keep up with the flow of trafficit's dangerous.The Compact Trucks We Want to Come to America The thought of swinging a leg over a motorcycle for the first time is both daunting and thrilling. After all, motorcycles are serious machines. And—­without proper training or safety gear—dangerous ones. But once you've taken a training course and earned the privilege to ride, a new world opens up. Even the most boring superslab commute can become a brain-engaging experience when the wind is in your face and your body is wrapped around a pulsating lump of internal combustion. And because just about every motorcycle is a fuel-­economy champ, riding a bike makes financial sense."People who have never touched a motorcycle have the basic skills by the end of the weekend," says Tim Buche, president of MSF. "Our course helps them to make good decisions on the street. And it's better that they learn in a controlled environment where they can make mistakes without life-threatening consequences."

With the RiderCourse under your belt, it's time to invest in some gear. The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) recommends that riders wear a DOT-approved helmet every time they ride. The folks at MIC (and the folks at PM) recommend always wearing a real motorcycle jacket, gloves, eye protection, over-the-ankle boots and sturdy pants. If it's warm where you live, there are plenty of light, breathable jackets available that are fully armored with pads—so there's no excuse to leave home without protection. And remember, even though the camaraderie among bikers is strong, always ride within your limits—not someone else's.The bikes used in MSF classes are easy-to-manage 250-cc machines. "If you're new to street riding, you really want to start small, on a bike like one of these," says Ty van Hooydonk, director of communications at the MIC and a certified MSF RiderCoach. "You'll have a much easier time developing your skills on a nimble, responsive motorcyc Getting StartedGetting StartedThe thought of swinging a leg over a motorcycle for the first time is both daunting and thrilling.

And because just about every motorcycle is a fuel-­economy champ, riding a bike makes financial sense. And it's better that they learn in a controlled environment where they can make mistakes without life-threatening consequences." With the RiderCourse under your belt, it's time to invest in some gear. And remember, even though the camaraderie among bikers is strong, always ride within your limits—not someone else's. "You'll have a much easier time developing your skills on a nimble, responsive motorcycle that won't overwhelm you." There are 250-cc bikes representative of every motorcycle type, from cruisers and sportbikes to standards and supermotos. So there's a good starter bike waiting for just about any rider. Many of these bikes are so much fun, they might earn a stall in your stable long after you've graduated to more powerful iron. We gathered six terrific 250-cc starter bikes and tested them at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., with professional test rider Danny Coe, along with senior editor Mike Allen and contributing editor Basem Wasef, to find out which ones were quickest down the quarter-mile and which ones stopped in the shortest distance.

We tested fuel economy on a route that combined highway, city and country roads near Los Angeles. And then we took the machines to Glendora Mountain Road, a tight and technical two-laner that challenges both rider and bike. (Yes, it's a great way to spend an afternoon.) tron motorcycle for sale ebayAnd we found each model here has enough comfort, power and efficiency to be a great first bike. motorcycle shops in lufkin txSo which ones suit you and your riding style best? used 500cc motorcycles for sale in india Hyosung GT250Hyosung GT250PRICE: $3699POWERTRAIN: 249-cc liquid-cooled V-twin/5MWHEELBASE (in.): 56.5SEAT HEIGHT (in.): 32.7WEIGHT (pounds): 375SUSPENSION TRAVEL, F/R (in.): 5.6/5.8BRAKES F/R: 11.81-in. disc/9.05-in. discTIRES F/R: 110/ 70-17/150/70-170–60 MPH (sec): 8.6440–70 MPH (sec): 8.94QUARTER-MILE (sec/mph): 16.58 @ 75.660–0 BRAKING (ft): 138PM FUEL ECONOMY (mpg): 60.2NATURAL HABITAT: It needs a fairing for long-distance workkawasaki klr 650 for sale 2003

, but it's game for anything else.In this group of tiny two-wheelers, the Hyosung is a giant. Unlike many other 250-cc bikes, which are built on shrunken­ frames to fit smaller engines, the GT250 uses the same chassis as a full-size GT650. It's like a Korean version of a Ducati Monster, but includes some rough spots. craigslist motorcycles for sale fresno caThe front brake feel is mushy, and it takes a fistful of lever to slow down the bike. motorcycle dealers in manassas vaAnd while the fuel-injected twin does pack reasonably good punch and sounds throaty, the engine's vibration buzzes the handlebars. Moderate speeds on twisty roads are comfortable, but the suspension wallows slightly when pushed. "The handling was quite vague throughout the Glendora Mountains," PM contributor Basem Wasef says.

