I'm looking at a cruiser. And yes, MSC is priority #1 before i buy anything.
GOOD CALL!!! This is how I started out. Took the class. It's free here in PA and if you pass it, you have your license. Passed it, waited a few months, pulled the trigger on my bike. I had never been behind bars until the class, and it was DEFINITELY the way to go.
If you are wanting to learn on something decent for a decent price, look at a Honda Shadow if you are going the cruiser route.
Bingo. The Shadow is a nice bike. For the price range, you're going to be finding a lot of older to newer Jap cruisers...and there is NOTHING WRONG WITH A METRIC BIKE!!! (obligatory statement in case you thought you were EVER going to find a "decent" Harley for that price). Search on craigslist and local papers and you'll find quite a bit. For that price range, there are going to be a LOT of sportbikes and fewer cruisers, but I would agree that a cruiser is a smart way to go for a first ride. It's more comfy for most, the power is there but not going to kill you, and you'll be training on one at the class which will make it an easier transition. A few names to look for would be Honda Shadow, Kawasaki Vulcan (my preference), Vstar.
DO NOT BUY A SMALL BIKE because it's your first...
too many people buy a 250 to 'learn' on and then 3 months (less usually) later they regret buying it because they want a bigger bike.
Learn on what you will ultimately want. Dont do the 'starter bike' thing - I am a long time biker (custom chopper) and here and see this year after year after year.
save yourself.
serious.
Agreed here, too. I'd say go as big as you can afford. In a cruiser, you're not going to get something too huge for that money, but you don't really want to go with anything less than say a 750/800, either. I learned at the MSF course on a Kawi Vulcan 125 Eliminator. My first, and only, bike is a Vulcan 1600 Mean Streak. BIG difference between the two, but I went out and bought what I wanted and learned THAT BIKE from scratch. I'm in year 4 of riding, 25,000 miles on that badboy, and continue to learn every time I take it out. I started out on it taking it very easy and increased speed, riding aggressiveness, etc as I became more comfortable with it. I push my limits sometimes, but only just a hair beyond my comfort level in rather controlled conditions.
BEST ADVICE I CAN OFFER: Don't just have a cool looking bike in mind and go buy it. It's like a couch. You have GOT to do an arse test on it first. Sit on the thing. Make sure that it feels comfortable to you - seating position, pegs, bars, controls. Imagine yourself in the saddle for 500 miles at one time. You may NEVER do that, but try to imagine it. That way you'll know if you can take the "fit" and will be happy with it for much shorter hops.
Good luck! When you get behind the bars of something, let us know and post pics!!!
