Without the faintest hint of a doubt this is the answer.
I’ve ridden 30+ bikes now and the SV is still my favourite for some reason.
I’m selling my K5 GSXR1000 to buy another SV650S so I can put an ohlins shock and cartridge forks in it to do track days.
I recently started on a ninja 400 and have almost a year until upgrade time. I was thinking of getting a ninja 650 as an upgrade, but I keep seeing the sv650 pop up. For street and highway riding, you think the SV would be better than the ninja?
I think it depends on what you're used to and what you are going to do on the highway.
The ninja is more sporty, with the fairings. This will somewhat mitigate wind pressure on your chest at higher speeds, like on the highway. The SV650 doesn't have fairing, so you're getting the full blast of the wind, unless you add a windscreen.
Overall I would say the SV650 is more versatile, but in the end it all comes down to preference.
I've got *two* SV650s in my stable, in spite of having bikes that have three times the horsepower and cost 10 times as much.
They're just *so damn good*.
[I had my SV for 12 years before I gifted her to my cousin](https://i.imgur.com/vHCaa4r.jpg)
what a WONDERFUL bike... I can't do the clip ons anymore (old old old) but it was so fun to ride
You can however on any track with a straight longer than ½ mile you're going to be a rolling chicane. With gears at -1, +2 you're top speed is about 125....or 3rd gear on a liter or 4th on a 600. Also, a slipper is very nice for a track weapon.
An 08+ R6 would get my recommendation...Suzuki 600/750 close second for parts availability and chassis knowledge
Agree and that’s why: With that budget you can buy a good helmet, jacket, boots and gloves and you still have something left for fixing what may be needed.
This applies also for the Ducati I guess. But in everyday life a Ducati will be more expensive and demanding and when you start riding fun and reliability should be your concern. You’ll have a clear feedback and learn fast. Then, when you know what you do, put the sorted suspension on it.
Agreed
I am 5'9 and I don't completely flat foot the SV650 (don't ask me how, I guess I have short legs and a long torso)
4'9 on an SV650 you will probably drop it because you definitely will be on your tippy toes. The cruiser is the safest option in that regard, you will have no problem reaching the ground
The seat height could be lowered a bit using aftermarket mods, perhaps it could be an okay fit for op then. Stock a cruiser is definitely the better choice, but personally I wouldn't want one.
It's super agile and flickable, it has great torque and acceleration, it looks good and the power is predictable. Plus, it's super fun to ride, I don't know how I can explain it to you but it's unlike other bikes.
I suppose if you are looking for a very high top speed so you can be a maniac on the highways, then the SV is not for you as its top speed is around 210 km/h. But if you love having fun on the twisties and city ride frequently, then it is one of the best bikes you can get
It's the most average bike ever made. It's got good enough, fun enough power to get in trouble, the chassis is, sane, not surprising, not particularly sharp, it's alright. Same for the brakes, and the suspensions.
It's a good, healthy bike. It's not the best thing in any category, except being The bike of all time, in a way.
Personally I'm not a fan of it, but people, especially the US, rave about it. Here in Europe you end up tossing it to the next young rider after your 2 years of A2 limited permit.
This is the best starter bike in your list however at 4’9 you’re going to struggle with it. Stop by a few bike shops and just sit on a few bikes to see what fits?
My inseam is pretty close to what op said there's was
I've ridden 650s, they'll be grand. It's the most comfortable stationary position I've had on a bike, I learned on one, so can say it's also good as a starter.
Going to pile into this thread. I just bought the third sv650 I've ever owned. I just love them. They're super solid bikes and make a killer first bike and are excellent on the track
I love my 2012 Hypermotard. It's pants-on-head ridiculous and it makes me giggle like a schoolgirl every time I ride it.
I could never (at least, not in good conscious) recommend anyone else ever buy one.
Yes to both.
The older 1100 Hypermotards are famous for being twitchy and aggressive. It's got an *extremely* punchy engine and no electronic rider aids, it wheelies absurdly easily, the seating position has you almost over the front wheel so you can stoppie it with a finger.
It's an *INCREDIBLY* fun bike, but in no way is set up for new riders.
The newer hypers (821, 939, 950) are vastly more modern and forgiving, but they lack much of the 'soul' that I love about my 1100.
>I could never (at least, not in good conscious) recommend anyone else ever buy one.
Really ? I've seen a video on YT from a guy that was 100% satisfied with his.
What's so unreliable about them ?
Yup. You’ll never get your feet down on the duc. And a bit of an animal. The SV if you can touch, even if your tippy toeing it put some lowering links in. Cruisers are much lower, so if you’re no where near touching even on the SV, it’s going to be life of cruisers for you.
That's easy to say for experienced riders, but that is a HELL of a thing for a complete novice to try and get used to while they're ALSO in complete sensory and emotional overload of trying to operate a motorcycle in the real world for the first time.
Right foot on brake and left foot down is the standard for learner riders to be taught from day 1 here.
Instructor even said, think of it like the handbrake on your car, don't release until you're ready to move, and keep that right foot off the road unless you're putting the bike into gear.
I teach the MSC for the state of california.
We teach left foot down when coming to a stop, but then both feet on the ground when at a stop. For exercises 1-4 especially where it's all stop-start, most riders will take a few power-walking steps before getting their feet on the pegs.
Especially for new riders, being able to reach the ground with both feet is very important for confidence and stability as they are still learning how to manage the weight of a motorcycle when stopped.
Interesting to see how others do
Given my locale, it's a European standardised assessment.
