Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: 1st bike, suzuki sv650s, v strom

Question
Pat,

I need help on a sugestion  for a first bike. I know i shouldnt get a bike too powerfull but there is a problem.
I am a 5 10-11 tall guy who weighs 273. I am heavy built with broad shoulders and was a lineman for a while. I have a slight stomach but lots of muscles in my legs and all and i dont want to get a bike that is too small for my build. Please help me with a beggining sportbike because i want to ride something fierce.

Answer
The basic premise here is that the bike you're lusting after is almost always NOT the right bike to start on.

If you want to do it right, buy a bike to learn on, ride it for at least two seasons, and then start thinking about a bigger bike.

Unfortunately, in the sport bike category, there is no good first bike out there that will be a good fit, physically, for you. Even the smallest (600s) are a handful for a new rider.

I recommend you start with a Suzuki SV650S. It is a standard that looks and handles like a sport bike but the 650 twin is easy to manage and plenty powerful, even at your size. I have a friend (~180 lbs) who rides one with his wife (~150 lbs) all the time, and they're poetry in motion on that bike.

The SV is pretty adaptable too, with a little work it can be raised up an inch or two, handlebars moved or swapped, in order to accommodate a longer reach and longer legs. The Ninja 650R is very similar, though not quite as popular. Both would be terrific first bikes.

If you feel these are too small for you physically, the SV also comes in a "dual sport" kind of version called the V-strom, which is quite a bit taller. True, it's not a sport bike, but would be an excellent starter bike as well.

Make sure you take a training course before you even start looking for a bike! Call 800-446-9227 to find a basic rider course near you.

Best of luck and happy shopping!

Pat