Advise on my first bike?

[locohosa]

I am looking to spend about $1500 on my first bike, and although I have spent 10 years dirtbiking, my entire famly rides street bikes (even my grandfather!) and I figure its time for me to join the club.

My cuzzen recently started on a 1984 GPZ 750 (I think it was a gpz... i know its a 750, non turbo) and he already laid it down once. The competitive side of me REALLY wants to get something just as fast or faster than his, but these Ninja 250s are well priced, and they look cool!

I will be going off to Basic Training in a month, and then I will not be back till September, and most of my learning will prolly be done in the fall/winter months.

Things that make me WANT a Ninja 250
-Great fuel millage
-Good bike to learn on
-Easier to ride in the rain?

Things that worry me
-250 sounds slow, I dont want a street bike that will be slower than my dirt bike!
-I learn fast, will I be board of it two months after I start riding?
-Why are these bikes so cheap?
-Will my cuzzen be leaving me in his dust?

I want advise. Any advise you guys have for me, or just comments, let me know!

Thanks

[IwakuniDiver]

Originally Posted by locohosa

I am looking to spend about $1500 on my first bike, and although I have spent 10 years dirtbiking, my entire famly rides street bikes (even my grandfather!) and I figure its time for me to join the club.

My cuzzen recently started on a 1984 GPZ 750 (I think it was a gpz... i know its a 750, non turbo) and he already laid it down once. The competitive side of me REALLY wants to get something just as fast or faster than his, but these Ninja 250s are well priced, and they look cool!

I will be going off to Basic Training in a month, and then I will not be back till September, and most of my learning will prolly be done in the fall/winter months.

Things that make me WANT a Ninja 250
-Great fuel millage
-Good bike to learn on
-Easier to ride in the rain?

Things that worry me
-250 sounds slow, I dont want a street bike that will be slower than my dirt bike!
-I learn fast, will I be board of it two months after I start riding?
-Why are these bikes so cheap?
-Will my cuzzen be leaving me in his dust?

I want advise. Any advise you guys have for me, or just comments, let me know!

Thanks

Please read the stickies and then come back with more specific questions.

Not blowing you off, its just you're asking too many general questions and most of your points are addressed already in the stickies.

[locohosa]

ok, two questions remain after doing more reading.

-will a guy who stands at 6'2 look like a monkey humping a food ball on a ninja 250
-will my 1992 WR 250 two stroke DIRT BIKE be faster than a ninja 250?

I just want to know if I will be better off with a 250 or a 500

[nismo_2005]

the number say that the 500 is way more then enough. and that the 250 will still go decent. but just get a good beginer bike (I don't feel i have enough experence to give advice like that) then just swerve around him when he crashes.

[Hagios]

will a guy who stands at 6'2 look like a monkey humping a food ball on a ninja 250

Dude, you're 6'2, and you're gonna be riding a SPORT BIKE. Sorry to tell you, but you're in football heaven.

will my 1992 WR 250 two stroke DIRT BIKE be faster than a ninja 250?

It's a two-stroke, so the comparison is nowhere near fair. Yes, your dirt bike will most likely be quicker in the get-up-and-go department, as well as the top-speed department. The 250 is still a fun beast to whip around corners, and they're easy to maintain cornering speed with.

I just want to know if I will be better off with a 250 or a 500

At your price range? Go with a 250. You'll be getting a better bike.

[dreesemonkey]

Originally Posted by Hagios

Dude, you're 6'2, and you're gonna be riding a SPORT BIKE. Sorry to tell you, but you're in football heaven.

It's a two-stroke, so the comparison is nowhere near fair. Yes, your dirt bike will most likely be quicker in the get-up-and-go department, as well as the top-speed department. The 250 is still a fun beast to whip around corners, and they're easy to maintain cornering speed with.


At your price range? Go with a 250. You'll be getting a better bike.

A 2 stroke dirt bike is going to be geared way differently from a street bike, I highly doubt it's geared to do 100+. The dirt bike is going to be way quicker because it probably weighs 100lbs less and has more power.

Is the 250 slow? Yep. That doesn't make it boring. It handles great, and if you're not trying to go fast you won't notice that it's slow. If you're Johnny Straightline you're going to get bored with the bike real quick, but if you realize that a slow bike is going to build your skill and technique a lot faster than a fast bike.

Most people that blow off the 250 without a thought are more concerned with how people perceive them, or they just want to go fast in a straight line.

I just rode my 250 last week for the first time since December (it's getting sold) and I came back with a huge grin on my face. It's slow, but you don't notice it until you're trying to ride fast. I kinda wish I could keep it, but $$$ is more of a priority to me right now.

[Hagios]

I hadn't considered gearing. Good point, and you're absolutely right.

Far as the 250 being slow, yeah. Compared to my Viffer, it's slow. Compared to plenty of cars, it's plenty quick. And there's something very fun about whipping those tiny beasts around corners. Myself, I'll most likely be getting a 250 as a track toy before the year is over.

[Raekin]

If you're worried about power, but still want to get a good starting bike, a Ninja 500 is pretty good too. Both Ninja 250s and 500s can be had for your price range, but the 500 will likely be older. Doesn't mean that its not as good though! Engines on the 500 are bulletproof, and the same engine design is used since '86 til now. Newer ones just have different frame design and plastics, thats about it.

I'd say get whatever you can get your hands on first.. good condition 250 or 500 will suit you well. They're both upright standard seating positions so you won't be cramped down humping a football until you upgrade to a bigger bike (when the time comes). As far as keeping up with your cousin, just be a better rider and you will be all over his ass in the corners.

[Hagios]

^^^ Parts on the '93 and older EX500 are becoming very rare. Best to stick to the current generation of EX500s, at the very least.