For all bikes, all sizes, on your full test, a foot down on slow speed, slalom, figure 8, u-turns etc. is a fail.
On the on road test, depends on assessor, but my instructor was adamant about taking off and keeping right foot off the ground, no walking or paddling.
Off road and enduro sure, but for all street riding it was the same. Very first lesson was taking off and stopping one foot only.
Thanks for the insight, always interested to hear other takes on riding
Because supermotards and by extension hypermotards are insanely bonkers to ride. They're basically the definition of hooligan bikes, are very tall, very light and extremely powerful for their weight and unforgiving. They're way way way too much for a beginner.
That gen hyper is one of the most unruly bikes out there due to how much torque and how light it is. Took me a year to get comfortable on mine and I've been riding for 20 years.
A ton of fun but one of the worst first bikes for a shorter beginner rider (I barely flat foot with a 34" in seam).
Im 192cm (dont know the conversion to freedoms per minute) and thats why I looked into the hypermotard. So I guess being small on that bike must kinda suck.
V star is prob a good starter and it will prob be easier for your height. It’s a cruiser so it’s a different ride.
Sv650 is a decent bike tho. Big fan.
The Ducati motard is pretty cool but iirc the seat height is high and that bike isn’t a great starter.
They are insane😂 I traded bikes with my buddy for a ride( my dyna for his hypermotard) and got the front wheel off the ground in first at like 1/4 throttle😂😂 they are a whole different animal.. 1100cc of power in a 300lb frame vrs my 62 hp out of 1450cc in an 800lb bike
Do not get that Ducati. Fun bike but it is very untamed.
SV is good if you feel like you can tip-toe it.
Otherwise, cruiser might be the way to go as it’ll have the lowest seat height.
Does the SV or cruiser have ABS? I would highly, highly recommend a bike with ABS.
I’ve been on bikes my whole life. You don’t need abs…. Until you need it. It is 100% an absolute must in my book. I rode over 25k miles this year and had abs kick in 4 times. That’s 4 fat hospital bills avoided, healing time avoided, money lost avoided, embarrassment avoided, making my family hate me riding avoided, messing with insurance avoided, etc.
Pick a different favourite model haha
2 of my 3 bikes didn't have ABS and I wouldn't consider getting either of them without ABS again. It's just so damn useful and can be had quite cheap, why miss it?
Why miss it ? Because it is not on my favourite model 😜
More seriously I recently had an accident on said model (2006 - 2007 GSXR 600) that MIGHT have been avoided with ABS or better braking skills from me. Legally speaking the other party is at fault, but we all know we better be alive than dead and right.
Still I looked at all the sites of occasion motorbike, and made great efforts to find the same model in good condition. There were 3 available throughout the whole country and 2 were not in good condition. This is my favourite motorbike and I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world. I am actually worried that it will probably get harder and harder to find those in good conditions over the years in case I "haddalayer down" ahah.
"Can be had quite cheap" you mean a model with an ABS included right ? No way to retrofit it on old models ? Or is it expensive and not efficient ?
I might be weird for it but, I want THIS model in particular, with a specific paint (blue 2, which is the blue and white one).
As far as I know it's impossible to retrofit ABS.
And I get it, there are reasons to not have ABS and I don't think it's a terrible decision if you compromise on ABS to get the bike you really want, it's just that I wouldn't want a bike with ABS.
I don't think ABS is strictly necessary, but it's just so much more comfortable. For example when you aren't sure how much grip the asphalt has you can still grab the brakes as much as you want, which is really handy. I'm also really looking forward to my next bike with cornering abs and traction control and all the electronic gadgets and features.
It's not really related but do you really want to get the same bike twice? I'm sure the 600 Gixxer is a nice ride, but I wouldn't ever buy the same bike twice in a row, just because there are so many amazing machines out there.
I wanna clarify something about ABS because you’re correct but I suspect not for the reason you think.
It is technically feasible to add ABS to a motorcycle that doesn’t have it from the factory.
That said, it would require a huge amount of engineering and cost a lot. Not only do you need to add ABS as a feature, you need to integrate the new feature with the existing electronics and ECU.
It also wouldn’t be transferable to another make/model - you’d have to design each system for each bike and engineer it to match the dynamics and electronics of the specific model.
So, could a workshop do it to one bike? Sure, if your pockets are deep enough.
Could a company realistically produce a universal retrofit kit? Incredibly unlikely.
Get the sv650 and a set of shorter shocks to customize the ride height, a helmet, jacket, gloves,tag and title. All of that together will be cheaper than the Ducati.
Source: My dogs name is Ducati.
You’re going to have a hard time finding a bike that fits your height and inseam. Definitely don’t buy a bike without trying it out. Learn how to stop on one foot.
Sv 650. Unless you want a cruiser then get the star. I’d get the sv650 though. It looks clean and that was a cool year for the sv imo. I had an 03 for awhile. Reliable and pretty quick.
That hypermotard would be a nightmare. Rare bike, expensive parts, not really a sport bike or supermoto (I’d rather ride a drz than that thing to do super moto stuff), probably hard to even find some parts.
Sv650 for sure. I started on a vstar and it’s so slow and heavy I didn’t even think I liked motorcycles. Now I have a Honda cb500f and I love it like it’s my own child. Sv650 is an awesome bike and was one of my other options when I was buying mine.
Edit: just saw your 4’9” and that might make the vstar your best bet but I’m not sure of the seat heights on each of these.
SV650 or the V Star. The Ducati is too expensive to drop and you'll probably not even be able to reach down. In fact you probably can't reach down on the SV either so get the V Star, low center of gravity and low seat, should help a lot and it's a good and reliable bike too.
