Best Used Motorcycles for Beginners (Dirt Cheap)
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- čas přidán 26. 06. 2024
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Thanks you for your comments! I do my best to keep up with them for the first few days after a video comes out, but due to the volume of comments on all of my videos, and to the general hustle and bustle of life, I must give up the fight after a while. If you are leaving a question four or more days after a video comes out I can't guarantee I'll see it, but perhaps one of my other viewers knows the answer and can help out. Thanks in advance to those who contribute and share their knowledge. Cheers and stay safe everyone!
#differentspokestv - Auta a dopravní prostředky
I couldn't agree more about the Kawasaki Ninja 250, I bought one for $2000 Canadian and rode it for 5 years and the only money I had to put into it was for oil, gas and a rear tire.
Did you then sell it for about what you paid for it as I did with mine.
@@davidrochow9382 I traded it for a new motorcycle so I didn't expect to get much for it and I wasn't disappointed in my expectation😁 I had my money's worth out of it so I was okay letting it go for less than it was worth for the convenience of a good deal on the new one.
@@davidrochow9382 I traded it in for a new bike at a dealership so I didn't get much for it , however seeing as that $2000 represents $7.69 a week for the time I owned it, I think I had full value out of it😁
@@davidrochow9382 I traded it in for a new bike.
Yep, and the later model still looks pretty current. Great little bikes.
Great advice.
My English parents replicated their experience by limiting my motorcycle size when I started. Whether it true or not, they told me this washow licensingg worked in Europe. It was reasonable and sensible.
I had to ride something 250cc or smaller for two years, then I could move up but only to 600cc, and that had to be for 2 years before I could get anything bigger.
I stared on a used 1980 Honda XL 250, and then 2 years later, I bought a Yamaha Seca 550.
This was a great way to learn, and I replicated that model when my son started riding 7 years ago.
He started on a KLX 250, and after 3 years he bought a Honda CB500X.
I really believe that this graduated introduction builds skills, confidence, and life-long motorcyclists!
In the UK (which is similar to Europe) the A1 License restricts you to 125cc, A2 limits you to 35kW / 46.9HP and a power to weight ratio of 0.2kW/kg / 0.12HP/lb. Most 500cc Japanese bikes meet that spec, and you can also get power restricted bikes that can have the restrictor removed later once you pass your A2 for a number of ~650cc and similar bikes.
Personally I would pay far more attention to power to weight and torque to weight than CC, as some 600cc+ bikes can have well over 120hp, and weight only 425lbs, while a 650cc can have only 70hp at a similar weight. CC is not at all a measure of performance.
Yep, very different from here where I got my licence and bought an Intruder 1400 while I still had a learner's permit.
Good video on great value used bikes. No need to say they are for beginners. Anyone on a tight bike budget could enjoy these bikes.
Well said!
P.s. also consider a good used scooter motorcycle. They can be had relatively cheap and with low miles, and are great for beginners: no shifting!
YES! Suzuki Burgman 200. Cheap, QUICK (will handle freeway speeds), and reliable 😎👍🏻
Great point! And the insurance on them might be better as well.
In April I bought my BMW F800ST from 2007 with 11K miles. Sport Tourer, 85 HP. Needed new tires but not much else, for $2,300 in California. Great bike.
I love the look of that single sided swing arm. I considered that bike back in 2019 when I was shopping for a used bike.
I just bought my first bike a new 2022 KLX300sm. Got it for way cheaper than you can buy used ones. Dealer wanted it out of there!
I owned a 2021 long enough to put on 4500 km. It's such a great bike and should be much more popular. Maybe the Kawasaki employee who estimates how many they can sell had an off day with the supermoto variant. My local Kawasaki dealer still has two year old new examples on their showroom floor.
Nice find! The SMs maybe don't sell as well as the standard KLX300 but you can put knobbies on them rip around off road pretty well.
2 years ago, I bought an '18 Yamaha V Star 250 LCC. Got my right hip replaced in June '23 and worked on it till last month when I healed enough to walk fairly well again. Left hip done 3/16. It looks like and is the same size as the mid-80's Sportster it was designed to compete with. In Raven Black Metallic. It fits me like a glove at 68. And is torquey & nimble. It likes leaning too! 21-23HP and the only V-Twin in it's class. Versus the 16-18HP of the older Rebel 250's. Which are also smaller.
