My absolute first recommendation for a starter bike is this: Old, cheap, and pre-scuffed. :) You almost certainly will go down, and in fact, I recommend putting your trainer bike over at least once to get the feel of the weight of it, and practice techniques of lifting it up without assistance.
I'd only recommend an inline 4-cylinder sport bike as a starter bike if you're a large guy, or it has a very small engine, like a 250-400cc. In-line 4 cyclinder engines are...sporty...which means they're rev-happy by nature, with clutches that grab quickly, and if you've never had a throttle in your hand, it can be unforgiving of mistakes--literally throwing you when you don't expect it.
I'd recommend a more mellow V-twin which has low-end torque a lower powerband, and a smoother clutch. Alot of old standards fit this category. The seat height is also more manageable than sport bike configurations so it's easier to balance. And you can get them used and cheap.
I don't know where your standing in life is, where you live, or how big you are, but I'm assuming you're not living in a country that restricts you to lower cc engines while learning, and I'm assuming you're pretty average in weight/height, and that you're planning on holding on to this bike for a little. In the States, while 250cc's make terrific starter bikes, you'll typically grow out of them within a year or so, because they're a bit under-sized for highways. They'll do 70mph fine actually, but boy are those little engines working hard to keep up! If the idea of swiching bikes next season seems like a hassle to you, trying for a 400-600cc standard may be stretching you at first, but if you're careful while learning, you'll probably enjoy it for a bit longer. Where would I start? Model names go all over the place depending on your country. Rebel 250's/Nighthawk 250's are the standard around here. Suzuki Savage (now called the boulevard?), Yamaha Virago's These are all good starting points. The engine size will be dependent on how big you are, and how much physical aptitude you have. Personally...I hopped on a motobecane moped...then a scooter...then a Yamaha Heritage Special 400, then things just kept getting bigger and bigger... Enjoy the ride. And wear your protection bcs wearing stuff like shorts and flipflops on a bike is not only foolish, but looks just downright amateur.
I'd only recommend an inline 4-cylinder sport bike as a starter bike if you're a large guy, or it has a very small engine, like a 250-400cc. In-line 4 cyclinder engines are...sporty...which means they're rev-happy by nature, with clutches that grab quickly, and if you've never had a throttle in your hand, it can be unforgiving of mistakes--literally throwing you when you don't expect it.
I'd recommend a more mellow V-twin which has low-end torque a lower powerband, and a smoother clutch. Alot of old standards fit this category. The seat height is also more manageable than sport bike configurations so it's easier to balance. And you can get them used and cheap.
I don't know where your standing in life is, where you live, or how big you are, but I'm assuming you're not living in a country that restricts you to lower cc engines while learning, and I'm assuming you're pretty average in weight/height, and that you're planning on holding on to this bike for a little. In the States, while 250cc's make terrific starter bikes, you'll typically grow out of them within a year or so, because they're a bit under-sized for highways. They'll do 70mph fine actually, but boy are those little engines working hard to keep up! If the idea of swiching bikes next season seems like a hassle to you, trying for a 400-600cc standard may be stretching you at first, but if you're careful while learning, you'll probably enjoy it for a bit longer. Where would I start? Model names go all over the place depending on your country. Rebel 250's/Nighthawk 250's are the standard around here. Suzuki Savage (now called the boulevard?), Yamaha Virago's These are all good starting points. The engine size will be dependent on how big you are, and how much physical aptitude you have. Personally...I hopped on a motobecane moped...then a scooter...then a Yamaha Heritage Special 400, then things just kept getting bigger and bigger... Enjoy the ride. And wear your protection bcs wearing stuff like shorts and flipflops on a bike is not only foolish, but looks just downright amateur.
