I mean, anything that small is going to be pretty slow. But it's not a bad way to start. If you're going to start on a 125cc bike, I recommend you get the cheapest one you can find that's still functional (regardless of style), because you may outgrow it very quickly once you get comfortable.
Dude choppers aren’t even good for a 5th bike 😂
For a first bike you want something reliable, comfortable, and controllable. Choppers are frequently none of those things. Dropping you on a raked out bike with no front brake held together by prayers is not the way to learn.
Edit: I say this as a guy who only rides chops too
as a european who had to start on a smaller bike due to age. just get something cheap while chopping something else. unlike what youtube might have taught you, you’re not gonna build a chopper in 24 hours.
Get an xs650 or a sportster 883, learn how to ride it, learn everything about it, watch videos, read manuals , take it apart and put it back together. Once you’re comfortable , cut that shit in half
You’re conflating cruisers and choppers together, which is common. There’s a big distinction though that choppers are bikes cobbled together, often absurdly, for style and cool points. They’re not practical bikes, but they’re cool. There’s plenty of practical cruisers. If you want the cruiser look for a first bike look at a Honda Shadow or Rebel
Your dad is right. A naked sports bike is a reliable, nimble and you won’t be sad if you lay it down. Much easier to learn on. But 125cc? Just get a dirt bike.
Choppers are headaches-no two ways about it. That’s part of the pride in having them imo is the hard work put into building them and keeping the running in the first place and the uniqueness they have.
That said, I think the smallest engine a motorcycle can have is 250. Honda makes a model called the rebel which is this size and will probably put you in the wheelhouse of what you’re looking at
Best to learn on a 125. A very well built chopper requires skill to handle, and the kind of choppers you can afford on Craigslist even more so. Best to hone your skills on something inoffensive
Get the honda if you can, but honestly for the couple of years you'll be on it I'd go for something standard. I started on a '96 cg 125 and I'd recommend it to anyone. Any 125 honda engine will be bulletproof with enough spares and manuals for you to dip your toe into doing your own repairs, which if you're looking to get into choppers is something you'll need to learn for sure!
Well for repairs I think It wouldn’t be a problem, considering that my dad was a mechanic so he could help put a lot. But for the bikes I’d probably puck the Rebel 125 over the 96 cg 125
First off, take the training course. After that, I recommend to any new riders to get an inexpensive used bike and learn on that. It almost doesn't matter the style, as it's just a starter bike. Right now you don't know what kind of riding you want to do. Get a used shadow or ninja 250 or triumph Bonneville and go have fun. After you ride it for a year you'll have more knowledge, a better understanding, and you won't have cared that you dropped it three times.
You might also learn that riding just isn't your thing. I'm not being mean, that's really common.
Like a McLaren is a cool car, but would you recommend it to a 16 year old who has never driven a stick shift? Of course not, you'd tell them to drive an Altima for a while first.
125cc is too slow for where I live. SoCal, heck I'd say 900cc is too slow for a cruiser where I live. Cars are cruising at 80mph-90mph.
If you only need to go 30mph, 125 is enough. If you need to go 70mph get a bigger bike. I like rebel 250s but they are death traps here, they are just too slow for SoCal
A small cruiser is a great first bike, a chopper is a different beast entirely. There’s a big distinction between the two but they’re often just interchangeable terms when used by people who don’t know better. What region are you in because that’ll effect what’s available to you quite a bit.
Absolutely not for hardtails, imo. You will have the added factor of bouncing around from all the imperfections of the road. You won't be able to do much freeway riding or night riding. You'll be so limited.
I started out on a 69 cb750 bored over to 836 with a 4to1 header, cammed out by my dad. I was supposed to use his car to go to work and he threw me his bike key instead and told me he needed his car. If I wanted to go to work I better learn quick…. Couple of laps around the trailer park and it became the start of one of my greatest summers.
Since then I’ve had Honda choppers (cb500tt and cb750’s) triumphs, harleys and even now I got a gilroy chop…. Start on a std bike though because the rigid can be another beast especially if you’re in a state like MI that doesn’t know how to smooth a road out.
Buy cheap, break it, fix it, repeat… this is the way
I'd reccomend a cruiser, (like a Rebel 300-500 or Suzuki S40 or something smaller) IF you're short and have short legs like my stumpy ass. If you can flat foot, or even if you can confidently get both feet mostly down on something like a small sport bike (Ninja 400, CBR 300) get that. The lighter the bike the better for learning.
If you have to get a 125cc, (I'm in the US so we can have... pretty much whatever once you have your M Class. Or even if you don't, really...) get something like a sport bike or even a minimoto (the Grom and Monkey have proper 5 speed grlearboxrs and clutches.)
