cc scooters during our vacation). Last season I decided to start riding again and purchased 2008 Yamaha XT660X. So far I'm pretty happy with it and can't wait for the next season to start!
First bike 2009 r1 full Bolton and tuned! Never regretted it!!! Just respect the power, learn the bike and enjoy yourself! Most definitely be a defensive rider in traffic.
I'm 34 and started last year on a '23 MT-09 having never ridden a bike since the 50cc moped days. Did the motorcycle license test and everything (I live in Europe), passed first go. However i'm not stupid and understand how vehicles work so it works fine still. Winter came along but i managed to get almost 1000 miles racked up last year before parking it during winter. Can't wait for summer!
I made it! I'm one of the Low IQ Squids that recommended that the GSXR guy keep his 1000. But hey, I started on a CBR1000RR so what do I know haha
I started on a 1992 CBR600 F1 in 1992. Loved that bike. It’s a classic now. Then to a 1999 ZX750 then a 2005 R1, Then a 2007 Gsxr1000.. Had a kid and took 12 years off and now I’m back with a 2025 Ducati V4S. Only been down once and it was all my fault. Ride safe not stupid 🤘🏾💯
I believe a Yamaha PW50 is a great bike for a 5 year old boy. I would never consider buying a 5 year old boy, for his first motorcycle, a 1000cc motorcycle. That would be just too heavy and too tall! So, for my youngest grandson, I bought him a Yamaha PW50 and couldn't be happier with that decision. Plus, compared to a GSXR1000, it's about $17,000 cheaper. I'm not slamming the GSXr1000, because they are great, reliable, handle well at high speeds, but for a 5 year old to have as his first motorcycle, it's just too much.
IMO, , without starting with a 1000cc, you should not start with too little either. You can learn bad habit that will hurt or kill you from a too small bike. I'm a 6'' 260lbs dude, after quitting the bike world for a few years after a good fear on my SV1000. I've been back on wheel with a duke 390 to relearn the base, for 2 year I've blasted that little thing. Braking anywhere but especially accelerating everywhere, full throttle, all the time because my weight was keeping the bike traction. When I've changed my Duke for a Z900 I've almost kill myself in the first week because you cant drive a z900 like a 390, 1/4 throttle on a z900 is full throttle on a 390. You can tell me It was a too much to change my 390 for a z900 right away, and you're probably right, but if I had started again with a bike more suited to my size, I would have learned a lot more. Safety is a good thing but to much and it doesnt serve you.
p.s english not my first language.
This
People clearly overlook this. Being able to disrespect a small cc bike does not equate to safe riding. But like he said he gets to keep making “content”
I rode dirt bikes for 10 years. My 1985 Honda VFR500 Interceptor was still thrilling. 40 years later, still going strong. Off road racing on 250 two strokes, plus a ton of miles on 900RRs and VFRs. Peace ..
Wow...VFR500! Sooo much fun.
@@symonteng6801 I was 18. It was fantastic 😍
When I started riding at 18 I picked up an 03 929r with a power commander. Never road anything on 2 wheels other than the schwin or had a manual car. I'm the brain dead minority that survived, but I have gotten all my buddies to start on ninja 300s. Now I just got a 24 z900 delivered last week I got a good deal on. Good luck everyone, be safe and make good decisions out there, ride safe.
First bike at 30 was a 600 Bandit S (in line four). rode it for a few years but sold it as I was stuck in a company car for 13 years. 13 years after that sale at 52, I fancied another bike. Bought an MT09 (new). It’s all good. If you can drive even averagely well and respect and understand the road, you can ride anything. I’m ATGATT and went thru all the required training in the UK so I’m good thanks.
First time rider. Started last summer at 37. Bought a Yamaha Dragstar 1100 Custom then took the MSF. Thanks Yam for inspiring me over the last 8 years! Dedication to watching your videos are one of the reasons my wife said yes.
My first STEET BIKE was a brand new, off the showroom floor, 07 R6. But im the gigga chad that was ripping 2 strokes from the age of 7. I was whipping my YZ250 over jumps and racing local club motocross for years. R6 turned out to be a great choice, I loved that bike.
