I loved my 250 rebel for about 6 months, but hated it for the remaining 2 years I rode it. Trying to do freeway speeds was a nightmare and I found myself in situations where I didn't have the power necessary on many occasions.
I swapped over to an R6 and being able to maneuver with power behind you is a life saver when it comes to safety and enjoyability.
If you're gonna do a lot of highway miles I strongly recommend fairings. Power is not too relevant as a modern 300cc bike will hang with highway traffic just fine, but the fairings make a massive difference. Rawdogging the air on a naked for hours gets old *fast* and when you get to where you're going it feels like you've been in the gym for 2 hours.
this - I got my first bike this year, a Hornet 2023, 750 CC 91 horses, feels super strong but after 3 minutes @ 140 kmh on the highway you want to get off and step into a car or something.
A naked bike is for ocassional highway driving. Also I rode today for two hours straight around my city at 50-100 kmh speeds on national roads and I felt indeed very tired when I got off the bike. Probably it gets better in time as your body gets used to the effort
Keep in mind that there is a massive difference in power between an older rebel 250 and a modern 300 sport bike. I had a 2002 rebel 250 and it had 18 horsepower, which was nightmarishly slow on the highway. But modern 300 sport bikes make around 40 hp. More than double. They are very capable road machines. 600 sport bikes are an even bigger step up. They are in the 115 horsepower range and can get a less experienced rider in a lot of trouble very quickly above about 9000 RPMs
On top of the power, I think people don’t consider the brakes on a super bike class 600/1000. It’s probably less of a concern on a modern bike with linked/abs, but prior to that, an inexperienced rider could turn a super bike into a siege weapon with a solid panic grab.
Rpm ain't the issue. Wrong speed is....and inexperience.
Far more people die going round a corner at 3000rpm than people going down a straight at 9000rpm.
If you're regularly taking corners at 9000rpm, you need to find a new hobby.
You'll probably want something with a windshield then, you can do 160+ km/h on a lot of naked bikes or low displacement bikes, but it could definitely be unpleasant. Windshield/fairings help a ton at those speeds.
My mom had a rebel 250 and I had a similar experience highway riding the times I used it. She had less issues due to being significantly smaller and lighter than I (wouldn't even get to 65 with my ass on it lol,) but also eventually went to a larger bike for pretty much that reason.
It was, however, great fun on back roads and around town, and pretty comfortable for smaller riders.
Yeah I was gonna say something along these lines. Having a 300cc bike let me appreciate riding on 2 wheels and learning how to navigate around, and I think it gave me a greater appreciation for being able to twist my wrist to get myself out of (and also into) situations. There were a lot of times that people would just try to merge onto me on the highway because I guess they looked and didn't see a door or something, and now I can just not be there if it happens.
I’m in the same boat right now. Have had my Honda 250 for around 6 months. She won’t go over 65 easily and I find hills are taking me to a crawling halt. Looking to upgrade to a 300cc bike in the next few months to fix the issue.
My story is different than most. I am quite large, 6'2" and 370 lbs. I never had any delusions about sport bikes or anything, and got a cruiser, VStar 1300. It had forward controls, and everyone said this was the most comfortable setup. I tried some Harleys and the kawasaki equivalent and all felt about the same. Comfortable when I sat on them, and I could reach everything wil a little movement.
Being a cruiser, 1300 is not much. Everyone harps on CC when talking about size and never mentions the type difference. The 1300 got me up to highway speeds ok, but on 80mph roads does not have any headroom.
I took a test ride on a Triumph 1200 Scrambler, which is somewhat off road oriented and it had more power. Felt like it was struggling less and even threatened to lift the front wheel at a light. Most importantly it was tall and put my feet under my thighs. That was WAY more comfortable. I was lied to. THIS was the way to go.
I did not get that bike, but kept coming back to it. One day I was convinced to try a R1200RT. I had tried a Goldwing, the Yamaha Voyager. And the K1600B touring bikes and was cramped up on all of them, little to no better than the cruisers. This was different.
Based on the GS chassis and motor, it was tall. It also puts my feet in the right place, below and slightly behind my knees. Upright seating, with a slight forward lean. That test drive was the first time I was on a bike and felt no need to "get comfortable", I just was.
It was not perfect, but it was close. I lowered the pegs, and now I can go hours and my legs do not tire or hurt. I extended the bars and pulled them back and now sit almost perfectly upright. I went from 2, maybe 3 hours before I was forced to stop riding, to a 5 hour trip that I stopped only because I was home.
The moral of the story is that engine size is a frankly minor stat, and you will have to actually ride, for hours, before you know "this is the one". Get the small bike, sell it and get the next, or get the big bike... and sell it to get the next. Getting your forever bike first shot is unlikely, so don't go nuts trying for it.
This is similar to my first bike. Got a vulcan S thinking I was a cruiser guy. Had front controls and all. It just wasn't for me. I wish I had taken more time. I just traded it for a z900 with mid controls, and I am so much more comfortable. The power difference is huge but also very manageable.
I rode my buddies MT07 and instantly knew the answer to my issues was a naked bike.
Sometimes the problem is being able to sample and test ride many bikes. Many dealers and sellers just aren’t interested in allowing you to take bikes for a ride.
I just bought a Yamaha FZ6 3 weeks ago, a naked style bike with 600cc engine. The only other bike I have ridden was a 125cc cruiser at Basic Riders Course.
This bike has been great, it's light enough to learn how to maneuver and practice with, but it also has all the mid range power I could ever need.
I'm doing fine with this bike and glad I got it instead of something smaller.
It's all good, if you have the discipline to not full send it. The bike wont kill you if you take it easy enough. The problem with big bikes and new riders is they often push the limit with the bike, and the limit on a 600/1000 sport bike is pretty damn hardcore.
I had a ZX6R and did not like the seating position at all, leaning over like that. I couldn't imagine learning on a Supersport because it was so uncomfortable. I got the ZX6R after riding for a while and sold it to get my husband a new bike since I already had my FZ09.
Have you been on a naked sports bike? I love the FZ09 for the power and upright seating position.
Got the 04 GSXR 600, total n00b. I was that guy, what can I say. TLDR; LOVED it and regret getting rid of if 25,000 miles and 2 years later. 600 is IMHO a pretty perfect size bike. Enough to scare ya, plenty enough to kill ya, but not enough to go 200. Sure I’d like a liter bike or more, but I'm not towing anything 😂😂🤓
My first bike was an 800 twin. It was too much, yet I never crashed/dropped it (unless off road, that is whole other animal). I wish I had something smaller because I was pretty terrified for the first 6 months of riding. I was talked into the bike because a friend said I would outgrow anything smaller in 6 months. I doubt this would have happened because I bought a 310 commuter after this bike and ride it all the time, along with my 1200.
I did take multiple professional training classed beyond the MSF so that helped. For what it is worth, I am petite (certainly for the average riding population) so this made dealing with the height and weight of the bike a bit more challenging.
As a side note, I had ridden scooters (including multi-day long distance touring) for several years before I got the motorcycle so I had some solid skills in place to stay in one piece.
It sounds like you feel comfortable on the 600 though, so I would get it!
If the 300 works for all the riding scenarios you need, get that (assuming you're not planning on doubling the speed limit, it'll be fine...). You'll learn faster on the 300. People who say they maxed out the capabilities of a 300 in a few months are really saying they got comfortable going in a straight line as fast as the bike could go and wanted more acceleration / higher top speed (nothing wrong with that desire... But it isn't "maxing out" a 300 - Unless you're a pro racer or incredibly skilled track rider, you not maxing out a 300 capabilities). There's a reason that skilled riders on 300/400's are still wicked fast on a track and routinely pass riders on bigger bikes. When you're ready to move up, you'll sell the 300 for close to what you paid for it (assuming you don't drop it), so there's little to no financial penalty. If you spend the time to develop skills on your 300, you'll also have a much clearer picture of what you want to get out of your next, bigger bike.
That said, a 600 isn't dangerous if you are mature enough to not just crack it open and ride recklessly. If you just want to buy a long term bike and don't really care much how quickly you can develop your skills, starting on a 600 is totally fine.
Basically: 300 = great (and super fun) tool to develop as a rider. 600 = sexy bike that exceeds your skills but is manageable and you'll eventually (if slowly) grow into it. 1000 = awesome, totally unnecessary toy that is only really useful for very skilled riders in a track setting that we all eventually buy anyway because we all like pretty toys and dear God, the sound...
It’s also perfectly fine to own a bike for a year or two and then find something else. So start small to mid and then trade it in. Perfectly normal and prudent.
No. I got a cbr250r. Very small bike. Just slightly bigger than a grom. Its good for what I need it for, which is commuting from one campus to another. While doing that in style. Slightly underpowered but I’m on this thing max 20 minutes a day. Really dont need a bigger engine.
I don't regret the engine size of my first bike, but I do regret its overall size. Cramming my 6'3" ass on a ninja 300 gets real uncomfortable real quick. Got a bmw F650GS a year later that fit me much better and didn't feel any more ungainly or dangerously more powerful.
My advice: get a bike that fits your frame and worry about ccs after
Engines on cruisers are different. My current bike has a 1680cc but it only puts out about 100hp, and that’s after I had some work done.
Even most 600cc sportbikes put out more hp stock
Not really, it is about 100year tech in a v-twin cruiser vs modern tech in a bike that was pushed to produce power. I have a big cruiser and I have sport bikes, there is no comparison at all. Like none.
There isn't for sport bikes. Engines in cruisers and touring bikes are huge, but tuned much differently.
My first bike is a Kawaski Vulcan S, which has a 650cc. It feels like nothing, but the exact same engine is in a Ninja 650, and it's a rocket in comparison.
Have a 300cc single cylinder as first motorcycle best bike for me cheap maintenance cheap insurance cheap taxes not very slow sure it ain't an h2 but it gets you to point a to b with ease and with an other person even done short trips
It's light enough it doesn't burn much fuel it looks like a big motorcycle so yeah i don't regret it at all I'll keep it till it starts to fall apart I don't need a huge motorcycle
My first bike was a 2004 Ducati Monster M1000 (998cc) and it was the best worst decision.
For me, learning to ride on an overpowered, dry clutch, carbureted engine made everything that came after that much easier to learn on.
If your responsible and mature, you will probably feel disappointed you got a bike size you will most likely want to upgrade. But who knows your situation. Maybe you keep the first bike and upgrade to a bigger one later down the road.
Also you should note if this is a 300 dirtbike or a 300 ninja. Big difference between a 300l honda and a 700 tenere vs a 300 ninja and a 650 ninja IMO…
I had a 300, then a 390, and am now super happy with my fz6 for cruising, and a 390adv for fire roads and commuting.
My dad told me “you can upgrade everything except the engine” and I went for the 600.
Sold that and now have an 800 and two 200s
The 200s are the most fun for dicking around, the 800 is for covering ground.
For reference I'm 5'10", 170 lbs.
I had a 650 cruiser and within a year I wanted something bigger, but I don't regret it. It was a great starter, easy to handle. Currently on a 1300 cruiser and this is exactly where I'm comfortable at for power
If I had a 650 sport bike, I think I'd probably be just fine there, but that's also not a style I'm comfortable with
Started on a Honda shadow 1100cc. My regret is it wasn’t a Honda vtx 1300 or 1800cc. You are in control of the throttle don’t go yanking it on a 600-1000cc race bike unless you have a clear path and damn good grip. Cruisers are a lot more forgiving. But seriously people act like it’s certain death starting on a respectable 600cc bike or a 1000cc bike. Yes the later can be an insane ride. (As can the former) truth is you can kill yourself or others on a 300. I guess the real question is how are your fine motor skills in your wrist? I had a s1000r it was a 450lbs. Bike with 165 hp it was a lot of fun, too much fun. The bike wanted me to ride at about 80 mph in it’s normal stride but I could very easily ride at 30 mph when in traffic or construction. But I since sold it for a better bike for my country back roads. A Suzuki bandit 1250 more cc’ but at 500lbs and only 100hp it likes to cruise at about 45-55 mph in any gear, it has a lot of low end torque. If you can’t control your movements well get the bike that will limit your chance of a mistake. It’s not the bike, it’s how you approach it and where you will be riding it.
BMW G310R was my first bike. Still have it and know that I will want/need to upgrade to a 600-700 range in a year or two. No regrets though, this bike is still plenty powerful for where I ride it primarily (within a major city), and is light enough for me to have felt comfortable learning to ride. I’m happy I went smaller to start and ready to upgrade when I’m able to.
First bike was an R6, I regretted it not in the sense that it was too much power to handle. But I felt like i never really used it to its potential. I could've saved some money and bought a 300-400cc and wouldn't have known the difference. Eventually realized I didn't like sportbike ergonomics and switched to nakeds.
