Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: Motorcycle Purchase, kawasaki ninja 500, suzuki sv650

Question
Pat,
I've just retired and gave myself a riding class + motorcycle to celebrate 40
years of work.
I'm in good shape and an accomplished bicycle rider.
I last rode a motorcycle in 1974 -  a small dirt bike.
I plan to be quite careful and do not want too much bike.
Could you suggest some suitable first bikes for me - small town riding +
short road trips?  

    Thanks  

Answer
Congratulations!

The general rule is buy a bike no larger than 500cc for a 4-cylinder, and no larger than 650cc for a 2-cyclinder, for your first bike when you're just starting out or getting back into motorcycling after a long break.

It does kind of depend on what type of bike you want to ride. If you like the cruiser style, I recommend the Yamaha V-Star 650. If you prefer the sport bike style, take a look at a Kawasaki Ninja 500. For a balance between a sport bike and a standard, take a look at the Suzuki SV650 or the Ninja 650R. You might also enjoy something more like a dual sport, especially if you're tall, check out the KLR 450 or 650. Older bikes like the Honda Interceptor 500 or Shadow 500 or 600 are also good bikes.

Plan on riding the smaller bike for at least a couple years while you're relearning. By then you'll be "up to speed" and can go seek out the bike of your dreams.

Pat