Several months ago we wrote an article talking about how Kawasaki was doing something amazing – unfortunately, no they are not reviving the much loved Ninja 500R – and releasing a brand new motorcycle to the Canadian and Japanese markets (Kawasaki Gives Canada and Japan the Ninja 400R). We were excited for the Ninja 400R [...]
We ride because we love it. Face it: the only reason anyone in North America rides a motorcycle is because we love the feeling of being on two wheels. Sure, the fuel economy and is nice, but nothing can trump the feeling of hitting a corner at a 30 degree angle, leaned over, screaming like [...]
The Suzuki Katana, or the “Can-A-Tuna” as it is sometimes called, is one of the most misunderstood motorcycles ever produced. Coming in 600cc and 750cc trims, with 80 hp and 92 hp respectively, the Katana was a capable sport/sport-tourer hybrid that is both welcoming for new riders and powerful enough to be entertaining. Weighing in [...]
Are you a massive geek? Does looking like you just stepped off the grid make you absolutely excited in ways that are somewhat confusing to you? If you answered yes to those two questions we may have just found your “thing”: Universal Designs movie replica riding suits. The best thing about these riding suits is [...]
The Calgary motorcycle show wrapped up last night, and thankfully I was able to attend to snap some pictures and see what’s new and exciting in the motorcycle world. I took some great pictures, had some fantastic conversations (including a good one with a rep from Suzuki Canada), and left quite excited about some things [...]
Currently announced for the Canadian and Japanese markets, the 2011 Kawasaki Ninja 400R steps in to fill the lofty shoes of the departed (and sorely missed) Ninja 500R. It maintains all of the technology and features of its bigger brother, the Ninja 650R, but with a smaller engine and price point (the 400R is approximately $1,200 cheaper than the 650R). It promises to offer new riders plenty of thrills and good times while remaining approachable and easily-controlled- key elements of an effective entry-level motorcycle.
Thinking about buying your first motorcycle, or perhaps hopping on one for some joy riding? Want to enjoy the most addictive mode of transportation around, but not too sure of how or where to begin? Keep reading. The key to successful (and safe) riding is patience. There are some things about motorcycles that will always [...]
If you’re a new rider it’s important that you have the basics covered: a good motorcycle to ride on, all the gear you need (and make sure you’re riding ATGATT), and a good head on your shoulders. Your helmet is the most important piece of safety equipment you have, and ensuring that you have a [...]
This is part two of a three part guide. Read Learning to Ride Sportbikes: A Beginners Guide – Part 1 if you haven’t already. In the first part of this guide we talked about the basic pre-work involved in getting ready to ride your new sportbike. Having a clear, positive mindset will ensure that you [...]
The 903cc liquid-cooled v-twin engine powering this beautiful mid-size cruiser provides enough “oomph” to get the Vulcan 900 moving, which the sleek and sexy styling is quick to impress. For someone looking to get into a cruiser, but is somewhat apprehensive of a “big bike”, the Kawasaki Vulcan 900 Custom is our ideal choice.
It’s beautiful, it’s powerful, and it’s damn fun to ride. What more do you want in a bike?
Over the years, many a song has come and gone that has spoken to the free-wheelin’ whims of popular motorcycle culture. We found a great article that highlighted 10 fantastic songs that really brought out some fantastic elements of motorcycle riding. The passion, the interest, and the sheer candidness of the sport is what keeps us all riding. Oh, and it’s a lot of fun too….
This is part one of a three part guide. Before you read any further, know this: there is absolutely no replacement for getting on a motorcycle and learning through experience. No, I am not saying that you need to hop on your bike and go for a ride down the highway. What I am saying [...]
Just FYI to everyone who checks out BeginnerMotorcycleReviews.com that a redesign is happening this week. This means that certain functions may not work properly until we get things ironed out, and there may be a period of time where things look/appear funny and/or don’t work at all. But, the good news is we only have [...]
The term counter-steering means different things to different people. Before I started to ride motorcycles, it meant turning the wheel the the same way the rear of the car was going in order to recover from a skid. On a motorcycle, the term is used to describe how to initiate a turn.
Three months into 2010 Spring is starting to rear its head. The sun is shining, the snow is melting, and the roads are clearing up! Time to get your new motorcycle on the road. This is the first in what will likely become yearly installments: our official 2010 guide to motorcycles for new riders. Every major segment is covered here: sport bikes, dual-sport/motards, and cruiser. Looking to buy a new bike? Check out what we recommend!
One of the first motorcycles I owned was a 2008 Suzuki SV650S. It was what I rode immediately after selling my 1999 Kawasaki Ninja 500R (probably the best beginner motorcycle I’ve ever ridden, by the way. Learn more about the Kawasaki Ninja 500R here), and it was the motorcycle that took riding from a hobby [...]