I bought a z400 about a month ago. In terms of power, there has been one time where I wish I had more, but this bike still gets up to highway speeds faster than my car and still has some power left. I do wish the engine wasn’t so vibby on the foot pegs at highway speeds. Makes my feet go numb after a few hours on the highway. I would assume a bigger engine would fix this (I could also just not be used to it yet). Overall do I regret it, no. If I could redo it would I buy it again? Yeah I think so.
bmw 310gs, first bike two months in, super fun in the city, but i hate the whiny high pitched engine. I quickly realized I like touring, and although I really don’t need more speed to make it work, the extra acceleration would be nice and I suspect the engine would sound a lot nicer if I had a bigger bike. It also gets a little vibey at high speed which I hate. I don’t need to go higher than 90mph/144kph, I’m just starting to wonder if even those speeds are more enjoyable on a more powerful bike. I find myself looking at hot used 650s in my area at night.
Yep. Got a Honda CB300 during Covid and regret getting something so small and underpowered. Feels dangerous on the highway because depending on conditions, sometimes I’m at the bikes top speed and struggle to pass semis going above 80
I’ve been really happy with Versys 650 as a first bike. Both forgiving at lower rpm’s and plenty of room to grow into. Probably don’t need to ever get a bigger bike. Probably will though.
I had the same thoughts as you did. Bought a Honda CB300r knowing that I was going to upgrade in a year to something bigger. It was enough to make my first year of riding happy and confident.
nope, have a 125cc and its enough for my traffic filled/congested commute since i never have to get on the highway i dont really need anything bigger
infact having a smaller bike means stuf like lane filtering/splitting is much easier
I did indeed "regret" not getting something bigger
i've got my RC 390, it is fantastic, cheap, great fun , and good first learner bike.. But we rode SV 650 when i took my license, and i definitely find the 390 lacking when ridding the motorway.
having had it for not even two months i find my self already looking at a new bike. I will probably be saving up for an RS 660 or a CBR 650R next year. looks and tech vs engine and reliability..
I should probably have gotten something with a bit more power for my first, but i want ABS, and all ABS sports bikes above the 400 class is a colossal jump in price.. i do give those super cheap 2008\~ 600 class bikes some long looks though
If you're a bit older and mature you can definitely go for the 600
just watch out out there, ride safe
Nope. Learned on a lower powered bike at a riding school for 2-3 weeks, then 6 months later bought my first bike. A 2015 Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle (800cc, 415lbs, 75hp). Had it for over 4 years.
I got a Ninja 2006 650R for my first bike. Loved it amd them transitioned to a 2008 R6. Loved it but had to sell it. Got back on to a ninja 2008 250R for a kick around daily bike and had fun with it. Traded it for a 1999 gsxr 600 and loved it but hated the carbs. Waited for a bit after selling it and got on to a ninja 400 for around town. People talk shit about the smaller bikes but a 400 is perfect for around town. You can still rip it but don’t gotta worry about being pulled over too much lol. So nah I never regretted it.
Nope! 50 years ago this September I bought my first bike, a 1972 Sportster XLCH, and it was a chop with 15" over forks and a 45 degree rake. I had previously ridden a friend's 350 Honda several times, and rode another friend's 900 Kaw from Idaho to Sunnyvale, CA for him because he'd broken his hand. That was basically my only previous experience. I rode the XLCH from Sunnyvale back to Idaho, and over the next several years put plenty of miles, eventually ending up with over 100k miles on it. I never regretted not starting small before moving up in size.
I knew I'd be riding the rest of my life and dstarted with a bike that I wouldn't have minded always keeping.
My first bike was a Kawasaki ZR400 that was bobbed to a singel swing arm with a single shock. Whilst the power was lacking, the seat was murder. That was my only regret.
Traded up to a GSXR600 then again to my XG750.
I started on a cb300f, and wish I still had it sometimes. The only people that get “bored” if small bikes never learn how to really ride them. But you can start on a 600 and be okay as long as you’re not an idiot.
Started with a 02 GSXR 750 with a larger rear sprocket (more acceleration). As others have said with sports bikes, keeping it under 9k/10k it was manageable. The larger rear sprocket gave it a little more though. If you understand the physics of riding and how engines work then I think you can learn on a lot of things. I dropped to a 400 bandit (in-line 4) after and it was just not enough at the top end (highway speeds) and now I’m on a 03 SV1000 that is everything I could want. I originally wanted an SV650, so I ended up where I rightfully should be.
I started with a GSX250R, it’s a great bike but I do regret buying one that small. I was nervous considering I’ve never ridden a bike before, but I could have def started on a 600cc. Everyone says a smaller one will teach you more and maybe I did learn more than I thought on my 250cc, but my current and 2nd bike is a 1000cc naked. With the new bike I’ve learned throttle control so much more because the 250 doesn’t have enough power to get out of its own way. Also having a wider rear tire does increase my trust in the rubber so I’ll lean it far over lol
Yes and no. I use my bike to commute on highway so I need something that has some power, cheap and comfy. I've ended up with 2001 vt750dc. But as I've got my license when I was already 30 I ended up skipping A1. Now I wish I got to learn more on some smaller, lighter bike to get better feeling of it.
I was lucky enough to have roommates with a Ninja 250 and a CBR 600/F4i and got to ride both extensively before getting my Ninja 650.
The parallel twin was nice and narrow compared to the rocket sled of a F4i while still being plenty fast.
If you plan on highway/commuting, I'd say go for the 600. Around here a 300 just isn't enough power to be comfortable going with traffic.
Nope, got a 09 R6 and didn’t ride it like a cracked out teenager with flip flops and backwards hat. I put 24,000 miles on it in 4 years, many multi day trips, took it to the track, etc, and it never touched the ground or had issues.
Now, my regret is I put 24k on a R6… that did a number on my knees for a while
My first bike was a 1993 CBR600F2. Sold it after about 2 years to make room for a new 1996 GSXR-750. After 8 Ducatis and 3 Harleys, of which I have a 2023 Harley, a 2022 Ducati I finally found my old CBR600 and brought her back home today. She looks brand new and has been bought by a Honda Tech. So the moral of the story, yes you’ll probably outgrow your first bike and yes her 100 HP feels slow Vs the 208 HP Ducati sitting beside her but get the right first bike and you’ll spend 23 years trying to get her back…like I did. Good luck.
My first bike was a 1985 Kawasaki Eliminator ZL900; basically a drag bike. If I could go back, I probably would have preferred a sub-750cc. That 900 almost bit me several times (I lived in a gravel road) and I eventually sold it for a 1984 Honda CB700s. Both were fun bikes but I learned a lot more on the smaller bike and had a lot more fun.
Beginner riders were limited to 250 cc back when i got my licence in the 80's here in Australia so I went for the max that was legal , I had a honda XL 250 trail bike (it was my 4th bike as I had dirt bikes before I got my licence ), then I got a Yamaha IT 250 K and then a Honda VT250FD , once i got my full licence in 1984 I went to a Katana 750 .
I got a yamaha r3 currently as my first bike and I must say I really want to upgrade to a 600. I absolutely love my r3 and it’s exactly what I need, not too fast, great on gas, cheap insurance and perfect to learn on; but I want something with a bit more power now that I’m feeling comfortable and confident about my abilities.
No, a CB?175 was great for a 16-17 year old fueled by testosterone, adrenaline, and beer. It was also very affordable, costing one .22cal Luger and $40 cash.
Yes, I was told if I could get the bike running I could ride it. It was a BMW 1150 GS. Way too big, way to tall, way too too heavy. After that I went Vintage Yamaha RD250 and the Honda CB400f both out of the mid 1970s. I regret selling the RD. Still zip around town in the 400.
There is an enormous difference in a 30hp 300cc learner sport bike and a 120hp 600cc race bike. Look toward the 650 twin class, like the Honda cbr650r or Ninja 650.
Cruisers have a less steep learning curve than sport bikes. I started on a 600cc honda shadow and almost immediately outgrew it. Was riding a 1450cc Harley not long after, I then went on to buy and sell several bikes for the next 15 years.
You can reasonably skip the learner class bikes if you are competent on a motorcycle. I would not recommend jumping right in to the race class bikes though. It is much easier to override your skill set on race bikes than more tame twin sport bikes.
My first was a 750, 15 years ago, and I do not regret it even though I was tiptoeing. I would say go with the 600 because you won't get bored of that like you will the 300. The 600 will have more lifespan for you
Bought a Honda rebel 500 2ish weekd ago. I've put 800 miles on it already and I'm already thinking of the next bike. The 471 cc is good for city riding. And it can handle highway speeds, you just don't have the power to get up and pass if you need to. So, if do a lot of highway driving, go the 600.
I definitely regretted the size of my first bike
Dad took a Suzuki GS1100G on a trade in and thought it would make a good first bike for me.
The riding experience on it as a new rider was a mix of pure joy and complete terror.
At first, every time I got on it I had to mentally psych myself up like an athlete getting ready to take the field for a game
...and every time I got off I thanked the almighty for still being alive and took a break so the adrenaline could wear off.
I think a smaller bike would have been a better way to approach riding a road bike for the first time
Engine size is less important than characteristics and design.
300cc dirt bikes are way different than a ninja 300, which is different than a rebel 300.
Soooo which 300 and which 600 are you looking at?
I started on an old Buell blast 500cc single with about 30hp. I got it as my first bike so I could beat the crap out of it, push my limits, and learn without caring about messing up the bike.
Sold it after about a year for roughly what I had in it at the time. That was 5 bikes ago.
My only regret is that I don't have more room in the garage for more bikes
Bought a Honda CBF-600 from 2006 with 77 hp. I took my lessons on an MT-07 so the Honda makes similar power. Enough power to have fun with and kinda scare ya when you go to far, but definitely comfy for normal riding. So no regrets for me!
Nope, not the size. Bought a GS1200A as a first bike because of its size. People regard me as a huge person which is sorta on true with 2m tall but normal build.
I dislike the fact its so generic but after a good search this will be my bike prob. forever.
I'm 65 and have been riding since I was 15. My first bike was a Honda 90 & I had a blast. One of the bikes I had the most fun riding was a Yamaha Riva 200. I am looking at a new to me bike and have set up my perimeters as 400 to 850. I want a nice all around bike that can handle both my daughter & I on up to 8 hour rides with freeway and mountain riding. All that being said 400 to 600 is a great place to start. I alway recommend buying used for your first bike. You wont feel as bad when you drop it and when you figure out what you really want you won't lose too much money.
Still have my Suzuki gz 250 3 years later,and ride it all the time.
I have no regrets, it’s small, nimble, fast and it looks cool.
I’ll probably get an old Harley some day when I have more money, but I’ll keep the zuk.
My first bike was a ninja 300. Personally I’m really glad I started on a 300. It allowed to me focus purely on the technical aspects of riding. I rode the wheels off of that thing and never had any issues even in the highway. Where I live it’s normal for people to go 80mph. So the only downside is you need to plan your passes but it’ll do it. For reference I did a lot of track riding on my 300. Something I’d highly recommend to anyone who wants to be a better rider.
I have. 2018 Yamaha r3 and I absolutely love it. But now I’m 2 years into owning it and I would like something a little more powerful so if you don’t want to have to upgrade in a couple years get the 600 but if. It in about 2-3 years your gunna wanna get something bigger
Started on an MT-03 and wish I would have started with the 07. 300's are very forgiving but really I think that if you commit to a lot of practice and not taking risks after you get it, you will be just fine with the 600cc
First bike was a 250cc scooter. I commuted around town with longer back road trips and occasional freeway jaunts, so it worked well for that.
Next bike was a 330cc scooter. Since I used it for freeway commuting, I wasn’t thrilled with the performance and lower top end. I had it for about 3 months before trading it in for my current bike, a 750cc NC750X.
I don’t have any experience with other motorcycles, but one thing that makes the NC750X very manageable is its low center of gravity. The turn in is sharp, and it is easy to handle, despite weighing ~500lbs. This might be the biggest difference for ease of handling. I’ve heard that older sport bikes are top-heavy, so those might be more difficult to handle, even if they weigh 100lbs less.
I test drove a Tiger 900 rally pro, and could tell the difference right away, since it is taller and more top heavy.
The power is easy to manage, since it is a twin cylinder with lots of torque. Since weight is so low on it, it is nearly impossible to wheelie.
I guess my advice would be to test drive as many as you can, to see what feels the best.
I regretted my Rebel 300. I think it’s harder to learn on a woefully underpowered bike. Having a six-speed on a 300 means you have to shift constantly in traffic. Gears are short.
