The Best First Motorcycle for Beginners is a Dual Sport: 7 Reasons Why

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The plus is most used dual sports already have the ability to carry stuff like a tail bag. This lets it be a commuter quickly and they get 50 to 60 MPG

I started on a Honda 90, back in 1970! My realization, after eight motorcycles, is that SMALL bikes are the most FUN!

I started and still have my KLX230S. Insurance is $100 for the year, and I spend maybe $7 on gas for a full tank. Absolutely best bike for a beginner and my confidence in riding is through the roof. I dropped it attempting to ride off-road after day 3, and I didn’t care. 😂

I started riding a motorcycle at 61. I bought my first motorcycle from my youngest son, a Yamaha WR 250 R. It’s the only motorcycle I have ever had. I still have it and and ride it often.

My first bike was a CRF250L. It was a former press bike with a warranty. Dropped it a lot, even on the street at a light. I sold it for $300 more than I paid. I did change out some of the plastics before selling it, but it wasn't much.

Plus the upright riding position is so much more comfortable and easier to look around .

The one point that almost all taller you tube reviewers ignore …is seat height …Dork you admitted you dropped a bike because you couldn’t get your foot down in time after getting jeans caught on a peg . The thing is I am an experienced rider I know how to do the bum slide at rest …but at 5ft 7 29 inch seam …even wearing Kevlar jeans can inhibit stretching the leg …so if you come to a stop on a camber hill…and put one leg down …but the jeans or wet weather pants …stop you stretching your leg fully …even if it’s only for a fraction of a second you can go down …no matter how experienced you are . The Honda 300 rally is too tall for a new rider under 5ft 8 with an inseam of 30 or less …when it matters …coming to a stop and balancing on uneven ground especially in riding pants or wet weather pants . Many new riders fall off their bikes at the lights and give up riding …it’s dangerous . I am going to lower my 300 rally by 30mm that’s all I need .

First bike, Yamaha XT 350. I got it for all the reasons you just said. The best one to me was not having a care in the world if I dropped it.(and I did, repeatedly)

You are such a corporate shill for all the motorcycle manufacturers who make dual sports... I just can't believe it! haha! In all seriousness, I agree. A small dual sport is an excellent starter machine. My first experience on two wheels was in my early teens on a Honda XR250R. Couldn't ask for a better training bike. It took a total beating and never gave up. Maybe why I am still a Honda fan boy to this day and why my sons both have Honda's.

My first street legal bike was a Honda MB5, 50cc two-stroke that I rode all over the mountain roads outside of Osaka, Japan as a teenager.

I started riding 3-4 years ago on a 2015 CB500X. Great bike to start on but realized I absolutely hate street/pavement riding. After 3 more bikes I finally landed on a 2023 CRF300L Rally that was bone stock now ive been throwing every upgrade in the book on it. Dirt/Trail riding is where I love riding by far.

I agree with you 100%. My first motorcycle was a 1976 Honda Elsinore MR50 (2 stroke), that my dad had purchased second hand for me when I was just 9 years old, and I have always had something to ride since then. So there are those of us who were able to develop a skill set, and learn to work on motorcycles before we were even old enough to have a drivers license. But, for the less fortunate people, who didn’t start riding until later in life, I believe everything that you had to say in this video is 100% solid information, and I would give the same advice.

I started on a tuber SV650. Test drove a Ninja 250 and realized that I'd quickly get tired of it, and then the SV fell right into my lap. I rode it for years before becoming interested in dual sports, and then got a T7 that fell into my lap in '22. I only put 5k miles on it last year but hoping to double that this coming year! I love having the ability to see a road/trail/path and not have to think "I wonder where this goes?" but able to just go down it and find out!

Well said.... A CRF300, DRZ400, KLX300, DR650... Cheap, reliable and easy to ride

I started on a 1981 cb Honda 125. I had dirt bikes before that but my 81 Honda was considered a dual sport. Wish I still had it. That was 32 years ago. Cost me a whopping 500 dollars. I even got a free helmet with my purchase.

I had 0pe class dirt bikes in the early 80s (81 KTM 495) that bike was and is a Monster. My 1st street bike was a 19 Vstrom 650. Its a great bike, but it is way heavier than I was accustomed to. I would have been better off with a DR 400 or Xl 400 I MSC on an XL 250 and was too small me, at 6'4 " 300lbs<

I started on a KLR650 a year and a half ago. Still riding it and haven’t gotten bored of it yet.

I started out at age 21 on a new 1970 Honda 175 SL and used it as a adventure bike. I totally agree with you Ben. I rode that bike from Missoula MT where I grew up to Glacier National Park and back as well as into the Rattle snake lakes north of Missoula before it was closed to motorized travel. It is now called the Rattle Snake Lake Wilderness. If any one is in that area and love remote beautiful mountains and lakes and can physically hike into this area it is a spectacular area to go to.

Im from CZ and I ride for many years, my first bike was 50cc Eastern German two stroke 4hp Simson Enduro S51, as it was affordable and 15 years old weren't allowed higher capacity bikes. Today Im riding instructor and the rules changed, 16 years old are allowed 125cc (4stroke) 15hp (max 0,1 kW/kg).. I think any of them are great for the 1st 2 years before they can extend the licence (up to 35kW/45hp). We use for (A1 class) lessons Honda CB 125 F, a cheap, reliable and well built bike.. Great as 1st bike as well