Hi, im interested in getting into bikes. Planning to go to a driving school and get the license this year (hopefully if covid stays down). Looking for something to have fun with and im interested to see your recommendations for a starter bike. If I were to give a budget, would 200k get something decent?   

I would start with a Honda Navi. It's actually a cool looking scooter than can be easily mistaken for a small bike but it's a good place to start.

I used to ride a Yamaha Gladiator. Boy that particular model was so freaking heavy and unwieldy! But Yamaha's have good powerful engines. I'm only slightly familiar with the Indian collaboration bikes, not Japanese imports.

For a full flown bike, Bajaj is know for being economical and easy to ride, not always the most fun but reliable. And have plenty parts for repairs.

Bikes can be rather intimidating for some people, it was for me. I like my bike, but I wish that for my first bike I have gotten something that was lighter and easier to handle. Riding a bike is not very safe in LK, mostly because of other undisciplined drivers on the road, specially buses and tippers. I think it's important to build up confidence for new riders, so start with whatever is the easiest to ride.

I gave up riding because of too many close calls with a-hole bus drivers! On too many occasions my life was dependent on how steady I could keep the bike cause just a few inches turn could have ended with me crashing to a bus on either side!!!

I used to ride a Yamaha Gladiator. Boy that particular model was so freaking heavy and unwieldy! But Yamaha's have good powerful engines. I'm only slightly familiar with the Indian collaboration bikes, not Japanese imports.

Hey thanks for the reply. I actually started riding school yesterday and they gave me this 100cc Loncin bike (Chinese I think). Looks kinda like the honda super cub. They gave me one of those and asked me to ride in a figure of 8. IDK if im being a weak a**, what I immediately noticed is how heavy that bike was to steer. That also made it very difficult to balance. Idk if this is something I will get used to or if I should go to an even smaller bike like the Navi u just mentioned. The only other motorcycle I have ridden is a scooter my mom had. That was easily maneuverable. 

For a full flown bike, Bajaj is know for being economical and easy to ride, not always the most fun but reliable. And have plenty parts for repairs.

Me, I would be buying Japanese as Im getting into this solely for the purpose of enjoyment.

Riding a bike is not very safe in LK, mostly because of other undisciplined drivers on the road, specially buses and tippers. I think it's important to build up confidence for new riders, so start with whatever is the easiest to ride.

I gave up riding because of too many close calls with a-hole bus drivers! On too many occasions my life was dependent on how steady I could keep the bike cause just a few inches turn could have ended with me crashing to a bus on either side!!!

Yea, I have seen this in person. Some people are very careless and dont give a damn about other road users. Most bus drivers have the 'might has the way of right' attitude towards everyone else and expects you to get out of their way. Then there's the three-wheeler drivers cutting in whenever they can. I have even seen some of them even bully Learner drivers by getting as close as possible and honking when there's enough room to go around. Then on the side roads which are usually quite narrow and has twists and turns and people living, most people drive full speed.

I guess I'll be gearing up to my teeth. But then the affordable safety gear for the average person doesn't seem to be having any standard. I looked into a few helmets, knee and arm guards. They didn't look like they could protect you if u were to fall. By any chance do you know any good recommendations for safety gear?

Hey thanks for the reply. I actually started riding school yesterday and they gave me this 100cc Loncin bike (Chinese I think). Looks kinda like the honda super cub. They gave me one of those and asked me to ride in a figure of 8. IDK if im being a weak a**, what I immediately noticed is how heavy that bike was to steer. That also made it very difficult to balance. Idk if this is something I will get used to or if I should go to an even smaller bike like the Navi u just mentioned. The only other motorcycle I have ridden is a scooter my mom had. That was easily maneuverable. 

When you say "heavy to steer", do you mean the bike was heavy or the steering was tight? Because if it's the steering then it's probably intentional to give you more control so you don't oversteer. The Learners' bikes are usually rigged to make it easier to pass. Most importantly clutch balance; the engine won't stall so easily on their bikes and you will have more control at slower speeds on 2nd gear, even 3rd. Don't make the mistake of staying on 1st gear, so much harder to control the bike.

I never really went to driving school because I already had my car license and I was overconfident that I could teach myself... 
I practiced on 1st gear like a retard without realizing how much easier it was to handle on 2nd! I practiced figure 8 but had no clear idea of the actual setup I would deal with during trials. I was so not ready I can't even imagine how I passed... 

But I did register with learners because it's just so much more convenient and they took me for practice a week before the trials. And I don't remember doing so well on my bike, I think I kept putting my foot down on the figure 8 because it was tighter than I had practiced and my bike was heavy. So I ended up practicing the whole day on theirs, biggest problem was that I kept putting my foot down, a big no no during trials. I just had to get used to the bike.

We did another practice run a day before the trials and I passed next day easy. Just make sure to practice on the same bike you'll be using on during trials, you'll get the hang of it.

Me, I would be buying Japanese as Im getting into this solely for the purpose of enjoyment.