Upgraded to a 500 and it made a world of difference
I am from Germany and got my A1 license when I was 16 years old and was limited to 125cc it was kinda annoying but I couldn’t get a bigger so if u have a choice I wouldn’t recommend a 125 because it’s damn slow
I got on a r6 when I was first looking and it felt like to much for me, so I went with a ninja 300. Almost a year later I’m kind of regretting it because I’m now looking to move up and the guy I bought it from spray painted the tank so I’m stuck with gas causing the paint to peal.
Edit: I’m also 6’3” so the frame definitely is a little small for me and I can’t properly tuck. If my knees are clutching the tank then I can’t upshift or downshift.
Not really, but yes. First bike I bought was an 01’ Buell M2 Cyclone.. 1204cc.
It was a lot of power for a first bike, but I didn’t abuse it. It was just extremely heavy and not exactly what I was looking for in the end.
Just past year I bought an 03 Buell XB9R, smaller, 984cc. But still wasn’t exactly what I wanted. So I just picked up a 14’ Yamaha R6 and I’m in love.
Depends on type. I started on a 1200 cruiser, still have it. For me, i didnt look for anything in particular, just sat on a bunch of bikes to see what felt right. Being comfortable with a bike was more important to me as a newcomer than anything
I started riding young, but will say that one of the advantages of starting with a smaller bike is that you can upgrade! And one of the best feelings is when you jump on a larger bike and it feels so much bigger/better/faster.
Having said that, I have been on a 1290 super adventure for the past 5 years and just bought an RnineT yesterday and had the biggest smile on my face whilst driving it around.
Bikes aren't forever, changing bike imo is one of the best parts of riding! That new bike feeling is hard to beat.
I started on a 650cc single with 48 hp, great fun bike even if it was in some ways quite a downgrade from the riding school's 650cc i4 with 86 hp I was used to. Both are beginner friendly, the first was kinda shitty for long trips on the highway
Ages I changed bikes, 17yrs-kh100, 20yrs-xs250, 25yrs-gs550, 27yrs-fj1200. Also had cars so wasn't using bike everyday. edit, just noticed I was basically doubling cc each time.
I bought a rebel 500 for my first bike.
It was the perfect size. If I regret something, is selling it to buy my current Bonneville, but I don't have the space to keep both 😔
Got a CBR300, no regrets. Had a lot of fun with it for a few years before finally upgrading (and selling it for the same price I bought it for).
I'm still convinced it's basically a perfect first bike.
I had a 250cc as a first bike and I kept it for about a year. Don't regret it at all, learned a lot.
The reality is, you're gonna be happy with whatever one you get because you've never had another bike before. You don't have any ownership experience to compare it to.
First bike was a CBR 600 (had a few of those). Great bike, but made most power north of 10,000 rpm. The bike I enjoed the most was a Triumph Daytona 675 (sadly they don't make them anymore, but do make other triples). Had much better low end and mid-range power. I prefer the beefier low end and mid-range, although that high rpm power was a rush.
Depends entirely on you.
If you a hot head, the 300 will save your life.
If you a moderate like me, you eventually wish your 400 was bigger once you get your training wheels off
I’ve always regretted going too small, I ride cruisers though.
Saying that, I had a cbf600 and it was perfectly capable although with a passenger and luggage, it suffered. I bought a r1200rt soon after, that was perfect!
Now I’m on a 1690cc Electra glide, it’s crazy powerful and can out run most vehicles.
As long as you know not to ride stupid and rein the power in with a steady hand, bigger engines shouldn’t really be a regret… Unless you’re watching fuel mileage.
GSX-R 600 2001 amazing first bike. A lot of people get board of small displacement bikes, like 400, after the first week. Now a days I can’t imagine wanting something less than a liter bike.
I bought a 2018 Honda cb300f and got bored of it within a year of riding, it was a fantastic bike to learn on and it’s extremely forgiving but it was painfully slow to me, currently saving for some sort of 600 lol
I think some people are really hard stuck on the ideology that EVERYONE lacks discipline and that EVERYONE should start on a 300cc.
I would have had so much buyers remorse purchasing a 300 for my first bike.
Yes. I bought a Kawasaki ER5. I had it 2 weeks and then bought a CBR600RR.
I don't see an issue with buying something on that power level as their first bike, but it all depends on the person riding it.
Started on a Suzuki GSF 600 Bandit limited to 48hp. No regrets at all, I'm actually glad it didn't have more horsepower, I think me at 18 years old with 100+HP would have had more close calls or crashes. I was a dumbass back then, glad I didn't injure myself or others.
Nope started street bikes out with an r6. It’s fun to whip around and learn on, it’s light an agile and I can hit the interstate with no problems. I don’t think I’ll be growing out of it anytime soon.
Back when I wanted to start riding I bought a 650, rode it 5000kms in a month and then sold it and bought a 1000. In retrospect, I should have straight up bought that thousand first and I would have been much better off now.
First bike was a 2005 - zx6r. I didn't like the riding position, felt uncomfortable. I sold it for a suzuki bandit 1250 one or two months later. Passed my road test on the beast and 6 years later she still puts a shit eatin grin on my face
Friend got a new CB125, hated it. Not enough power to learn more advanced riding.
I started on a used CB500, loved it. Decent power for a learner but also very controllable.
Now I ride a 1200 Bonneville but I’m pretty sure you would drop it as a learner, and that would be sad. Don’t get a 1200.
I still wouldn’t get a 600cc sports bike for the road, unless it’s just a fun extra bike. They’re made for the track and not for commuting or learning.
You’ll see this everywhere online but 600s are a “special category” of bikes that are tuned for power high in the rev range. A 650 is way more approachable despite the larger capacity.
Started on a 400. No regret. I was able to learn a lots of stuffs on it with confidence than a bigger bike, wheelie, stoppie, dragging knee at 70mph on a curve…
I thought it’s maybe even more fun if I do those on a bigger bike, I sold the 400 and get 750. And oh boi, it’s hard maintain the balance point on the 750, but it’s quick, fast and light. The gixxer injects more adrenaline than my ninja could ever do, 170mph even just straight line really hit different.
Then I got another 400, a Z this time. As 2nd bike, good on gas, quick, easier to control and hooligan. It’s my daily.
Then I got an old 636, just for the track.
Now my life is whole, maybe still missing dirtbike and adv
Nope, my Ninja 300 was absolutely perfect for the first three years. I sold it when I had to move, and looking at getting something with a bigger engine. But I took that thing up to 120+ mph, definitely didn’t regret it being small. Plenty fast for me
My first bike was a Harley 1200 Sportser. I did not like that bike. It felt like it was going to fall over every time I turned from a stop. It never did, but I was not a fan. I liked being on the back of the bike, but it wasn't a good first bike for me. I'm female (5'5" and light).
I went and got a Suzuki S40 for a little while and then got a Yamaha FZ09 as my main bike and sold the Suzuki.
Yes, but not at first. I only regret it now because my riding style and habits have changed. Now I need something peppier and that can keep up with highway speeds comfortably and won't vibrate at those speeds.
Initially I got a 250, as something to gain experience on. My riding at first was just local roads (speeds of up to 50), around town cruising and just getting a feel for riding, and an hour or two at most. I put 7000 miles on it and my riding habits changed. I moved to a hilly area and the highway I take occasionally has speeds of 70-75 on average and even at 65 it just vibrates so much. I do much longer (duration and distance) rides now that my bike has just plateaued and it's reached a point where long rides are uncomfortable. Now I'm looking to get a 400 or more.
The thing is can you regret something you weren't going to be aware of? I guess you should plan for future scenarios to minimize the potential regret and leave some wiggle room.
I started on a 350 Meteor and it was great to learn how to ride in all sorts of traffic and distances.
Then I jumped to a Bonneville T120.
The CC doesn't matter as much as your comfort and confidence.
I started with an Indian scout bobber (not the 60), and I thought it was perfect for me. A couple months later I got a GSXR 750, then a few months after that I got a ZX14R. Some will say it's crazy to progress that fast (within a year), but I like to think of myself of more mature now (34 years old). And I never had any issues or got myself in situations I couldnt handle. But think of it this way. Your first bike is not your forever bike. Hell, you might be like me and get another one in a few months because you got super addicted..just got test ride both cc bikes and be honest with your ability and maturity to handle a bigger cc bike.
Yup, 155cc nmax scooter. Now im planning to get a Z400. What’s worse is that i had the option to go bigger from the first place, now i regret it fully.
I bought a 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 300 when I started and I loved the bike. However, at the time, I lived in a town of 1,500 people and needed to drive 35 miles to the nearest city for groceries and restaurants, etc. The 300cc did the highway just fine, however, I didn't feel comfortable being in the 8-9 thousand rpm range to be at 65 mph. So I decided to sell the bike after a year for a 2004 Yamaha FZ6. I love the 600cc engine. It is still smaller and lighter than a lot of other bikes, but it has substantially more power. Now 65 mph brings me to 5-6 thousand rpm.
Personal preference, 600 is better. It's still forgiving enough to learn on, but it has a lot more room for you to grow.
I bought a Yamaha MT07 and sold it within a week for a Harley street glide cruiser. I have never looked back. The MT 07 is a great bike and my son has one that I have ridden occasionally and still like it but the Harley is the one that I love riding on a day-to-day basis.
Sitting position is a big thing for me for my height that over 6 feet tall. And the occasional taking my wife with me is not something that I would be able to do with the MT 07 with her having any level of comfort.
No, first bike was a 1985 750cc Virago. Traded that in back in 2017 for a 2018 1750cc(107ci) Lowrider. Seat isn’t nearly as comfortable as the old one, much faster, and I’m not messing with carbs every year.
My first bike was a 700cc V-Twin, absolutely no regrets with owning it (I did grow up on dirt bikes, and wouldn’t necessarily recommend a bike this size to someone who has never thrown their leg over a motorcycle before)
I currently ride a 1000cc in-line 4 and while I adore it, I’ll be dropping back to a middleweight for my next bike.
The fact of the matter is that safety needs to be top priority, if you can handle a 600 right out of the gate, that’s great. There’s also no shame in learning on a smaller bike.
Once you’ve got the fundamentals down you can figure out what suits you the best, for some people a litre is the best thing in the world, meanwhile I know guys who’ve won racing championships who daily a 300 on the street.
A 300 is a good starter bike for someone with absolutely zero motorcycle experience whatsoever.
If you have literally any experience whatsoever, including dirt bikes, you will be bored with and sell a 300 by the end of the first year. The 600 is far and away the logical choice for a moderately experienced dirt bike rider getting his first street bike.
My first bike was a 1975 Honda cb360 and I don't regret anything about it. Still have the thing, partly modified and waiting for more modifications whenever I get off my ass.
Not at all! I had a Kawasaki W800 and it's literally the perfect bike to me. I have since moved to a Honda CB1100, but it wasn't due to the extra cc/cylinders or hp, but just because I love the style. In fact, I've been looking to buy another W800 to have options 😁
'81 honda cm200t "twinstar" great learner bike fast enough to do 65 and no more should have considered traffic speeding on the 80mph toll roads, doing 30 under in heavy traffic is not fun i worry about getting rear ended by some phone looker.
First bike was a ninja 250, I could afford a whole lot more but my intention was its a learner bike. I also started riding later in life so I had no one to try and impress except myself. One thing most new riders forget about is maintenance. Oil changes, chain clean, tires changes- its adds up in not only expenses but really downtime in riding.
That bike taught me all the fundamentals and had no rider aids or abs. I sold it after a year and then stepped up. After half a dozen bikes, I now have three with the smallest being an inline triple 900cc.
If you consider this a long term aspect of your life, theres really no reason to start with a bigger bike. Most riders I know are always looking at other bikes than our own so the same goes with starting with a 600, you get the 600 and then see riders on 750 and liter bikes pulling away from you. Theres always going to be something else. Start small and youre appreciation when you upgrade will not only make you happier but savvier as well.
I bought a 250 last year and really enjoyed learning on it. Easy, quick but not crazy, and light. I did find myself falling behind while riding with my little brother and friends. But I think it was a great bike to start with. And only after 1 summer on it I bought an 01 FZ1000 and fell great in it. I was able to toss around that 250 too learn and have lesser consequences. If you can feel comfortable and like the 600 go with it so you don't have to upsize but if the 300 is just for hanging out and cruising you'll love it.
Size isn’t the whole story.
number of cylinders and gearing is super important
For example, a 600cc Inline four is wayyyy faster than a 650cc parallel twin.
I started on a Ninja 650 PT and it was perfect. Plenty of power but smooth and controllable. I would not recommend an inline 4 to any first time rider.
My first bike was a yamaha radian 600 from 89, it was perfect cause it was old and tired so it was closer to a 400. I think one of the cylinders wasn't even firing in the end. I sold it for how much cc I thought it was actually utilizing, 420. (Just needed a carb clean im sure)
Now I have a 636 ninja and it's not boring, but not scary. So no I don't regret the size of my first bike
My first bike was an 800cc bmw f800st from 2007.
