08-14-2017, 03:45 AM
To me, it's the weight of the bike, not the engine size, that matters when you're first starting out. To Ferret's point, you can easily kill yourself on a 250, but if you can't hold the bike up at a stoplight or make a u-turn in a gas station, you're on too heavy a bike. I think the frustration you experienced by trying to nurse two 30-year old beaters biased your conclusion. A nicely running CBR250R or Ninja 300 is more than enough motorcycle for a first time rider and will allow them to improve their skills and confidence before buying something heavier (and more powerful). I wouldn't recommend a CB1100 to a newbie.