So, I'm going to be completing my last year in college and figured it was about time to get a vehicle (bicycles only go so far). I have always been very interested in motorcycling and I've decided that it's the way to go! However, with the multitude of options out there I was wondering if anyone could give a recommendation on either a specific bike or range of bikes.

I will mostly be using the bike for street riding in the first year that I have it, since I will still be in school, but I would love to be able to take it off road as often as I have the chance. That being said it will be on the road a fair bit, and I would love to be able to take a long trip with it after I graduate so it has to be somewhat comfortable for long distance road riding.
I am 5'9" and female and it will be my first bike, so (while I'm no wimp) I'm looking for a smaller, lighter bike. I don't need a giant fuel tank nor does it need to have a massive cc rating (meaning I don't need a KTM 950 Adventure).
I'm also a student and broke, so I'm looking for a nice used older model bike.

So: Sturdy, comfy, manageable, trusty, solid. A new best friend.

Suggestions?

Thanks!

1995 or later Yamaha XT350/500 if you're looking for a good cheap easy to maintain bike to just kick around. Buying new I highly recommend the Yamaha WR250R, or if you're a Suzuki fan, the DRZ400.

hmmm.. long trip.. off road... lighter.. cheap.. lots of pavement.. You're 5'9".. long distance riding later.. comfy..

good job setting up the parameters.. lots of people just say, 'what is the best bike for me?', but don't give us any info about the type of riding.

If you're looking for a used bike, you can just see what kinds are available in your area.

a yamaha tw200 is a nice, simple bike, but isn't very road worthy for distance. You're tall enough that a modern dual sport dirt bike shouldn't be too tall for you. Look at some 250's. They have surprising power for their size. I just rode with a guy this last week who puts over 15k miles a year on a kawasaki 250.. it's a great bike, cheap, & very reliable. It might be a little small for a long ride on the highway, but if you stay off the interstates it would be fine. Riding a dual sport on the interstate isn't that much fun on any bike, except a gold wing.

The new yamaha wr250r is a great bike with lots of features.. but to get the newer efi, you'll need a newer bike with a higher price tag.

A drz will inevitably be in the running. It does it all for less. It will do highways better than a 250, but is still light enough for trails. They are cheap, easy to mod, & very reliable. You would not go wrong with one of those. That is the suzuki drz 400.

If you want something bigger, there are some good 650's with solid engines & low center of gravity. But if you have to pick them up, they can be tough. These are probably the only ones you could call 'comfy' out of the box. Most other dirt bikes are notoriously uncomfortable. But seats can be modified, or custom ones bought.

The ktm's & husky's are great bikes, too, but i'm leaving them out because you put 'cheap' in the list. If you've got time, you can look on craigslist, shop around some local dealers, or put the work out that you're looking for the best bang for the buck, & just see what comes up. You should be able to find a good solid bike for around $2k. If you've got more than that, you can get a newer or better bike. Look at several if you can.. ride them if you can. The more info you get, the better armed you will be when making your decision.

There have been a lot of people in your exact same situation, & they have bought different bikes. So a lot of it comes down to what is available to you, & what tickles your fancy. I'm sure whatever you end up with will be fun & a good purchase for you. Good luck on your decision.

scotty:cool: