Newbie saying hello....

[aubsxc]

Hi. I'm new to the boards but not new to riding. I rode streetbikes regularly for about 7 years but haven't owned a bike in over 12 years now. Maybe turning 40 had something to do with it, but over the last 2 summers I have been thinking fondly of the well-spent days of my youth riding motorcyles, and I've convinced myself I want to get back in the saddle. Looking through these forums I see that a lot of people recommend the Ninja 250 or the 500, so I've had my eyes open for a used Ninja. Actually rode a 250 today, an 07 with very few miles on the clock and my impressions were:

a. it is very underpowered - even up at about 8000rpm it feels sluggish
b. the seating feels a little cramped (designed for a smaller person), and I'm not that tall

The price is fair, and seeing how these bikes hold their value I could probably ride it for a year and not lose a lot. But my gut feeling is I will probably tire of it fairly quickly. I am yet to find a used 500 Ninja at a reasonable price, which I like a little better (my friends wife rides one). So, pull the plug on the 250 and hope I learn to love it, or wait for a 500?

I am also very tempted by the standard middleweights like the SV650 or the 599, which can be picked up at reasonable prices used. My riding experience was on a 350 parallel twin (Yam RD350 which was a hoot to ride) and a CB750. Would a 600 be too much?

Your thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

[Fargin_Bastige]

Well, returning riders are one of the fastest rising group of fatalities in motorcycling. They tend to buy a bike that is beyond their skillset.

Riding a motorcycle is NOT a skill you keep after you take a long break. Take the MSF course and ride a smaller bike for a few seasons. The SV and 599 are a LOAD faster than what you rode in the past.

Relax, take a course, give it a few seasons to get back into the swing and then look to move up. If you must have something bigger, the Ninja 500 is much faster than either of the bikes you rode in the past and not completely out of line for a new rider.

[scuffedknees]

Welcome !!! BE SAFE

[krl0215]

welcome to the site...get the 500

[TejasRider]

Howdy hey and welcome to SBN. I forget where redline lives on a 250, but I do know you have to wind them up pretty high to get to their sweet spot.

[Freshgrease]

9000- 10000 RPM is where all the power is. My dad's a returning rider and hes afraid of its high rev... <_<. I got the 250 and I'm comfortable on it. I'm not even close to small or light.

[hondajunkie]

Hi and welcome to SBN!!
I think you would do fine on a SV650 or a 599 seeing that you have owned a few bikes in the past (ie. cb750).

[aubsxc]

Thanks for the welcome. I've decided to take the safe route so the 250EX will be in my garage tomorrow Its an 07 with 110 miles on the clock, and if I get tired of it I can always upgrade. Now its time to find some gear and then I can get on with the business of leaving my friends fat-ass VFR in the dust anytime we ride in the twisties

[Hagios]

^^^
Heh, good luck with that if he's a good rider. The VFR is a pig on paper, but it's no slouch, and it's VERY solid in the twisties. It's known as the do-all of motorcycling for a reason.

However, congrats on the EX250! The little ninjas are fun as hell to ride, and I'll likely own a 250 in addition to my VFR800 by the end of this year.

[aubsxc]

And its here, sitting in the garage, waiting for a tag so it can be ridden!!

[Fargin_Bastige]

congrats!! Sweet color.

[mssdrider]

nice!!! congrats!

[TS80]

Nice bike.

I love that color, not so sure on the flames though.

A friend of mine just got the exact same bike and color combo. He doesn't like the flames either, but he wants to keep them on for resale value.

[Fargin_Bastige]

The flames are a hair dryer away from being gone, if your buddy doesn't like them.

[aubsxc]

Thanks!

I don't particularly care for the flames either. Is there an easy way to take them off without messing up the paint?

EDIT: just realized I need to update my profile and add an avatar!