To be honest I wouldn't recommend that Honda Rebel 250. If you're going down that road get a 125 to 250 dirt or Enduro bike to learn on. Once you're ready for the street then get the 750 Shadow or Aero or something similar. That 250 Rebel just doesn't cut it out on the streets and highways.
disagree somewhat definitely not a highway bike but it's a perfect in town commuter
My first bike was the Trail 125 awesome bike but it only goes 50 mph with my weight so i went the complete opposite and my 2nd bike street bob 103 torque monster😊 im happy
That's quite the step up.
I started on a Honda Helix (scooter) at 12. Bought a V65 magna at 16 for $1000. I saved my grass cutting money for it. At the time there really wasn't anything like a beginner bike. Nobody really said that's too much bike other than big heavy Harley's. You just bought what you could. I've been riding ever since. I'm 43 now.
Holy cow! V45 Magna at 16. You musta been shocked the first time you opened that thing up.
Every time the Kawa KLR 650 is mentioned in your channel I think it’s the perfect bike for me. It’s a shame we do not get it in Spain, as I would get one in a heartbeat
It's a very capable and utilitarian bike, but compared to a T7 it feels weak and dated. That's why it's 2/3 the price of a T7.
Started on a ZX-6R in 2006. Financed. Dumb decision, don't do that.
Due to body pain, I couldn't ride it very long before I wanted to get off.
Traded on 2007 SV650. What a revelation that was. Comfortable. Sporty enough. Torquey twin that had more shove than the ZX at most RPM. I could have kept it a lot longer than I did, but it was fantastic. I've had the most fond memories of the SV650 looking back. Had a couple new, couple used, S models with full fairings, one had a full exhaust with Powercommander. Sounded amazing. Never ever gave me a lick of trouble.
Yeah, my big regret was getting a 600 supersport instead of the SV650. I would have had more fun on the SV and paid a lot less in insurance.
@@DifferentSpokesTV Yep. 50 mpg no matter how I flogged it. Low cost insurance. Very reliable. Lots of aftermarket support. Slightly less cost for a 160 rear tire. Lots to like.
Today I'd go MT-07 if I wanted something in that class, it just has more torque and it's just as fun, the motor is a real hoot.
I had a 2007 sv650 and absolutely loved it then sold it to a friend that needed cheap transportation. 10 years and many bikes later no other bike was as enjoyable for long term ownership so I bought a 2022 sv650 and don't regret my decision at all. First bike I ever bought new and probably the only bike I will ever buy new
@@hachi-rokuperformancegroup3987 They changed a good deal about it, but probably the same engine characteristics are there. I rather liked the angular wedge shaped look of the mid 2000's (particularly the subframe and tail fairings) more than the current one, but it's not a bad look today either. Wish they'd have kept the larger fuel capacity.
Thanks for the video for the beginners. The cost of a used motorcycle is one thing, getting one service done once a year, paying insurance(larger engine displacement will cost more), change tires is also very costly. Can you make a video and give us the beginners some rough idea of cost of owning a motorcycle a year? It will be high appreciate if you can compare bikes among Less than 400CC, 650 CC vs 1000CC? Thank you!!
Thanks for the comment. Unfortunately the costs vary widely mostly due to huge differences in insurance costs. Here in Canada insurance is ridiculous but I hear that in many places it is one fifth of what we pay. As for the costs of service, that will depend on the brand and dealer. Yo could get an older Ducati Monster for cheap only to find out that it needs the big valve adjustment job for $2000 at the local boutique Ducati dealer. That's why I always recomment Japanese.
Started in 2000 on a brand new Kawa VN800 classic. The only available bike in May where I lived. Still have it as a third bike since it is way better than the trade in offers I recieved when byuing new ones.
Nice! I started in '99 on an Intruder 1400. The Harley guys scoffed at the Japanese cruisers back them but some of those old bikes are still holding up very well today.