The second installment in our summary of the 2010 Calgary Motorcycle Show. Three more bikes are showcased for your enjoyment.
Watch for some more reviews later this year when Calgary finally gets some decent weather!
The Calgary motorcycle show was a few weeks ago, but I’ve been so crazy busy that I never had a chance to post some of the pics that I took. There were a ton of really excellent motorcycles on display this year, including some new BMW’s that really got the crowd excited (197 horsepower will do that to people). However, being the guy that I am, I tried to get a line on some of the new entry level and/or tamer motorcycles that would be better suited for beginners.
With all that being said, here are some of my personal highlights from the 2010 motorcycle show…
Launched about a year ago, Beginner Motorcycle Reviews was my outlet to share my thoughts and opinions about some of the most common bikes that are being marketed to “beginner” riders. I went out and rode a lot of bikes, met a bunch of really cool riders and great people. This website has been such [...]
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Here in Calgary, AB, Canada the weather for riding is pretty much toast. The high today is 15 degrees Celsius (59 Fahrenheit), and to be honest, we’ll be lucky to see that. We might get another few days of decent riding weather, but obviously I’m not holding my breath.
Keeping your motorcycle insurance premiums low can be a real tough challenge. These five tips will help keep your premiums as low as possible, keeping more money in your wallet (for gas, of course).
I was riding down a residential road today, humming loudly to myself (as I often do when I’m riding since I don’t wear headphones/listen to music), when I pulled over to the side of the road. Something had caught my eye, and I wasn’t sure of exactly what it was until it hit me: leaves.
The road is littered with them, all varying colors and shades, blowing carelessly in the wind. If you are a motorcycle enthusiest who lives in an area that experiences fall and winter, you know that familiar feeling that sets in the pit of your stomach.
For new motorcycle riders, the look and feel of a motorcycle is often as important to rider as actually riding the motorcycle. Let’s be completely honest for a second: every rider wants to feel “cool” when they’re on their motorcycle.
For this reason alone many people jump into a motorcycle that’s far too big for their needs, resulting in unnecessary risk for the rider (as well as those surrounding the rider on the road). I cringe every single time I hear about a new rider hopping on a Yamaha R6 or Honda CBR600RR. I break into a full-on sweat if the motorcycle is a litre-bike (Yamaha R1-esque machines).
There’s a reason that “beginner motorcycles” exist: they provide a safer base that a motorcycle rider can use to hone his or her skills. The fact that they are quick, fuel efficient, and easy on the wallet is simply a bonus.
Low (a seat height of just 26.6″), light (a curb weight of just 331lbs ready to ride), and leisurely (it is a cruiser), the Honda CMX250C Rebel is a miniturized version of the larger and louder cruiser. Classic styling that is less flamboyant than the Suzuki GZ250 Marauder appeals to our tastes, but it really does boil down a personal preference thing. At this stage in the game, whichever one looks the best to you is probably a solid choice.
Doing a quck search in Google for the term “beginner motorcycle” will net you over 750,000 results. Within these results you’ll find everything from beginner motorcycle guides to rundown of what a beginner motorcycle is.
So, of course, that begs the question: what exactly is a beginner motorcycle?
A low curb weight (just 331 lbs) and a surprisingly responsive 249cc engine make the GZ250 Marauder a real treat for a new rider to ride. Both unintimidating and easy to handle, the GZ250 Marauder is the perfect machine to get anyones confidence level up.
A couple of weeks ago we reviewed MotoLearn.com, an excellent online training guide for new motorcycle riders or prospective motorcycle riders. MotoLearn.com is a well written guide that any new rider, especially considering its skimpy $16 price tag, should read.
“Get Ready To Pass” is, by all accounts, a much better product. Along with pictures and reading material, it presents incredibly high quality videos on every aspect of riding. Not only that, but the material presented is applicable for both cars and motorcycles. While most people will already have their car license before getting their motorcycle license, having that information present is a bonus if you don’t have either license.
I can still remember the first time I had a passenger on the back of my motorcycle. I was riding a 1999 Kawasaki Nina 500R at the time (a classic beginner motorcycle- read our Kawasaki Ninja 500R review here), which was just barely big enough for me (I was 6’2″ and 265 lbs at the time). When my passenger, my 115 lb girlfriend, got on the back the motorcycle the suspension dropped a fair bit at the rear. It was like riding a completely different motorcycle.
Are you ready for a passenger on the back of your motorcycle?
It might take a while for the dust to settle, but once it does you’ll realize that the Honda CRF230M9 may very well be the first attractive dual-sport… kind of. Clean lines, combined with sleek and stylish bodywork make the CRF230M one of the best looking dual-sports (kind of) around. A comfortable ride and peppy acceleration certainly add to the fun, but when you look this good, does it really matter?