A friend of mines started practicing riding his grandparents bike that was way too much for a beginner, it was heavily tuned and he rode it around going slowly but never dropped it. He then bought a cbr600rr and was riding it to school and work. I started practicing on his 600 and quickly got the hang of it. The only thing about that is the fundamentals you learn on lower cc bikes are way better than trying to learn them on a 600cc. We’re both in high school still and I plan to buy my bike before graduating.
Don’t know how many people will see this… but worth a shot. Started 3 years ago on a RC390. Absolutely loved it and put 16k miles on it. Outgrew it in the sense of it got a little more boring and I wanted to focus on daily driving a bike. So cruise control was a must. Now I’m on a Superduke GT! Absolutely loving it. Went from 390cc to 1290cc. Almost 4x the bike haha
1:27 WRONG, start on a dirtbike. Dirt hurts less.
That’s what I did, so my first street bike was a DR 650. It was something I was already comfortable with. Just needed to adapt the skills to the street.
This is true, also when you drop them they're usually 100% fine except for a few small scratches, maybe a bent lever or bar. Not the case if you drop a nice shiny spot bike, even at zero miles per hour...
I had a Suzuki DRZ-400 for one summer to explore new trails, I just didn't really vibe with it (on or off road) so I sold it when I found a beautiful, low mile, bone stock K5 Gixxer 1K at my local dealer.
When it comes to dirt/ dual-sport bikes I'm now, unfortunately, a huge KTM fan. I can't imagine a "dual sport" getting much better than a 2018 300-XCW (somehow I got it plated and insured with no questions asked). It's always a riot, no matter where you ride it or how fast you're going (excluding the highway). About as light as a YZ-125 but with YZ-450F power levels. Perfection? Probably not, but close enough for me 😁
i'm in france and got my A2 license in september yet i still chose to start on a 125 cc and i don't regret it because i can learn and i'll have all the time later to enjoy bigger bikes
Started on a Harley Vrod in 2016 while in my low 30’s. No motorcycle experience…just sports cars and road bicycle racing. Have motorcycled 4000 miles a year on average since. Changed to touring bikes and sport bikes since then. No accidents. It’s all in your mentality.
Here in my State, Victoria, Australia you can only have a maximum 660cc bike for your Learner Permit and then the next 3 years while in your Probationary License. I’m 56yo and on my Learner Permit and my first bike (you won’t like it Mr Newb! 😂) is a 2024 CBR500R and I absolutely love it. I seriously can’t see why anyone would need any more power than that as they learn to ride a motorcycle. Craig - Australia
5'5 man here, I started on a fz07, did brc and arc and had Manual car experience, the fz07 was a great starter bike for me imo, now i ride a zx6r and im more than happy with it been riding for 4 years now
My first bike at 26 years old was a 2020 r3. Im 5’8” and 140lbs so its the perfect size to learn on(the r7 was out of budget for me) and I couldnt be happier. I wanted to be able to maximize my skill level on a smaller bike before moving up and its worked out amazing. I can ride my r3 to ITS limits, and its incredibly fun doing so. Now when I hop on the R9 i’ll be far more confident in my ability to control the bike around fast turns etc
I've been riding dirt bikes for 30+ years, both racing and play riding. I got my first street bike 2 years ago. I started with a DRZ400. I rode that for a year,then graduated to a VFR800 . I'm glad I started out on something that felt familiar and got the basics down before getting something bigger.
Never rode anything. Bought my first bike. 2022 Ducati monster 937. Has different modes to help a beginner ease into it. Makes similar hp to a 600 4 cylinder. Perfect starter imo
My MSF I was on a Kawasaki Eliminator (probably a 125), so I did a step up to the Vulcan S 650 for my first bike. Everything was in the same place, just a touch bigger, and I knew it would keep up with traffic. Was a great beginner bike choice to get comfortable on.
Passed my test (UK) 18 months ago and let my ego choose the bike lol I bought a 2018 Africa twin adventure sports... It's been a steep learning curve but I'm now loving the bike and what it can do
by doing all it takes to get a uk licence you've proven you have the skills to adapt to it, i think whatever you choose takes a lot of getting familiar with. I honestly believe it's in countries like the USA when you can ride what you want with little restriction or requirements for training that can be a big problem
I started out on a Honda Trail 90 in my late teens. I progressed up in bike sizes that eventually included a Harley Sportser Ironhead before getting a Harley Softail. I'm now riding a Moto Guzzi VII Stone. For me, this was a good way to do it.