I disagree about the TW or XT, can't find them around here. If you do, they are usually north of $4,000 (US). I bought a new XR150L, not my first bike, I also own a 2020 HD Street Bob and KTM 450EXC. The Honda new is under $4K OTD, but a fun bike and easy to ride for beginners.. not for highway use, but perfect for Forest roads and in town. It is a true dual sport a great beginner's bike and a great Veteran's bike for people that want to chill in the woods.
Yep, I reviewed the XR150L last summer and liked it. There are two XT225s and one XT250 in my area for sale, all under 3K US with the current exchange rate, but I'm near a Metro area of 8 million people.
@@DifferentSpokesTV I saw that video, one of the reasons I looked into the bike. I looked for the TW, XT and the CRF 230L. The Yamahas were $4K unless it was trashed. No CRF 230L's anywhere. I owned a 230 in 2009, it wasn't bad. Back then I couldn't afford multiple bikes. Now I can, so I have a few. My little Honda is just as much to ride as my Harley.
Started on a 1999 Yamaha V Star Classic 650. There were 2 on the floor, identical. 2 days after I bought 1 my brother bought the other. We looked like the friggen Bobbsey twins. I got to customizing mine fast 😆 Eventually mine went to my Dad in lieu of some money I'd borrowed, my brother traded his on a hunting quad. Last week he went out to my parents and brought it home, today we rode together for the first time in 20 years. I love that bike. Absolutely fantastic beginner bike. It's a big bike with excellent road presence and fits bigger riders no problem. It's like the same size as a Harley Fat Boy, dimensionally not displacement.
Yeah, you could park that in a line of big Harleys and most people wouldn't be able to tell that it has less than half the displacement.
You’re right about Honda reliability, my 1983 GL 1100 goldwing with 105k on the odometer runs and drives like the day I bought it (1985). 😊
those are great looking bikes especially stripped down with no panniers or fairing
That's amazing that you've had that bike for so long. The GW is a legend.
17 when I bought my 1st bike. 1979 Suzuki TS 250 enduro. Never forgot the sound of that single piston slapping around. Sounded like it was going to explode when you let off the throttle. 😂 Also never forgot the feeling of freedom you get from riding…
Awesome!
My first was a 1975 Can-Am TNT 125 which I bought new in 1976. It was a pretty good bike for it's time. These days I only buy used and my last purchase was a 2020 KTM SMCR.
Good idea buying used. And that SMCR is a ripper.
A lot of good information, great video. Thank you 👍
Glad it was helpful!
Great tips.
Started on a Vespa GTS 250, moved to a Piaggio BV 400, and just added a Triumph Speed 400. 🤙🤙
I hear real good things about the Speed 400. Congrats!
Great videos, thanks a lot for your creativity.
Glad you like them!
Outstanding! 2 enthusiastic👍👍up on your cautionary recommendations. Over extending yourself while getting into motorcycling can have catastrophic consequences! While a "newbie" can get into riding with cheap used bikes, you still need to invest in your own well-being and get the necessary training. As the MSF slogan goes...."the more you know, the better it gets!"
Yep, some of the best money I spent was taking a fast track riding course and another dirt riding course. They improved my skills a great deal and I'm now thinking about taking some MX lessons to bolster my dirt skills.
My first bike was a 1999 Honda shadow 600 right after getting my endorsement in 2013 at 60 years old. Should have kept it.
I can't believe that people are putting suicide clutches on those things.
@@DifferentSpokesTV suicide clutch on a shadow??
Both of the choppers in my video had them.
A friend drove a 650 Versys from Vancouver, B.C. down the Pacific coast, across the US coastal south, up the eastern US and into southern Ontario. Then across the prairies back to B.C. Said it wasn't that bad at all. Whew, I can't do 800 kilometre days any more. Cheers from the Pacific West Coast of Canada.
He thinks Itchy Boots is awsome, and he's got the cred to say that.
Thanks for the info i started in 1980 on a yamaha 100 enduro and my first road bike was a 77 kz 400 in 82 and riding ever since i hope the baby and mom are doing well!
Thanks, we are all doing well and enjoying being parents. Everyone should ride dirt before getting on the road. I wish I had done it that way when I started.
It's a good idea to start on a low displacement bike, but just remember you still have to respect it. I think statistically you are most likely to crash around six months after you begin riding... aka the point where your confidence finally outstrips your experience/ability. Be really careful around that time.
