I was looking at getting a bike this year and I want something sporty yet not too big because I haven't ridden a bike since I was about 10. I stopped at a local motorcycle dealership today and saw the Ninja 250R and it seems perfect for me. It's physically small, the engine is small, and the price tag is small at $2,999 brand new, sounds like a nice starter bike.
Just thought I'd post and try to gather some opinions. As far as riding experience, like I said I used to ride dirt bikes all the time when I was younger and I am aware riding a dirt bike off-road =/= riding a street bike on the street but I was planning on taking a motorcycle safety course before I purchased a bike.
And here's the actual dealers page of the bike.
Linky
NauticaZ24 (The Paid One) wrote:Love how it looks!
Yea, the Candy Thunder Blue looks amazing in person and the Ebony looks pretty good as well.
all i saw was the maroon one
I really, really want a bike, but am quite terrified of them
NauticaZ24 (The Paid One) wrote:all i saw was the maroon one
I really, really want a bike, but am quite terrified of them
Click on colors on the right and you can see the other colors.
I, too, am a little scared of getting a bike, not so much of the bike itself but of other drivers because on one of those you don't really have anything to protect you besides a helmet and your clothes.
exactly. i would be fine if its myself, but i am scared of all the moron drivers here.
it's a great bike, you'll out grow it in a year or two though. Try and find one used because you'll probably crash it once or twice anyways.(everyone does) that way it'll be a few hundred bucks cheaper. a few friends of mine learned on ninja 250s. sorry if this comes off as an incomplete thought, i'm going to post about my rough day in the war(maybe) forum just to vent
"We ride together. We die together. Bad boys for life."
IMO.....start at least with a 500CC. A friend of mine back when I first got my first bike bought a 250 Ninja.....I bought a EX500(500 Ninja). He liked it at first then started to dislike the lack of power.
I learned on my EX500 and it had enough power to play with. It's up to you, but I would recommend at least a 500CC+ bike.
Tribals wrote:IMO.....start at least with a 500CC.
definitely. do not buy a 250, unless you can find a used one for very cheap. you will want a new bike very soon, and then you won't be able to find anyone to buy your old one. trust me, it's hard enough finding someone to buy my 500.
Ian Brown Music wrote:Tribals wrote:IMO.....start at least with a 500CC.
definitely. do not buy a 250, unless you can find a used one for very cheap. you will want a new bike very soon, and then you won't be able to find anyone to buy your old one. trust me, it's hard enough finding someone to buy my 500.
Well, I'm not a big guy to begin with, I'm only about 5'10", 150 lbs. I was looking at the assortment of 600's in the shop and they all seem really big compared to the 250.
another thing to think about. after you start riding on the street, you might not like it. it's risky riding a motorcycle but it is also a lot of fun. so at least if you spend very little on a bike and don't like it, you're not out thousands of dollars. an ex500 isn't bad to learn on, but unless you look around, it'll be more than a 250.
"We ride together. We die together. Bad boys for life."
I'm not either....6'1", 160. I am glad I learned on my EX500. I learned a lot. I am looking into getting a 750 now, but I have been riding over 14 years also.
Hell....there were some 600s that were lighter than my 500. I say 500 would be a good for you as a 600 may scare you.
Ian: You're selling your 500 already? I sold mine quick.....the guy took one look and gave me $2400 before even riding it!
BTW....I bought my EX500 for only $1700 w/3000 miles on it. This was back in 1992(1990 ex500).
eh, it's always for sale
if i do sell it, i want to get a Buell XB12S or a V-Max, but those are a little too expensive for my current financial situation, so I'd probably go bike-less for a while.
my brother bought a 99 ninja 250, in kawasaki green
, very nice bike, my dad even loves riding the thing. my dad is around 5' 11" and prob about 190lbs and he is comfortable on the bike. I myself have a '04 gs500f, gs500s aren't bad starter bikes so you might want to looks at them.
http://www.gstwins.com/gsboard/
I've been riding motorcycles all my life, got my license when I was 16 and now I'm 23. My main problem I run into with bikes is the fact that I'm short, I'm only 5' 5", last year I got brave and started riding my dads harley road king, its a monster.
good luck with the bike search.
| '89 Z24 Auto | '99 Prelude 5spd | '04 GS500F | '05 HD 883L |
If I were you I would look into a used 500 or older 600. They can be found for the same price. Chances are your gonna lay it down at least once. I would rather lay down an older used bike than something band new.
I'm 5'10" and I started with a Ninja 250. Here it is...
It was a 2002 Ninja250 with 2000 miles on it when I bought it, paid $1500. Those are the kind of the deals you can get all day long on 250's. I wouldn't buy it new, either.
I don't have that bike anymore. After 4 months, I was ready for something bigger. So I bought this Ninja..
You'll love the 250, but don't fool yourself, you're tall enough for a bigger bike, and you'll probably want one. Despite the 250's great performance (0-60 in 5.5, 1/4 in 13's), it's still at the very low end as far as sport bikes go.
Here's a fantastic review of the 250...
http://www.pashnit.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1145
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JuggaloZeke wrote:How much would you want for it?
more than you want to pay for it (more than anyone wants to pay for it)... $4100
I hadn't ridden a street bike before I bougth my bike either, I went for a 01' CBR 600 F4i. A couple buddies bought bikes at the same time as me, one bought a 600, one bought a 500 and one got the 250. Well less than half way through the season, the two with the 250 and 500 were kicking themselves.
The 600 is a perfect bike to start on, if you have self control. It's a bike you can keep for a couple years without getting bored. All you gotta do is just know your limits, dont hop on a try doin wheelies and flyin through twisties your first week. The bike is very respectable as long as you stay outta the throttle.
So from experience, a 250 or even 500 will make you kick yourself a few months down the road.
And just to add, I'm 5'10 160 and have no problem with the size of the bike.
The GoOoOch wrote:I hadn't ridden a street bike before I bougth my bike either, I went for a 01' CBR 600 F4i. A couple buddies bought bikes at the same time as me, one bought a 600, one bought a 500 and one got the 250. Well less than half way through the season, the two with the 250 and 500 were kicking themselves.
The 600 is a perfect bike to start on, if you have self control. It's a bike you can keep for a couple years without getting bored. All you gotta do is just know your limits, dont hop on a try doin wheelies and flyin through twisties your first week. The bike is very respectable as long as you stay outta the throttle.
So from experience, a 250 or even 500 will make you kick yourself a few months down the road.
And just to add, I'm 5'10 160 and have no problem with the size of the bike.
I think you'd only be kicking yourself if you paid $3000 for the 250 like he was talking. I paid $1500 and sold mine 4 months later for $1500. I kicked myself none. :d
You could also end up kicking yourself if you spend $4000 on a 600 and find out you don't like riding or fall off and get scared of riding. Many new riders scary themselves early and give up.
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i was looking at a ex500 a few months ago, they are pretty nice bikes however i need to pay my car off first before i get another payment, 250 seems too small IMO, i would say go with the 500. runs the 1/4 in low 13's high 12's so that should be enough power for a while i woudl think.
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i had a 1980 honda cb650 for many years
than i moved all the way up to a cbr929rr and now that i have 5 years on it i dont think i could go to a cbr 600 just to slow but the 600 is a very good bike to start on and stay on but as soon as you get on the 1000s look out
