What is a good first motorcycle?

I'm a novice when it comes to bikes. I really don't know what to look for when it comes to buying one. Is there anything I should look for? Are there any common mechanical problems that come up?

I've saved $3000, And I've seen some decent ones around that price point on craigslist, but, we all know the reputation of craigslist. But, because of that I found that I'm more comfortable on a classic style, like a Honda shadow, VS a Kawasaki Ninja.

If anyone has any advice at all, it would be greatly appreciated.

Start by making sure it starts up efficiently, should start within a second on the button and within the first few kicks on a kickstart. Next, check the idle, if the idle fluctuates, it can mean that the bike isn't set up correctly (carbs unbalanced or valves loose/tight). Brake pads should be checked, just make sure that it is safe to ride away, i.e. There's some meat on them and it isn't metal on metal. Tyres should have decent tread, and if you notice any blue patches on the tyres it usually means its been contaminated or left for long periods - in which case the bike will not grip efficiently, which is very bad. When you prepared for your test, they will have taught you the basic pre-start checks, lights, indicators etc, make sure you go through these before you hand over any money. After the bike has warmed up a bit, get on and take it for a test ride; listen carefully to the sound of the engine, if you notice any freak increases in revs, chances are the clutch is on its way out, AVOID AT All COSTS. When nobody is looking, and its safe to do so of course, open her up a little bit, high revs are where problems are most noticeable; the bike should pull through each gear with no sluggish behavior or bogging.

There's plenty of other things that you should check, oil level, tyre pressure, chain wear, sprocket wear etc etc. Of course, if you buy from a reputable dealer, you'll avoid all of this by paying slightly extra, and you will usually get some sort of warranty on the bike.

As for which bike is good for a beginner, it depends entirely on your preference. A good beginner sports bike for example is a Ninja 250R (or if finance allow, 300R), they are quick-ish, and very forgiving.
Ideally, low engine capacity means lower running costs and less of an investment.

Hope i've been of some assistance.
Ride safe, and enjoy!

Go find an MSF course in your area.

Beyond the obvious reasons to learning how to ride properly, stream lining the licensing process, and potentially saving on insurance costs… You also get a chance to try out a couple of different bikes if you want.

At least when I took the MSF course, they asked us what we planned on riding once we got our license. The guys who were "Harley or Bust!" types, were started on Honda Rebels to get them into riding cruisers. Since I was more sporty types, they put me on a standard so I could feel that. They also had dual sports available. (FYI: Most places will NOT have true sport bikes available as no beginner should start on that. Also since bikes get dumped often at MSF training courses, it isn't logical to have a full faired race bike!)

Anyways, point is, you can try out a cruiser, a standard, etc and see what you like. Since you have almost no money invested, it also lets you see if you are fit for riding motorcycles before dumping a ton of money.

(I have had a couple of friends who dropped $500-600 on gear, and $15,000 on a new bike, to only realize 500-600 miles later they didn't really like riding. Don't do this to yourself. Be smart about it up front.)

The 750 Honda Shadow makes a good beginners bike. It has good low rpm power. Learning to use the clutch is easy. It has enough power to pass people on the highway. Yet, at a bit over 500 lbs it is light enough to enjoy around town. Plus, being liquid cooled makes it ideal for long slow parades. It is a good bike for just about any riding. Highway, city, hot, cold, long trip, short trip. It is not particularly powerful. But, starts reliably in all weather. $3000 is about the right price for a used 750 Shadow with less than 20,000 miles. But, also consider the older v-twin 750 Kawasaki Vulcan they don't start as well in cold weather. Have a tad more power than the shadow and a few MPG less than the Shadow. The shadow is rated at 50 mpg. I owned a 750 Vulcan and got 46mpg with it. Before you get any bike, get a free insurance quote from progressive.com

Before buying a motorcycle, get proper training and full riding gear.

When deciding on a bike, first decide how you plan on using the bike. Will you use it mainly for shorter distance and/or in-town cruising? Do you plan on taking it for longer trips? Will you be carrying a passenger? Cargo? Etc. Once you know how you will be using the bike, you can narrow down your search criteria and start short-listing which bikes you are interested in.

Harley

The best one you can by is a harley davidson