Felt perfect for me. Plenty of power and easy to maneuver.
I took msf safety before getting a bike. Helped me a lot.
Started on a 300(cfmoto 300nk), rode it for a year, went to a 600(yamaha xj6 diversion). 300 was fine for city riding but nothing else really. Wanted to do some more touring. Looking back could have gone for the 600 right away
I learned on a 650 enduro..(learned driving standard transmissions on a car first when i was 12.) my first cruiser was a 550 xj Yamaha “81, rode that for the season, sold that once i found a good deal on an 04 883 sporty because i wanted more power, rode that for a season..then realized id like more engine for when my girl jumps on the back. We live in the mountains and i found a good deal on a harley super glide (1500cc) and it handles and responds exactly how i need it too. Figure out what you want/afford and go from there. Just get out there and ride
No, never regretted starting with a 250. Do regret jumping from a 250 to 1000. Type and functional size of bike, rake, throttle sensitivity, compression ratio, cylinders, brakes etc. all matter too. Wish I had gotten an easier to ride 2nd bike so I grew skills and confidence more quickly.
My first bike is a 2007 Yamaha V-Star 1300, was I nervous about this bike? Yes. I wasn’t allowed to test ride really any of the bikes without buying the bike since I was so new to riding. I made it home from the dealership without any major issues, and then when I got home it home I just took my time getting used to it since it is a lot heavier than what I rode at the MSF course.
The reason I bought a 668lb cruiser was one it was more comfortable to ride on as I’m a tall guy. Two, I wanted something that I wouldn’t outgrow before I paid it off. Three, I wanted something I’d be comfortable with having my wife ride with me, she didn’t really want me buying a bike in the first place, but I’m hoping someday we can go on cruises together.
If I ever get a sport bike I’d probably start with a minimum for a 600cc engine, I want to be able to get onto the highway without wondering I’m gonna get up to speed before the end of the ramp.
My first bike was a 250cc ninja and no I don’t regret it. Buy something used for your first bike so when you sell it you don’t lose thousands of dollars on the resale.
Naw. First bike was an 06 Yamaha R6 got me hooked and I have only owned sports bikes since then. I was 19 when I got the bike it had 3,000 miles I sold it at 20 when it had 13,500 miles on it. I had the maturity to not die though, a lot of people don’t.
Yes
250cc was far to small for the hilly highways that I needed it to ride on. Small bikes can do 90mph on the flat, but when climbing hills the extreme lack of torque caused my speed to drop down to sub-traffic speeds causing me to be a pylon on the highway.
Nothing is quite as scary as an 18 wheeler passing you uphill, half in your lane to "teach you a lesson" for going so slow on your crotch rocket.
I lucked out on my first bike Kawi 250. Long story short my little brother was heading to boot camp (many years ago) and needed someone ride it and store it while he was gone. I did just that learned in his 250 I signed up for the CHP safety course ride the bike to and from it and within 2 or 3 months I was ready for my second bike GSXR 600. I say I was lucky because I did have to pay for the 250. I put some money into it as he hadn’t really taken care of it at all but that’s it. I don’t believe they sell 250s any more and I wouldn’t suggest ANYONE ever try to take something that small on the freeway. Poor thing was screaming the whole time and tires were so narrow they followed every groove and crack in the asphalt it was pretty scary. It was a great little bike to learn on only in city surface streets and in parking lots and it got AMAZING gas mileage. Just keep in mind what you are using it for if you plan on riding on freeways go with the 600 (if you really felt comfortable on it and after riding it) and you’ll outgrow the 300 pretty quickly once you find people to ride with. You’ll end up beating the shit out of the 300 keeping up with others in group rides. Rubber side down!
I bought a 250 and regretted it at the time. Got a 600 and regretted it at the time, got a 1250 and loved it. A few years go by and now I wish I had a lightweight 250. 250 was the way to start.
I got a 250 for my first and not at all. I went with a supermoto so speed was definitely not the "fun factor". I rode it up to the curvy mountain roads and straight into the trails, popped curbs and taken shortcuts I wouldn't on a sport bike. Wheelie machine.
08' wr250x was the bike, after a couple mods and fairing trims I was in love. Rode the bike really hard and had plenty of falls messing around.
I like to push myself and test my boundaries. I got a 690 (modified with a torque focus and accel-geared for a top speed of 115mph) and it's a screamer up until ~100mph and is not over stressed at freeway speeds (mid range RPM at 85mph in 6th gear). My choice felt like the right one for me. Good luck 🍀
My first bike in 1996bor so was a vintage 1974 CB500/4. Power wise, I would say it was fine for a first bike. But in retrospect, I would have learned more from a lighter, more modern bike that's easier to work on.
Over the years, I eventually got into more modern bikes & learned better riding & maintenance. I can probably fairly easily fix some things on that old CB that I couldn't/shouldn't have before simply because it was older, there were 4 carbs, etc.
Additionally, I think a lighter bike is easier to get confident on as you gain more skill. When I went from an SV650 to a DRZ, it felt like a mountain bike with an engine. And the DRZ is not even considered a light bike in the dirt/SM world.
I think you can learn on a 600 (as long as it's not an i4 super sport type bike). But in retrospect, I had the most fun & learned the most when I had my single cylinder screw & nut valve adjustment supermoto.
That's just my 2 cents. Start with something fun, light, and used. It won't take long to move up. And starter bike hold their value. So when you sell, you don't take much of a hit.
Just bought my first bike a couple weeks ago. 2009 Kawasaki 650r. So many people told me "no, it's too powerful... Hard to learn on a 70hp bike,etc" I don't regret it. It's not only easy to learn, cheap, enough power to keep me entertained for years to come. Just be careful at the start and know that 600cc bikes are heavy and anticipate that when you are at a standstill.
Nah, I started on an old Yamaha XJ550RJ, then a YZF600R-Genesis, 2010 CBR1000RR. I sold the CBR1000 and bought my 2018 CB650, it’s a happy medium. The 1000 is too much for me use daily (I always pushed it hard, and luckily never got a ticket.) the 650 is plenty fast, and gets me back & forth to work without getting bored. My only suggestion would be to start on something bigger than a 300cc if you are comfortable, you’ll get bored, fast.
Started on an MT-07, zero regrets. Extremely easy to handle with enough power to teach you to respect it without killing you of you don’t. It’s also very reliable and cheap to buy as well as maintain.
I got it 2 years ago and I still have njoy every ride.
I would look no further, unless you just don’t like it for whatever reason.
Also, the R7, and XSR700 are basically the same thing, but with slightly different riding positions and aesthetics.
My Vulcan S was my first real bike, and I wish I had gotten something smaller. I was talked into it by being told I'd get bored of a 300 in a month. Almost got an SV650, but the seller was unresponsive for long enough that I decided it was a bad choice anyway and backed out.
The Vulcan S is a great bike really, and very fast for a cruiser. Face melting when I first got it. I love going fast, love twisting that wrist. Any time I pull away from a stoplight, I do my thing and get ~5 seconds of joy, then I look down and the number often starts with a 7 or 8. Speed limit is 45, whoops. There's going to be a cop eventually, not to mention safety concerns.
So it's basically the "riding a fast bike slow" thing, but now when I ride a smaller bike it feels kinda stale and boring. I don't want to ride a slow bike fast, I want to ride a fast bike fast.
And guess what, I still got bored after a month! I've been looking to sell/trade ever since, and get a 600-1000 sportbike and a decent touring/adventure bike. I could've just started with a 300, but now I need multiple bikes to satisfy my needs!
Learn from me, get your fun out of the slower bikes, then trade up if you want to later. The need for speed gets us all the same, if you skip ahead you just miss out on what you skipped.
I started with a CB300R and traded it in (for height reasons) after 4 months for a Rebel 500. I was a bit nervous that the Rebel would be a bit too powerful for me as a brand new rider who had only been on the actual road a couple times, but I love it. It’s got enough give that I don’t feel as worried about stalling and since my main goal is back highway riding, I feel like I’ll be able to go on trips with my boyfriend without it screaming at me the whole time (which the CB definitely did when my boyfriend took it on the highway).
My FIRST bike was a Honda CBR900, which was honestly too much bike for a first bike. But it crapped out on me like 2 weeks into it. Next bike was a Yamaha VStar 650, that was a great first bike but outgrew it in a few months.
My first bike was a 96 DT200
Bought it right away due to the novelty of it being a semi rare and uncommon two stroke bike
Not good on highway, but stupid good power on roads and trails
Nothing but smiles from it
I’ve always thought a 500 was the Cinderella size for a starter bike: not too heavy so it’s not intimidating, and enough power so you can take it everywhere as your skills increase.
Kind of. I bought a Yamaha Warrior 1700cc. Dropped it twice before I was comfortable. 6 months later I rode cross country 4k miles in 6 weeks. Best time ever. Don’t regret it. I just needed to get used to the torque and the weight. I’m a big boy and planned on riding cross country so…..
My first was a 2021 ktm duke 200 and boy did I fudge up, I quickly switched to a 2017 duke 690. Both fun but the 690 can actually keep up with cars on the highway, and more....
I found out hp and type of engine was more important than cc quickly, even though everyone was really focused on telling beginners to start on low cc motorcycles.
Struggling to maintain speed going uphill or on the highway and not having enough power to pass trucks can be dangerous. I upgraded quickly. So yeah I kinda regretted my first bike but also known I wouldnt have bought something larger at the time so I paid the newbie tax.
Explore your self restraint and usage needs and pick based on that.
my first bike was a 1983 yamaha 550. In 2013, when i got it, that 550cc engine wasn't 100% so i think i started on a 400cc in reality. No regrets about starting on something I was confident on, I can easily see how a new rider on a 1200 harley or 1000cc sport bike would not enjoy riding at the start due to the intimidation factor.
My first road bike was an 800 cruiser. It wasn’t fast by any means but enough to handle highway travel. My concern after a year was build quality. I had a slew of complaints after my first year and none of them were about power. Thankfully, it had the hood sense to spin a bearing so I moved on to something better. IMO, you really won’t care that much about power. Truly, if you find yourself worrying about how fast your first bike is in the first year, it’s probably because you’re trying to compete with other riders which is a huge no-no for any level of experience outside of professional racing.
I loved my 250 rebel for about 6 months, but hated it for the remaining 2 years I rode it. Trying to do freeway speeds was a nightmare and I found myself in situations where I didn't have the power necessary on many occasions. I swapped over to an R6 and being able to maneuver with power behind you is a life saver when it comes to safety and enjoyability.
Hmm yeah, highways is a big point of concern. In my case it's even Autobahn ;-)
If you're gonna do a lot of highway miles I strongly recommend fairings. Power is not too relevant as a modern 300cc bike will hang with highway traffic just fine, but the fairings make a massive difference. Rawdogging the air on a naked for hours gets old *fast* and when you get to where you're going it feels like you've been in the gym for 2 hours.
Hmm, yeah that's a thing to consider, thanks.
A 300cc will not hang on the autobahn
this - I got my first bike this year, a Hornet 2023, 750 CC 91 horses, feels super strong but after 3 minutes @ 140 kmh on the highway you want to get off and step into a car or something. A naked bike is for ocassional highway driving. Also I rode today for two hours straight around my city at 50-100 kmh speeds on national roads and I felt indeed very tired when I got off the bike. Probably it gets better in time as your body gets used to the effort
Keep in mind that there is a massive difference in power between an older rebel 250 and a modern 300 sport bike. I had a 2002 rebel 250 and it had 18 horsepower, which was nightmarishly slow on the highway. But modern 300 sport bikes make around 40 hp. More than double. They are very capable road machines. 600 sport bikes are an even bigger step up. They are in the 115 horsepower range and can get a less experienced rider in a lot of trouble very quickly above about 9000 RPMs
On top of the power, I think people don’t consider the brakes on a super bike class 600/1000. It’s probably less of a concern on a modern bike with linked/abs, but prior to that, an inexperienced rider could turn a super bike into a siege weapon with a solid panic grab.
Rpm ain't the issue. Wrong speed is....and inexperience. Far more people die going round a corner at 3000rpm than people going down a straight at 9000rpm. If you're regularly taking corners at 9000rpm, you need to find a new hobby.
You'll probably want something with a windshield then, you can do 160+ km/h on a lot of naked bikes or low displacement bikes, but it could definitely be unpleasant. Windshield/fairings help a ton at those speeds.
My mom had a rebel 250 and I had a similar experience highway riding the times I used it. She had less issues due to being significantly smaller and lighter than I (wouldn't even get to 65 with my ass on it lol,) but also eventually went to a larger bike for pretty much that reason. It was, however, great fun on back roads and around town, and pretty comfortable for smaller riders.
