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 to a full-blown addiction.  It’s balance, poise, power, and curb appeal drew me in a little more each time I rode it.
Then, one day, I sold it. As always, it was time to move …

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.

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.

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.