Back in 1977 I went straight from a Yamaha RD350 to a Suzuki GS750 and a year later I had a Suzuki GS1000E. And two years after that I had a GS1100E. I had no problem at all, whatsoever. Period!! It was a silky smooth transition.
I'm a 38 yo man. I took weekly driving lessons on a Suzuki SV650 from may 2023 to jan 2024. Then got my license and bought a 2020 Z900. First month drove it around in rainmode that cuts power in halve sort of. I now own the bike for almost a year and I have put around 18.000 kms on it. Drove in Luxemburg, in the Eiffel in Germany, in the French Alpes and all round the Netherlands. I feel very comfortable on my bike and enjoyed every second with it. I do all maintenance myself and I signed up for extra lessons on a circuit in July this year. What a blast so far and I am looking forward to increase my skill level even more. 🥳😎👍
If you are in your 30's and have respect for the machine, I think you can learn on a powerful bike you feel comfortable on after MSF.
Everyone else should probably start on a 60hp bike.
I just started on a XSR900, no problem for me because I am not pushing my limits, I'm learning quickly but comfortably.
Don't get me wrong, If money wasn't an object, I would've started on a smaller bike and upgraded later.
It all depends on the rider. If he/she doesn't have skills, a scooter would do. I started on a Hayabusa...maybe it did helped that I was a semi-pro cyclist 🤷🏽♂️
I’m 16 and started on a GSXR 750. It’s been 5 months now, 2,000 miles in and I have yet to drop it.
You just have to focus 100% of the time and be careful. Expect ppl to do dumb shee
I'm 31 years old, 5'9", close to 200lbs, never been on a two-wheeled anything except for a bicycle. I've wanted a motorcycle for probably at least 11 or 12 years at this point, but could never justify what is essentially a toy, until now. I've almost always had a manual car, too. After much research, I decided I wanted a Honda CB650R, I knew I wanted an inline 4, and its just about the only modern option left, and I just so happened to come across a used one for sale. I'm signed up for my safety course in the spring and will be ready to start riding!
Meanwhile there's me, who couldn't decide between 49cc and 125cc
Isn't England great? 😂 125 all day bud, then do your full test when you're fully confident on that bike and you'll smash it, then go for something like a 400-650, our roads are completely different to americas and a lot tighter, if you ride a 650 here, it's probably enough, because it's more open over there, they can ride the bigger 600-1000cc bikes, honestly my mates got an s1000rr and the only place he can really use it is donnington, and I'm still quicker than him at most tracks with the sv650s with swapped out suspension 😂
@@MrKillervincent Wait so in Europe you cant buy anything you want before a certain age?? That wild to me lol
I started on a 50cc beta sumo, perfect learner, tiny but It could do anything offroad in the Ardennes to terrorising the air in Amsterdam I was already 20yrs cause motorcycle license would take at least a year to get. now I have Moto Guzzi 750. Starting on a small bike It's really good to find out what you would really like eventually
@ England? I'm from Poland.
@ No, you need a license to ride a bike. In Poland you get to ride up to 125cc and 15hp if you have car license for 3 years.
i bought a new kawasaki zx4rr in October, just hit 1000 miles today. its one of the best options out there if its in your price range, you can flash the ecu for 200 bucks and you have a brand new motorcycle when you graduate from the relatively calm power of it being factory. and you also get the awesome inline 4 noise without having to own a 600 or a 1000.
Did my course on a cb 500... then bought a gsxs 750 which i rode for 2 years. Also went to a riding school and rode an r6 and gsxr 600 on track. I now ride a speed triple 1200rs and absolutely love it! Not a lot of riding experience prior... just some dirtbike here and there. I think it's all about your state of mind! You need to have respect for the power a motorcycle brings to the table! There is a time and place for fast riding and there is a time and place for being smart! The machine is not the problem, its usually the people that use them!
I say a 400 is the perfect size starter bike. It’s light weight. They still look good. Their nimble. And they are a blast to go through the gears and ride.
