All Styles Under 400cc
Some would say these are too small, boring and you will outgrow them quickly. Others would say you haven’t outgrown a bike until you have mastered it and can safely push it to it’s limits without crashing. I subscribe to the latter theory. It takes time, thousands of miles and some close calls to build the skills and habits that make an experienced rider. These bikes allow you to develop those skills with much less risk than larger bikes. They are suitable for commuting and after work and weekend fun. They are not so safe on high speed highways and freeways as they lack the power to get you out of harms way in an emergency. The only reason not to consider them is if you are too tall or heavy to ride them comfortably. I am 6' 1" and did my early learning on the Nighthawk 250. In retrospect I should have stayed with it longer before moving up.
A smart shopper can find one of these used at an excellent price, hone their basic skills then sell it for what they paid for it. I actually made a small profit on mine.
- * indicates last year imported to USA for discontinued models.
- The brand link takes you to the manufacturers home page.
- The model link takes you to the model’s web page.
- “TMW” is a link to the Total Motorcycle Website Buyer’s Guide entry.
- Other links are to other reviews by year.
- Horsepower = approximate HP at crankshaft. HP at rear wheel is less.
- Weight = approximate dry weight. Wet (ready to ride) weight includes fuel, coolants and lubricants. Water = 8.3 lbs/gal. Gasoline = 6.1 lbs/gal average. Motor oil = 1.8 lbs/quart.
« Beginner Models - Introduction