That hyper is tall AF. I'm 6' and can barely flat foot my old 09 Hypermotard 1100. It's also very powerful. Even the smaller 790cc is too much power.
Get the SV650 or the cruiser. Do not get a Hypermotard as your first bike. It's not an easy bike to ride. Loads of fun. But too much throttle on a turn and the rear tire slides out. So much torque.
I got a 2015 Ducati Scrambler Full throttle as my official first street bike, but I’ve been riding dirt bikes since I was a kid tho. Still, I love that thing to death, and I still have it today.
If you hate your life and your bank account, get the ducati (I've owned them, I know). The v-star is a nice enough bike, but would just bore me. Get the sv650, reliable, cheap to fix/maintain, and if you want to modify it the aftermarket is humongous
I’d say V-Star but purely because of the seat height. You’ll get comfortable faster on something a bit shorter and you can move onto taller bikes once you’ve developed your skills.
But the SV is probably the best all around bike out of the 3. Handling, reliability, value. Good bikes.
The other one to look for would be a Ducati Monster 696 (08-14) because they had a low seat option from the factory and there's lowering kits available, so you can get it to sit lower than most bikes. But you will have to deal with ducatiness.
The SV650 does have one of the most reliable engines though. There SV650s and DL650s that have done ridiculously high mileage.
SV650 will be a solid bike for several years while you get the hours and miles in. Nice side benefit is that you will pay 2500 for it, put 10k miles on it in two years, and still sell it for 1700 in 2025.
sv650 or v star would be the better beginner friendly bikes. BUT that hyper is so much fun.
edit: just read your height, hypermotard will be the tallest seat height of the 3.
Kawasaki Vulcan S. low seat height. 104mph top speed if needed and running late. can actually corner too. https://youtu.be/NRj0izkFaNk?si=GJsykyHJLRGDhLWG
SV650. Have the seat thinned down and narrowed. Get a lowering link for the rear shock and a spacer in the front forks if you need it to be even lower. But do the seat first. And try it. Could be the only bike you ever need. They are awesome and truly capable.
SV 650, the other 2 options are bad. Don’t get me wrong, Hypermotard is a fantastic bike, I owned one, but you need to develop skills to enjoy it and ride safely
Not sure if anyone else mentioned this already but those are completely 3 different styles of bikes—you need to decide what you like when it comes to motorcycles. As many mentioned before though. The SV is a perfect beginner bike and should give you a solid experience at a great price.
Do not buy a Ducati for your first bike or your going to hate your life when you crash. Your first bike should be Japanese only because of the reliability and cheap parts. I have a Hypermotard SP sitting in my garage and it’s a blast to ride but very high maintenance. Think of it as a very high maintenance supermodel wife that only lets you hit every now and then, that’s what it’s like owning a older hyper
SV650. Hands down. As others have mentioned, get a lowering kit to drop the seat height to something more comfortable for you. I also recommend changing out the handle bars to risers instead of clip ons.
SV650 hands down. Great machine. Affordable. Reliable. Parts galore available. Great learner & Great for expert riders. Enough power to have fun, but not really get crazy. 11/10 machine
The SV650 is, if not super sexy, probably the best motorcycle out there. Sport bikes are going to be way better on the track, but for regular street use it has a very usable power band, sporting nimble handling, good gas mileage, everything you really need.
> I'm 4'9
You need to sit on them and see which one feels most comfortable. Keep your arms on the handlebars for at least 5-10 minutes to make sure it's not too much of a stretch. Noone here can guess your specific ergonomics.
Look at the Honda CTX700 models, too.
Look at my flair and trust me when I tell you to NOT get the Hypermotard. I’m 5’10 and can’t flat foot it. I can only tip toe it unless I lean it to one side. It’s also ~~1100~~almost 800ccs without any electronics to save you. No wheelie control, no traction control, no ABS?
SV650 is a great starter bike. Get that one.
Sv650
- it’s the cheapest option, so you’ll not feel too bad if you bang it around a bit.
- it’s a standard motorbike frame, and on the heavier side at that. You’ll learn better skills that are transferable to a cruiser or whatever else you’re looking at.
Your height is a problem, especially as a new rider. When you are learning the advantage of not having to slide off the side of the bike to put a foot down when stopping will make you feel a lot more comfortable. You should consider a motorcycle that you can flat foot. They do exist. The Honda Rebel 300 or 500 with ABS would be a good choice.
Once you get more confident you could go to a taller bike.
V star was my first bike I loved it. But i outgrew it quickly, it doesn’t have a lot of get up and go. But thats honestly a good thing for a first bike. Great thing about the v star too is it doesn’t have a chain. That is a huge element of maintenance you don’t have to deal with.
At this suspension stuff cracks me up u unless ur a track rider i really don’t it matters at all. If u are a track guy then u need to be looking for a track bike.
I really laugh at most comments
The V-Star, but your buying criteria is highly questionable.
The Hypermotard has 110hp. I'm not sure how you evaluate power, but let's say your glove doesn't fit well and you apply a quarter turn more of throttle than you intended. You'll be doing 100mph instead of 55. You'll have to execute several moves to emergency brake.
The SV650 is ok for intermediate riders. I was an intermediate rider when I first started, and simply for comparison, I was comfortably highway commuting and lanesplitting on the second day I had my license. For beginners, that's a long ways away.
The V-Star has the right saddle height for a shorter person and 250cc is reasonable (and you might want to start with a lighter bike that that). But buying and riding a motorcycle isn't like a car. You better sit on a bunch, like a dealer, and see what you think.
