Best beginner motorcycle for absolute noob and short rider !

Hello !

Really need help here !!!
Ok so I have wanted to get my own bike for quite some time now. But there's a lot of "big" problems I've to face :
- I'm absolute noob, I only used to ride 90CC and 150 scooters, and once a 150CC chinese chopper bike......
- I'm only 5' and 90 lbs :lol8: :gaah:
- I live in Guangzhou so I would ride only on weekends, in small cities and towns. But I also plan to make some road trips to Thailand or Vietnam, etc. once a year. (will join riding club for sure).
- and the worst, I don't have a driving license from my home country....I'm willing to take driving classes if there's any driving school in Guangzhou ?

- I want a small, reliable, lighweight, nimble, durable motorcycle but still cheap and easy to maintain though.
- with upright driving position, comfortable after hours of riding
- Japanese motorbikes preferred (affordable and cheap spare parts)
- I'm neither into racing nor into show-off motorcycles. But a small motorbike that I can be proud to ride. I just want to have fun riding (no boring bikes) and enjoy the landscapes (road trips). :kumbaya::riding:

Please don't tell me to just get a scooter or an eletric bike :sad:or a Chinese 125-250CC (I want a bike who is reliable and durable).

But except from those 2 options, are there any others ? I made some research and found out :
- Kawasaki ninja 300 ABS (but the official chinese dealers in Foshan/Jiangmen don't have it),
- KTM Duke 390 (ABS)
- Honda CBR300R,
- Kawasaki Vulcan S,
- Suzuki (I can't see any 250CC/300CC model in their chinese website)
(I want to register it and there are only a few dealers in Guangdong province who are willing to help a foreigner for the registration process, so my choices are very limited as well).

But I don't know if they can adapt to Chinese roads and if Chinese mechanics are familiar with their technology.

IT SEEMS AN IMPOSSIBLE MISSION !!

Any help or suggestion pleaaaaaaaaaaaaaaase !
- for my 1st bike in China
- for the bike registration and driving license permit (better a license that is valid for all the country, not just for the province it's issued in if possible). Note : I've a Z visa and residence permit.

THANKS !!!!!!! :icon10:

If you want upright driving position and a bike what is comfortable after hours of riding, then Duke and CBR 390 R is no go. 390 Duke might be also too powerful for you, they have 200cc version too, 390 is not really a beginner bike.

Suzuki GW250 with lowered seat maybe? I see many short leg Chinese riders on it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ShuBen

Suzuki GW250 with lowered seat maybe? I see many short leg Chinese riders on it.

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+1 :thumbsup:

Haojue Suzuki GW250

I'll check about the Suzuki GW250, thank you all !!

GW250 is 400 lbs, not sure it's best suited to ur 90 lbs body, especially if u ride seldom & in CH cities.

The CB300R (it's actually 286cc), or CB300F is around 350 lbs, will fit u better, seat is 30,7 inch high same as GW, if still too high use big sole boots.

Over 4000$ since u're in China, JP reliability has a price, but better resale value also.

If too expensive look into second hand CB250...

Don't discourage urself, u need ur driving license, go there and pass it first.

another two alternatives might be the
Benelli BJ251 (~ 20k RMB incl. tax and BJ B plate)
and
the Kawasaki Ninja 250 (38k incl tax and BJ B plate) naked.

Just checked them both last week for a friend.

Hi 163
All the bikes Recommended are very good bikes but if I may suggest you look at the Yamaha 125 YBR-G which has some off-road ability and with your future plans to travel to Vietnam Laos and Thailand I recommend that you consider a motorbike with some off-road capability .
The YBR only cost 12,000 RMB and is only 117kg (257lb) with the fuel range of the tank over 500 km Seat height is: 785mm (30.8').
That is not to say you can't Modify the other models for more off-road capability,I personally have travelled from Hainan to Thailand and Laos three times now with over 40.000km clocked up on the bike .
It does lack a bit of power but for a starter bike with your travel plans IMO it is worth looking at !!

http://www.ybr125g.com



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It's important to make sure you view the YBR G and not just the YBR and the new model is called the YBR GK.

You could also get a new Honda CBF190 see how that works out for you. That’s an “Asian Model” which are designed for people that are smaller in stature. Since you are a bantam weight you should take advantage of that. You will have a great power to weight ratio. You can always cash it in at resale if you feel you are ready to move to a more powerful model, you may not, it may totally satisfy your needs. Plus if you visit another country, you can access Honda there for service, you probably will not have to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MJH

You could also get a new Honda CBF190 see how that works out for you. That’s an “Asian Model” which are designed for people that are smaller in stature. Since you are a bantam weight you should take advantage of that. You will have a great power to weight ratio. You can always cash it in at resale if you feel you are ready to move to a more powerful model, you may not, it may totally satisfy your needs. Plus if you visit another country, you can access Honda there for service, you probably will not have to.

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Great bike choice but sadly I don't think it's sold in China and not even sold in Thailand.

It’s new and should be available next month.
http://motor.newmotor.com.cn/CBF190R6658/baojia.shtml

http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/y...nda/CBF190.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MJH

It’s new and should be available next month.
http://motor.newmotor.com.cn/CBF190R6658/baojia.shtml

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Great news sorry my mistake do you have a price yet in RMB

The bike comes in at 140kg with the seat height at 771mm!
Very low seat for this type of bike and could be spot on for a short guy IMO

@MJH:

I really like your polite political correctness :-)

....designed for people that are smaller in stature ....

LOL, I am not running for any office, the guy defined himself and his requirements pretty succinctly. The prices are on that website, the link leads to a dealer in his area and the price they have is under 15k RMB. If the only experience he has is on 150cc Chinese Cruiser as he states and all that he is considering are sportier models this bike it actually tailor made for him, plus if it is red white and blue the Thai certainly will not mind that at the border crossing.

He also could consider the CF150NK, it is only 12.5k RMB if he cannot wait. That would be a decent bike and since he is 40kg he would fly on it.

Also there are allot of QJ little dragons that he could get for under 9k RMB, they are likely great small bikes…
http://img2.newmotor.com.cn/UploadFi...0172342758.jpg

There are also Aprilia’s, Piaggio is making these in China now. 125cc but it’s a DOHC water cooled engine@16hp. The bikes weight is @122kg they are selling them at about 13k RMB

APR125-2
http://img.newmotor.com.cn/UploadFil...-2-350X350.gif

Thanks !!

It's not a problem for a foreigner to get a plate in BJ ?