I would seriously suggest you find some alternate form of entertainment in LK, it's just not safe here... No matter how careful you are, when you get that bike, you're gonna wanna ride it fast, I guarantee it! We just don't have a place to do so safely here. I love speed, but there are some things that we should enjoy only in video games. Sorry if I bummed you out... 

By any chance do you know any good recommendations for safety gear?

I can't really think of anything better than a good full face cover helmet, I doubt anything else is really gonna help much... The pads/guards are mostly only good for scrapes/bruises, and the occasional hairline fracture, but if you don't plan on falling down all the time, not much to worry about. I never bothered with them cause too much of a hassle, but then again I wasn't really just driving around for fun, so if you are willing to take the trouble then all the better!

A good thick jacket would help with scrapes/bruises too and look cool at the same time. 

When you say "heavy to steer", do you mean the bike was heavy or the steering was tight? Because if it's the steering then it's probably intentional to give you more control so you don't oversteer. Most importantly clutch balance; the engine won't stall so easily on their bikes and you will have more control at slower speeds on 2nd gear, even 3rd. Don't make the mistake of staying on 1st gear, so much harder to control the bike.

What I felt was the handle being too tight to steer than I expected. Idk if this is normal as the only other motorcycle I have ridden is a small 2T scooter. That was almost easy as a bicycle. This idk if they have rigged the bike as u mentioned. Doing the 8 figure with that bike was soo tough as a result because it was difficult to turn and I kept putting my foot down.

I never really went to driving school because I already had my car license and I was overconfident that I could teach myself... 
I practiced on 1st gear like a retard without realizing how much easier it was to handle on 2nd! I practiced figure 8 but had no clear idea of the actual setup I would deal with during trials. I was so not ready I can't even imagine how I passed... 

But I did register with learners because it's just so much more convenient and they took me for practice a week before the trials. And I don't remember doing so well on my bike, I think I kept putting my foot down on the figure 8 because it was tighter than I had practiced and my bike was heavy. So I ended up practicing the whole day on theirs, biggest problem was that I kept putting my foot down, a big no no during trials. I just had to get used to the bike.

We did another practice run a day before the trials and I passed next day easy. Just make sure to practice on the same bike you'll be using on during trials, you'll get the hang of it.

I dont think u missed out alot by not going to a driving school. I feel driving schools here dont let you practice enough. The one I went for bikes on Saturday only gave me the bike for 15 mins and was like "We'll see u next week then" -_- . The other driving school I went to practice for car license couple years back only gave me 10 mins! They only let u do a bit more when the trial dates are close. I was only good enough to pass the driving test. No way I could have gone in traffic on my own with a car with the L boards off. It really is bad tbh for everyones safety by handing a license to a person with that kind of skill. I have no clue how this one would go for bikes.
 

The turn rate of a scooter is crazy unsafe like a tuk tuk! Turning a bike is definitely not the same, you will be mostly using your weight + subtle assistance from handle bars to make turns on fast rides, turning with handle bars will be mostly for short slow turns at stops and situations like figure 8.

As for the stiff steering on your bike, I guess you'll only find out if you ride another one, and it's not supposed to turn like a scooter anyway. Did you try asking your trainer about it? Or for any advice on how to try and handle it better?

I think I went with Daya Learners, I feel like they gave more than 10-15 mnts. But it's mostly about repetition anyway, muscle memory and all that. Twice a week would be better though. I feel 10-15mnts at the very beginning is somewhat understandable, because even if you trained that whole day, it still wouldn't matter as much as the few minutes over several weeks, but yeah, they should increase it over time.

Even after you get the license you should be using the L board for at least 3 months or till you are confident and comfortable. Stay off main roads as much as possible and avoid traffic. As soon as you build up the confidence you'll be ready, and don't let a fall discourage you, happens to the best of us.

Best of luck! 

The turn rate of a scooter is crazy unsafe like a tuk tuk! Turning a bike is definitely not the same, you will be mostly using your weight + subtle assistance from handle bars to make turns on fast rides, turning with handle bars will be mostly for short slow turns at stops and situations like figure 8.

As for the stiff steering on your bike, I guess you'll only find out if you ride another one, and it's not supposed to turn like a scooter anyway. Did you try asking your trainer about it? Or for any advice on how to try and handle it better?

I guess I'll have to hop on another bike and see how it goes. And no, I didnt ask the instructor. This week I think I should hop into another bike they got and see if that feels the same and then ask the guy. 

I think I went with Daya Learners, I feel like they gave more than 10-15 mnts. But it's mostly about repetition anyway, muscle memory and all that. Twice a week would be better though. I feel 10-15mnts at the very beginning is somewhat understandable, because even if you trained that whole day, it still wouldn't matter as much as the few minutes over several weeks, but yeah, they should increase it over time.

Hopefully they do.

Even after you get the license you should be using the L board for at least 3 months or till you are confident and comfortable. Stay off main roads as much as possible and avoid traffic. As soon as you build up the confidence you'll be ready, and don't let a fall discourage you, happens to the best of us.
Best of luck! 

Thats true. Thanks for the info man. Really appreciate it.