http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2016/03/04/kawasaki-shrunk-streetfighter/?intcmp=hphz12
Thinking about adding the motorcycle endorsement to my license this year and had thought about the Grom in the past as a starter bike. City riding only and new bike only that I might hang onto until I drop dead of old age or sell the following spring. The Kawasaki and Honda are both right about the same price if I remember correctly. Just checked Grom a couple of hundred more. Any discernible differences in initial quality? It will be a low mileage bike during my ownership but an everyday bike nonetheless. My citys streets are of 3rd world quality if that is an issue with either bike. Final point on the two bikes mentioned I really like that price point so I'm not interested in the 1k more expensive 250/300s out there. Thanks for any advice in advance.
3rd world streets and the tiny tires don't play well together. The Honda would probably be down a bit on power, but higher in reliability. Looking at new for the warranty? If not, I'd look at these:
cbr250 $2975
cbr250 $3000
cbr250 $2250
Ninja 300 $3300
Ninja 300 $3000
Ninja 250 $2600
Are you set on buying new? If you are open to used, you can get a good-condition bike with a small engine and full size wheels for about the same money.
Not so much set as I will be a first time buyer and don't want to make a mistake plus it will be financed even though cash is not a problem. I'll keep the second-hand option in mind now. Thanks for the listings too.
3rd world streets I would not want tiny tires. Heck we have good streets here and they are still rough. When I picture 3rd world streets I picture ones that would swallow a little bike like that whole.
The small wheels and tires aren't ideal for terrible streets but the Grom is so light weight and tossable it doesn't matter much. The stock suspension isn't the best for rough surfaces but it is still a lot of fun.
I like tiny bikes, I see them as toys or a more sporting alternative to a scooter, but not in any way a replacement for a normal size motorcycle, even for beginners. If you want a road legal Pit bike, by all means get one, but don't expect it to offer any advantages to a novice rider that a normal sized beginners bike wouldn't, and it may in fact have some disadvantages.
CB500X
Find a lightly used one cheap. It's what I bought for a starter bike and it's great.
VTR250 is a riot if you can find one decent
http://baltimore.craigslist.org/mcy/5426462077.html
Might be worth it at $600, cleaning some carbs and new tires and brakes.
For the record, DC streets are not that bad. Typical Mid-Atlantic city.
You want to see bad streets? Hit Detroit or New Orleans.
They were bad new and that was 100 years ago.
Sincerely ~a Beltway transplant from NoLa
I remember nola streets they at least have the excuse of a high water table to go with the trees. I think I know D.C. pretty well after 16yrs and right now they are awful. Most stretches are okay but many are atrocious from ignored potholes and weird construction zones that almost seemed designed to wreck your car. Outside of the city of that however I cannot speak. All that aside the 2nd hand 2-3yr old bike market looks a little less scary maintenance wise for a complete motorbike noob like myself.
In reply to nutherjrfan:
Honestly not hard get a manual and follow the instructions.
As much as I like the Grom a used 500 would be better
No thanks to the minibikes.....it's hard enough to get people to notice you on a full size bike, let alone a 3/4 scale bike with zero power.