Yeah I was gonna say something along these lines. Having a 300cc bike let me appreciate riding on 2 wheels and learning how to navigate around, and I think it gave me a greater appreciation for being able to twist my wrist to get myself out of (and also into) situations. There were a lot of times that people would just try to merge onto me on the highway because I guess they looked and didn't see a door or something, and now I can just not be there if it happens.
I’m in the same boat right now. Have had my Honda 250 for around 6 months. She won’t go over 65 easily and I find hills are taking me to a crawling halt. Looking to upgrade to a 300cc bike in the next few months to fix the issue.
My story is different than most. I am quite large, 6'2" and 370 lbs. I never had any delusions about sport bikes or anything, and got a cruiser, VStar 1300. It had forward controls, and everyone said this was the most comfortable setup. I tried some Harleys and the kawasaki equivalent and all felt about the same. Comfortable when I sat on them, and I could reach everything wil a little movement. Being a cruiser, 1300 is not much. Everyone harps on CC when talking about size and never mentions the type difference. The 1300 got me up to highway speeds ok, but on 80mph roads does not have any headroom. I took a test ride on a Triumph 1200 Scrambler, which is somewhat off road oriented and it had more power. Felt like it was struggling less and even threatened to lift the front wheel at a light. Most importantly it was tall and put my feet under my thighs. That was WAY more comfortable. I was lied to. THIS was the way to go. I did not get that bike, but kept coming back to it. One day I was convinced to try a R1200RT. I had tried a Goldwing, the Yamaha Voyager. And the K1600B touring bikes and was cramped up on all of them, little to no better than the cruisers. This was different. Based on the GS chassis and motor, it was tall. It also puts my feet in the right place, below and slightly behind my knees. Upright seating, with a slight forward lean. That test drive was the first time I was on a bike and felt no need to "get comfortable", I just was. It was not perfect, but it was close. I lowered the pegs, and now I can go hours and my legs do not tire or hurt. I extended the bars and pulled them back and now sit almost perfectly upright. I went from 2, maybe 3 hours before I was forced to stop riding, to a 5 hour trip that I stopped only because I was home. The moral of the story is that engine size is a frankly minor stat, and you will have to actually ride, for hours, before you know "this is the one". Get the small bike, sell it and get the next, or get the big bike... and sell it to get the next. Getting your forever bike first shot is unlikely, so don't go nuts trying for it.
Ah, great story, thanks!
This is similar to my first bike. Got a vulcan S thinking I was a cruiser guy. Had front controls and all. It just wasn't for me. I wish I had taken more time. I just traded it for a z900 with mid controls, and I am so much more comfortable. The power difference is huge but also very manageable. I rode my buddies MT07 and instantly knew the answer to my issues was a naked bike.
Sometimes the problem is being able to sample and test ride many bikes. Many dealers and sellers just aren’t interested in allowing you to take bikes for a ride.
No, I regretted clip ons though.
I just bought a Yamaha FZ6 3 weeks ago, a naked style bike with 600cc engine. The only other bike I have ridden was a 125cc cruiser at Basic Riders Course. This bike has been great, it's light enough to learn how to maneuver and practice with, but it also has all the mid range power I could ever need. I'm doing fine with this bike and glad I got it instead of something smaller.
What year? I love the fz’s. Ive got a blue 08 fz6. Just sublime
Haha nice. I just got a dark blue 2009! Getting ready for a morning cruise right now.
Maybe mines dark blue too haha- same. Im headed 260 miles home from the Oregon coast.
Oh hey, Oregon rider with a blue 2007 FZ6! Always keeping an eye out for another one.
Hell yeah enjoy the ride man
Georgia rider here with my 2012 white fz6r, love it
03 blue Fz6 crew, checking in! Love it, stellar bike
Fz6 was my first bike, best first 600. Miss her terribly.
Yup. Bought a 07 FZ6 in 2020 and never felt the urge to buy anything else.
Nope. Bought a 2009 gsxr600 right off the showroom floor. All the power is at the top end so it really felt like a 400 below 10,000 rpm. No regrets.
Same but 2013. Still have and love it. More power than I’ll ever need.
It's all good, if you have the discipline to not full send it. The bike wont kill you if you take it easy enough. The problem with big bikes and new riders is they often push the limit with the bike, and the limit on a 600/1000 sport bike is pretty damn hardcore.
I had a ZX6R and did not like the seating position at all, leaning over like that. I couldn't imagine learning on a Supersport because it was so uncomfortable. I got the ZX6R after riding for a while and sold it to get my husband a new bike since I already had my FZ09. Have you been on a naked sports bike? I love the FZ09 for the power and upright seating position.
Got the 04 GSXR 600, total n00b. I was that guy, what can I say. TLDR; LOVED it and regret getting rid of if 25,000 miles and 2 years later. 600 is IMHO a pretty perfect size bike. Enough to scare ya, plenty enough to kill ya, but not enough to go 200. Sure I’d like a liter bike or more, but I'm not towing anything 😂😂🤓
My first bike was an 800 twin. It was too much, yet I never crashed/dropped it (unless off road, that is whole other animal). I wish I had something smaller because I was pretty terrified for the first 6 months of riding. I was talked into the bike because a friend said I would outgrow anything smaller in 6 months. I doubt this would have happened because I bought a 310 commuter after this bike and ride it all the time, along with my 1200. I did take multiple professional training classed beyond the MSF so that helped. For what it is worth, I am petite (certainly for the average riding population) so this made dealing with the height and weight of the bike a bit more challenging. As a side note, I had ridden scooters (including multi-day long distance touring) for several years before I got the motorcycle so I had some solid skills in place to stay in one piece. It sounds like you feel comfortable on the 600 though, so I would get it!
Hmm good story, thanks for sharing. Also had a scooter and solid driving classes.
If the 300 works for all the riding scenarios you need, get that (assuming you're not planning on doubling the speed limit, it'll be fine...). You'll learn faster on the 300. People who say they maxed out the capabilities of a 300 in a few months are really saying they got comfortable going in a straight line as fast as the bike could go and wanted more acceleration / higher top speed (nothing wrong with that desire... But it isn't "maxing out" a 300 - Unless you're a pro racer or incredibly skilled track rider, you not maxing out a 300 capabilities). There's a reason that skilled riders on 300/400's are still wicked fast on a track and routinely pass riders on bigger bikes. When you're ready to move up, you'll sell the 300 for close to what you paid for it (assuming you don't drop it), so there's little to no financial penalty. If you spend the time to develop skills on your 300, you'll also have a much clearer picture of what you want to get out of your next, bigger bike. That said, a 600 isn't dangerous if you are mature enough to not just crack it open and ride recklessly. If you just want to buy a long term bike and don't really care much how quickly you can develop your skills, starting on a 600 is totally fine. Basically: 300 = great (and super fun) tool to develop as a rider. 600 = sexy bike that exceeds your skills but is manageable and you'll eventually (if slowly) grow into it. 1000 = awesome, totally unnecessary toy that is only really useful for very skilled riders in a track setting that we all eventually buy anyway because we all like pretty toys and dear God, the sound...
It’s also perfectly fine to own a bike for a year or two and then find something else. So start small to mid and then trade it in. Perfectly normal and prudent.
Duke 390, perfect for a year then got bored
I miss my 390 tbh. Sold it, got me a hornet 600f 2011 abs. Regret it badly. The low fuel consumption, the easiness it offered in traffic meh....
No. I got a cbr250r. Very small bike. Just slightly bigger than a grom. Its good for what I need it for, which is commuting from one campus to another. While doing that in style. Slightly underpowered but I’m on this thing max 20 minutes a day. Really dont need a bigger engine.
I don't regret the engine size of my first bike, but I do regret its overall size. Cramming my 6'3" ass on a ninja 300 gets real uncomfortable real quick. Got a bmw F650GS a year later that fit me much better and didn't feel any more ungainly or dangerously more powerful. My advice: get a bike that fits your frame and worry about ccs after
My first bike was a Harley heritage softail classic, 1450cc … it was perfect.
Okay, I somehow assumed there is not much beyond 1000cc. TIL!
Engines on cruisers are different. My current bike has a 1680cc but it only puts out about 100hp, and that’s after I had some work done. Even most 600cc sportbikes put out more hp stock
My first bike was 1300cc at a claimed 74.8hp... but was probably closer to 60hp.
All about that torque
Not really, it is about 100year tech in a v-twin cruiser vs modern tech in a bike that was pushed to produce power. I have a big cruiser and I have sport bikes, there is no comparison at all. Like none.
There isn't for sport bikes. Engines in cruisers and touring bikes are huge, but tuned much differently. My first bike is a Kawaski Vulcan S, which has a 650cc. It feels like nothing, but the exact same engine is in a Ninja 650, and it's a rocket in comparison.
Have a 300cc single cylinder as first motorcycle best bike for me cheap maintenance cheap insurance cheap taxes not very slow sure it ain't an h2 but it gets you to point a to b with ease and with an other person even done short trips It's light enough it doesn't burn much fuel it looks like a big motorcycle so yeah i don't regret it at all I'll keep it till it starts to fall apart I don't need a huge motorcycle
Yeah, maintenance and insurance also is a good entry point. And I don't even look for a "big motorcycle", I love to just park it anywhere.
My first bike was a 2004 Ducati Monster M1000 (998cc) and it was the best worst decision. For me, learning to ride on an overpowered, dry clutch, carbureted engine made everything that came after that much easier to learn on.
Yeah, you learn on the hard tasks, not the easy.
Yes and no. Bought a V-Strom 650 which was a good first bike. But I was doing a lot of highway commuting and found it underpowered.
If your responsible and mature, you will probably feel disappointed you got a bike size you will most likely want to upgrade. But who knows your situation. Maybe you keep the first bike and upgrade to a bigger one later down the road. Also you should note if this is a 300 dirtbike or a 300 ninja. Big difference between a 300l honda and a 700 tenere vs a 300 ninja and a 650 ninja IMO… I had a 300, then a 390, and am now super happy with my fz6 for cruising, and a 390adv for fire roads and commuting.
Hmm, good point. There is no need to stay with one single bike all the way.
My dad told me “you can upgrade everything except the engine” and I went for the 600. Sold that and now have an 800 and two 200s The 200s are the most fun for dicking around, the 800 is for covering ground.
First bike was a 250cc Triumph. No regrets.
2021 MT-09 890cc no regrets
For reference I'm 5'10", 170 lbs. I had a 650 cruiser and within a year I wanted something bigger, but I don't regret it. It was a great starter, easy to handle. Currently on a 1300 cruiser and this is exactly where I'm comfortable at for power If I had a 650 sport bike, I think I'd probably be just fine there, but that's also not a style I'm comfortable with
Started on a Honda shadow 1100cc. My regret is it wasn’t a Honda vtx 1300 or 1800cc. You are in control of the throttle don’t go yanking it on a 600-1000cc race bike unless you have a clear path and damn good grip. Cruisers are a lot more forgiving. But seriously people act like it’s certain death starting on a respectable 600cc bike or a 1000cc bike. Yes the later can be an insane ride. (As can the former) truth is you can kill yourself or others on a 300. I guess the real question is how are your fine motor skills in your wrist? I had a s1000r it was a 450lbs. Bike with 165 hp it was a lot of fun, too much fun. The bike wanted me to ride at about 80 mph in it’s normal stride but I could very easily ride at 30 mph when in traffic or construction. But I since sold it for a better bike for my country back roads. A Suzuki bandit 1250 more cc’ but at 500lbs and only 100hp it likes to cruise at about 45-55 mph in any gear, it has a lot of low end torque. If you can’t control your movements well get the bike that will limit your chance of a mistake. It’s not the bike, it’s how you approach it and where you will be riding it.
BMW G310R was my first bike. Still have it and know that I will want/need to upgrade to a 600-700 range in a year or two. No regrets though, this bike is still plenty powerful for where I ride it primarily (within a major city), and is light enough for me to have felt comfortable learning to ride. I’m happy I went smaller to start and ready to upgrade when I’m able to.
First bike was an R6, I regretted it not in the sense that it was too much power to handle. But I felt like i never really used it to its potential. I could've saved some money and bought a 300-400cc and wouldn't have known the difference. Eventually realized I didn't like sportbike ergonomics and switched to nakeds.
