Best motorcycle for a beginner? - 1

I'm 18 and i'm in DC. I want to know what you think is the best motorcycle for a guy thats 6'1 1/2 and 168 lb. My preference leans towards sport bikes, cafe racers or the classic standard ones that are from the 60s and 70s. I have very little motorcycling experience and the little experience that i have is with small 250cc Honda rebels. I have heard some beginners can handle starting on more advanced bikes like the Ducati monster 696 or the Triumph Thruxton however in an honest opinion is that possible? I'm not overly obsessed by getting a powerful bike at first but I don't want a bike thats gonna make me look huge on it while its so small and one that can actually move around and not make my wieght hamper its speed. Really appreciate it guys thanks.

Get a tricycle. Sounds like you need the training wheels, too.

Just bought my first bike almost a month ago! 2007 yamaha yzfr6, i'm 18 and weigh about 155. Id recommend a 600cc sportbike for you! My bike is pretty strong to me, i don't know if id be moving to a 1000cc lol, a 600 for you would be good cause youre a beginner and your height and weight will benifit the fact that youre a beginner!

Well pretty much any sport bike, and there's a certain amount of "looking huge on it," because they are small bikes. That is partially why they are so fast/powerful, is because all of the extra weight is removed.

Good example:

CB's V-strom 1000. It is 1037cc v twin. 503lbs. Around 100bhp.
My Ninja 1000. It is 1043cc inline 4. 509lbs. Around 140bhp.
Ninja ZX-10R. It is a 998cc inline 4. 436lbs. Around 199bhp.
Harley 1200 classic. It is a 1202cc v twin. 560lbs. Around 68bhp.

Those are all pretty much 1000cc bikes, yet if you look at the horsepower of them? It is widely different. Purpose, size, and type all play a huge factor.

So smaller rockets? Just because they are small, doesn't mean a big person can man handle them, or that they are "weak."

Similarily that most Harley riders don't grasp, is that just because they have a huge chromed out hog, that it means they have any power between their legs.

So go sit on a few bikes and figure out what you like. A beginner will want to shoot in the 30-60bhp range, which is usually in the 250-500cc vtwin sport bike categories, or in the 800-1000cc vtwin cruiser range.

Inline 4 engines are more for advanced riders as their powerband, torque, and performance isn't very friendly to new riders.

Your best bet would be the New Yamaha SR400. Rated at 40 hp. Should be enough power to run on all the roads around D.C. But, still lite enough and nimble enough to handle the streets and traffic of D.C. This is a standard, or Café racer, It is kick start only. No electric start. So, it is priced right at $6000. With insurance and monthly payment you should be able to ride for less than $200 a month.