steve_s

Im looking into getting a bike at the end of this summer. I have never ridden a motorcycle before so I want a beginner bike. What are your comments on the Ninja 250r. It seems inexpensive, probablly because the engine is only 249cc. How slow will it be because of the small engine. I dont want something too slow. Thanks alot.

Thasty

They are fast enought to get you into trouble. Personally I started on a 500cc, but you will have a lot of people tell you start on a 250 which is fine also.

Just take an MSF course and buy gear.

Channinator

start on a 600cc, thats what i did! its not that bad, just as long as you limit yourself to what the bike is capable of

Gotcha

I should have my blue 2003 250R by Tuesday hopefully. The bank is taking forever getting my loan stuff together. I am so excited. I chose it because it seems to fill my needs perfectly. Its small, good on gas, cheap to insure, and a hell of alot faster than my car, so thats good enough for me. Its going to be my first two wheeled experience also, and I am so excited.

The beauty of the 250 is that they are cheap to begin with, forgiving to learn to ride on, and when you sell it in 1-2 years you really haven't lost all that much money. I am buying mine for 2,300 and will probably sell it this winter for 2 grand or so. A good investment IMHO.

Etylorcen

As long as you dont destroy it you should be able to sell it for the price you bought it for. You can always find a used ex250 or ex500 for a good deal and ride it for a year then sell it for what you paid.

integra dave

steve dont buy a bike you are nucking futs

MAKAROV

NO WAY THAT BIKE IS SO ******* SLOW

that was my first bike i got sick of it in a month!
go with a 600

NINJA 250 =

Goullish

I'm looking at 250s as well, but I'm looking at older models due to monetary issues. Seems like a very good bike for me, plus, I'm very light, so get up and go shouldn't be a problem for what I want.

To the guy above - Some people don't feel that they need something over powered, or very fast, for their skill or pleasure. I know that for me a 250 would be nice ( I used to ride semi-aggresive dirt on a 100, and it was "fast" for me). It all depends on your demenor.

MAKAROV

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Goullish &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm looking at 250s as well, but I'm looking at older models due to monetary issues. Seems like a very good bike for me, plus, I'm very light, so get up and go shouldn't be a problem for what I want.

To the guy above - Some people don't feel that they need something over powered, or very fast, for their skill or pleasure. I know that for me a 250 would be nice ( I used to ride semi-aggresive dirt on a 100, and it was "fast" for me). It all depends on your demenor.</TD></TR></TABLE>

ok ok just my opinion, but in that case, WHY GET A SPORT BIKE?

Goullish

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EJ8GSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

ok ok just my opinion, but in that case, WHY GET A SPORT BIKE?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Because you want to be able to get on it every now and then. And for me, because I might want to bring it up occasionally (which, if I could do at will on my Honda 100, I should have no problem doing on a 250)

MAKAROV

a 250 ninja is slow. bottom line.
dirt bikes and street bikes are VERY different, you really can't compare them

NINJA 600R = Integra TypeR
NINJA 250R = 88 civic 1.5 liter

Goullish

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EJ8GSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a 250 ninja is slow. bottom line.
dirt bikes and street bikes are VERY different, you really can't compare them

NINJA 600R = Integra TypeR
NINJA 250R = 88 civic 1.5 liter</TD></TR></TABLE>

Haha, I like your comparison. I never said they weren't slow, I just said that the 600 might be too fast to begin with. Nothing wrong with sporting an 88 EF when you are just learning to drive.

MAKAROV

good point, i didnt think of it like that

i think if you can control yorself you can very easily handle a 600

i learned on a 250 but i hated it in like 2 weeks and sold it for a 600
that's just me though, no hard feelings lol

Gotcha

I've had my 250 for ~ 2 weeks and I'm still loving it. Its definately fast enough for the beginner. Faster than most of the other cars on the road, thats good enough for me. I'll probably sell it end of the summer and pick up a 600 during the winter price drops, but IMHO a 250 is the perfect bike for someone who's never ridden anything other than a bicycle.

After two weeks of riding and maybe 250 miles or so, I just don't think that a 600 would be as forgiving as the 250 has been. I've made a few mistakes I probably would be regretting greatly now if I had been on a heavier or more powerful bike.

The best thing about the 250 is that even if you only ride it for a year you loose almost no money. Pretty sound investment to me. 250

Edit: Forgot to mention about the whole "getting it up". Its definately possible, but probably a little harder than it was on that dirtbike.

kraeji

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EJ8GSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a 250 ninja is slow. bottom line.
dirt bikes and street bikes are VERY different, you really can't compare them

NINJA 600R = Integra TypeR
NINJA 250R = 88 civic 1.5 liter</TD></TR></TABLE>

dude.. what are you smoking.. Did you forget about power to weight ratio?

NINJA 600 &gt; Dodge Viper
NINJA 250 &gt; Integra TypeR

The 600 is not a begginer bike.. it's basically a race bike with turn signals. The 250 or 500 is a perfect beginning bike. You should learn how to corner and ride first.. then think about getting a 600. You'll learn faster on a 250 b/c you won't be scared to twist the throttle.

mos

Werd.

How 'fast' is a modern 600 compared with a 1000? Top speed 160 instead of 180mph?? Zero to sixty in 3.5 seconds instead of 3.0?? 10.5 second quarter instead of 10.0??

Ummmm.... yeah those 600's sure are a lot safer for newbies than those damnable open class bikes. Suuuuure.

EVIL Hx Coupe

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Channinator &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">start on a 600cc, thats what i did! its not that bad, just as long as you limit yourself to what the bike is capable of </TD></TR></TABLE>

He wont be able to handle what the bike is capable of .... ( I want the hammer back
)

falcongsr

i WISH i started on a ninja 250. started on a 750cc standard and was too intimidated to push it and explore my skill limits as a newbie.

riding a ninja 250 was a real eye opener for me. here was a bike that is put down by 75% of riders for being considered a toy and having too little power.

that bike will pull away from all but a handful of cars you'll encounter on the street, and to go fast it really does require good clutchwork and shifting technique..THIS makes it a perfect beginner bike. Also, there is good torque there, but you have to rev to get to it. its good so the beginner can explore it as they get more comfortable.

i've never been on a bike that corners as well as one of these things. i have not been on any of the bikes most people drool over, either, so i guess that doesnt mean much.


the only concern i have about the ninja 250 as a first bike is the low rev limit on brand new ones. a used/broken in 250 is a better first bike cause you HAVE to rev it to get out of the way of traffic and stay with the flow of traffic. so for people considering getting a brand new one, please plan on riding out in the middle of nowhere or away from traffic for a while cause you cant keep the revs low for the breakin period if you're shooting out of sidestreets into traffic.

btw, i am 270lbs and 6ft 3in and i took a broken in 250 on the highway and hit 100mph indicated by tucking in behind the little fairing. quick enough alright? people that say its too slow have to impress their friends otherwise they wont be considered cool.

MaxSterling

just got a used ninja, doesn't have the super grunt of a 600cc, but it quick enough for most noobies. I love mines, handles like its on rails. Look at me lean!!! and much more forgiving than 600cc rockets.

BoostedSi

one of my friends just got a '98 250 for only $1000. I rode it today...i like it. I like it how it feels so light...and there is actually some power around 9k rpm. Good starter bike for sure.

Newkdog

Still looking for a Ninja 500R.

CXHatchback

I just bought a 1991 Yamaha FZR600. IMO, it's the perfect beginner bike. A 250 would be just plain too small. And I only weight 165.

It's my first bike and there are a number of reasons why I think it's great:

1. It's older so it's not loaded with crazy power like a newer 600. (You can't pick up the front tire just by getting on the throttle.)

2. It's older and they made them from 89-99 so there are tons of parts on ebay, and they're all cheap.

3. It was cheap ($1900) so I won't be too disappointed if I drop it.

4. It's not new so it holds it's value. I won't lose money on the resale, not much anyway.

5. It's not so small like a 250 that it would be like learning to ride all over again if I bought a newer 600 in the future.

That's something to keep in mind. If you're learning from the start, you might as well start with something that's middle-of-the-road so you don't have a huge transition when upgrading in the future. It will be easy for me to make the change to a newer 600 once I've gotten used to my 1991 600. Can't say the same if I had a 250, it'd be like starting all over.

My $.02

CXHatchback

Veritas-Aequitas

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CXHatchback &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can't say the same if I had a 250, it'd be like starting all over.

My $.02</TD></TR></TABLE>

See I never understood this. How can a person who rides a 250 very well, be unable to transfer any of those skills when they upgrade to a 500/600?

CXHatchback

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ReBornGSR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

See I never understood this. How can a person who rides a 250 very well, be unable to transfer any of those skills when they upgrade to a 500/600?
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well maybe I exaggerate a bit, but don't you think it would be harder to go from a 250 to a 600 than from one 600 to another?

I mean, if you're new to the sport anyway, might as well learn on something with a decent amount of power. Either way, being on 2 wheels is a risk. Plus you need to have some power to move out of the way in hazardous situations. You don't have that with a 250