ResidualFreedom

I'm startin riding this year guys.. I was considering a 2000 R6, highly reccomended from the riders I've talked to, however after alot of research I'm now considering a newer Kawi Ninja 250R... I made a little list..

--PROS--

-pick it up for under three grand, learn on it for the season, sell it next season for 2500+ and basically make my money back

-f I drop it I didn't spend that much money on it..... don't want to drop an eight grand bike!! I'm jealous of you gys riding those 10K+ sports bikes..

-If I run into a problem situation, I've got a good ammount of power to manouver, but not so much that I'll quickly find myself jumping 30mi/h with a 1/4 turn of the throttle.

- decent insurance for my first year.... at least better than the larger bikes

- there are many more reasons to justify the 250R, I just wanted you guys to know I am aware of these.. But I still want the power of the 600's..

--CONS--

- The 250r does the 1/4 with near idential numbers to a stock type-s.. My car would be faster than my bike... I do realize riding in a car and on a bike is very very different so this shouldn't really be a concern.

- I'm told will besick of the 250 after a month.. my comments are "then I'll get to learn how to ride properly, without worry of going too fast or loosing control", but in the back of my head I'm kinda worried about it.

- "IT'S A GIRL'S BIKE" ... I know I'm not going to be giving ride to people in my first year anyway.. I'm not allowed in ontario (for 90 days min), plus I won't take someone elses life into my hands in my first year of riding. But seriously will I get a laugh from people driving a 250? don't really care but I would lie if I said it wasn't a thought.




A couple other options I was considering:

- something bigger than the 250 but not as large as a 600, I just don't have enough knoledge about which sport "style" bikes fit into that catagory, everything I find through searches tends to be naked bikes or cruisers.

- If I got an older 600 sport bike, mid 90's, basically in the three grand range, I know the insurance would still get me, but my real question, with the bike being so old, would it be a reasonable choice as a starter? or does the bike still have close to the ammount of today's 600s but not teh technology to controlthe bike.. ( inferior suspension, brakes, etc..)


I consider myself a very good driver (doesn't everybody) who could handle a 600sport bike as a starter bike however, I'm trying to be "smart" and listen to the authors of the articles I've read, the members on the forums I've visited, people I talk to at work and my friends who have rode bikes...

I'm just lookin for a little guidance/ reassurance with my choice... Thanks in Advance...

Patrick
ResidualFreedom

wickedk24

Respect the machine

mr5parkle

iTrader: (1)

i started on a '91 yamaha fzr600 for 1300. yes it was a 600cc bike, but it was slow. then i upgraded to an '04 cbr600rr for 6000. started the same time as my friend but he bought an '05 r6. guess who walked away and still has their bike?

and take the msf course if they offer that in canada. and ride smart, but everyone does something stupid once in a while

danny25

my friend bought a Suzuki GS500E new and learned on it. It was very easy to learn on, it's a v-twin so the throttle's not as jumpy as a 4 cylinder. And imo it looks better than a Ninja 250.

I, on the other hand, started with an 02 CBR600 and I haven't had any problems controlling it.

Maddizm

iTrader: (5)

Just get the one you want from the getco. I'd say don't dick around with a 250. You want the R6 just get it. You're gonna ride the 250 to get used to bikes? well you're gonna have to get used to the R6 all over again. My first bike I thought like you to. I was thinkin' "i should just get some weak bike that I don't care about." I just said screw it.. went balls out and bought a 2001 r6. I was just very careful with it and yeah since I've dropped it twice in what like 6 years? But those weren't even my fault (got nudged by a car from behind TWICE) If it's gonna happen then it's destined to happen. I was pissed at the time, but gettin' back on it and gunnin' the throtlle, well that pissed feeling just kinda went away. Now I got an 05 R1. Do i need the power? not really, but with the choices I had in 05 I just bought it b/c I like the way it looked. so my ? JUST GET DAT SHIT!! of course I didn't consider other factors insurance and all that, but I would put the 3k i got towards the bike and fahgetaboutit!

sxlova07

Check out this thread. You will see that ppl will suggest you start off on a 250/500cc (so not a girl's bike) bike and working your way from there. Other riders wont laugh at you and if they do, than quite honestly they are jerks with no appreciation for what the smaller bikes have to offer.

