08-14-2017, 02:40 AM
Smaller first, even understanding that a) some smaller bikes have crappy brakes (don't buy those) and b) there are situations where horsepower is a safety feature (avoid those situations for a while).
Edited to add: Once you're above 500cc, engine displacement becomes almost orthogonal to whether the bike is dangerous for your level of ability/maturity. E.g. my second bike was a Virago 1100, which made plenty of power for me to ride on the highway but pretty docile around town even if ham-fisted. A ZRX1100 or R6 at the same stage of my riding career would have been a huge mistake.
Edited to add: Once you're above 500cc, engine displacement becomes almost orthogonal to whether the bike is dangerous for your level of ability/maturity. E.g. my second bike was a Virago 1100, which made plenty of power for me to ride on the highway but pretty docile around town even if ham-fisted. A ZRX1100 or R6 at the same stage of my riding career would have been a huge mistake.