what is a good starter motorcycle?

[Banner T]

i have about 5000 to spend on a bike and i want an old model bike like a bobber or a cafe racer. i also am asking where to find bikes like that in Dallas Tx. Thanks Banner.

[DynaFlowHum]

I'd say a Harley Sportster. They are slow but stable motorcycles and can be had for fairly cheap as there is a glut of Harley's on the market.

[the guy from tampa]

I have owned about 8-9 different bikes over the last 20 years. My first street bikle was a Honda 175. For a first bike it was ok. (at 15 yrs old)
If you are in your 20's, start out with a 650 cc or 750 cc rice rocket. I had a Yamaha FZR 1000 and it was a rocket. It went 0-60 in 2.5 seconds. (Insane). It had about 125 HP. That's way too much for a new rider. If you buy a 500 cc bike you will outgrow it too fast. I also had a Ninja 500 (outgrew quickly) and a Ninja 900 cafe style racer and I liked it a lot. After you almost get killed on your rice rocket (& believe me, you will get a few close calls), you will be like me and get a fat heavy cruiser that sounds like a Harley. I bought a brand new Kawasaki 1,500 Vulcan that was awesome. I never touched the damn thing in 5 years when my buddy was fixing his Harley every year for thousands of dollars. There are a ****load of cruisers that sound nice.
Suzuki makes this huge new bike thats awesome, but it's a cruiser, not a rice rocket. Watch out, if you have a fast bike, you will go fast.
I suggest you get a cruiser like a Harley Fatboy or a Kawi Vulcan. For 5 grand you can get a 750 cc rocket that's probably 2-3 years old that's in great shape. Plus the economy ****s, so you are in control when bargaining !

[blastabuelliac]

Look for something with at least 500 to 650cc. If you look for something older you can get a lot of bike for 5000. Look on craigslist.org in your area or tradin times/cycle trader. Look at everything that interests you and take your time. Don't buy tye first thing you see.