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New Rider ForumsJust joining the motorcyclist hobbie? Looking to get some information about a first bike? Or have some newbie questions. Are you new to the website?
Hey everyone, I am new to the forum and to the sport of riding. So much so I dont have a bike yet.. I have been lurking for a few weeks now soaking up as much info as I can on what to do and what not to do. Here is my special situation... I am looking to start riding but have very little experience except for an hour or so of playing on a dirtbike a year ago. I really like the ninja 250 and everyone in here seems to HIGHLY recommend starting on it b/c its a forgiving bike. Everyone of my friends have cbr 600's and gsxr 1000's and keep saying a 250 is for wimps and girls that I should start like they all have on a 600. Also that I cant really go with them on their weekend trips around the city due to the fact that no 250 can keep up with them.. So Ive been told.
I wanna ride for a few reasons.. 1. The fun of it 2. save on gas 3. To actually be able to ride with all my friends instead of following in my 4x4 truck. I know without a shadow of a doubt if i get the 250 I will be poked fun at and stuff.. I dont plan on riding it more that 1 or 2 years before I move up in the size bike. I am so confused of what bikes I should be looking at with this situation. The new 08 ninja 250 is the only 250 I will consider because the looks are kick ass otherwise Ill be buying a used 600 most likely.. Please give any advice that may help me.
People like that aren't friends. Grow a pair and do what YOU want, not what they tell you to do. If you like the Ninja, get it. If you don't like it, get it. It's a great learning tool.
And by the way, your situation is not special. It's extremely common. But you're lucky because you have done some research and have the chance to make a wise decision (get a 250), since you haven't purchased yet.
I'm definitely with Liver Shot on this one for several reasons. Of course the 250 is by far the best beginner bike you can get, but also, the people that you are describing would most likely just encourage you to ride way outside of your comfort zone. When you are first starting out, you need to spend time getting comfy with the bike and your ability. You don't want a bunch of jackasses egging you on, trying to "teach" you how to ride wheelies and bang the rev limiter. You'll just end up in jail or worse.
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Let me ask you guys this then... what is the most common size bike rookie riders usually start out on. I wanna be as safe as possible especially in the learning stages but if I can do okay starting on a mid range bike then that sounds good too.. I am like most people on here who say I am a super safe driver and would never do anything stupid but once I get comfy I may push my limits just a bit.. Just being honest with myself. I dunno what the new 08 ninja 250 even tops out at? I do know if its 100 or more mph I have no buisness going that fast anyways as a beginner.. I wanna learn right and enjoy this past time for years to come.
OK, seriously, I had ridden standard style motorcycles for years in high school and college but had been out of it for a few years. When I decided to get a sportbike, I picked up a 250. A lot of my friends made fun of it until I left them in the twisties. Trust me, a 250 is not a moped. Learn to ride it right and you will get a lot more respect than just keeping up with your friends in the straights on a liter bike.
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It sounds like your friends like to go fast in a straight line. This is the only situation where a 600 or liter bike will leave a 250 behind. How can this happen in the city? A 250 has a 0-60 time faster than most cars and tops out close to 100 I believe.
You sound concerned about doing the right thing for you. If you can't avoid competing with your friends with bikes, either avoid your friends while on your bike, find new riding friends, or avoid bikes.
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Never out-ride your ability to react (even stop) within the distance you can see (at least on the street).
I have to say, i agree with the above posters..friends like that can get you hurt. i fell into the same trap, so i know first hand, becareful and follow your own mind.
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Get a Ninja 500R. If you're concerned about your friends dusting you in a straight line, you won't have that concern with the 500R. It'll get up to 60 mph in supposedly 3.76 seconds, and the quarter mile is much quicker than the 250R as well. The biggest displacement "beginner friendly" bike would be the SV650.
So there you go, maybe you want a Suzuki SV650; you'll have a tame bike, which has an even bigger displacement than your insecure friends.
Stick to the 250, chances are before too long you'll be leaving your "friends" behind in the twisties.
Besides, If you get a 600, you know as well as I do, your rides with your buddies will turn into wheelie and speed compeitions to see who's penis is bigger.
Show you're smarter than them and get what will be best for you.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Liver Shot
Get a Ninja 500R.
+1
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I rode on a group ride and a 08 Ninja 250 showed up for the fun.
That 250 stayed right with the pack (towards the back, but still there) in the turns. No problem.
Besides, if your friends leave you behind on a ride - what kinda friends are they really?
+1 I was once that guy who showed up for a group ride on a 250. I stayed with the back of the pack no problem.
It's time for you to man up and do what you know is the right thing for you to do. One day you'll realize that what other people think about you really doesn't matter. If the only way you can earn respect is by your possessions, well, that really isn't respect at all. A real man is respected regardless of what they wear, drive, ride, live in...
Go get the 250, get some real friends who know what it means to be a friend, and go learn to really ride. You'll thank yourself in the end.
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2005 Naked Six: '06 Black Rims, Yamaha Bellypan, Harley VRSC Headlight, GSG-Moto brackets, Two Brothers Exhaust, JDA Customs chainguard, Rizoma Mirrors, Death Grips...
I started on a 500r which is a great bike, and went on my first group ride last summer with my Honda f4i. There was a kid who had been ridding his 2005 250 for quite sometime, kid was also a bit of a hooligan somewhat.
The group ride was this great twisty in the mountains, he was in front of me the entire time, I could NOT for the life of me get anywhere near this kid, he tore the place up on that thing.
Use your head, do the right thing. Plus the new 2008 250 is a bad ass looking machine, I want one! (almost).
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2006 Ninja 500r - SOLD - 2005 Honda CBR F4i - 7300+ miles and counting "You can't carry a gun with you will your are riding your motorcycle... because you can't carry enough ammo to be quite satisfied." Oh yeah I YouTube!!! Proud supporter of DC UNITED!!!VAMOS UNITED!! GO CAPS!!!
look into the sv650. you can start on this bike and not kill your self. well you can kill yourself on any bike, but these aren't bad for beginners. i have no problem keeping up with my friends in the turns, it's when they start passing 4 cars over a double yellow that they leave me in the dust ;). thats stuff not for me.
I dont know what to do. Advice please!