Hyosung says it'll fix the problem for 2011 models with a new rear shock. Even with its shortcomings, at $3699, the GT250 is one of the best bargains of the group. The Top High-Mileage Cars to Beat Rising Gas PricesPage Not Found - 404 Sorry, but the page you were looking for is not here. This is usually the result of a bad or outdated link.So you’ve decided to join the motorcycle cult, but you don’t know what’s a good first bike. One of these ten should do the trick. A small dual-sports like this Honda here is a versatile option for a beginning rider. You can practice on dirt, and still enjoy the bike on the street. Dual-sports are also an excellent choice for pothole-ridden cities thanks to their long suspension travel.Suggested By: Brian, The Life of, Photo Credit: Honda Wes Siler, the word’s best motorcycle-and-dog-camping blogger, described the Blast as one of the “most boring bikes ever made.” Indeed, it’s design was highly compromised, but it still makes an excellent first bike.

As commenter shootemupy2k notes, the 500cc single cylinder has enough low end torque to make things easy but not so much power you’ll get in trouble, and the seating position is excellent.Suggested By: shootemupy2k, Photo Credit: Buell This lightweight from KTM would make an excellent entry-level bike, especially if you can find a used one. “It’s got enough motor to be highway-worthy and to keep you from being in the way in traffic; but not so much that you’ll put yourself into a mailbox. It’s got a good centre-of-gravity, it looks cool, and the fact that it’s a single cylinder makes it a little more mechanically simple.”Suggested By: JohnnyWasASchoolBoy, Photo Credit: KTM If you don’t need speed, but you do need style, an old Honda CB250 is a great choice. These bikes are cheap, simple and cool as hell. Once you’ve got some experience under your belt, you could turn it into a badass cafe racer.Suggested By: K5ING, Photo Credit: Honda The term Universal Japanese Motorcycle (UJM) refers to a very specific type of motorcycle made by a variety of Japanese manufactures in the 1970s and 1980s.

has a solid definition: “The basic platform was an upright, open seating position motorcycle powered by a carbureted, air-cooled engine wrapped in a steel-tube cradle-type frame, and at least one disc brake to bring it all to a stop. The simple design made motorcycling accessible to riders of all types and skill sets. UJMs could be found in various displacements, and their ubiquity helped grow motorcycling in America during the 1970s and ‘80s.”These bikes are fairly inexpensive and reliable, and have just the right amount of power. Commenter 472CID suggested a Kawasaki Z650, but any UJM is an excellent choice.Suggested By: Spacegrass/472CID, Photo Credit: Graham Robertson The Grom is a tiny bundle of joy. It only has 9 horsepower, but the fact that it only weighs 225 lbs. more than makes up for that. For zipping around the city, it doesn’t get better than this. Suggested By: K9H20, Photo Credit: Honda The Ninja 250 is the quintessential first bike, but there’s a very good reason for that.

Reader and riding instructor User1312 can list the reasons why the Ninja 250 is a great choice: “Cost: The bike is easily available. Lots of options means competitive pricing. And if you do eventually get bored with it, you can sell it for pretty much what you bought it for next springMachine: It’s a solid bike. I don’t recommend buying a bike that you’ll have to wrench on, but it’s easy to maintain. It has all the power you need (perhaps not want), and it looks pretty sharp.Saftey: In class, we can teach you how to ride a motorcycle. But we cannot give you experience riding the streets of an urban area. The last thing you want to do as a new rider is learn to ride a new motorcycle in a new, potentially dangerous environment. A Ninja 250 is very similar to the class bikes, and that lets you focus on the road and riding.”If you’ve got the extra dough, the new Ninja 300 with ABS is also an excellent choice.Suggested By: User1312, Photo Credit: Richard Ashurst The SV650 was one of the most popular suggestions we received for this question.

Reader POD can explain why: “Comfortable riding position, not too much power, but more than enough to get out of it’s own way. Lots of them out there so you should be able to pick one up used for a good price. You can get it naked, or with a cowl depending on your tastes.”These things are also very upgradable, so when you gain some more experience and want more performance you don’t need a new bike. Suggested By: POD, Photo Credit: Gzminiz Wes called the CB300F the “Best First Motorcycle Ever” and he knows a thing or two about bikes. It’s got everything you want: light weight, decent power, fuel efficiency, and excellent ergonomics. We think you should start on a used bike, and since the CB300F is new, just wait a bit for more used ones to hit the market.Suggested By: Patrick Frawley, Photo Credit: Honda It’s not the greatest bike ever made, but it might be the greatest beginner bike ever made. Reader Dirka can tell you why: “Cheap as hell and you don’t mind beating it up, they’re easy to find.