Ive got to agree(from experiance) that haveing dirt experiance does translate into an advantage when switching to street. Especialy when you have to get off onto a gravel road or ride when its wet. You 'feel' the bike more, what its doing under you.

Get him a ninja or rebel 250 BBH or a EN 500 or ninja 500 if he wants to hang with mom n dad. Id say most of his times going to be solo or with friends instead. Its just a fact of life with teenagers. They may love mom n dad but running with them is 'Lame.'....lol

Of course this is the perfect opportunity for YOU to upgrade. Give him your ride and move up to a C50 or S50.

Babyhog,

Whoops, I must have been typing while you posted - anyway the small vulcan 500 is a good MC. It will work for his size, my son rode one while he was in high school, and still occasionally rides it during the summer.

Does your son have a (legal) place to ride off road? If not that aspect of a motorcycle is at best wasted and at worst a temptation that he won't be able to resist.

Even with that available, I wonder how much switching between off/on road riding a new rider will do.

With a dedicated road bike he will be much more comfortable and imho likely to ride on the road. I agree wholeheartedly with the recommendation not to start on a high-powered sport bike. The Ninja 250 is not overpowered, and may even be a little underpowered - not a bad thing. Most of the smaller cruisers fall into this category. Plus the Ninja will get great gas mileage and it will look enough like it's big brothers that most new young riders will be OK with it's looks. He's not so tall that he will look really awkward on it.

With a dedicated off road bike, again imho, he will be better able to keep up with other riders off road, and less likely to push his equipment past the limits trying to keep up and thereby break something (most likely himself).

As you already know, a road bike isn't suitable for off roading, and an offroad bike isn't suitable for riding on highways. Since a dual sport is trying to be both, they tend to be unsuitable for both. If all he is going to do is ride around town, and on the neighbors back lot, a dual sport is probably ideal, otherwise, I think that choosing one or the other will result in a better experience as a first MC.

Watch the seat height on dual sports and off road bikes.

Viragos are supposed to be decent bikes but im told they have a real problem with the stator going out on them.
Big differance between the vulc and virago.
Vulcans have a pretty good following and reputation.

For a beginner the ninja 250 or 500 the rebel 250 or vulcan 500 are hard to beat. SV650 as well. Another SB is the Katana 600.

I did a LOT of research before i got back to rideing and i was looking hard for a Vul 500. At the time they were HIGH and my s40 came along at a VERY good deal.
Now the vul 500 can be picked up at a pretty good price with the economy in the tank. Rock solid engine, its had a long run just as the LS650/S40 has so its pretty dependable.

Pick up a late model for 2500 or so easy and ive seen a few as low as 2000. Mid to late 90s model will run 1500 and up with low miles.
2 localy with right around 1000 miles for about 2800.
Down side is little after market just like for the savage.

if the Virago is already having problems, they'll probably continue, but if it's cheap enough it might be worth it, if you want your son to learn wrenching and the pride in that as well are riding, but if your son just wants to ride and not worry about wrenching then I'd avoid a older bike that is already showing problems as it might just end up as a really expensive lawn ornament

Well I think babyhog oughtta check with spacepirates and that VLX.. sure I bag on it pretty good, but it is still a solid and reliable bike w/good balance of suitability for beginner ..and potential for rowdy teenage fun.  

Rode spacepirates vlx today. Gotta say...I wasnt too impressed. It was quiet, super smooth, comfy, a little buzzy for me. It also was not nearly as nimble as the savage. Not even a close. It felt like it was fighting me to turn. AND you cant adjust the handlebar angle...WTFs with that? Comparing it to the savage is like comparing a cadillac with a ww2 jeep. I prefer the jeep. Only thing about it that stirred my soul was the looks and the price he got it for.

I keep clear of Yahama bike becouse they use brush type altenators.  Most bikes use permant magnets.   That is why their rotors burn out.   I've had three  and  guess what

All Three Burned out their Roters ,    And you would not believe what  Yahama want for new ones !

I'm not saying they doin't work for a while but ,  tic toc tic toc tic toc   its going to happen !

"Like Poop to a Blanket" Mick??
Thats a new one to me...lol