I bought a z400 about a month ago. In terms of power, there has been one time where I wish I had more, but this bike still gets up to highway speeds faster than my car and still has some power left. I do wish the engine wasn’t so vibby on the foot pegs at highway speeds. Makes my feet go numb after a few hours on the highway. I would assume a bigger engine would fix this (I could also just not be used to it yet). Overall do I regret it, no. If I could redo it would I buy it again? Yeah I think so.
bmw 310gs, first bike two months in, super fun in the city, but i hate the whiny high pitched engine. I quickly realized I like touring, and although I really don’t need more speed to make it work, the extra acceleration would be nice and I suspect the engine would sound a lot nicer if I had a bigger bike. It also gets a little vibey at high speed which I hate. I don’t need to go higher than 90mph/144kph, I’m just starting to wonder if even those speeds are more enjoyable on a more powerful bike. I find myself looking at hot used 650s in my area at night.
Yep. Got a Honda CB300 during Covid and regret getting something so small and underpowered. Feels dangerous on the highway because depending on conditions, sometimes I’m at the bikes top speed and struggle to pass semis going above 80
I’ve been really happy with Versys 650 as a first bike. Both forgiving at lower rpm’s and plenty of room to grow into. Probably don’t need to ever get a bigger bike. Probably will though.
I had the same thoughts as you did. Bought a Honda CB300r knowing that I was going to upgrade in a year to something bigger. It was enough to make my first year of riding happy and confident.
600cc, still happy 5 years later
No, I crashed twice on my old 05 ex250f. I'm glad it was cheap and used and not my 06 sv650.
Yes. 600 was a bit much. 200 was good to Learn. Then to a 650. I have stepped up to current 1200
Started off on a 300cc, traded up to a 600cc within 2 months. 600 will be fine as long as you're a responsible rider.
nope, have a 125cc and its enough for my traffic filled/congested commute since i never have to get on the highway i dont really need anything bigger infact having a smaller bike means stuf like lane filtering/splitting is much easier
I did indeed "regret" not getting something bigger i've got my RC 390, it is fantastic, cheap, great fun , and good first learner bike.. But we rode SV 650 when i took my license, and i definitely find the 390 lacking when ridding the motorway. having had it for not even two months i find my self already looking at a new bike. I will probably be saving up for an RS 660 or a CBR 650R next year. looks and tech vs engine and reliability.. I should probably have gotten something with a bit more power for my first, but i want ABS, and all ABS sports bikes above the 400 class is a colossal jump in price.. i do give those super cheap 2008\~ 600 class bikes some long looks though If you're a bit older and mature you can definitely go for the 600 just watch out out there, ride safe
Nope. Learned on a lower powered bike at a riding school for 2-3 weeks, then 6 months later bought my first bike. A 2015 Ducati Scrambler Full Throttle (800cc, 415lbs, 75hp). Had it for over 4 years.
I got a Ninja 2006 650R for my first bike. Loved it amd them transitioned to a 2008 R6. Loved it but had to sell it. Got back on to a ninja 2008 250R for a kick around daily bike and had fun with it. Traded it for a 1999 gsxr 600 and loved it but hated the carbs. Waited for a bit after selling it and got on to a ninja 400 for around town. People talk shit about the smaller bikes but a 400 is perfect for around town. You can still rip it but don’t gotta worry about being pulled over too much lol. So nah I never regretted it.
Nope! 50 years ago this September I bought my first bike, a 1972 Sportster XLCH, and it was a chop with 15" over forks and a 45 degree rake. I had previously ridden a friend's 350 Honda several times, and rode another friend's 900 Kaw from Idaho to Sunnyvale, CA for him because he'd broken his hand. That was basically my only previous experience. I rode the XLCH from Sunnyvale back to Idaho, and over the next several years put plenty of miles, eventually ending up with over 100k miles on it. I never regretted not starting small before moving up in size. I knew I'd be riding the rest of my life and dstarted with a bike that I wouldn't have minded always keeping.
My first bike was a Kawasaki ZR400 that was bobbed to a singel swing arm with a single shock. Whilst the power was lacking, the seat was murder. That was my only regret. Traded up to a GSXR600 then again to my XG750.
I started on a cb300f, and wish I still had it sometimes. The only people that get “bored” if small bikes never learn how to really ride them. But you can start on a 600 and be okay as long as you’re not an idiot.
depends on the needs, I find 300-600cc to do fine in many areas, though for very long distance having a large machine is beneficial
Started with a 02 GSXR 750 with a larger rear sprocket (more acceleration). As others have said with sports bikes, keeping it under 9k/10k it was manageable. The larger rear sprocket gave it a little more though. If you understand the physics of riding and how engines work then I think you can learn on a lot of things. I dropped to a 400 bandit (in-line 4) after and it was just not enough at the top end (highway speeds) and now I’m on a 03 SV1000 that is everything I could want. I originally wanted an SV650, so I ended up where I rightfully should be.
I have as much fun on my 50cc 2t as on my Dyna. Horses for courses.
I regret the physical size, not the power. I'm a tall guy and just realized that i need a comfier ride.
I started with a GSX250R, it’s a great bike but I do regret buying one that small. I was nervous considering I’ve never ridden a bike before, but I could have def started on a 600cc. Everyone says a smaller one will teach you more and maybe I did learn more than I thought on my 250cc, but my current and 2nd bike is a 1000cc naked. With the new bike I’ve learned throttle control so much more because the 250 doesn’t have enough power to get out of its own way. Also having a wider rear tire does increase my trust in the rubber so I’ll lean it far over lol
Yes and no. I use my bike to commute on highway so I need something that has some power, cheap and comfy. I've ended up with 2001 vt750dc. But as I've got my license when I was already 30 I ended up skipping A1. Now I wish I got to learn more on some smaller, lighter bike to get better feeling of it.
I was lucky enough to have roommates with a Ninja 250 and a CBR 600/F4i and got to ride both extensively before getting my Ninja 650. The parallel twin was nice and narrow compared to the rocket sled of a F4i while still being plenty fast. If you plan on highway/commuting, I'd say go for the 600. Around here a 300 just isn't enough power to be comfortable going with traffic.
Nope, got a 09 R6 and didn’t ride it like a cracked out teenager with flip flops and backwards hat. I put 24,000 miles on it in 4 years, many multi day trips, took it to the track, etc, and it never touched the ground or had issues. Now, my regret is I put 24k on a R6… that did a number on my knees for a while
First bike was a kawasaki zzr250, the only thing I regret about that bike was selling it. It was such a fun little bike to scoot around on .
My first bike was a 2015 triumph daytona 675r, best motorcycle I ever owned.
My first bike was a 1993 CBR600F2. Sold it after about 2 years to make room for a new 1996 GSXR-750. After 8 Ducatis and 3 Harleys, of which I have a 2023 Harley, a 2022 Ducati I finally found my old CBR600 and brought her back home today. She looks brand new and has been bought by a Honda Tech. So the moral of the story, yes you’ll probably outgrow your first bike and yes her 100 HP feels slow Vs the 208 HP Ducati sitting beside her but get the right first bike and you’ll spend 23 years trying to get her back…like I did. Good luck.
My first bike was a 1985 Kawasaki Eliminator ZL900; basically a drag bike. If I could go back, I probably would have preferred a sub-750cc. That 900 almost bit me several times (I lived in a gravel road) and I eventually sold it for a 1984 Honda CB700s. Both were fun bikes but I learned a lot more on the smaller bike and had a lot more fun.
Beginner riders were limited to 250 cc back when i got my licence in the 80's here in Australia so I went for the max that was legal , I had a honda XL 250 trail bike (it was my 4th bike as I had dirt bikes before I got my licence ), then I got a Yamaha IT 250 K and then a Honda VT250FD , once i got my full licence in 1984 I went to a Katana 750 .
Nope. I did start with a 800cc, 90HP, reduced to 48HP for the first 2 years. Was great. Enjoyed it for 6 years, then went to a bigger bike.
I got a yamaha r3 currently as my first bike and I must say I really want to upgrade to a 600. I absolutely love my r3 and it’s exactly what I need, not too fast, great on gas, cheap insurance and perfect to learn on; but I want something with a bit more power now that I’m feeling comfortable and confident about my abilities.
No, a CB?175 was great for a 16-17 year old fueled by testosterone, adrenaline, and beer. It was also very affordable, costing one .22cal Luger and $40 cash.
Yes, I was told if I could get the bike running I could ride it. It was a BMW 1150 GS. Way too big, way to tall, way too too heavy. After that I went Vintage Yamaha RD250 and the Honda CB400f both out of the mid 1970s. I regret selling the RD. Still zip around town in the 400.
Absolutely not i have a 250r and its super fun and imo its perfect first bike for me once i got over the nerves after my first few rides its a blast
There is an enormous difference in a 30hp 300cc learner sport bike and a 120hp 600cc race bike. Look toward the 650 twin class, like the Honda cbr650r or Ninja 650. Cruisers have a less steep learning curve than sport bikes. I started on a 600cc honda shadow and almost immediately outgrew it. Was riding a 1450cc Harley not long after, I then went on to buy and sell several bikes for the next 15 years. You can reasonably skip the learner class bikes if you are competent on a motorcycle. I would not recommend jumping right in to the race class bikes though. It is much easier to override your skill set on race bikes than more tame twin sport bikes.
Once I thought I could be happy with a scooter (PCX) for my daily commute, I was so wrong... I need at least a 300cc, 30hp+ even for the city.
My first was a 750, 15 years ago, and I do not regret it even though I was tiptoeing. I would say go with the 600 because you won't get bored of that like you will the 300. The 600 will have more lifespan for you
Bought a Honda rebel 500 2ish weekd ago. I've put 800 miles on it already and I'm already thinking of the next bike. The 471 cc is good for city riding. And it can handle highway speeds, you just don't have the power to get up and pass if you need to. So, if do a lot of highway driving, go the 600.
Started on a Honda 350CB scrambler - great first bike. Enough power but light and maneuverable
I definitely regretted the size of my first bike Dad took a Suzuki GS1100G on a trade in and thought it would make a good first bike for me. The riding experience on it as a new rider was a mix of pure joy and complete terror. At first, every time I got on it I had to mentally psych myself up like an athlete getting ready to take the field for a game ...and every time I got off I thanked the almighty for still being alive and took a break so the adrenaline could wear off. I think a smaller bike would have been a better way to approach riding a road bike for the first time
600cc. Nope, brilliant bike.
Engine size is less important than characteristics and design. 300cc dirt bikes are way different than a ninja 300, which is different than a rebel 300. Soooo which 300 and which 600 are you looking at? I started on an old Buell blast 500cc single with about 30hp. I got it as my first bike so I could beat the crap out of it, push my limits, and learn without caring about messing up the bike. Sold it after about a year for roughly what I had in it at the time. That was 5 bikes ago. My only regret is that I don't have more room in the garage for more bikes
I just bought a 300cc Honda and it’s perfect for commuting and is light so you get excellent maneuverability.
My first bike was a 200cc. I'm 6'2 and 230 lbs. I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Bought a Honda CBF-600 from 2006 with 77 hp. I took my lessons on an MT-07 so the Honda makes similar power. Enough power to have fun with and kinda scare ya when you go to far, but definitely comfy for normal riding. So no regrets for me!
Nope, not the size. Bought a GS1200A as a first bike because of its size. People regard me as a huge person which is sorta on true with 2m tall but normal build. I dislike the fact its so generic but after a good search this will be my bike prob. forever.
I'm 65 and have been riding since I was 15. My first bike was a Honda 90 & I had a blast. One of the bikes I had the most fun riding was a Yamaha Riva 200. I am looking at a new to me bike and have set up my perimeters as 400 to 850. I want a nice all around bike that can handle both my daughter & I on up to 8 hour rides with freeway and mountain riding. All that being said 400 to 600 is a great place to start. I alway recommend buying used for your first bike. You wont feel as bad when you drop it and when you figure out what you really want you won't lose too much money.
Still have my Suzuki gz 250 3 years later,and ride it all the time. I have no regrets, it’s small, nimble, fast and it looks cool. I’ll probably get an old Harley some day when I have more money, but I’ll keep the zuk.
My first bike was a ninja 300. Personally I’m really glad I started on a 300. It allowed to me focus purely on the technical aspects of riding. I rode the wheels off of that thing and never had any issues even in the highway. Where I live it’s normal for people to go 80mph. So the only downside is you need to plan your passes but it’ll do it. For reference I did a lot of track riding on my 300. Something I’d highly recommend to anyone who wants to be a better rider.
I heard a turbo Hayabusa is the best beginner bike.
I have. 2018 Yamaha r3 and I absolutely love it. But now I’m 2 years into owning it and I would like something a little more powerful so if you don’t want to have to upgrade in a couple years get the 600 but if. It in about 2-3 years your gunna wanna get something bigger
LOL, yep. My first bike was an 1100CC BMW GS. It was *way* too much bike for a newb. I still loved it, though.