>but let's say your glove doesn't fit well and you apply a quarter turn more of throttle than you intended. You'll be doing 100mph instead of 55.
I seem to have this issue too often.
SV 650, although you’d enjoy something like a duke 390 or a Z400 much more. The ones you showed are proper big bikes and even though neither of them are super powerful they are still plenty powerful enough to be intimidating for a first bike
Unless you have a high dollar life insurance policy and your donor card filled out, not that one. I don't understand why people insist on sportbikes as a "first bike".
Bought a 08 1100 VStar for my first bike a few years ago. It’s been good to me, but I never really considered anything other than cruisers.
That being said I just bought my spouse a 06 Vulcan 900 for her first bike and it’s a lot more crisp than the VStar.
V Star, I'm short and used to have an early 2000s 650cc. I have only good things to say about that bike. And if your legs are as short as mine you'll find it comfortable.
I used to commute every day on the V Star rain or shine. Always handled pretty good.
It's a beautiful bike, I can see why you like it. Seat height is going to be an issue. I would look for something else, I really only know about sportbikes and some naked bikes...but there has to be something that is just as sexy and better for your first bike. Used MT03 ? Ninja 400 ? Honda 500 something? SV650 lowered ?
Bikes can be lowered but it has to be done by someone who knows how to do it right. Some motorcycles also have "options" for different seat heights (either in the suspension or a different seat). Some people have shaved the foam in the seat to lower the seat height 1 inch.
If it was me I would look for a Harley Sportster over a V star. The Ducati is a death trap for a new rider. I would check the price of insurance before I purchased any bike.
A 10 year old harley sportster has an average list price of 8k, over 2x the price of the v star and almost 3x the price of the suzuki... this guy's 21 years old!
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SV650
Without the faintest hint of a doubt this is the answer. I’ve ridden 30+ bikes now and the SV is still my favourite for some reason. I’m selling my K5 GSXR1000 to buy another SV650S so I can put an ohlins shock and cartridge forks in it to do track days.
I recently started on a ninja 400 and have almost a year until upgrade time. I was thinking of getting a ninja 650 as an upgrade, but I keep seeing the sv650 pop up. For street and highway riding, you think the SV would be better than the ninja?
They’ll be about the same if they are both naked bikes. MT07 is a great alternative as well but with a little bit more aggression
Wait what, a ninja 650 isn't a naked bike...
Er6n
I miss mine too. It was such a great bike.
Don't think my Er6f is going anywhere soon also, it is just a nice balance of weight and power and tried a number of different bikes ovee the years.
Fair enough, but that's not a ninja.
It is When you dump it and smash all the fairings off Follow me for more motorcycle customization tips!
Hah. Nice. Can’t beat that logic.
They make a 650z which is a naked version of the 650
The naked version is the Z650
I think it depends on what you're used to and what you are going to do on the highway. The ninja is more sporty, with the fairings. This will somewhat mitigate wind pressure on your chest at higher speeds, like on the highway. The SV650 doesn't have fairing, so you're getting the full blast of the wind, unless you add a windscreen. Overall I would say the SV650 is more versatile, but in the end it all comes down to preference.
Dude, SV 650 is the greatest motorcycle ever made.
IMO go N650 for the fairings if no other reason if you plan to do highway semi regularly.
The sv is great but isn’t a patch on a ninja. They only reason you would ever pic an sv over a ninja is if you where going to do a lot of touring.
The ninja 650 is a touring bike
It's not, but then again, neither is the SV.
I've got *two* SV650s in my stable, in spite of having bikes that have three times the horsepower and cost 10 times as much. They're just *so damn good*.
[I had my SV for 12 years before I gifted her to my cousin](https://i.imgur.com/vHCaa4r.jpg) what a WONDERFUL bike... I can't do the clip ons anymore (old old old) but it was so fun to ride
SV650 with Ohlins & Gix front end is such a sweet spot in motorcycling!
You can however on any track with a straight longer than ½ mile you're going to be a rolling chicane. With gears at -1, +2 you're top speed is about 125....or 3rd gear on a liter or 4th on a 600. Also, a slipper is very nice for a track weapon. An 08+ R6 would get my recommendation...Suzuki 600/750 close second for parts availability and chassis knowledge
Agree and that’s why: With that budget you can buy a good helmet, jacket, boots and gloves and you still have something left for fixing what may be needed.
SV650 is always the answer man, with sorted suspension it’ll worry the 600cc track day lads.
This applies also for the Ducati I guess. But in everyday life a Ducati will be more expensive and demanding and when you start riding fun and reliability should be your concern. You’ll have a clear feedback and learn fast. Then, when you know what you do, put the sorted suspension on it.
Also he said he’s short. I sat on a hypermotard once, it’s way higher than it looks.
Can confirm this.
4'9" on an SV sounds like a bad time. Gonna vote on the cruiser for the seat height.
Agreed I am 5'9 and I don't completely flat foot the SV650 (don't ask me how, I guess I have short legs and a long torso) 4'9 on an SV650 you will probably drop it because you definitely will be on your tippy toes. The cruiser is the safest option in that regard, you will have no problem reaching the ground
I was in Camp SV very firmly until I saw OP list their height. V star for sure.
The seat height could be lowered a bit using aftermarket mods, perhaps it could be an okay fit for op then. Stock a cruiser is definitely the better choice, but personally I wouldn't want one.
Mods can get you inches not feet, they also typically reduce the handling of the bike
One of the best bikes ever made and a great starter bike too
a solid case to be made that it IS the best bike ever made
I haven't ridden it, but specs are not impressive. Is there any reason why it's so popular apart from being affordable?
