Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: first bike suggestions..., suzuki sv 650, suzuki gs500

Question
Hey Pat,
Im about to begin the beginner's riders course in about a week and i just cant wait! Since I will be a very new rider...what type of bike do you suggest for me. I know they train you on really small bikes...but I dont know if I actually wanna purchase something that small. I am a female, between 5'5" and 5'6" and between 125-130 pounds. Im very "heavy handed" so I dont want a bike with too much power as my first bike I was looking at the 2005 Kawasaki Ninja500 and the 2005 Yamaha 600R..are either of these a good starter bike for me? Even if so, could you suggest anything else? Thanks :-)

Answer
The Ninja 500 is a terrific first bike, the Yamaha 600 is not. I highly recommend the Ninja.

My general rule of thumb is no more than 650 cc if it is a two-cylinder bike; no more than 500 cc if it is a four cylinder bike.

For your size, also consider the Suzuki GS500. Another great choice is the Suzuki SV 650, which is definitely a bike you won't outgrow for at least a few years. There are lots of nice used ones on the market, cheap.

Happy shopping!

Pat