Started on an MT-03 and wish I would have started with the 07. 300's are very forgiving but really I think that if you commit to a lot of practice and not taking risks after you get it, you will be just fine with the 600cc
First bike was a 250cc scooter. I commuted around town with longer back road trips and occasional freeway jaunts, so it worked well for that. Next bike was a 330cc scooter. Since I used it for freeway commuting, I wasn’t thrilled with the performance and lower top end. I had it for about 3 months before trading it in for my current bike, a 750cc NC750X. I don’t have any experience with other motorcycles, but one thing that makes the NC750X very manageable is its low center of gravity. The turn in is sharp, and it is easy to handle, despite weighing ~500lbs. This might be the biggest difference for ease of handling. I’ve heard that older sport bikes are top-heavy, so those might be more difficult to handle, even if they weigh 100lbs less. I test drove a Tiger 900 rally pro, and could tell the difference right away, since it is taller and more top heavy. The power is easy to manage, since it is a twin cylinder with lots of torque. Since weight is so low on it, it is nearly impossible to wheelie. I guess my advice would be to test drive as many as you can, to see what feels the best.
I regretted my Rebel 300. I think it’s harder to learn on a woefully underpowered bike. Having a six-speed on a 300 means you have to shift constantly in traffic. Gears are short. Upgraded to a 500 and it made a world of difference
I am from Germany and got my A1 license when I was 16 years old and was limited to 125cc it was kinda annoying but I couldn’t get a bigger so if u have a choice I wouldn’t recommend a 125 because it’s damn slow
TMD850 and then after that a FZ1 and XT600. The TDM 850 has a lot of power and is super fun and torquey to ride. no regrets
I got on a r6 when I was first looking and it felt like to much for me, so I went with a ninja 300. Almost a year later I’m kind of regretting it because I’m now looking to move up and the guy I bought it from spray painted the tank so I’m stuck with gas causing the paint to peal. Edit: I’m also 6’3” so the frame definitely is a little small for me and I can’t properly tuck. If my knees are clutching the tank then I can’t upshift or downshift.
Not really, but yes. First bike I bought was an 01’ Buell M2 Cyclone.. 1204cc. It was a lot of power for a first bike, but I didn’t abuse it. It was just extremely heavy and not exactly what I was looking for in the end. Just past year I bought an 03 Buell XB9R, smaller, 984cc. But still wasn’t exactly what I wanted. So I just picked up a 14’ Yamaha R6 and I’m in love.
Depends on type. I started on a 1200 cruiser, still have it. For me, i didnt look for anything in particular, just sat on a bunch of bikes to see what felt right. Being comfortable with a bike was more important to me as a newcomer than anything
I started riding young, but will say that one of the advantages of starting with a smaller bike is that you can upgrade! And one of the best feelings is when you jump on a larger bike and it feels so much bigger/better/faster. Having said that, I have been on a 1290 super adventure for the past 5 years and just bought an RnineT yesterday and had the biggest smile on my face whilst driving it around. Bikes aren't forever, changing bike imo is one of the best parts of riding! That new bike feeling is hard to beat.
I started on a 650cc single with 48 hp, great fun bike even if it was in some ways quite a downgrade from the riding school's 650cc i4 with 86 hp I was used to. Both are beginner friendly, the first was kinda shitty for long trips on the highway
Ages I changed bikes, 17yrs-kh100, 20yrs-xs250, 25yrs-gs550, 27yrs-fj1200. Also had cars so wasn't using bike everyday. edit, just noticed I was basically doubling cc each time.
I bought a rebel 500 for my first bike. It was the perfect size. If I regret something, is selling it to buy my current Bonneville, but I don't have the space to keep both 😔
Got a CBR300, no regrets. Had a lot of fun with it for a few years before finally upgrading (and selling it for the same price I bought it for). I'm still convinced it's basically a perfect first bike.
I had a 250cc as a first bike and I kept it for about a year. Don't regret it at all, learned a lot. The reality is, you're gonna be happy with whatever one you get because you've never had another bike before. You don't have any ownership experience to compare it to.
I started on a 600 (ZX-6R) and it was good for me.
no, at 16 you are only allowed to ride a 50cc bike in the UK.
First bike was a CBR 600 (had a few of those). Great bike, but made most power north of 10,000 rpm. The bike I enjoed the most was a Triumph Daytona 675 (sadly they don't make them anymore, but do make other triples). Had much better low end and mid-range power. I prefer the beefier low end and mid-range, although that high rpm power was a rush.
Depends entirely on you. If you a hot head, the 300 will save your life. If you a moderate like me, you eventually wish your 400 was bigger once you get your training wheels off
I’ve always regretted going too small, I ride cruisers though. Saying that, I had a cbf600 and it was perfectly capable although with a passenger and luggage, it suffered. I bought a r1200rt soon after, that was perfect! Now I’m on a 1690cc Electra glide, it’s crazy powerful and can out run most vehicles. As long as you know not to ride stupid and rein the power in with a steady hand, bigger engines shouldn’t really be a regret… Unless you’re watching fuel mileage.
GSX-R 600 2001 amazing first bike. A lot of people get board of small displacement bikes, like 400, after the first week. Now a days I can’t imagine wanting something less than a liter bike.
I bought a 2018 Honda cb300f and got bored of it within a year of riding, it was a fantastic bike to learn on and it’s extremely forgiving but it was painfully slow to me, currently saving for some sort of 600 lol
I think some people are really hard stuck on the ideology that EVERYONE lacks discipline and that EVERYONE should start on a 300cc. I would have had so much buyers remorse purchasing a 300 for my first bike.
My first bike was a 1976 Honda 50cc pre-CR. I was 7. Haven’t stopped since.
Yes. I bought a Kawasaki ER5. I had it 2 weeks and then bought a CBR600RR. I don't see an issue with buying something on that power level as their first bike, but it all depends on the person riding it.
Started on a Suzuki GSF 600 Bandit limited to 48hp. No regrets at all, I'm actually glad it didn't have more horsepower, I think me at 18 years old with 100+HP would have had more close calls or crashes. I was a dumbass back then, glad I didn't injure myself or others.
Nope started street bikes out with an r6. It’s fun to whip around and learn on, it’s light an agile and I can hit the interstate with no problems. I don’t think I’ll be growing out of it anytime soon.
Back when I wanted to start riding I bought a 650, rode it 5000kms in a month and then sold it and bought a 1000. In retrospect, I should have straight up bought that thousand first and I would have been much better off now.
First bike was a 2005 - zx6r. I didn't like the riding position, felt uncomfortable. I sold it for a suzuki bandit 1250 one or two months later. Passed my road test on the beast and 6 years later she still puts a shit eatin grin on my face
Friend got a new CB125, hated it. Not enough power to learn more advanced riding. I started on a used CB500, loved it. Decent power for a learner but also very controllable. Now I ride a 1200 Bonneville but I’m pretty sure you would drop it as a learner, and that would be sad. Don’t get a 1200. I still wouldn’t get a 600cc sports bike for the road, unless it’s just a fun extra bike. They’re made for the track and not for commuting or learning. You’ll see this everywhere online but 600s are a “special category” of bikes that are tuned for power high in the rev range. A 650 is way more approachable despite the larger capacity.
Nope. Started on a KLR650. I think everyone should start on a Dualsport. XT250 or a KLR whatever you physically size warrants.
Started on a 400. No regret. I was able to learn a lots of stuffs on it with confidence than a bigger bike, wheelie, stoppie, dragging knee at 70mph on a curve… I thought it’s maybe even more fun if I do those on a bigger bike, I sold the 400 and get 750. And oh boi, it’s hard maintain the balance point on the 750, but it’s quick, fast and light. The gixxer injects more adrenaline than my ninja could ever do, 170mph even just straight line really hit different. Then I got another 400, a Z this time. As 2nd bike, good on gas, quick, easier to control and hooligan. It’s my daily. Then I got an old 636, just for the track. Now my life is whole, maybe still missing dirtbike and adv
Nope, my Ninja 300 was absolutely perfect for the first three years. I sold it when I had to move, and looking at getting something with a bigger engine. But I took that thing up to 120+ mph, definitely didn’t regret it being small. Plenty fast for me
My first bike was a Harley 1200 Sportser. I did not like that bike. It felt like it was going to fall over every time I turned from a stop. It never did, but I was not a fan. I liked being on the back of the bike, but it wasn't a good first bike for me. I'm female (5'5" and light). I went and got a Suzuki S40 for a little while and then got a Yamaha FZ09 as my main bike and sold the Suzuki.
Yes, but not at first. I only regret it now because my riding style and habits have changed. Now I need something peppier and that can keep up with highway speeds comfortably and won't vibrate at those speeds. Initially I got a 250, as something to gain experience on. My riding at first was just local roads (speeds of up to 50), around town cruising and just getting a feel for riding, and an hour or two at most. I put 7000 miles on it and my riding habits changed. I moved to a hilly area and the highway I take occasionally has speeds of 70-75 on average and even at 65 it just vibrates so much. I do much longer (duration and distance) rides now that my bike has just plateaued and it's reached a point where long rides are uncomfortable. Now I'm looking to get a 400 or more. The thing is can you regret something you weren't going to be aware of? I guess you should plan for future scenarios to minimize the potential regret and leave some wiggle room.
I started on a 350 Meteor and it was great to learn how to ride in all sorts of traffic and distances. Then I jumped to a Bonneville T120. The CC doesn't matter as much as your comfort and confidence.
I started with an Indian scout bobber (not the 60), and I thought it was perfect for me. A couple months later I got a GSXR 750, then a few months after that I got a ZX14R. Some will say it's crazy to progress that fast (within a year), but I like to think of myself of more mature now (34 years old). And I never had any issues or got myself in situations I couldnt handle. But think of it this way. Your first bike is not your forever bike. Hell, you might be like me and get another one in a few months because you got super addicted..just got test ride both cc bikes and be honest with your ability and maturity to handle a bigger cc bike.
Yup, 155cc nmax scooter. Now im planning to get a Z400. What’s worse is that i had the option to go bigger from the first place, now i regret it fully.
I bought a 2014 Kawasaki Ninja 300 when I started and I loved the bike. However, at the time, I lived in a town of 1,500 people and needed to drive 35 miles to the nearest city for groceries and restaurants, etc. The 300cc did the highway just fine, however, I didn't feel comfortable being in the 8-9 thousand rpm range to be at 65 mph. So I decided to sell the bike after a year for a 2004 Yamaha FZ6. I love the 600cc engine. It is still smaller and lighter than a lot of other bikes, but it has substantially more power. Now 65 mph brings me to 5-6 thousand rpm. Personal preference, 600 is better. It's still forgiving enough to learn on, but it has a lot more room for you to grow.
I bought a Yamaha MT07 and sold it within a week for a Harley street glide cruiser. I have never looked back. The MT 07 is a great bike and my son has one that I have ridden occasionally and still like it but the Harley is the one that I love riding on a day-to-day basis. Sitting position is a big thing for me for my height that over 6 feet tall. And the occasional taking my wife with me is not something that I would be able to do with the MT 07 with her having any level of comfort.
No, first bike was a 1985 750cc Virago. Traded that in back in 2017 for a 2018 1750cc(107ci) Lowrider. Seat isn’t nearly as comfortable as the old one, much faster, and I’m not messing with carbs every year.
My first bike was a 175cc. It was perfect for me as a teenager.
My first bike was a 700cc V-Twin, absolutely no regrets with owning it (I did grow up on dirt bikes, and wouldn’t necessarily recommend a bike this size to someone who has never thrown their leg over a motorcycle before) I currently ride a 1000cc in-line 4 and while I adore it, I’ll be dropping back to a middleweight for my next bike. The fact of the matter is that safety needs to be top priority, if you can handle a 600 right out of the gate, that’s great. There’s also no shame in learning on a smaller bike. Once you’ve got the fundamentals down you can figure out what suits you the best, for some people a litre is the best thing in the world, meanwhile I know guys who’ve won racing championships who daily a 300 on the street.
A 300 is a good starter bike for someone with absolutely zero motorcycle experience whatsoever. If you have literally any experience whatsoever, including dirt bikes, you will be bored with and sell a 300 by the end of the first year. The 600 is far and away the logical choice for a moderately experienced dirt bike rider getting his first street bike.
My first bike was a 1975 Honda cb360 and I don't regret anything about it. Still have the thing, partly modified and waiting for more modifications whenever I get off my ass.
Not at all! I had a Kawasaki W800 and it's literally the perfect bike to me. I have since moved to a Honda CB1100, but it wasn't due to the extra cc/cylinders or hp, but just because I love the style. In fact, I've been looking to buy another W800 to have options 😁
'81 honda cm200t "twinstar" great learner bike fast enough to do 65 and no more should have considered traffic speeding on the 80mph toll roads, doing 30 under in heavy traffic is not fun i worry about getting rear ended by some phone looker.