I got my motorcycle license years ago in 1983. I started on a 1983 Honda XL250RC second hand (about a month old) with 1000km on the clock with a whole 20 ponies. Great for learning. Then bought a brand spanking 1983 Honda XR200RD, trading in the XL for what I bought it for, with 24HP and quite a bit less weight. Great fun.
Now I have a couple of even smaller Hondas, a couple of XR150L's with a whopping 12 ponies and an XR190L with 14 ponies that I ride everywhere. They will all do the speed limit here at 100km/h (60mph) with a little headroom. Having so much fun on these little things.
One of Yam's better videos. Started on a Ninja 300 and after a year I was pulling away from 600's and liter bikes in the mountains. Ride a 600 now and after riding the 300 for a few years, it really helped me be a good rider on a larger bike. Currently riding a 04 CB600F. Also got into riding dirt about 2 years ago. Riding dirt added a lot of tools to my arsenal as a rider. Everyone should try both. Find a Moto Gymkhana group in your area as well. The seasoned guys are always willing to help you be better, and it really translates well for faster riding through corners.
Grew up riding dirt bikes. Thousands of hours on dirt, dunes, gravel, etc. Now in my 30’s I finally got a road bike. I got an xsr900. It’s a lot of bike for my first road machine, but manageable due to my experience on bikes in general. I always suggest people run a few tanks of fuel through a dirtbike, then look at a mt03 or mt07 max as a first bike.
I’ve rode dirt bikes for like 5 years so I have riding experience and I decided to go with a z900. I don’t regret it at all,great power and I won’t be growing out of it anytime soon
I started riding 3 years ago on a 750 honda magna. I took the course when i was 44 and a year later i bought 1100 rebel. I rode it for a year before I tried sport mode.
My first experience on a motorcycle was a xsr700 and it was very manageable. I’m a 6.2 250lb man so that will put it in perspective for you.
Thank you for reiterating that liter bikes aren't always appropriate for beginners. I feel like there is so much pressure and condescension online towards newbies who start with a smaller, lower cc bike.
It is nice to hear someone telling people the truth
I’m AM a Ted, I love my H2SXSE!
Btw, I LOVE confirmation bias…
Thank you for this kind of content, I for one appreciate it.
im planning on getting a z650 as my first bike. i went to a nearby dealer to look at some bikes, while i was there i talked to one of the workers about what he thought about a z650 as a starter bike. he said a z650 is a bit big for a starter, but if you do get a 650 as a starter bike then you wont have to worry about buying a new bike a year or 2 later after you get comfortable with riding. when i get my bike i am only going to be using it for going back and forth to work, and nowhere else for probably the first month, or until i am more comfortable with it. then i will move on to a little bit of highway riding. im not getting a bike to be a menace on the road. i am only wanting a safe and fun ride, obeying traffic laws, while only slightly speeding at a max of 90mph on a highway. surface roads- 65 max unless passing.
New rider here, age 43 with 1 year experience on bikes and 20 years in manual cars and 44t HGVs. I have to say i agree with what yammie is saying to some extent. I bought a 2021 street triple 765R and rode it in rain mode for the first 6 months because it was more forgiving for a newbie. I think if you have the self control and the dexterity to operate a throttle/clutch with care and finesse, you will be ok on anything. The problem is when you dont and the teenager in your head tells you to stick it in sport and crack the throttle. Imo the street triple is perfect even for someone new but mature. Very predictable and it takes care of you with the electronics package. I dont regret my purchase.
i am 15 around 6ft ride mtb a lot and have backpacked before would you say that a Honda xr150l would be a good first bike?
I bought a 17' CBR500R as my first bike after taking the MSF course a little over a year ago. It's now for sell and I plan on getting a 600RR next. I was once told by a friend who also rides but has way more experience than I do to stay with my starter bike for a year because I actually wanted to upgrade at the 6 month mark. BUT! I took his advice, and now I have a whole year under my belt and I think I'm ready to move up.