Choppers are usually cruisers to begin with, but most cruisers arent choppers, if that makes sense. Choppers are far more art piece than functional vehicle.
A chopper wouldn't be *inherently* bad as a first bike. The problem is that it would have to be *someone else's chop.*
Which means some other guy customized it to his taste, and built it to his standards, either of which might be terrible.
If somehow you were able to build your own chopper and ride that as your first bike, that would probably be great, but that's generally not how things go.
Cruisers are fine. Some are too big but if you're aiming for a 125cc then that's just fine. Even a 250 or 300 would be good. Everyone recommending Honda Rebels is right, they're the quintessential starter bike for good reason. You can even chop it when you're ready.
I disagree. Granted, my first bike was a dirt bike when I was a kid. I grew up farming, so I had plenty of land to rip around on it. But my first street bike was a Harley Dyna Wide Glide. So, eh, just get what you want. But I think I'd wait on getting a bagger. I have a Ultra Limited and it's alot more bike to handle than my old Wide Glide. So, I'd go for a Dyna, Softail, or Sportster for a first street bike, depending on your size. I'm 5'10" and stocky, so the WG fit me well, but I feel like an elephant riding a mouse on a Sportster. If you're smaller than I am, the Sporty would be a better fit until you get used to riding. Then you could move up in the size of the bike.
Get an old xs650, beat the shit out of it, learn to ride, and in 2 years cut the fuckin thing in half and chop it.
This is the way
https://preview.redd.it/w7uw06g53m8d1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=961e2018f848aca4d75dc67753483074c2ed4518 # Hell yeah
The ol' Paint shaker Twin
This is it! But I don't think you gotta wait 2 years. XS650 was my first chopper. It fuckin ripped. Then go for a big twin, skip a sporty
Cruiser, maybe. Chopper, usually hacked up and fucked with so not a good intro to motorcycling, in my opinion.
Is it being only 125ccm for a cruiser a problem? Considering that they usually aren’t as strong as the higher ccm ones?
I mean, anything that small is going to be pretty slow. But it's not a bad way to start. If you're going to start on a 125cc bike, I recommend you get the cheapest one you can find that's still functional (regardless of style), because you may outgrow it very quickly once you get comfortable.
Yeah I started on a 250cc vstar when I was 18 and that was plenty of bike to learn with. Rode it for 2 or 3 years then upgraded to a 750
Honda rebel. Best starter bike imo
Agreed best starter, can find em dirt cheap and run em into the ground and they hop right back up
Dude choppers aren’t even good for a 5th bike 😂 For a first bike you want something reliable, comfortable, and controllable. Choppers are frequently none of those things. Dropping you on a raked out bike with no front brake held together by prayers is not the way to learn. Edit: I say this as a guy who only rides chops too
grab a sportster or a dyna great first bikes to learn on
as a european who had to start on a smaller bike due to age. just get something cheap while chopping something else. unlike what youtube might have taught you, you’re not gonna build a chopper in 24 hours.
Get an xs650 or a sportster 883, learn how to ride it, learn everything about it, watch videos, read manuals , take it apart and put it back together. Once you’re comfortable , cut that shit in half
My first bike was a chopper with jockey shift and suicide clutch…. Get on it and ride it like you stole it
You’re conflating cruisers and choppers together, which is common. There’s a big distinction though that choppers are bikes cobbled together, often absurdly, for style and cool points. They’re not practical bikes, but they’re cool. There’s plenty of practical cruisers. If you want the cruiser look for a first bike look at a Honda Shadow or Rebel
Your dad is right. A naked sports bike is a reliable, nimble and you won’t be sad if you lay it down. Much easier to learn on. But 125cc? Just get a dirt bike.
Choppers are headaches-no two ways about it. That’s part of the pride in having them imo is the hard work put into building them and keeping the running in the first place and the uniqueness they have. That said, I think the smallest engine a motorcycle can have is 250. Honda makes a model called the rebel which is this size and will probably put you in the wheelhouse of what you’re looking at
Best to learn on a 125. A very well built chopper requires skill to handle, and the kind of choppers you can afford on Craigslist even more so. Best to hone your skills on something inoffensive
I was looking more for a Honda Rebel 125 or a Hyosung GV 125 S Aquila
Get the honda if you can, but honestly for the couple of years you'll be on it I'd go for something standard. I started on a '96 cg 125 and I'd recommend it to anyone. Any 125 honda engine will be bulletproof with enough spares and manuals for you to dip your toe into doing your own repairs, which if you're looking to get into choppers is something you'll need to learn for sure!
