You are on course my friend,but unless you are over 6ft and over 75KGs,just try a 250cc first for the experience before you get something more powerful.
I just got a Yamaha XT660X which is superb!!
Sports Bikes
Before that I had a Honda CBR250R which is a sports bike - unless you want to ride weekend only and 100% on tarmac,avoid a street bike. They are fast and flashy,but that is the whole package. np comfort,no time to see where you are as u r zooming by all the time,cost too much to fix if u drop it etc
Trail Bikes
I then got a Yamaha TTR250,Fantastic machine,this one. The only way to kill this bike is to have it run over by a chain-type tractor. It will go anywhere you dare to go,it will carry your weight at fair speed and kunywas very kidogo. Very good for filtering in traffic too. No excitement,no major impressions,just a good,faithful workhorse.
Dual purpose (Supermoto)
Not very common around here,but very,very good,many are made for about 80% on the road use which is excellent for your daily commute. 20% offroad with good tyres,they can still be used for weekend adventures and those trips to remote places. Most ideal for nairobi pple as most supermotos tend to have an appealing look,and all round performance - great!
Engine sizes:
250cc - Bikes upto 250cc are great for a first bike. You will outgrow it quickly especially if you ever try something bigger. Recommended for nairobi to beat jam,but crap for long distances especially on good road where u want to cruise at fair speeds. Honda XR250,Yamaha TTR250 are your best bet.
350-750cc - Best range to settle at for life. No one really needs more that this amount of power. Currently the 600cc class is most purchased worldwide. Good power without being extra fast (unless it's an R6 or a ZX6). Try the trail or supermoto,best utility bikes ever! Honda XR or XL 600/650 and Yamaha XT660 or TTR600 are ur bext bet.
Makes
Yamaha - My fav. all good,hard to kill engines almost as good as Hondas. Trail TTR 250,XT660. Street - The renown R6,R1.
Honda - Legendary reliability. You wont go wrong. But i dont like 'em. Trail - XR250/650 and XL250/600. Street - The legendary CBR range of 250,600,1000
Suzuki - Nice and well built,no match for the top 2,but good. Trail/Supermoto DR250,DR350 and DRZ400 are worth a try. Sports/Street - GSX250/600
Kawasaki - Fast and ..??? nothing extra,parts not readily available,stick with Honda/Yamaha. Trail - KLE/KLR in 250,600. Street - Very fast ZX-6,ZX-12 etc..
KTM/BMW - Europeans can both afford to buy and run these near perfect bikes. Not worth the trouble unless u know kina Ian Duncan personally to benefit from discounts etc... If you go for a KTM,make sure it is a KTM 640 Adventurer,you can get 250 range if u want. BMW - F650 comes out on top.
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Get yourself a bike,you will never be the same again.
Baraka za Mungu ni za Ajabu