Many have asked my advice on the right starter bike and I've evolved over the years to assume that you have some two-wheeled experience, like riding your multi-speed bicycle for instance.
"But it's not a motorcycle", you say. I reply, "True, but you have to use the controls, while you're rolling, to make the thing go, and go faster, to stop and so on." Really, you're learning to use all your limbs in concert with balance to ride safely. The principles are similar even if the actual control form is different. For instance, on a bicycle, the right handlebar lever engages the rear brake while the same lever on a motorcycle engages the front brake, and so on.
What's evolved is the motorcycle I'd recommend.
The old thinking was that a small displacement motorcycle like a 250cc size would be perfect to learn on, it's small, light, cheap, etc. and so that a small mistake that drops the bike, won't result in something valuable being damaged.
The new thinking is to find a more upscale, larger bike, say a 600cc-ish size but is de-tuned so the engine is easy to manage and the frame and brakes are more top-of-the-line performers.
I think that many times newer riders get into trouble by the bike having handling quirks that teach uncertainty in feedback such that rider inputs, don't have the desired output (in direction, or stopping, or whatever is needed) response. Therefore, finding an affordable bike that has all the performance components is the way to go.
They are out there and available and inexpensive! A case in point is the Ducati Monster 620 or, M620.
What I like about it is wider handlebars so steering inputs are low, it has an upright riding position so comfort isn't an issue, the brakes are Brembo, Yeah Baby!, the suspension bits are tunable for rider preferences such as a harder or softer ride.....all the things that inspire confidence in a newish rider.
And, it's a Ducati so its cool factor is off the charts!
The engine is a L-twin meaning it has two cylinders but its arrangement is such that it makes its power low down in its rpm, or engine speed, range. It doesn't make a thrilling amount of power but it makes an adequate amount that is comfortably usable.
To keep up with other bikes of its size, the rider will have to work harder, ride smarter, in short, learn how its done. But the lessons learned on the Ducati will not have to be undone, relearned, to fit another bike.
That's my kind of learning!