I would say get a 250/500 ride it for a few months, gain some experience, sell it and get the '00 R6 that you like. Personally I started off on a '99 kawi zx-6e and although it was a bit of a porker allowed me to get accustom to riding. And I've just progressed into more and more "aggressive" motorcycles, to which I am still learning from now. At the end its your decision, so make one, get a bike and enjoy yourself. And most of all stay safe.

ilitig8

I am firmly in the get a "learner bike". I have more than one friend make the jump to begin with and regret it, but you are going to do what you think is right.

The Ninja 250 is the best first bike if you like sport bikes, plus selling it is EASY and you will pay little to own it. The Suzuki GS500 is also a great "standard" starter. You could also think about the Ninja 500, still a good first bike but will hold your fancy longer than the 250. A couple of others are the Honda 599 and the Buell Blast (really cool thumper).

I always tell people to consider it this way, if you had a 16 year old son who to his credit was very mature would you give him a Hennesy Viper with no roll protection and no seat belts? (This is not unlike you and a bike, mature BUT limited is skill) No a 600 sport bike isn't a liter bike monster BUT they will run tens and 0-60 in the LOW 3s, they are more on edge handling wise than standards, have huge braking potential and will high side you in a milli second and will jump up 10 mph with a 16th turn of the throttle and that can happen in a heart beat when you hit a chuckhole until you get used to it.

In the end I always feel like starting on a smaller bike makes tons of sense but it is your life and limbs!

Teh Jatt

get a learner bike... 250 or 500 and then upgrade

1killercls

If thats a V-Twin I am Harley Davidson.

Water-S

if it was me I'd go with a 250 at first. my first bike was a mid 80s(i forget the year) Shadow 600. yes I know the 600 is bigger than the 250. however I can about put money on it when practicing(at least in Ohio) for the "cones test"(you have to drive through a little set of cones like with a car driver's test) you will drop the bike ATLEAST once. now grant it I'm up to a 1800 cc. but I've been riding dirt bikes for about 15 years and riden cycles for 5 years. so you gotta start small and work your way up.

CBRTLS47

I am 18 and just started in riding in feb. I chose to start off with a ninja 250. great bike not slow in the least bit but very easy to manuver. the bike only weighs 304 lbs. plenty of power on the highway. and I only pay $14 a month for insurance. thats with 1 wreck and 2 speeding tickets. gas is great easily 55mpg with hard riding. I would say that my bike is as fast as my 02 TL-S modded with h/i/e. When u drop it u wont feel as bad and its cheap to repair, same bike has been made since like 1986 or something... long time and all basically the same. Get the 250, if you must have more power go with the 500.

joedokes28

What motorcycle is 1800ccs?

Deity711

I'm a complete motorcycle noob, but when it comes to starter bikes, how come no one recommends the Nighthawk? Because when I'm bored day-dreaming at work and looking at bikes, the Nighthawk seems like it would be fun and easy to start on. Hope someone can educate me.

jmbnova

Heres a question for you... how big are you? I only ask because if I were to get on a 250, it would look like I was riding a pocket rocket... I'm a big guy... also, being a big guy would mean that you might be able to handle a little 'heftier' of a bike...

Just something to think about....

My $.02 is to go for the 600 to start... or maybe even the Kawasaki 500 but NOT the 250... One, they are tiny bikes and Two, you will be used to it and want more in a very short time... with a new one only $3k, who would buy a used one?

CBRTLS47

Well my dad has a Honda VTX 1800...1.8 liter engine in a bike that only weighs 1200 lbs. I dont know what else does though

Teh Jatt

cruisers...


Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 LTD

subdued

I agree with those who posted 250 or 500, the kawi EXs or the GS will be fine to learn on and develop skills. And I disagree with those who said you will get sick of it after a month. also I disagree with the "just get what you want" comment. Unless you have some incredible innate riding ability you will drop it and break stuff. Bikes with less plastic parts are therefore better. Do not, I repeat DO NOT be concerned with what your "friends" think. When you master countersteering, weight transfer via throttle, trail braking etc on your fun, flickable smaller bike and out ride your friends on their R1s you will be happy.

Pick up the Sport Riding Techniques book my Nick ienatsh --it has so much good info about riding. This advice is coming from ed, 10 years riding experience on third moto-purely recreational rider. and I didn't start off with a smaller cc bike myself and paid mucho in skin and parts for my mistakes-it wasn't fancy but just too much 750cc. Rider safety courses in the US use really small hondas to teach and you get your license by passing the course. maybe CAN has something similar. If you don't think 250s are fast and fun tell that to the guys running the 250 class at MotoGP (speeds near 200mph) and AMA. Don't forget the gear! Dress for the crash not the ride.

Have fun on 2 wheels!!

Teh Jatt

You'll thank your self later when you upgrade to new bike from 250/500.

danny25

haha oops, I was thinking of the sv650.

teranfon

Its interesting everyone mentions the proper bike to get but not the proper training. Before you even consider which bike to purchase take an approved motorcycle course. Purchase the complete gear you require as well. Helmet, jacket, overpants, and gloves. A 250 or 1300cc machine isn't going to make a tremendous amount of difference to you when an individual backs into your path and you haven't learned the basic fundamentals such as push steering or threshold braking.

Any machine, regardless of size or manufacture, can be both a tremendous amount of fun AND deadly. In my 30 odd years of riding I've had the good fortune to own over 20 motorcycles, and often the smaller displacement bikes have been the most fun.

Good luck. Ride safe.

Terry

danny25

^ http://www.msf-usa.org/

subdued

Ah, but I did indeed sir.

subdued

actually danny25, a V-twin is more torque-ey than an inline 4 off the line. so the throttle is twitchy at the low end. V-twins are not ideal for starter bikes unless its very small cc(and not sure what bike that would be.). Inline 4s have the crazy top end and are sorta mellow down low, unless we are talking GSXR 1000s or haya.... BTW I'm on my second SV650.

danny25

good to know. I never spent any time on a v-twin, I was repeating (apparently bad) info someone else had told me.

moomaster_99

A lot of ppl have their own ideas about what works and what doesnt.....and anyone who has owned a v-twin will tell you they are all about torque...and very twitchy....not smooth like an I4...

250/500 depends what you feel you can handle....yeah a 250 might ONLY be as fast as your CL/TL with HIE....but then again, your TL is faster than 80-85% of all the other cars built out there. Now that I think about it....if i had learned on a 500 v. my gsxr600...it would probably have made a world of diff....a sportbike is a way different beast compared to say a ninja 500...the stance and steering are a lot more to get used to for a first time rider....and remember....the power to weight is BETTER than a Viper....or any other production sportscar in the world....

Like i always say, its up to you to know what is right for you...none of us can tell you otherwise, we can only offer our opinions and experience. Equipment is paramount....at the very least get a good jacket....(not just the prettiest one, although they can be one in the same)...and a helmet (there is much debate, but a full face helmet at the very least....brand is debatable.)...and a good pair of gloves....boots and pants are nice....but realistically they arent always something you'll wear....

synth19

check out my scooter thread.

teranfon

Apologies to you and Mr5parkle, as you both mentioned taking the course. Personally, even though I have ridden many years, I still take an advanced course or two every few years.

Terry

Water-S

my new Goldwing is. they've had 1800 since I think 01 or something like that. it's a 6 cylinder.