What do you think about the kawai 250r as a starter bike? Ive researched and found that they are really forgiving bikes. I have never been on a bike in my life. I wouldnt abuse a 600, but i really dont know if I should start with one. Im not into the "cool" factor, i just want to have fun, i dont mind riding a "girlie" bike for a summer if it is the best way to learn. Thanks for the info.

 

The kawi 250 is a great starter bike, i dont think i would go the 600 route if you have never been on a bike before, plus you will learn quicker...

 

The 600 is a perfect starter bike even for someone who has never riden before. When I got my r6 I never riden before and I picked it up in a day. Get a 600.

 

you're in the minority then frito........


if the guy says he's willing to learn on something less powerful, I think he's smart and will ultimately be a better rider because of it.

 

either a barely used 250 or an older 500 would be ideal. Depending on your comfort with mechanical repairs rather than riding ability. ex250, ex500, gs500 nighthawk 250. The nighthawk doesn't seem to last very long as its quite underpowered or the ones I've ridden were in poor tune. The 250 ninja will make it on most freeways. And the 500s will do anything you really need. The 500 ninja is a very good amateur trackbike. Any of the above choices should be able to sell for either the same price or more than what you will pay. Repairs, insurance and operating costs will be near nil comparatively. You will also progress at a much faster rate as a rider.

 

i have a 4 stroke 125 dirt bike , and i wish i gotten a 600 street bike , i didnt think i could ride it , and was very intimated by the weight and size of the 600 but after going through all the gears and 5 min of riding of my buddys zx6, i felt very comfortable on it and i luv it such a big power band, two of my buddies got brand new 600s and they have never ridin b4, just find someone that would let u ride there dirt bike awhile , then get a 600 , u will trade that 250 after a week of riding it

 

find a friend that'll help you...I learned on a ninja 250 and a nighthawk 250 and it was easy as hell, you'll outgrow those bikes quickly, but yes that's where you want to start. if you get a 600 just be extra careful cause it's a lot of bike. my first bike was a 600 and i lowsided 2 days later.

 

But if you get one, definently dont get a new one like I did!!!!

I wrecked it twice in the first month (see sig ) and it cost around 300 to make it rideable again, but it looks like ****. Other than that, it is a good bike, and I cant wait to start riding it again. I personally feel the suspension sucks, but that can be fixed easily, and I put in 6000 miles before I decided to start modding

Unfortunately the motor blew (defective head, covered under warranty) and I'm waiting for it to get finished, hopefully I'll be riding it by the end of the month.

I think it's a perfect beginner bike, and its light as all hell, it may not do wheelies and whatnot (its possible i guess) but you'll learn to handle bigger bikes.

Ebay has them on sale cheap usually.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by redman223 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">But if you get one, definently dont get a new one like I did!!!!

I wrecked it twice in the first month (see sig ) and it cost around 300 to make it rideable again, but it looks like ****. Other than that, it is a good bike, and I cant wait to start riding it again. I personally feel the suspension sucks, but that can be fixed easily, and I put in 6000 miles before I decided to start modding

Unfortunately the motor blew (defective head, covered under warranty) and I'm waiting for it to get finished, hopefully I'll be riding it by the end of the month.

I think it's a perfect beginner bike, and its light as all hell, it may not do wheelies and whatnot (its possible i guess) but you'll learn to handle bigger bikes.


Ebay has them on sale cheap usually.</TD></TR></TABLE>


if you don't mind me asking, what were the circumstances of your wreck... I found the 250 very easy and managable. I out grew that thing in like 2 hours, that's why i bought 600, if i go back to a 250 it's gotta be a fast 2 stroke like an older NSR or RS.



Modified by georgiajdm at 12:35 AM 7/1/2003

 

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

... I found the 250 very easy and managable. I out grew that thing in like 2 hours, that's why i bought 600, if i go back to a 250 it's gotta be a fast 2 stroke like an older NSR or RS.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

I bought my 250R as my very first street bike ever. I learned basically everything on it, weight distribution, correct hanging off position, braking (yep don't take it for granted), rev matching, trail braking, judging correct cornering speed, dragging pegs/toe sliders, etc. If I have to do it again, I'd probably ride the 250 for another year b4 upgrading to my F4i. Imagine passing people on newer 600 SS bikes at 80+mph, on the outside. You gotta love the look on their faces at the rest stop. Some people say you'll get bored with a 250 easily. With the light weight body, friendly steering geometry, cheap and widely available parts, relatively bullet proof engine, and simple maintenance requirements, it's one of the best bikes out there to start on.

 

Anyone who thinks they jumped on their Supersport level 600 as a first bike and "picked it up" in a few weeks is full of ****.

The average 600 nowadays is so far beyond the levels of even most experienced riders, it is ridiculous. They are faster, better breaking, and handle better than the 750's and liter bikes of just 5 years ago.

When I started riding in '91, my Ninja 600R was fast, and almost unmanageable for me as a beginner. And I crashed it after a month. When I moved up to an FZR 600, I took my time, and didn't ride like an idiot. When I really learned te bike (a few months) I then started to have fun with it, dragging knees through corners, and blitzing stop lights. Never laid it down, never had any really close calls. And by the time I was done with it, my mechanic said it was one of the fastest FZR's he'd ever worked on.

People can dream that they are Kevin Schwantz or Miguel Duhamel as soon as they purchase their new 600 as their first bike, but then they don't even realize they need to rev-match in a corner and then high side the bike when they downshift without doing it.

Get a used 250 or 500, spend a year on it, REALLY get to learn how a bike works and behaves, then step up to the next level. You hate the lack of pure power now, but you will be riding for a LOT longer than some of the others out there because you'll have mad sKiLlz yo ......

 

totally agree, that's what i should have done...but i bought a new 600rr and look at me now, i'm losing 2k because it's been laid down and am getting an older bike (probably what i should have done in the first place.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by georgiajdm &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
I found the 250 very easy and managable. I out grew that thing in like 2 hours</TD></TR></TABLE>

You really think you mastered that bike in 2 hours?

 

the scene from the italian job with seth green and the ducati springs to mind.....

 

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

You really think you mastered that bike in 2 hours?</TD></TR></TABLE>

not mastered...