Which bike to get?

Question

I've been looking at the 2008 ninja 250r, which seems to be a good starter bike. I'm just wondering how long its going to take for me to get bored with it. I was also wondering how it would perform with a passenger on it. Say the total weight was 270-280 lbs, would that be able to handle highway speeds? The other bike I was looking at was 2006 yamaha r6. It is alot more bike, however it also cost more. And it will cost more for insurance. Some say this isn't a good starter bike, but the bike can only go as fast as I allow it to. So if I'm a safe driver on it would it be a good starter bike? The price for one of those is more than the new ninja 250r's. I'm also 6'1" so would the 250r be to small for me? Which is a better bet?

Answer 1

if you're 6'1 I'd say go with a R6....it's a better bike over all

the 250R ninja is a great starter bike but soon you'll be tired of it...lack of speed/power etc...plus the fact that it's tiny between your legs

it's like a 6'1 guy driving a Mazda Miata or something....

Answer 2

The ninja 250 will run highway speeds without a problem I have one and it's not boring to ride, I also have a Kawasaki Z1000 and I enjoy riding the ninja 250 just as much as the Z1000. You could also look at the Ninja 500 or Suzuki GS500 for a first bike.

Answer 3

I still advise against the sportier bikes, because yes they have 100 hp, but its all in a narrow rpm range.  You have to learn to keep them in that very narrow power band to make use of them. You'll lean faster with a 250cc bike.  Yes, it is fully capable of 75 mph with 2 up.  (It was tested at 110 mph recently, with 200 lbs.)

Insurance on these is a prohibitive cost for a new rider. Like one third the cost of the bike every year.  And that is based on their experience, with riders like yourself that claim to be very responsible and the chances are, in three years you will write-off the bike.

Answer 4

definitely skip the 250.  my gf got one last summer, and she was practically begging me to let her ride my cbr600 after a couple weeks.  she's less than 100lbs too....

basically the 250 is good for learning how to ride a bike, if you've never ridden one before.  once you know how to drive a motorcycle, the 250 will be useless.

get a 600.... just don't drive like an idiot!

Answer 5

The Ninja 250R is best used by people under 6 feet tall and under 200lbs. Yes it will go with a bigger person but performance is greatly diminished at that point. Taller than 6Ft. and it's an uncomfy ride being such a small bike and all. Highway speeds? No. That's all I'll say there.

The 600 is just fine to start on. You won't get tired of it in a month.

If you already know and understand how to drive a manual transmission, it helps learning a motorcycle because it's one less thing you have to focus on when learning. The common saying is that if you can drive a stick and ride a bicycle, learning a motorcycle will be easy. If you can practice discipline and restraint when riding, you may be fine. It's not all fun and games on a sport bike. Even if you ride perfect you need to know how to react when other cars and bikes and trucks don't drive so perfect. That comes from building new instincts and reflexes, and driving habits. While I definitely recommend the class, the class doesn't usually teach all you need to know. Many, many riders go down every summer due to overconfidence gained by taking the class.

The first time I ever touched a motorcycle, it was a 1997 ZX6. I rode it around a parking lot for 5 minutes to find out how to shift, then rode 100 miles home on the interstate. I’ve been riding ever since with a clean riding history. (Thanks to God) So it is possible to start on something other than a 250. Generally speaking, a 600 is a beginner’s sport bike. The internet is the only place I’ve heard of anybody starting on anything other beside people who grew up riding dirt bikes.

When I ride on the highway, I assume that every car I pass or that passes me, doesn't see me and is looking to come into my lane. I'm ready for any move that car makes half a second before he makes it.

You have to learn aerodynamics. If you get to close behind a rig, the wind can trap you there. When you pass along side of a rig the wind will pull you closer to the truck at one point and push you away at another. You have to learn all this and have counter balance and movements programmed into your body reflexes. There is so much more to it. You need lots of practice.

People recommend smaller CC bikes for beginners because most newbies are into it for the speed and flashiness of it and often underestimate the seriousness of riding safe. The temptation to tap into that power is usually too great to overcome. If you know you can and will respect the bike and get at least a thousand miles of practice before hitting the highway, and before group rides, then maybe you can start on a 600cc bike. Otherwise, help yourself out and start small.