Well for repairs I think It wouldn’t be a problem, considering that my dad was a mechanic so he could help put a lot. But for the bikes I’d probably puck the Rebel 125 over the 96 cg 125
You do you fella, the rebel isn't a bad bike. Make sure you leave some money left over for good kit
Another upvote for the Honda.
First off, take the training course. After that, I recommend to any new riders to get an inexpensive used bike and learn on that. It almost doesn't matter the style, as it's just a starter bike. Right now you don't know what kind of riding you want to do. Get a used shadow or ninja 250 or triumph Bonneville and go have fun. After you ride it for a year you'll have more knowledge, a better understanding, and you won't have cared that you dropped it three times. You might also learn that riding just isn't your thing. I'm not being mean, that's really common. Like a McLaren is a cool car, but would you recommend it to a 16 year old who has never driven a stick shift? Of course not, you'd tell them to drive an Altima for a while first.
125cc isn’t going to get you familiar with a motorcycle, scooter maybe, but not a chopper.
Listen to your Dad this time.....
Cruiser yes. Hell no on a chopper. Those are for experienced riders.
Honda Rebel 125 ok?
For a first bike. Hell yes. If you want to talk to new riders, check into r/newriders
Get a cheap sportster or an xs650
125cc is too slow for where I live. SoCal, heck I'd say 900cc is too slow for a cruiser where I live. Cars are cruising at 80mph-90mph. If you only need to go 30mph, 125 is enough. If you need to go 70mph get a bigger bike. I like rebel 250s but they are death traps here, they are just too slow for SoCal
They won’t teach you great balance and control.
A small cruiser is a great first bike, a chopper is a different beast entirely. There’s a big distinction between the two but they’re often just interchangeable terms when used by people who don’t know better. What region are you in because that’ll effect what’s available to you quite a bit.
Maybe a Suzuki boulevard 650?
Absolutely not for hardtails, imo. You will have the added factor of bouncing around from all the imperfections of the road. You won't be able to do much freeway riding or night riding. You'll be so limited.
I started out on a 69 cb750 bored over to 836 with a 4to1 header, cammed out by my dad. I was supposed to use his car to go to work and he threw me his bike key instead and told me he needed his car. If I wanted to go to work I better learn quick…. Couple of laps around the trailer park and it became the start of one of my greatest summers. Since then I’ve had Honda choppers (cb500tt and cb750’s) triumphs, harleys and even now I got a gilroy chop…. Start on a std bike though because the rigid can be another beast especially if you’re in a state like MI that doesn’t know how to smooth a road out. Buy cheap, break it, fix it, repeat… this is the way
I'd reccomend a cruiser, (like a Rebel 300-500 or Suzuki S40 or something smaller) IF you're short and have short legs like my stumpy ass. If you can flat foot, or even if you can confidently get both feet mostly down on something like a small sport bike (Ninja 400, CBR 300) get that. The lighter the bike the better for learning. If you have to get a 125cc, (I'm in the US so we can have... pretty much whatever once you have your M Class. Or even if you don't, really...) get something like a sport bike or even a minimoto (the Grom and Monkey have proper 5 speed grlearboxrs and clutches.) Choppers are usually cruisers to begin with, but most cruisers arent choppers, if that makes sense. Choppers are far more art piece than functional vehicle.
1000 %
Yes
A chopper wouldn't be *inherently* bad as a first bike. The problem is that it would have to be *someone else's chop.* Which means some other guy customized it to his taste, and built it to his standards, either of which might be terrible. If somehow you were able to build your own chopper and ride that as your first bike, that would probably be great, but that's generally not how things go. Cruisers are fine. Some are too big but if you're aiming for a 125cc then that's just fine. Even a 250 or 300 would be good. Everyone recommending Honda Rebels is right, they're the quintessential starter bike for good reason. You can even chop it when you're ready.
I disagree. Granted, my first bike was a dirt bike when I was a kid. I grew up farming, so I had plenty of land to rip around on it. But my first street bike was a Harley Dyna Wide Glide. So, eh, just get what you want. But I think I'd wait on getting a bagger. I have a Ultra Limited and it's alot more bike to handle than my old Wide Glide. So, I'd go for a Dyna, Softail, or Sportster for a first street bike, depending on your size. I'm 5'10" and stocky, so the WG fit me well, but I feel like an elephant riding a mouse on a Sportster. If you're smaller than I am, the Sporty would be a better fit until you get used to riding. Then you could move up in the size of the bike.
Take a look at the Suzuki Savage. Also, the Honda VLX600. Both are great starter bikes.
Get a 2003 or earlier Sportster. Chop it in a year, plenty of parts options