Anecdotally, the one and only time so far that I went down in six years of riding was on my first and by far slowest/weakest bike (Virago 250). And I kid you not, it was just about six months to the day since I'd started
I started street riding in 2020 with a crf 250l. I have a drz 400s and a rebel 1100 dct now. My wife started riding last year and has a grom.
Those are all pretty awesome choices of bikes. Thanks for sharing.
My first scoot was a 1980 kz750 twin...had it 10 years and miss it dearly,got me a 2018 klr I bought new to replace the kz.
Nice! 2018 was the last year that the KLR was 432lbs. Then it came back a couple of years later having gained 20lbs.
I'm sure someone else said it way down in the comments but the Rebel 250 is a twin.
This is a good year to by bikes in BC. The market is flooded with bikes. I think those that bought during Covid are offloading them now for reasonable prices.
I find that the prices haven't come down in Ontario. Lots of choice but the prices are steep.
The Suzuki S40 won’t bring any thrills but when it comes to everyday riding and commuting it is all conquering - it has “enough” power, skinny 28” bars that can squeeze in anywhere, and utterly undesirable to any potential thieves. Best bike ever if your bike is your only transportation.
I always keep a light cheap bike around for if my big complex machines break down or need a part that's on backorder. My virago 250 was a grand. Its dirt cheap to insure feed and up keep and fits in my garden shed. And Yamaha is still making vstar 250's so parts are pretty much all readily available.
Yeah, those never need to be upgraded much. Why fix what isn't broken? Just build the same bike forever.
The metric cruisers are cheap here. shadow 750, vulcan 900 and the suzuki s50/m50 can usually be had for 2500-4000.
Just got my first bike two weeks ago. Suzuki gz250. Great for learning, but now I'm already looking for something bigger.
in 2005 I was 23 and my first on road motorcycle was a 1996 zx6r. Will always have a special place in my heart! It was in a guys shed and he said if you can get it started and out of here its yours for $750. 2 hours later my brother and I had it running and rode it home. I had off road riding experience so I wouldn't have recommended it for a beginner.
Yeah, great bike but definitely not for newbs. The insurance premiums on those in Canada are insane.
My first three bikes were Suzuki Intruder VL1500 -99, a Honda Varadero xl1000 -99, and then a Suzuki Vstrom DL1000 -06. I still have the Intruder. All these small lightweight 250's and up to 650 were never an option as Im 6'8" and very heavy. Most 21+ yr old people here in Sweden that start riding at a driving school use yamaha MT07
Another great video, thanks. Time to sell my Drz I guess
Sell it and buy a new one for the money :)
I started on a 2000 KLR650. While it was a decent bike, a few words of caution if considering.... this is a heavy and tall bike that is like a sail in a cross wind. It is also a big single cylinder thumper, with gobs of low end torque accentuated by the low gearing. The torque can catch you and you will dump it without experience on such a bike (a couple of my experiences buddies with sport bikes tried it and both ditched it immediately as they weren't ready for the torque). Finally, while it has a decent engine, it is not bullet proof.... I had to rebuild mine... and it was due for another rebuild before I sold it.... it burns a lot of oil and is easily to run low without noticing.
Thanks for the tips!
Good advice for almost all just starting out new riders. I'd be curious about the percentage of new riders who change their minds about motorcycles after trying the first one? When I started riding in 1969 I devoured every motorcycle magazine for years before my first bike. My older brother got me going early on.
Yeah, I used to have stacks of motorcycle mags back in the day. Then the internet killed the paper mags.
Ha. Ridden Honda 250 from SF to San Diego & back 4 times in the 80's, yes a girl was involved, as I didn't know the HP or Torque & a girl was, oh, I said that....
I kind of wish that you did this as two videos. One video covering the older, cheap, and unique used motorcycles. These are great for people with mechanical understanding and appreciate these grand machines
Then you could do a second video covering affordable used motorcycles with ABS and fuel injection. ABS is a good idea for obvious reasons. Fuel injection reduces maintenance, improvement reliability, fuel mileage and usually performance. I love my 06 Ninja 250. But the carburetor are waiting for me to rebuild them because my wife parked the bike for more than a month or two without draining the fuel from the carburetors.