What do we mean by kind of? Keep reading.
Riding ATGATT (all the gear, all the time) is something that every new rider does at first. After all, it only makes logical sense. However, many riders soon begin to stop wearing some of their gear when they go riding. They forget that safety is more important than “looking cool”, and it only takes one meeting with the asphalt to make that a rather harsh lesson.
This article explains why riding ATGATT is crucial for all riders, especially new ones. If you have ever wondered what the difference between a pair of work boots and riding boots were, or why those $30 motorcycle gloves are so important, this article will explain it all.
Many people will ask an experienced rider the same old question: “How do I ride a motorcycle?” The answer, of course, is quite complex. Most riders start off with the “oh, well you just do this yabba yabba yabba…”. Good luck trying to explain it, because to be honest, it’s the feel of riding a motorcycle that a new rider needs to experience.
Naturally, because of this, we tend to find the “how to” guides to be a little off the mark. Some do a good job of explaining the mechanics of riding a motorcycle, and others do an excellent job of describing the feeling that comes with riding a motorcycle. None of them, it seemed, were able to do both.
Until MotoLearn.com.
It really says a lot about a motorcycle when the manufacturer truly believes in it. Not sure what we mean? Suzuki made a supermoto version of the DR-Z400S. Just as Honda has made race versions of its CBR600RR, as has Yamaha with the R6 and R1, Suzuki took the plunge and made a hopped up version of the DR-Z400S.
There’s plenty of reasons why, but the bottom line here is due to one simple fact: The Suzuki DR-Z400S is one helluva bike. The 400cc engine packs plenty of power. Where other, smaller bikes may have a hard time getting going in the low RPM, the DR-Z400S just starts rolling. Popping the front tire up is easy to do, and it’s lightweight enough that even beginner riders will enjoy experimenting with the bike and testing their limits.
Dual-sports are our favorites for total newbies to motorcycle riding. They are friendly, lightweight, and very simple to maintain and operate. The Suzuki DR200SE, a 200cc dual-sport, is an ideal first bike for someone looking for a bike that can get around town or around some country back roads.
Summary: A new 4 stroke engine, mated to a slick 5 speed transmission, allow the Yamaha XT250 to act as a country cruiser or a city commuter. However, this bike is not recommended for those that will be doing a lot of highway riding. Engine Size: 249cc Price (new): $5,499 CAD/$4,680 USD Comparable bikes: Yamaha [...]
It’s important that you recognize that the Yamaha TW200 is not a motocross bike, but rather a potent and capable dual sport. Once you realize that it’s not a tourer or a crotch rocket you will come to see it as a comfortable bike that can hold its own both on the road and off of it.
Yamaha FZ6R Video Walkaround Scroll down for our comprehensive review of the Yahama FZ6R. Fast Tube by Casper Summary: A detuned R6 motor from the last generation R6 provides plenty of power and torque throughout the rev range, and a solid suspension setup keeps this bike stable when it counts. New riders may find the [...]
Like the Kawasaki Ninja 500R, the GS500F offers a sporty ride for a minimal investment. It looks sporty, rides sporty, but falls just short of the benchmark set by the Ninja 500R.
A strong v-twin engine and a sporty chassis combined to make the SV650S one of the best all-around bikes you can buy. With both naked and faired versions, including versions with ABS, the SV650 is a bike that anyone can build to suit.
Honda has sold countless Civics, and Kawasaki has sold more 500R’s than they probably can keep track of. The Civic sells well because consumers know it to be an affordable and capable car that is both reliable and economical. Well, the Kawasaki Ninja 500R is probably the most popular learner bike by a long shot.
Over 40 updates make the Ninja 650R a real competitor for 2009. Its smooth 649cc engine, dynamic and aggressive styling, and modern chassis make it a real treat to ride. For a new rider looking for a first bike with longevity, the Ninja 650R could be a great match!
A lot of people don’t find the look of a naked bike appealing, yet every time I look at the Yamaha WR250X I can’t help but appreciate the aesthetics. Its rugged appearance is also very indicative of what this bike is capable of: this bike can go off-road just as well as it stays on them.
Like the Kawasaki Ninja 250R, the Honda CBR125R looks like it’s packing a punch thanks to its aggressive fairings and low seating position. However, its 125cc engine is a bit small compared to other motorcycles in this class and it can begin to feel underwhelming fast.
The Kawasaki Ninja 250R is the kind of bike that most onlookers would look at and say “ooh… pretty”, never knowing that it’s “only” a 250cc motorcycle. For this reason many people find the Ninja 250R to be an attractive first motorcycle. Aside from its sporty appearance, the Ninja 250R is also quite popular due to its sporting handling, excellent fuel economy, and surprising road manners.
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