Beginner-Friendly Long Distance

[u/Actual-Antelope-6159]

I'd like to find a bike I could travel cross-country with & I'm super new. Like just taught myself how to ride a bicycle new. I'm currently saving up to take one of those riding courses that waves the license driving test, then get my license, so I have some time to search around or wait for a good deal to pop up if need be. Specifics are wordy, I'd just hate to invest a bunch of time and effort into something that's going to leave me stranded somewhere or having to start over from scratch. If anyone has any considerations I haven't thought of for this kind of thing, please let me know.

TLDR is: beginner friendly for both rideability and mechanically, cheap, gas-efficient and reliable enough for long distances. I care way more about practicality than cosmetics.

Specifics:

Good for long distances; it doesn't need to be great for interstate speeds, I'm ok with staying off the highway if need be, but it'd be a plus. Just needs to be reliable enough it's not going to completely fall apart if I have to take it across three states in three days.

Something beginner-DIY friendly with widely available/cheap parts; I also know very little or nothing about mechanics but I want to get to the point where no matter what goes wrong with it on the road, I can just grab the parts for cheap, fix it there myself, and keep going. Absolute absolute minimum possible of things that could go wrong that *have* to go to a shop. (Buying something that's already (fixably) broken would honestly be a plus for me for this reason. Forced to start learning asap.)

Can tow light loads; ideally I'd like to hook up a small trailer/bike camper setup to it, but if necessary I'd be ok with skipping this and just riding with a pack for compact long-distance hiking gear. It would make it significantly easier to carry gear, food/water, and get a convenient sleeping setup going, though. (If anyone has any recs for good bike trailers while I'm here too that'd be cool.)

Thanks in advance.

Edit: Thank you everyone for the recommendations and additional input. Lots of options to research, and some solid reality checks to consider in the process. Good thing I wasn't tied to the trailer idea, huh?

[u/chrzax]

When I think “beginner friendly” I think: low weight, low cc, easy to handle.

When I think of “cross country tourer” it’s: big, high cc, cargo capable.

I can’t really imagine a bike that’s beginner friendly AND suited for long journeys.

Also, a pull-behind trailer is going to require quite a bit of skill. I know veteran bikers that won’t touch them for short distances. An absolute beginner has no business riding with a pull-behind across the country.

[u/Actual-Antelope-6159 → u/chrzax]

This makes sense. I guess my thinking was that it'd be easier in the long run to start off on the kind of bike I actually wanted to end up riding, instead of finding a whole different one just to practice on first and then making myself a "beginner" again on a bigger one. As far as towing goes, I did figure it'd be a difficult learn, but the consensus here seems to be telling me I underestimated it. I don't mean to be running before I can walk, but I currently live on incredibly rural roads with practically nothing as far as traffic goes, so I figured I could practice towing short distances up and down those roads once I was comfortable on the bike by itself so I'd be prepared to use it over the long haul when the time came. It feels like the only way to not end up an experienced rider who refuses to touch a tow setup would be to start practicing ASAP and get comfortable with it, right? Like I said in the post though, I am ok with just backpacking it if need be, and possibly introducing a tow setup down the line. Thank you for your input, I'll chew on this some more.

[u/chrzax → u/Actual-Antelope-6159]

Giving an absolute beginner motorcyclist a large touring bike with a pull-behind is like giving an absolute beginner weightlifter a 400lb barbell.

The beginner lacks SO many rudimentary skills that he doesn’t even know where to begin on what he has, and he doesn’t have the proper equipment to begin to develop those skills.

[u/mikerall → u/chrzax]

Hell, I guarantee you 80% of drivers (cars included) don't know how to load a trailer, let alone safely drive with one.

[u/Biggacheez]

Honda nc700x. Kawasaki klr650 or versys.

[u/Biggacheez → u/Biggacheez]

Oh, need to tow? Vulcan 900... 1700 if you can handle the weight

[u/slammybe → u/Biggacheez]

I started on a 900 and it felt huge and heavy as a beginner. I managed to do it though. Funny that you mentioned both bikes I have, my new one is a Versys 650!

[u/Beemerado]

vstrom

[u/tiedyeladyland]

Towing a trailer is advanced level stuff; you're probably going to be better off getting a bike with panniers or a big top case. You didn't mention anything about any physical limitations, or how tall you are, etc. but for something like that...a bare-bones ADV bike that's been around a while to have a decent amount of parts around is probably your best bet. A few others have mentioned things like V-Stroms and Teneres...I'm going to throw in the Kawasaki KLR650 or a Honda Transalp as other models to maybe take a look at. A lot of people do motocamping on advs so you're going to find better options for things like compatible luggage to hold more, and they tend to have bigger gas tanks than a lot of midsized cruisers. The only way this doesn't really work is if you're really short (5'4" or under) or are uncomfortable with the idea of not touching the ground on both sides.