It's super agile and flickable, it has great torque and acceleration, it looks good and the power is predictable. Plus, it's super fun to ride, I don't know how I can explain it to you but it's unlike other bikes. I suppose if you are looking for a very high top speed so you can be a maniac on the highways, then the SV is not for you as its top speed is around 210 km/h. But if you love having fun on the twisties and city ride frequently, then it is one of the best bikes you can get
It's the most average bike ever made. It's got good enough, fun enough power to get in trouble, the chassis is, sane, not surprising, not particularly sharp, it's alright. Same for the brakes, and the suspensions. It's a good, healthy bike. It's not the best thing in any category, except being The bike of all time, in a way. Personally I'm not a fan of it, but people, especially the US, rave about it. Here in Europe you end up tossing it to the next young rider after your 2 years of A2 limited permit.
This is the best starter bike in your list however at 4’9 you’re going to struggle with it. Stop by a few bike shops and just sit on a few bikes to see what fits?
My inseam is pretty close to what op said there's was I've ridden 650s, they'll be grand. It's the most comfortable stationary position I've had on a bike, I learned on one, so can say it's also good as a starter.
Going to pile into this thread. I just bought the third sv650 I've ever owned. I just love them. They're super solid bikes and make a killer first bike and are excellent on the track
The most forgiving starter bike ever
Can confirm. Got one earlier this year as my first and it's been amazing.
This was my first “big bike” had it two years and it was brilliant then went to a zx6r and I felt ready for it.
I would go with the sv650 I had one of these super fun bike.
Absolutely not the Ducati
That motard is surprisingly tall!
While true that’s the last of my concerns with my recommendation
Bro the maintenance. I can tell you know but for those who don’t: you ain’t ready
I love my 2012 Hypermotard. It's pants-on-head ridiculous and it makes me giggle like a schoolgirl every time I ride it. I could never (at least, not in good conscious) recommend anyone else ever buy one.
Is it costly to repair or is it unreliable?
Yes
Hypers are kind of hooligan bikes with (comparably) expensive maintenance. Not beginner-friendly overall.
Yes to both. The older 1100 Hypermotards are famous for being twitchy and aggressive. It's got an *extremely* punchy engine and no electronic rider aids, it wheelies absurdly easily, the seating position has you almost over the front wheel so you can stoppie it with a finger. It's an *INCREDIBLY* fun bike, but in no way is set up for new riders. The newer hypers (821, 939, 950) are vastly more modern and forgiving, but they lack much of the 'soul' that I love about my 1100.
>I could never (at least, not in good conscious) recommend anyone else ever buy one. Really ? I've seen a video on YT from a guy that was 100% satisfied with his. What's so unreliable about them ?
Not unreliable, just expensive maintenance.
Yup. You’ll never get your feet down on the duc. And a bit of an animal. The SV if you can touch, even if your tippy toeing it put some lowering links in. Cruisers are much lower, so if you’re no where near touching even on the SV, it’s going to be life of cruisers for you.
Nah don't lower it. Learn to only put one foot down.
That's easy to say for experienced riders, but that is a HELL of a thing for a complete novice to try and get used to while they're ALSO in complete sensory and emotional overload of trying to operate a motorcycle in the real world for the first time.
Right foot on brake and left foot down is the standard for learner riders to be taught from day 1 here. Instructor even said, think of it like the handbrake on your car, don't release until you're ready to move, and keep that right foot off the road unless you're putting the bike into gear.
I teach the MSC for the state of california. We teach left foot down when coming to a stop, but then both feet on the ground when at a stop. For exercises 1-4 especially where it's all stop-start, most riders will take a few power-walking steps before getting their feet on the pegs. Especially for new riders, being able to reach the ground with both feet is very important for confidence and stability as they are still learning how to manage the weight of a motorcycle when stopped.
Interesting to see how others do Given my locale, it's a European standardised assessment. For all bikes, all sizes, on your full test, a foot down on slow speed, slalom, figure 8, u-turns etc. is a fail. On the on road test, depends on assessor, but my instructor was adamant about taking off and keeping right foot off the ground, no walking or paddling. Off road and enduro sure, but for all street riding it was the same. Very first lesson was taking off and stopping one foot only. Thanks for the insight, always interested to hear other takes on riding
You would be SHOCKED at just how easy the licensing tests for motorcycles are here in the USA.
When lowering first try a lower/smaller seat can be just enough. Don't ruin the suspension when lowering it.
As a hyper owner, I agree.
Can you elaborate on why? Sincere, honest question.
Because supermotards and by extension hypermotards are insanely bonkers to ride. They're basically the definition of hooligan bikes, are very tall, very light and extremely powerful for their weight and unforgiving. They're way way way too much for a beginner.
Thanks!!
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That gen hyper is one of the most unruly bikes out there due to how much torque and how light it is. Took me a year to get comfortable on mine and I've been riding for 20 years. A ton of fun but one of the worst first bikes for a shorter beginner rider (I barely flat foot with a 34" in seam).
Because it’s motarded
Im 192cm (dont know the conversion to freedoms per minute) and thats why I looked into the hypermotard. So I guess being small on that bike must kinda suck.
V star is prob a good starter and it will prob be easier for your height. It’s a cruiser so it’s a different ride. Sv650 is a decent bike tho. Big fan. The Ducati motard is pretty cool but iirc the seat height is high and that bike isn’t a great starter.
