2Wheeltips

I am searching for my starter bike and saw a Johnny Pag at a show this weekend...never heard of it but it seems like the right size and fit for me. Any first hand info for me?

Dude, you don't want to start on a chopper. That is not a rider friendly set up to learn on. Best bet is something that has you in an upright position with your feet underneath you. Learn on that before trying something with the front end raked out.

Unless you're looking at that FX 3

A few questions need to be answered first before you can get any advice about a starter bike -
Have you taken an MSF or BRC course yet?
How old, are you, what's your height and weight?
What do you intend to use the bike for?
At any instructional course there are usually a few different brands of bike, mostly small street bikes/cruisers (Suzuki GZ250, Honda 250 Rebel, Yamaha 250 Virago and the like), and maybe a few different styles, like a dual purpose bike put into the mix. You may be able to try them all out. They are usually small displacement, like 250cc, which is perfectly adequate for a starter bike, rather than 750cc+ machines.
Your first bike will not be your last, and you need to get something that fits you, fits your intended use, is not too much to handle, something reliable that you can ride for a year and gain experience with and then move up to something else, possibly larger and more powerful and maybe a different style. Do NOT get a high powered sport bike to start with, or that may very well be your first and last bike.

Good advice from mflmd

mrlmd and Daddy Makk are absolutely correct.

One of the reasons 2wheeltips.com exists is to help new riders avoid the mistakes we've all made due to the lack of good information. mrlmd is right when he says a sport bike may be your first and last bike. Know why? Because it is way too much bike for a new rider and you will end up getting seriously hurt or dead. It happens all day long.

Go to any news website and search for motorcycle. 8 out of the 10 articles will be about someone dying, or getting hurt really bad in an accident. And.......it will probably be someone under 30 on a sport bike.

I'm not trying to scare you or get you to buy a pink scooter or some little underpowered electric thingy with flowers and pictures of hippies on it. But to paraphrase what "daddy" and "mrlmd" said...."you got to crawl before you can walk."

1. Take a class. Everyone that rides something takes a class (pilots, tank drivers, truck drivers, farm equipment drivers)

2. Get something you can learn on and leave the huge choppers, 1500cc v-twin and super bikes for later. As a newbie you do not have the abilities to handle those bikes no more than a 16 year old can handle a ferrarri. If you are looking at a "sport bike" or "standard bike" there are some with less than 500cc's that you can handle. For V-twins, I'd say keep it under 750cc's. The upside is there are always new people coming out of motorcycle class every year looking for those bikes and you can easily sell it (even in this market) to another newbie.

3. After you get your license and bike you got to practice. Go find a parking lot somewhere and practice all of the stuff you learned in class until you get sick of it. And after you recover from your illness, get back on and practice some more until you get sick of it again. Wash rinse and repeat until you are able to control the bike without freezing up. Remember it is your backside out there on the road and if you don't know even the most basic handling skills, how are you going to get out of the way of that 18 wheeler that is merging into your lane or that stupid chick who is putting on makeup while trying to drive?

4. Find some people who know how to ride and ask to tag along with them. You will learn tons from watching.

5. Keep coming back here and keep asking these types of questions. mrlmd and "daddy" have given you some excellent info and I suggest you make them your friends so you can ask them more questions.

Just my 2 pesos

Oh...and to add something to what "daddy" said.

My first bike was a 1300cc Honda VTX. Guess what? Way way way way......to much bike. It scared me too many times to count and took me about 2 1/2 years to really enjoy what it had to offer. I was intimidated by the size (640lbs dry) and the power. I wish I would have gotten a smaller bike first.

Then thinking that I was the man, I went out and got a 2007 Yamaha FJR 1300 because I figured that "I was ready". Guess what?? Same thing.......too much freaking bike.....even with 30 months of experience. Has more hp than some small cars and can easily(and quickly) reach 130mph with a passenger and 50lbs or luggage.

So take it from those who have been there. Start small, work your way up.

All of the info in the previous responses to your question are excellent. The only thing I would add is consider buying a used bike versus new. The depreciation on a new bike is awful and as you would want to upgrade as your riding skills improve, you don't want to take a several $1,000 hit, or more, each time. The other advantage is buying used with a few scratches and dings won't make you so concerned about the possibility of dropping the bike which goes with the learning process. Reggie

As a new rider I have very little advice, however I regret not listening to my MSF instructor who told me not too buy too much bike. After months of looking I got a great deal on a 2004 HD sportster in mint condition. I am 5'8" 150 lb lots of guys said that was a good fit and it is a comfortable bike and It fits me well however.... In one month I have dropped it 4 times and overshot a turn which put me into a sign post. Now my bike has a dent and I am bruised.
Now I am a statistic, Im still riding.
Signed Pride cometh before the FALL.

Hi, April...which Sportster did you buy? Is it the 1200 or the 883? Just wondering. I'm not surprised that you were sold more bike than you should have started with...seems not to be an uncommon occurrence!