My son and I got our M1s this summer and a couple used Ninja 250s to use as starter bikes. Observations: This is a good hobby to start when you're younger. My

My son and I got our M1s this summer and a couple used Ninja 250s to use as starter bikes. Observations: This is a good hobby to start when you're younger. My 19yo son picked it up quickly, hasn't had any problems, handles the bike well and is of course, fearless. Myself, on the other hand, being 49yo and a klutz in general, has come close to disaster more than a handful of times, pulled my hamstring badly among other bumps and bruises, and it's only been a few months. I've yet to get to the point where the fun outweighs the fear. I've definitely had moments in the Santa Cruz mountains, but for the most part I'm seriously debating whether I'm going to keep riding.