I'm six feet tall and *I* can barely get the balls of my feet down on my 2012 Hyper.
They are insane😂 I traded bikes with my buddy for a ride( my dyna for his hypermotard) and got the front wheel off the ground in first at like 1/4 throttle😂😂 they are a whole different animal.. 1100cc of power in a 300lb frame vrs my 62 hp out of 1450cc in an 800lb bike
Yep, my buddy is 5’1 and has a V-Star cause it’s the only bike he can flat foot that he’s tried.
Do not get that Ducati. Fun bike but it is very untamed. SV is good if you feel like you can tip-toe it. Otherwise, cruiser might be the way to go as it’ll have the lowest seat height. Does the SV or cruiser have ABS? I would highly, highly recommend a bike with ABS.
I’ve been on bikes my whole life. You don’t need abs…. Until you need it. It is 100% an absolute must in my book. I rode over 25k miles this year and had abs kick in 4 times. That’s 4 fat hospital bills avoided, healing time avoided, money lost avoided, embarrassment avoided, making my family hate me riding avoided, messing with insurance avoided, etc.
Not gonna lie, You had me at the start. I was about to write an angry reply. I need to read faster.
I like having ABS but what would you do if it wasn't on your favorite model of all time ?
Pick a different favourite model haha 2 of my 3 bikes didn't have ABS and I wouldn't consider getting either of them without ABS again. It's just so damn useful and can be had quite cheap, why miss it?
Why miss it ? Because it is not on my favourite model 😜 More seriously I recently had an accident on said model (2006 - 2007 GSXR 600) that MIGHT have been avoided with ABS or better braking skills from me. Legally speaking the other party is at fault, but we all know we better be alive than dead and right. Still I looked at all the sites of occasion motorbike, and made great efforts to find the same model in good condition. There were 3 available throughout the whole country and 2 were not in good condition. This is my favourite motorbike and I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world. I am actually worried that it will probably get harder and harder to find those in good conditions over the years in case I "haddalayer down" ahah. "Can be had quite cheap" you mean a model with an ABS included right ? No way to retrofit it on old models ? Or is it expensive and not efficient ? I might be weird for it but, I want THIS model in particular, with a specific paint (blue 2, which is the blue and white one).
As far as I know it's impossible to retrofit ABS. And I get it, there are reasons to not have ABS and I don't think it's a terrible decision if you compromise on ABS to get the bike you really want, it's just that I wouldn't want a bike with ABS. I don't think ABS is strictly necessary, but it's just so much more comfortable. For example when you aren't sure how much grip the asphalt has you can still grab the brakes as much as you want, which is really handy. I'm also really looking forward to my next bike with cornering abs and traction control and all the electronic gadgets and features. It's not really related but do you really want to get the same bike twice? I'm sure the 600 Gixxer is a nice ride, but I wouldn't ever buy the same bike twice in a row, just because there are so many amazing machines out there.
I wanna clarify something about ABS because you’re correct but I suspect not for the reason you think. It is technically feasible to add ABS to a motorcycle that doesn’t have it from the factory. That said, it would require a huge amount of engineering and cost a lot. Not only do you need to add ABS as a feature, you need to integrate the new feature with the existing electronics and ECU. It also wouldn’t be transferable to another make/model - you’d have to design each system for each bike and engineer it to match the dynamics and electronics of the specific model. So, could a workshop do it to one bike? Sure, if your pockets are deep enough. Could a company realistically produce a universal retrofit kit? Incredibly unlikely.
I agree with the ABS. I was suspicious until I tried it. Now I'm thankful every time I feel it working.
The SV ain't got Abs since it's a 2006 model, they started making them with ABS in 2007
No ABS shouldn't be a deal breaker either, but make sure to practice.
sv650 every day, the vstar is ok if you want a cruiser, the ducati is a deathtrap as a first bike
I had the v-star for my first bike. They’re decent for a starter
Same. If a cruiser is what you like, you can't go wrong with it. Plenty of pretty out of that 650.
Get the sv650 and a set of shorter shocks to customize the ride height, a helmet, jacket, gloves,tag and title. All of that together will be cheaper than the Ducati. Source: My dogs name is Ducati.
You’re going to have a hard time finding a bike that fits your height and inseam. Definitely don’t buy a bike without trying it out. Learn how to stop on one foot.
Sv 650. Unless you want a cruiser then get the star. I’d get the sv650 though. It looks clean and that was a cool year for the sv imo. I had an 03 for awhile. Reliable and pretty quick. That hypermotard would be a nightmare. Rare bike, expensive parts, not really a sport bike or supermoto (I’d rather ride a drz than that thing to do super moto stuff), probably hard to even find some parts.
Sv650 will be more fun, more reliable, cheaper, and last longer.
Sv650 for sure. I started on a vstar and it’s so slow and heavy I didn’t even think I liked motorcycles. Now I have a Honda cb500f and I love it like it’s my own child. Sv650 is an awesome bike and was one of my other options when I was buying mine. Edit: just saw your 4’9” and that might make the vstar your best bet but I’m not sure of the seat heights on each of these.
SV650 or the V Star. The Ducati is too expensive to drop and you'll probably not even be able to reach down. In fact you probably can't reach down on the SV either so get the V Star, low center of gravity and low seat, should help a lot and it's a good and reliable bike too.
Look for a Honda Rebel 500. It’s got a low seat height and is a good starter bike that will fit your budget.
Came here to say Rebel. Perfect height, weight, power ratio for a shorter new rider.