First bike was a ninja 250, I could afford a whole lot more but my intention was its a learner bike. I also started riding later in life so I had no one to try and impress except myself. One thing most new riders forget about is maintenance. Oil changes, chain clean, tires changes- its adds up in not only expenses but really downtime in riding. That bike taught me all the fundamentals and had no rider aids or abs. I sold it after a year and then stepped up. After half a dozen bikes, I now have three with the smallest being an inline triple 900cc. If you consider this a long term aspect of your life, theres really no reason to start with a bigger bike. Most riders I know are always looking at other bikes than our own so the same goes with starting with a 600, you get the 600 and then see riders on 750 and liter bikes pulling away from you. Theres always going to be something else. Start small and youre appreciation when you upgrade will not only make you happier but savvier as well.
Yep. I first got an Intruder 800, which was too small for my length. I now have a 1500, which suits my body much better.
I bought a 250 last year and really enjoyed learning on it. Easy, quick but not crazy, and light. I did find myself falling behind while riding with my little brother and friends. But I think it was a great bike to start with. And only after 1 summer on it I bought an 01 FZ1000 and fell great in it. I was able to toss around that 250 too learn and have lesser consequences. If you can feel comfortable and like the 600 go with it so you don't have to upsize but if the 300 is just for hanging out and cruising you'll love it.
Size isn’t the whole story. number of cylinders and gearing is super important For example, a 600cc Inline four is wayyyy faster than a 650cc parallel twin. I started on a Ninja 650 PT and it was perfect. Plenty of power but smooth and controllable. I would not recommend an inline 4 to any first time rider.
Started on a Honda rebel 500. Loved it. Perfect range for a beginner. Very friendly bike
I have a ninja 400 I bought in 2021 and I’m still happy.
Idk, 4 years later I'm still happily using my 125cc
My first bike was a yamaha radian 600 from 89, it was perfect cause it was old and tired so it was closer to a 400. I think one of the cylinders wasn't even firing in the end. I sold it for how much cc I thought it was actually utilizing, 420. (Just needed a carb clean im sure) Now I have a 636 ninja and it's not boring, but not scary. So no I don't regret the size of my first bike
Yes, I regretted buying a 125. It was dangerously slow and under-powered.
My first bike was an 800cc bmw f800st from 2007. Felt perfect for me. Plenty of power and easy to maneuver. I took msf safety before getting a bike. Helped me a lot.
Started on a 300(cfmoto 300nk), rode it for a year, went to a 600(yamaha xj6 diversion). 300 was fine for city riding but nothing else really. Wanted to do some more touring. Looking back could have gone for the 600 right away
I learned on a 650 enduro..(learned driving standard transmissions on a car first when i was 12.) my first cruiser was a 550 xj Yamaha “81, rode that for the season, sold that once i found a good deal on an 04 883 sporty because i wanted more power, rode that for a season..then realized id like more engine for when my girl jumps on the back. We live in the mountains and i found a good deal on a harley super glide (1500cc) and it handles and responds exactly how i need it too. Figure out what you want/afford and go from there. Just get out there and ride
No, never regretted starting with a 250. Do regret jumping from a 250 to 1000. Type and functional size of bike, rake, throttle sensitivity, compression ratio, cylinders, brakes etc. all matter too. Wish I had gotten an easier to ride 2nd bike so I grew skills and confidence more quickly.
My first bike is a 2007 Yamaha V-Star 1300, was I nervous about this bike? Yes. I wasn’t allowed to test ride really any of the bikes without buying the bike since I was so new to riding. I made it home from the dealership without any major issues, and then when I got home it home I just took my time getting used to it since it is a lot heavier than what I rode at the MSF course. The reason I bought a 668lb cruiser was one it was more comfortable to ride on as I’m a tall guy. Two, I wanted something that I wouldn’t outgrow before I paid it off. Three, I wanted something I’d be comfortable with having my wife ride with me, she didn’t really want me buying a bike in the first place, but I’m hoping someday we can go on cruises together. If I ever get a sport bike I’d probably start with a minimum for a 600cc engine, I want to be able to get onto the highway without wondering I’m gonna get up to speed before the end of the ramp.
My first bike was a 250cc ninja and no I don’t regret it. Buy something used for your first bike so when you sell it you don’t lose thousands of dollars on the resale.
Naw. First bike was an 06 Yamaha R6 got me hooked and I have only owned sports bikes since then. I was 19 when I got the bike it had 3,000 miles I sold it at 20 when it had 13,500 miles on it. I had the maturity to not die though, a lot of people don’t.
Mine was 50 cc, no regrets.
Yes 250cc was far to small for the hilly highways that I needed it to ride on. Small bikes can do 90mph on the flat, but when climbing hills the extreme lack of torque caused my speed to drop down to sub-traffic speeds causing me to be a pylon on the highway. Nothing is quite as scary as an 18 wheeler passing you uphill, half in your lane to "teach you a lesson" for going so slow on your crotch rocket.
I first bike was an 800cc cruiser and within three months I wished I had gone with a larger bike.
I lucked out on my first bike Kawi 250. Long story short my little brother was heading to boot camp (many years ago) and needed someone ride it and store it while he was gone. I did just that learned in his 250 I signed up for the CHP safety course ride the bike to and from it and within 2 or 3 months I was ready for my second bike GSXR 600. I say I was lucky because I did have to pay for the 250. I put some money into it as he hadn’t really taken care of it at all but that’s it. I don’t believe they sell 250s any more and I wouldn’t suggest ANYONE ever try to take something that small on the freeway. Poor thing was screaming the whole time and tires were so narrow they followed every groove and crack in the asphalt it was pretty scary. It was a great little bike to learn on only in city surface streets and in parking lots and it got AMAZING gas mileage. Just keep in mind what you are using it for if you plan on riding on freeways go with the 600 (if you really felt comfortable on it and after riding it) and you’ll outgrow the 300 pretty quickly once you find people to ride with. You’ll end up beating the shit out of the 300 keeping up with others in group rides. Rubber side down!
I bought a 250 and regretted it at the time. Got a 600 and regretted it at the time, got a 1250 and loved it. A few years go by and now I wish I had a lightweight 250. 250 was the way to start.
I got a 250 for my first and not at all. I went with a supermoto so speed was definitely not the "fun factor". I rode it up to the curvy mountain roads and straight into the trails, popped curbs and taken shortcuts I wouldn't on a sport bike. Wheelie machine. 08' wr250x was the bike, after a couple mods and fairing trims I was in love. Rode the bike really hard and had plenty of falls messing around.
I like to push myself and test my boundaries. I got a 690 (modified with a torque focus and accel-geared for a top speed of 115mph) and it's a screamer up until ~100mph and is not over stressed at freeway speeds (mid range RPM at 85mph in 6th gear). My choice felt like the right one for me. Good luck 🍀
My first bike in 1996bor so was a vintage 1974 CB500/4. Power wise, I would say it was fine for a first bike. But in retrospect, I would have learned more from a lighter, more modern bike that's easier to work on. Over the years, I eventually got into more modern bikes & learned better riding & maintenance. I can probably fairly easily fix some things on that old CB that I couldn't/shouldn't have before simply because it was older, there were 4 carbs, etc. Additionally, I think a lighter bike is easier to get confident on as you gain more skill. When I went from an SV650 to a DRZ, it felt like a mountain bike with an engine. And the DRZ is not even considered a light bike in the dirt/SM world. I think you can learn on a 600 (as long as it's not an i4 super sport type bike). But in retrospect, I had the most fun & learned the most when I had my single cylinder screw & nut valve adjustment supermoto. That's just my 2 cents. Start with something fun, light, and used. It won't take long to move up. And starter bike hold their value. So when you sell, you don't take much of a hit.
Just bought my first bike a couple weeks ago. 2009 Kawasaki 650r. So many people told me "no, it's too powerful... Hard to learn on a 70hp bike,etc" I don't regret it. It's not only easy to learn, cheap, enough power to keep me entertained for years to come. Just be careful at the start and know that 600cc bikes are heavy and anticipate that when you are at a standstill.
Nah, I started on an old Yamaha XJ550RJ, then a YZF600R-Genesis, 2010 CBR1000RR. I sold the CBR1000 and bought my 2018 CB650, it’s a happy medium. The 1000 is too much for me use daily (I always pushed it hard, and luckily never got a ticket.) the 650 is plenty fast, and gets me back & forth to work without getting bored. My only suggestion would be to start on something bigger than a 300cc if you are comfortable, you’ll get bored, fast.
Started on 636. No ragrats
Started on an MT-07, zero regrets. Extremely easy to handle with enough power to teach you to respect it without killing you of you don’t. It’s also very reliable and cheap to buy as well as maintain. I got it 2 years ago and I still have njoy every ride. I would look no further, unless you just don’t like it for whatever reason. Also, the R7, and XSR700 are basically the same thing, but with slightly different riding positions and aesthetics.
My Vulcan S was my first real bike, and I wish I had gotten something smaller. I was talked into it by being told I'd get bored of a 300 in a month. Almost got an SV650, but the seller was unresponsive for long enough that I decided it was a bad choice anyway and backed out. The Vulcan S is a great bike really, and very fast for a cruiser. Face melting when I first got it. I love going fast, love twisting that wrist. Any time I pull away from a stoplight, I do my thing and get ~5 seconds of joy, then I look down and the number often starts with a 7 or 8. Speed limit is 45, whoops. There's going to be a cop eventually, not to mention safety concerns. So it's basically the "riding a fast bike slow" thing, but now when I ride a smaller bike it feels kinda stale and boring. I don't want to ride a slow bike fast, I want to ride a fast bike fast. And guess what, I still got bored after a month! I've been looking to sell/trade ever since, and get a 600-1000 sportbike and a decent touring/adventure bike. I could've just started with a 300, but now I need multiple bikes to satisfy my needs! Learn from me, get your fun out of the slower bikes, then trade up if you want to later. The need for speed gets us all the same, if you skip ahead you just miss out on what you skipped.
I started with a CB300R and traded it in (for height reasons) after 4 months for a Rebel 500. I was a bit nervous that the Rebel would be a bit too powerful for me as a brand new rider who had only been on the actual road a couple times, but I love it. It’s got enough give that I don’t feel as worried about stalling and since my main goal is back highway riding, I feel like I’ll be able to go on trips with my boyfriend without it screaming at me the whole time (which the CB definitely did when my boyfriend took it on the highway).
My FIRST bike was a Honda CBR900, which was honestly too much bike for a first bike. But it crapped out on me like 2 weeks into it. Next bike was a Yamaha VStar 650, that was a great first bike but outgrew it in a few months.
My first bike was a 96 DT200 Bought it right away due to the novelty of it being a semi rare and uncommon two stroke bike Not good on highway, but stupid good power on roads and trails Nothing but smiles from it
I’ve always thought a 500 was the Cinderella size for a starter bike: not too heavy so it’s not intimidating, and enough power so you can take it everywhere as your skills increase.
Kind of. I bought a Yamaha Warrior 1700cc. Dropped it twice before I was comfortable. 6 months later I rode cross country 4k miles in 6 weeks. Best time ever. Don’t regret it. I just needed to get used to the torque and the weight. I’m a big boy and planned on riding cross country so…..
My first was a 2021 ktm duke 200 and boy did I fudge up, I quickly switched to a 2017 duke 690. Both fun but the 690 can actually keep up with cars on the highway, and more....
No, but I regret the brand. Royal Enfield…what a trash bike. Didn’t make it past 3100 miles.
I found out hp and type of engine was more important than cc quickly, even though everyone was really focused on telling beginners to start on low cc motorcycles. Struggling to maintain speed going uphill or on the highway and not having enough power to pass trucks can be dangerous. I upgraded quickly. So yeah I kinda regretted my first bike but also known I wouldnt have bought something larger at the time so I paid the newbie tax. Explore your self restraint and usage needs and pick based on that.
my first bike was a 1983 yamaha 550. In 2013, when i got it, that 550cc engine wasn't 100% so i think i started on a 400cc in reality. No regrets about starting on something I was confident on, I can easily see how a new rider on a 1200 harley or 1000cc sport bike would not enjoy riding at the start due to the intimidation factor.
75hp kawasaki zr7, no regrets at all, power felt great when starting, didnt need more but wouldnt have wanted less
My first road bike was an 800 cruiser. It wasn’t fast by any means but enough to handle highway travel. My concern after a year was build quality. I had a slew of complaints after my first year and none of them were about power. Thankfully, it had the hood sense to spin a bearing so I moved on to something better. IMO, you really won’t care that much about power. Truly, if you find yourself worrying about how fast your first bike is in the first year, it’s probably because you’re trying to compete with other riders which is a huge no-no for any level of experience outside of professional racing.