I listened to Yammy and I started with taking the MSF basic course got a NC700x and put 10,000 miles then I moved to the CBR650F put 6,000 miles , then to my current 2018 CBR1000RR and have put so far 22,000 original miles. I am 59 years old right now and love to ride .
i bought my first motorcycle 2 years ago when i was 22. and ill fully admit it was trial by fire. but being 6 foot 3 and having some riding experience with dirt bikes and mountain bikes i chose to get an r6. i would not recommend this for anyone it was not a great choice on my part. but im disciplined and i was able to learn a lot on that bike. im now riding a yamaha r1 and i am very happy with it. some might say im not experienced enough for this bike but i have zero issues controlling it and im not intimidated to ride it and have fun in the twisties.
first bike Suzuki gt 185 .Survived and learnt,65 now still riding .Had super bikes now downsized to a Tracer 7.Still alive some of my old fast , crazy friends are not
Yammie my man, I hadn’t ridden a bike for over 40 years and I picked up a 2022 Honda Rebel CMX1100 DCT and started riding again! Thank you Honda for the “Rain Mode” on the bike until I got used to its power! I had to have RESPECT for the power the bike has! Just low and slow baby, low and freakin’ slow. 😎👍
Started with the S1000XR and still believe this was a good choise. After 4 years i have over 100 000 kms on this bike, all year all weather, today in -3 centigrade. 35000 of these kms lane filtering through brussels and antwerp rush hour
First street bike: In 1990 at the age of 20 years old I bought a 1990 Kawasaki Ninja ZX10 (1000cc). Aced the riding skills test with that bike. No issues at all the entire time I owned it. I had ridden dirt bikes since I was 8 years old, so I had experience, just no street experience at that point. I’ve since owned a variety of bikes: Harley, Ducati, Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha…..superbikes, sport bikes, cruisers, dual sports, dirt bikes. Is it ideal for everyone, maybe not, but it’s also not always a hard stop either. 👍🏻
Started in a 125cc yamaha ybr at the age of 34... Do not regret it! I have a cb500x now and i am just fine!
It's amazing to me how things have changed over the years. I learned on my dad's 500 BSA Royal Star back about 1968, and people said wow you're starting on something that big? My bikes were 500 Triumph T-100, 750 Matchless, CB450 Honda, CB750 Honda and CB1100F Honda (those last 3 all new) and then after 30 years away from bikes, a well used GSX1100F Suzuki.
I'm 73 now and find it incredible that it's common for some to start out on a 70hp bike. Honesty I'd be dead at 16 if I'd have had that option.
I’m 26 and looking to get into riding motorcycles. I’m on the smaller side 5’6 and I’m thinking of getting a Yamaha r3 as my first bike. I really like the look of all Yamaha bikes but the r3s look really great especially with the 2024 and 2025 white colorway. You have been the first channel I watched when I decided to get into motorcycles and been using your videos to figure out the best route into this new hobby. Thanks for the videos 🤟🏽🫡
As a kid of 15 started riding smaller dirt bikes, YZ 80 then progressed to YZ 125 at 17 and enjoyed squiding for a couple of years. Decided to ride on the street and bought a 1986 Ninja 600RR. Had a lot of fun but adjusted quickly. Had a couple of close calls and decided to stop riding street bikes and stuck to dirt again. Was pushed bye my bro to try his Honda CBF 650 and I was hooked again. Pulled the trigger on the 2021 MT 09 and kept it in rain mode for a month before I started getting better. Of course I took the MSF a year before the purchase. Today I’m on a fully worked 2023 MT 10 and although it’s an animal in torque I don’t ride past what I feel comfortable doing. 57 years and I need to work the next day. Riding dirt bikes and being on two wheels since I was 5 helps. I’m scared for those with barely any experience on two wheels and getting something with a lot of power
From what I’ve learned, motorcycles can be one of the most fun vehicles you can buy under the correct circumstances. I started riding dirt bikes when I was around 5 years old and absolutely loved it. It taught me how to ride motorcycles while keeping me in a controlled environment. Once I got older, I learned there is a hell of a difference between the dirt and the street. Because of this, I went for my Ninja 400 I bought from a family friend. It’s really helped me strengthen the basic fundamentals of riding while being incredibly fun. No matter what you think of yourself, ALWAYS start on a lower CC for what you want to do. Like Yammie Noob said, lower cc’s are a lot more forgiving than higher cc’s, so learn the basics on something small so you can stay safe on the bigger bikes you want.
35+ years of riding and currently own a 22 BMW s1krr and got to ride my buddies 24 Kawasaki Ninja 500 and truely loved it and would be a great starter sportbike