Hello all, I'm looking into getting into the motorcycle scene, and I'm searching for a bike. After reading a couple of the beginner tips threads on here, I've decided I'm going to get a 250 or similar size due to the fact that I've only ridden a bike once. I'm not looking to spend a ton of money, just want something thats reliable, fun, and easy to work on.

What year bikes would you guys recommend for a new rider? I'm not sure what kind I want to get yet either. I was wanting a CBR, but there seems to be a lot more of the Ninja 250's around.

Any input is greatly appreciated!

 

Found a 2001 Kawasaki Ninja 250 for $1,400, and a 2007 Ninja 250 for $1,850. I feel like the '07 is too good to be true..

 

the year of manufacture has little to do with being good for a new rider or not.

what it does have to do with a new rider is that a newer scooter will be more free of maintenance and care... basically because it's newer and more than likely slightly more modern technology.

one thing that can taint a new riders joy for the sport is having to maintain and care for a bike that would be constant problems. Although, to be honest, personal care and maintenance has always been at the core of this sport.

One additional thing, don't let physical looks deter you, OR, entice you to buy something... specially for your first bike. Concentrate on the mechanics and physical abilities to ride for your first few years.

you can always "pretty up" later in your riding career... if you actually choose to continue to ride.

 

Well I've heard bikers in my area talk about some years of bikes that are supposedly junk, stuff always breaking on them ect. But that might just have been due to bad luck. I'm very mechanically inclined (going to school for mechanical engineering and basically restored my civic from the ground up) so I'm looking to do most of the work myself. Are older bikes easier to work on than newer ones? Like how it is with cars? (I hate messing with all that computerized **** )

 

I guess what I'm trying to say is is there any years of bikes that I should stay away from? Specifically the Kawasaki Ninjas.

 

not really.

I am sure some are slightly more problematic than others, but every bike need maintenance and adjustments. Motorcycling isn't like owning a car only faster... it requires a much more mechanically oriented outlook, on the part of the owner, if you are doing it right. knowing every model and every make is really unrealistic question. you may try at a kawi/ninja forum

there are a myriad of aspects that will need to be constantly monitored... some of them on a daily basis.

when I ride, I do a "walk around" to look for safety and mechanical issues(just like pilots do for aircraft), every time I get on a bike.

 

compared to a modern fuel injected, computer controlled car a ninja 250 is dirt simple. it's a single cylinder, carb'd engine with a transmission and a chain drive. i do not know the specific differences between the "old" ninja 250 and the "new" ninja 250, but at the heart they are more or less the same bike.

find something cheap that runs right. if the seller won't allow test rides it usually means the bike doesn't run correctly. you will crash it, so don't worry so much about cosmetics.

 

the MSF course is well worth taking, What I learned there saved my bike and my *** a couple times.

 

Ninja 250's are parallel twins.

 

lol! you're right. i'm just used to 250s being thumpers... that and i was never into ninjettes.

 

I've decided to get a 2012 CBR250R.

Waiting to see a black one in person. I don't like the red and tri color is doable.

 

How long do you think you will keep this bike?

 

My friend just got an older Yamaha rocket that has carbs and I hate it, I guess it has stage 2 jets, and it floods and dies on me every single time I ride it

 

You'll lose a good chunk of change if you buy that Honda 250 new. My buddy bought an '10 Ninja 250, sold it with 1800 miles on it. The first 200 miles was ridden by me, taking it home for him. Bought for $4300, he just sold it for 3 something.

 

The CBR250 is a super nice bike. But if you can get a Ninja 250 for like half price the Ninja is the way to go - bang for the buck. Just depends on how much money you have to throw around.

 

Now that new Honda 700 parallel twin is the shiz. It moves around really good like dual sport acceleration - 50 something HP. But it gets an estimated 65-70mpg. They can be had for 6999 new and are SUPER easy to ride. With the 250 you'll get tired of the lack of power in a couple months and be over it. Buy a beater to learn on, save the $$ for a good all around bike like the Honda NC700. I'm thinking of picking one up myself.

Sportbikes are cool but you can get in trouble too quickly - get hurt or tickets $$. The 650-800cc all around bikes are where it's at. They are still very fast but you won't have to worry about looking obvious to the cops and you can throw your bags on them and carry stuff. Plus they don't get stolen near as much. I've had them all and you'll have way more fun overall on the adventure styled bikes like this Honda NC700 or Kawasaki E6N (weird model name I know but google it).

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2012/...t-this-summer/

http://powersports.honda.com/street/adventure.aspx

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/624/12...irst-Look.aspx

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUrbJ...ayer_embedded#!

 

Go the cheap route, its your first bike, you can buy something really cool and brank spanking new further on.

 

Well we figured out my buddies bike was running like **** because the spark plugs were bad and fouling, got new ones installed and it runs perfect. I may buy this bike from him, since it's on the cheap side and he is wanting to get a Harley.

 

dont buy a motorcycle, they are dangerous

 

this thread is lacking pictures...
supposedly this guy was almost uninjured.

 

I wish I could get a 450 cc naked commuter bike like back in the 80's.

That NC700 reminds me of the old Transalp Honda made.

 

as soon as i read 250cc i slapped myself. i dont know WHO told you to get a 250. buy a 600. theyre torqueless, handle great and you wont be BORED after a year. a 250 is the biggest mistake youll make. ill bet that 07 kawi is a three or four owner bike. i would pick up a katana 600 or 750 for your first bike, theyre both good bikes, theyre reliable, and theyre cheap to fix if you dump it, and if its a complete loss, your out maybe 1000$. ride a junk 600 for a few years, beat it up, and when your confident, buy yourself something newer, in whatever power range you want.

 

opinions...

most people drop their bikes in the first few months. Almost all of the best riders ive ever known started on smaller cc bikes. get the bike, learn how to actually ride. Sell it after you drop it for more than you paid for it. then buy a nicer bike. a 600 is considered a big bike in any country outside of the US.

 

i really dont care what you get, as long as its FI, if this is your first bike this chances are you aren't mechanically inclined to fix one, as you will be doing if you get a carbed bike

 

DO NOT buy anything carbureted for the street. I just went and looked at two dirtbikes (carbd) I wanted to buy this weekend and neither of them would start because of bad gas. And in one of them the fuel wasn't that old. No start. They will require a couple hundred bucks labor at a shop to get them running correctly before I buy one of those because I'm not going to buy something that doesn't run. The fuel these days is really bad compared to 10-15 years ago even. And with a streetbike that has 4 carbs your going to be in big trouble if you stop riding it and don't drain all the fuel out of the bottoms of the carbs. No one ever drains the fuel.

You can handle a 600 I'm sure. They are so smooth with the power you won't have a problem. Just respect the throttle and you will be totally fine. You can find cheap ones out there too.