You did cover motorcycles in both of these groups. But for new riders it isn't obvious which motorcycles are in which group. I know of people that gave up on riding mostly because they bought a motorcycle from the first group when they should have bought from the second group.
Yeah, good point. Those older low-tech bikes are a bit more labour intensive. It's been so long since I've had a carbureted bike that I forget.
In some country you don't really have a choice. In Australia you can't get anything bigger then a 650 when you start and in some other countries you are stuck on a 125 . My first bike was a mid 70s Benelli 250 2c. It was my one and only Italian bike. I also think a great cheap first bike is the GPZ 250. If you are over about 85 kg you'll need to upgrade the suspension though. They are basically the same as the ninja but for some reason they sell at a cheaper price. You can buy one keep it for a while then resell it for about what you paid for it as I did when I got back into riding after a few years away from it. That thing would sit on 110 kph all day in 5th gear( they come with a 6 speed gearbox) which in South Australia is the top legal speed you can do. I now ride an 82 Honda VF 750 Magna and that's great also.
Nice! Yes, my wife rode her CB300F for a couple of years and sold it for $100 less than what she paid for it. That's the thing with these small bikes. It's like people rent them for a couple of years and then get their money back on them. The Magna is an awesome bike though. I wish there were more V4 cruisers around.
Great video. I have a Versys-x 300 and it is my first motorcycle. It is a great first bike because of a few reasons which include a low seat height, light weight, low cost used, adequate power, easy clutch, reliability, good handling, and basic functions. I don't think a person needs a motorcycle over 300 cc as a first motorcycle. You could get away with a larger engine/more power, but I think 300 cc is ideal. I cringe when people offer up a H-D Sportster as a good first motorcycle. They are just too heavy and make more power than I'd feel comfortable recommending for a new rider. My Sportster is much harder to ride than my Versys-x 300. I think I could have started out on the Sportster, but it would have been harder to progress as a rider.
Excellent points on both bikes. The 883 weighs in the 570lb neighbourhood and does take some muscle and experience to ride with confidence.
Versys X is great. When you wear out the stock tires, replace them with some Mitas E07's. Great on road, but night and day better off road. Don't forget to add skid plate either; you don't want to be blasting the engine with rocks long term.
I can't say I agree with any of the 250cc motorcycles... at least if you want to do any riding on the highway (if you don't then perfect). You will struggle to maintain ~115kph, and will not have the power to pass as you will be near redlining at 115kph, plus some 250cc bikes are not geared for highway speeds anyways. 300cc imho is the absolute minimum if you want to do any highway sections, preferably 400-500cc if you plan to do any traveling by highway and not pushing the engine at near maximum for hours. I would also suggest avoiding motorcycles over 500lbs wet, as it will be harder to learn slow speed maneuvering skills due to the extra weight.
I had a 2007 GPZ 250 which I added a one tooth bigger front sprocket . After that I got to 130kph( without it being near the red line ) overtaking a car before I realized it still had another gear to go. It would quite happily sit on 110 kph in 5th gear (6 speed gear box ) all day and get about 450 kms from a tank of petrol without a problem. The only problems were that it was very light and didn't like strong head or side winds.
Yeah, a lot of these smaller bikes can do the speed but when they get hit by strong winds you feel like you're holding on for your life.
Because of the new Himalayan 450 the original 411s are now coming up for sale all modified for around 3k US. The CRF250 rallys are also usually selling for $3500 US. The Suzuki TU250x look really cool and they usually go for $2k US.
All good suggestions. I thought about including the TU250X but the only one I saw in my area was quite overpriced.
@DifferentSpokesTV Yeah. But after a month they usually come down to a much more reasonable price. People are really weird about selling used motorcycles. And yes I sold a used motorcycle and accepted both the loss of dealer fees and depreciation even including upgrades.
I was different when I was in the beginner camp. My notion always was, "The bike only goes as fast as you make it go. And if you're strong enough to pick it up if it falls over, go for it." And that's what I did. I didn't start on a beginner bike. Hm, I still wouldn't advise anybody start riding a Kawasaki H2 or Honda Fireblade, but you can start riding on some pretty fast bikes if you are the kind of person who has any sense.