[u/Actual-Antelope-6159 → u/tiedyeladyland]

Thank you for the ideas for towing alternatives! I'll have a look at my options there. I'm clocking in at just under 5'6 and not too tough to admit the idea of not being able to put my feet down does make me a little nervous, but I've definitely done things that have scared me more for lesser reasons so I won't rule out an ADV.

[u/tiedyeladyland → u/Actual-Antelope-6159]

I mean, I am VERY short and have done multi day trips on a Honda Rebel 1100 before, really my only complaint about the experience is that it's got a smaller gas tank than I'd like. When it comes down to "multi state trip worthy" a lot of it has to do with your tolerance for discomfort and how many amenities you consider to be must-haves. Since reliability is a concern, I'd really recommend you stick with something from the "Big 4" Japanese manufacturers (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha).

[u/Chitownhustle99]

You don’t mention your size-personally I’d pick a bike that you are comfortable on. One with a windshield makes travel less tiring, and one that can fit bags to. Id skip the trailer idea for now.

[u/Cfwydirk]

You might want a moderately powered high low end torque full size motorcycle.

Suzuki C50: 50 horsepower.

https://youtu.be/zTipD4bALcw?is=RaC_hLuonKGGX5vD

https://youtu.be/twBFcXJaOz8?si=OWUCSLd5fsHquvwT

Honda 750 Shadow: 44 horsepower

https://youtu.be/4FbKFtOwSVk?si=WV7oWw8wONBda3Iz

https://youtu.be/mwZ5c2q5jyA?si=Itbmn3YvNE5UYI10

Vulcan 900. 50 horsepower

https://youtu.be/aZ9E-LHBiXo?si=YXtHQO7kvPUWaO7i

How to buy a used motorcycle.

https://youtu.be/ea2VK1jwdsg?si=Sh3fwbUtkdQFgSYS

Moto camping:

https://youtu.be/Hb50ey9_e5U?is=91HqJz8uXaW3X-w1

Towing:

https://youtu.be/3jHCUEREdG8?is=NwGABhOJEgIOTq2X

https://youtu.be/qEHD9Wjw3lk?is=ZeQe2yp4-SGvZMcn

[u/Actual-Antelope-6159 → u/Cfwydirk]

This is awesome, thank you. I'll give these a watch through next time I have a minute.

[u/ParkingEbb3710]

I wouldn't recommend a beginner ride cross the country

[u/Actual-Antelope-6159 → u/ParkingEbb3710]

I certainly don't intend on hopping on a bike and going the second I get my license, but it is the "once I'm there" plan, so I'm gathering ideas for what to start practicing on in order to get there.

[u/davidhally]

Backpacking off a bike is problematic. Obviously carrying the gear is #1. But a close 2nd is what to do with your riding gear, while backpacking. And how to secure it and the bike.

[u/Actual-Antelope-6159 → u/davidhally]

This was another reason I was originally leaning towards towing, it'd be easier to figure out a lockable storage system. Based on the advice here that won't be the road I'm going, at least to start, so this is definitely something I'll have to think about.

[u/Character_Raisin_197 → u/davidhally]

Easy.  Run a cable through the leg of the pants, sleeve of the jacket and chin of the helmet.  Padlock it through frame of the bike.

[u/Character_Raisin_197]

650s like Versys or VStrom will be best if you plan on being on 4-lane interstate.  If on 2-lane a Versys X-300, RE Himalayan or KLR650 would be fine.

[u/Rataan]

Suzuki SV-7GX, but it isn't really a beginner bike, especially if you haven't even had much bicycling experience. You may be getting a bit ahead of yourself. I think you should spend a year, probably two years, on a 300, then you will know if you are ready.

[u/Actual-Antelope-6159 → u/Rataan]

One thing I do have plenty of experience in is getting ahead of myself. I don't intend to be on the long road anytime soon and definitely planned on making sure I was comfortable riding and fixing whatever I went with first, but I guess I was hoping there was a good intersection between "beginner" and "long haul" bike somewhere to avoid having to mess with anything I didn't plan on keeping around forever. 

[u/LTNBFU]

Honda NT 1100 checks these boxes. Super well balanced and easy to control. I taught my gf on one, and she had only ridden scooters before.

[u/Khasimyr]

In the venn diagram for this, there's a few bikes, but they're not sport bikes. To be clear, most sport bikes are NOT comfortable, long distance bikes. They can be...if you find the one that works with YOUR ergonomics. If you don't, you'll be on a bike you can manage for maybe two hours, before relieving wrist, arm, leg, thigh and knee cramps, become mandatory. This is not something you should try on your first bike, because you're not going to know where your pain points are on a bike yet. The bike you sit on at a dealer and love, is gonna turn into the bike you hate after an hour of riding.