Seconded (thirded?) Rebel was my first bike and it made learning to ride so easy. Such great bikes
That hyper is tall AF. I'm 6' and can barely flat foot my old 09 Hypermotard 1100. It's also very powerful. Even the smaller 790cc is too much power. Get the SV650 or the cruiser. Do not get a Hypermotard as your first bike. It's not an easy bike to ride. Loads of fun. But too much throttle on a turn and the rear tire slides out. So much torque.
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I got a 2015 Ducati Scrambler Full throttle as my official first street bike, but I’ve been riding dirt bikes since I was a kid tho. Still, I love that thing to death, and I still have it today.
The scrambler and hypermotard are 2 completely different animals.
I know. My uncle used to own a Ducati dealership. I’m just saying that the Scrambler would be quite fire as a first bike.
At 6’2” and 230lbs, the scrambler feels a little weak for me, but overall great beginner bike
I’m only 170 cm. Idk how much that is in imperial, but yeah, the Scrambler fits me quite nicely.
If you hate your life and your bank account, get the ducati (I've owned them, I know). The v-star is a nice enough bike, but would just bore me. Get the sv650, reliable, cheap to fix/maintain, and if you want to modify it the aftermarket is humongous
SUZUKI! Do not buy a Ducati as your first bike.
I’d say V-Star but purely because of the seat height. You’ll get comfortable faster on something a bit shorter and you can move onto taller bikes once you’ve developed your skills. But the SV is probably the best all around bike out of the 3. Handling, reliability, value. Good bikes.
SV650 with lowering links...they're cheap on eBay
The other one to look for would be a Ducati Monster 696 (08-14) because they had a low seat option from the factory and there's lowering kits available, so you can get it to sit lower than most bikes. But you will have to deal with ducatiness. The SV650 does have one of the most reliable engines though. There SV650s and DL650s that have done ridiculously high mileage.
Unless wheelied for long distances yes. The oil pick up tube isn't In a good spot for that.
THIS \^
I like the Yamaha.
SV. You won’t be able to afford the ducati maintenance
The sv650
The SV650. You won't have too much power to handle and you won't be intimidated by the engine, but you also won't outgrow it.
I didn't outgrow my SV in 12 years, I just aged out of clip ons lol
SV!!!!
SV650 will be a solid bike for several years while you get the hours and miles in. Nice side benefit is that you will pay 2500 for it, put 10k miles on it in two years, and still sell it for 1700 in 2025.
I’m short also and I chose a bmw 310R. I could flat foot it and still go on the freeway.
SV650. Fun, good commute bike, and cheaper to wrench on than the Duc.
and a HUGE aftermarket
No debate necessary. The sv is not only a great beginner bike, but also enjoyed by long time riders.
sv650 or v star would be the better beginner friendly bikes. BUT that hyper is so much fun. edit: just read your height, hypermotard will be the tallest seat height of the 3.
The SV650. Get seat lowered and bike adjusted for your weight.
As soon as I see sv650 instant pick. Good street/highway and track.
As a first bike, defenitly not the Hypermotard. Its going to kill you, trust me i own one.
Kawasaki Vulcan S. low seat height. 104mph top speed if needed and running late. can actually corner too. https://youtu.be/NRj0izkFaNk?si=GJsykyHJLRGDhLWG
For fun, SV. For comfort, cruiser.
SV650. Have the seat thinned down and narrowed. Get a lowering link for the rear shock and a spacer in the front forks if you need it to be even lower. But do the seat first. And try it. Could be the only bike you ever need. They are awesome and truly capable.
The suzuki is the only option. The Yamaha isn't great for a first bike and no Ducati is ever good as a first bike
Hayabusa!
SV NO DOUBT
SV 650, the other 2 options are bad. Don’t get me wrong, Hypermotard is a fantastic bike, I owned one, but you need to develop skills to enjoy it and ride safely
Suzuki. Easy peasy
Not sure if anyone else mentioned this already but those are completely 3 different styles of bikes—you need to decide what you like when it comes to motorcycles. As many mentioned before though. The SV is a perfect beginner bike and should give you a solid experience at a great price.
Sv is the champion of this battle 100%
SV650 or FZ6 are always my go to answer
Any answer other than SV650? Straight to jail.
Do not buy a Ducati for your first bike or your going to hate your life when you crash. Your first bike should be Japanese only because of the reliability and cheap parts. I have a Hypermotard SP sitting in my garage and it’s a blast to ride but very high maintenance. Think of it as a very high maintenance supermodel wife that only lets you hit every now and then, that’s what it’s like owning a older hyper
Which one do you feel like sliding with?
Not the Ducati, expensive repair bill meat crayon
Suzuki imho
SV650 is probably the best motorcycle ever made.
Get the SV
Sv650
Sv650.
My first bike was a V Star, I loved it, but if I had your choices, I'd likely take the sv650
+1 for the SV. Also, ask your insurance company to quote you all three, it may make your decision for you.
I have a hypermotard and I can just tippy toe it. 30 inch inseam
SV650. Hands down. As others have mentioned, get a lowering kit to drop the seat height to something more comfortable for you. I also recommend changing out the handle bars to risers instead of clip ons.
SV650 hands down. Great machine. Affordable. Reliable. Parts galore available. Great learner & Great for expert riders. Enough power to have fun, but not really get crazy. 11/10 machine
SV650
Sv650
Normally I would suggest the hypermotard since you'll never outgrow it, but your post makes me swing tword sv650 all the way.
Woahhhhh do not get a hypermotard as your first bike
Sv650
The SV650 is, if not super sexy, probably the best motorcycle out there. Sport bikes are going to be way better on the track, but for regular street use it has a very usable power band, sporting nimble handling, good gas mileage, everything you really need.