Yep, the problem is, if you have a 170mph bike, eventually you'll want to hit 170mph. I'm not a beginner but every time I test out a fast bike I find myself taking too many stupid chances. I guess I don't have that much sense.
@@DifferentSpokesTV LOL, I always respected my motorcycles . Like a chainsaw or a firearm. I was more into not crashing and not getting killed , and keeping my odds as favorable as I could. I'd get a little nuts sometimes, but still within certain parameters (7am riding on a Saturday, nobody else on the road, perfect visibility, etc, you know). "There are old riders. And there are bold riders. But there are NO old, bold riders."
Just because somebody is riding a Honda Rebel 250 doesn't necessarily mean it's safer -- it's pretty easy to get killed on one of those, too. The mind of the rider is really the main factor above all else
my first bike was a V star 650. perfect 1st bike. tops out at 84mph...down hill
Yeah, not the most powerful but fast enough for any North American road.
Also, on that Rebel 250 I was on I5 the whole way, WFO screaming at 73mph until I couldn't close my hands over clutch or brake. Did I mention a girl was, oh, I did. These were the 55mph limit days, so I passed everything....
Is that girl still around?
my first street bike was a 1977 Kawasaki kz400 now I'm riding a 1983 Honda shadow vt500c
totally agree better to go a bit smaller than to big and scaring yourself out of the hobby
500cc is enough bike for anything. Anything more is just for kicks, not necessity.
@@DifferentSpokesTV couldn't agree more 🤘
You can do the same with an 883 Sportster. You can buy a used for 2-3 k.
Used royal enfield that is only a couple years old would also be a option in cruiser and adventure markets
Yes, but it would have to be a more recent model as the older REs don't have the best reputation for reliability.
Started riding on road on the Pulsar 150 in India then himalayan 411
Nice! The Himalayan was a big step up from the Pulsar.
Hey where do you and Brook go for your bike shows? I would love to go somewhere where I can see new bikes and sit on them other than the showroom.
These are two bike shows that go through Toronto every spring (really the end of winter). One is at the International Centre and the other is at Exhibition Place. Google "Toronto Motorcycle Show" to find out exact dates and locations.
How about a kids and youth starter bike video. 125 cc and under new and used.
if you can find one an old Suzuki tc90 is a perfect starter bike as it had the dual range gear box so can start off in the low range and it just putts along
I'll have to research that a bit more when my daughter gets older. Right now she is a month old so not quite ready yet:)
If you’re new, get something with front wheel ABS!
Good point.
Get a 650 V twin, i'm 50 never had or needed any more power. You need to get highway experience but not too much power to get yourself in trouble.
Yeah, the highway is the only place a 600cc inline 4 beats the SV. At slower speeds the SV feels faster.
Prices of motorcycles in kanadastan went up significantly since last year
Everywhere. Inflation is crazy with every government in the world printing money like there's no tomorrow.
I don't understand how are motorcycles expensive for you guys. Of course, if you want a BMW GS or a top of the line cruiser, you have got to fork out the cash. But what's wrong with Benelli, Moto Morini, CFMoto and others alike? Sure, they are made in China. Just like some of the BMWs and Yamahas. If you want brands and labels, pay for them! Easy like that!
Buying a motorcycle in a place where you might get to use it for 3 months out of the year is wild to me
Alaska?
@@aniyn Alaska, Canada, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, so on
@@smoothboye4203 I live in Canada. I can ride mid March into November. 7-8 months a year.
@@aniyn it's really a matter of preference. I have no desire to be outside when it's below 50 F / 10 C
If you want someone to respect your opinion on an educational video for New riders, you have to get your information correct. Within the first 2 minutes you refer to the rebel 250 as a single. It's a twin. Why should I watch the rest of the video?
My issue with ““ experienced riders are that they call everybody that hasn’t riding long rookies or newbies or inexperience personally any 250 cc is worthless in the United States meaning too small, 500 cc twin and up is a minimum that being said we started on 600cc and 1000cc sports bikes 20 years ago because they were the thing and the fact that the rider was just stupid and irresponsible is what made him crasheon a 600 or 1000 cc Sports bikeas, Do not start on a 250cc dont waste ur money! 500cc and up twin