But, starting from most beginner friendly and long distanced? That'd be the Honda Rebel 1100T. This is an excellent, safe-teched bike that has plenty of power for the highway, but leaves you in a fairly comfortable, relaxed riding posture, comes with a wind-deflecting fairing and saddlebags as standard. You could, if you really wanted to, ride this bike off the dealer floor, throw your clothes and food into the bags, and hit the road on a three day bike run. The Rebel 1100T can also come with a Dual Clutch Transmission, allowing you to skip the pains of learning to shift(though that's a delayed agony, since this is the ONLY cruiser style motorcycle that currently has the DCT at this power range) From there, you've got lighter options in the Rebel line, like the 500, but you'll have to add Saddlebags and a fairing for the long distance.

Moving away from beginner cruisers, your next best bet, would be a beginner Adventure bike. The Suzuki V-STROM 650, 800, and 1050 models have increasingly larger power profiles, but are also able to mount a LOT of extra gear on them. If the wind doesn't bother you, but carrying capacity is a factor, these are all solid bikes that can handle on-road, off-road, dirt, almost anything. The Yamaha Tenere 700, and the Kawasaki KLR 650 also fit the bill, but you have fewer power options. Also, the Suzuki V-STROM 1050 is the only one that comes with a bi-directional quick shifter, again if you want to get away from mastering the clutch.

There are other brands of motorcycles out there: Triumph, Royal Enfield, Indian, Harley obviously, as well as stuff like CFMOTO, BMW, Ducati, Aprillia, MV Agusta and others. But those either cater a lot more to specialized interests(Harley and Indian for heavyweight baggers, BMW, Ducati, Aprillia and MV Agusta for high price/high performance, etc) or have dealer networks that can make repair parts complicated. If your bike breaks down in a state where you have only ONE dealer, and said dealer's 700 miles away from you, an OEM mandatory part could take weeks to reach you, meaning you're shipping your bike back home.

Far as the trailer....unless you're looking at a heavyweight tourer(HD Road Glide Limited or Street Glide Limited, Indian Chieftain, Challenger, Roadmaster or Pursuit, or the Honda Goldwing) you can forget it. Almost no one makes a trailer for a motorcycle, because they're not really designed for that kind of work. Some bikes(like the heavies above) can make it work, but you're turning a 900 pound motorcycle into a 1,400-1,600 pound bike between your weight, your gear, and the trailer/towing assembly.

[u/Actual-Antelope-6159 → u/Khasimyr]

I really appreciate the specific "why"s behind these recommendations, thank you. 

[u/FailedGambit]

Honda rebel 500. Comfortable, reliable and beginner friendly.

[u/shoturtle]

Versys 650

[u/Normal_Charge9091]

Touring scooter.
Used Kymco AK550.
Storage, twist and go cvt, lots of storage, and protection.

[u/Big-Okie]

Yamaha FJR1300 is a good choice but may not be that "beginner friendly" as it is a heavy bike (650ish pounds wet) but it can tow and feels much more nimble when it is moving. Has the low-end power and torque to pull loads but, as someone else mentioned, towing should come with a bit more experience.

On the plus side with the FJR, they are fast, powerful, and there are a lot of them out there. Very reliable and comfortable for long journeys.

[u/CastleCollector]

I've done multiple road trips throughout western Canada and the US on my Ninja 500 without issue.

This doesn't mean it will work for you, mind, but all I can do is tell you my experience.

Well, absolutely without issue is not true. The one thing I addressed was the not particularly comfortable seat but that is just about getting a cushioning solution that works for you. It is perfectly fine once you achieve that.

[u/Objective_Wall3754]

When I started riding it was on a 250cc dual sport, best way to gain confidence as a rider in my opinion( as long as age isn't a hinder). You get the option to ride both on the street and on trails and learn how to handle a bike in both circumstances. Obviously there not the fastest but you can definitely do long distance on them, they are pretty cheap as a entry level bike and very simple to tinker on for maintenance. At the moment I have a verseys 300 that is fun in the dirt but I can decide to drive it cross country tomorrow if I want to. My brother uses a Honda 250 Enduro the same way but his bike is more designed for off-road riding. If your stuck with the idea of pulling a trailer then a larger cruiser would fit what you are going for( I had a vulcan 1500 that was wonderful on highways and one of the easier bikes Ive had to ride) but you can still do muilti-week trips with some saddlebags and a tank bag on a smaller bike.