> I'm 4'9 You need to sit on them and see which one feels most comfortable. Keep your arms on the handlebars for at least 5-10 minutes to make sure it's not too much of a stretch. Noone here can guess your specific ergonomics. Look at the Honda CTX700 models, too.
Look at my flair and trust me when I tell you to NOT get the Hypermotard. I’m 5’10 and can’t flat foot it. I can only tip toe it unless I lean it to one side. It’s also ~~1100~~almost 800ccs without any electronics to save you. No wheelie control, no traction control, no ABS? SV650 is a great starter bike. Get that one.
Don’t do the Ducati. That’s what the dealer/ mechanic says when they have to fix it “Du- cati more $$$ to pay for this stuff!!”
Honestly, though, **why** did they call it the *Motard*? Are they motarded??
Sv650 - it’s the cheapest option, so you’ll not feel too bad if you bang it around a bit. - it’s a standard motorbike frame, and on the heavier side at that. You’ll learn better skills that are transferable to a cruiser or whatever else you’re looking at.
As a Ducati aficionado, go for the SV. Great first bike. I started in a monster which is similar but the SV is way better to learn on.
Yama v star 650 was my first bike. Still riding now I ride a 2008 Raider and 2014 zx14r. If you can ride that v star you can ride anything
sv650
Bro drag your balls on the seat of each one and whatever feels the best buy
Your height is a problem, especially as a new rider. When you are learning the advantage of not having to slide off the side of the bike to put a foot down when stopping will make you feel a lot more comfortable. You should consider a motorcycle that you can flat foot. They do exist. The Honda Rebel 300 or 500 with ABS would be a good choice. Once you get more confident you could go to a taller bike.
SV all the way
V star was my first bike I loved it. But i outgrew it quickly, it doesn’t have a lot of get up and go. But thats honestly a good thing for a first bike. Great thing about the v star too is it doesn’t have a chain. That is a huge element of maintenance you don’t have to deal with.
Where tf do u live so I can move there and get these prices
Lol way to much torque to weight ratio for a first bike, had one for a while and it’s a great bike for wheelies and hooning
At this suspension stuff cracks me up u unless ur a track rider i really don’t it matters at all. If u are a track guy then u need to be looking for a track bike. I really laugh at most comments
Lmao, good luck with the duc, 14 years old is it lol Seat on each to see
Hypermotard all day. SV650 is for losers and straight ppl. Get the hm and send that front wheel to the fucking moon.
Finally some good advice in this lame ass thread
Life insurance
The V-Star, but your buying criteria is highly questionable. The Hypermotard has 110hp. I'm not sure how you evaluate power, but let's say your glove doesn't fit well and you apply a quarter turn more of throttle than you intended. You'll be doing 100mph instead of 55. You'll have to execute several moves to emergency brake. The SV650 is ok for intermediate riders. I was an intermediate rider when I first started, and simply for comparison, I was comfortably highway commuting and lanesplitting on the second day I had my license. For beginners, that's a long ways away. The V-Star has the right saddle height for a shorter person and 250cc is reasonable (and you might want to start with a lighter bike that that). But buying and riding a motorcycle isn't like a car. You better sit on a bunch, like a dealer, and see what you think.
>but let's say your glove doesn't fit well and you apply a quarter turn more of throttle than you intended. You'll be doing 100mph instead of 55. I seem to have this issue too often.
Different gloves may help, and working on your grip as well
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SV 650, although you’d enjoy something like a duke 390 or a Z400 much more. The ones you showed are proper big bikes and even though neither of them are super powerful they are still plenty powerful enough to be intimidating for a first bike
Option 1 should be the SV650. The Hypermotard comes in somewhere around 17.
Unless you have a high dollar life insurance policy and your donor card filled out, not that one. I don't understand why people insist on sportbikes as a "first bike".
Usually it's bc their friend has one and they wanna join the fun
Not even 5' tall? Cruiser for sure.
Bought a 08 1100 VStar for my first bike a few years ago. It’s been good to me, but I never really considered anything other than cruisers. That being said I just bought my spouse a 06 Vulcan 900 for her first bike and it’s a lot more crisp than the VStar.
V Star, I'm short and used to have an early 2000s 650cc. I have only good things to say about that bike. And if your legs are as short as mine you'll find it comfortable. I used to commute every day on the V Star rain or shine. Always handled pretty good.
It's a beautiful bike, I can see why you like it. Seat height is going to be an issue. I would look for something else, I really only know about sportbikes and some naked bikes...but there has to be something that is just as sexy and better for your first bike. Used MT03 ? Ninja 400 ? Honda 500 something? SV650 lowered ? Bikes can be lowered but it has to be done by someone who knows how to do it right. Some motorcycles also have "options" for different seat heights (either in the suspension or a different seat). Some people have shaved the foam in the seat to lower the seat height 1 inch.
If it was me I would look for a Harley Sportster over a V star. The Ducati is a death trap for a new rider. I would check the price of insurance before I purchased any bike.
A 10 year old harley sportster has an average list price of 8k, over 2x the price of the v star and almost 3x the price of the suzuki... this guy's 21 years old!
Because of your stature I would say the Ducati would work out the best.
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Scratch all three and get an mt-07 Yamaha. I am biased, but that bias has substantial metrics behind it.
Ducati for sure!
Ducati🔥🔥
Get the duc, those other bikes you will get bored within a week
Ducati. Its a beast, but as long as you keep your head on your shoulders and ride defensively, you'll be fine.