Inquiring about a first bike? Read this...

[CodyK]

I think its in the 105-115 HP range depending on performance goodies Ive seen a few pushed higher with good parts, and tuning.

Ya so that's a good bit of difference between the bike being 100 pounds lighter plus having at least 30 more hp. It's a total different feel though. The katana was just never any fun. I guess it was good to get started on but I love the gsxr soooooo much more. Everytime I go out in the garage I just crack a smile.

[ionoxj]

My first bike i was going to buy was an r6, and now its forsure going to be a ninja 250. Thanks, maybe you guys saved my life.

[RussianMKIV]

Of course you've already bought your bike, but I needed to go back and address something:



You need to stop taking advice from your friend...and anyone else that tells you a 100hp bike can't lose you in the blink of an eye.

in 1st gear yeah, anything more than that and it wont throw you off unless you're not holding the bike at all.
im a 130lb rider and my kawi 636 only feels like that in 1st gear. past that its REALLY easily manageable

[MKIIINA]

thanks for all the good info! a great read. i was really looking into a ninja 250r but am now considering something a bit larger (500cc range). is there really that much of a step up to a 600 from there? i'll be a first time rider and plan on taking the msf course and getting full gear (a given in my eyes)

minor side question: any good reason you can't/shouldn't wear sneakers while riding? (think vans) for all the courses i see boots?

[OneJoeZee]

thanks for all the good info! a great read. i was really looking into a ninja 250r but am now considering something a bit larger (500cc range). is there really that much of a step up to a 600 from there? i'll be a first time rider and plan on taking the msf course and getting full gear (a given in my eyes)

minor side question: any good reason you can't/shouldn't wear sneakers while riding? (think vans) for all the courses i see boots?

A 500 (gs500, ex500) makes around 40-50 something hp.

A 4cyl 600 makes 100+


So, YES, there is that much of a step.


And a good reason you can't wear sneakers is those shits can and will fly right off in a crash! And have zero ankle support.

[makenzie71]

thanks for all the good info! a great read. i was really looking into a ninja 250r but am now considering something a bit larger (500cc range). is there really that much of a step up to a 600 from there? i'll be a first time rider and plan on taking the msf course and getting full gear (a given in my eyes)

minor side question: any good reason you can't/shouldn't wear sneakers while riding? (think vans) for all the courses i see boots?

There's a huge step between the 500's and the supersport 600's. The GS500 cranks out about 40hp at the wheel. The EX500 runs about 50~55hp. A new CBR600RR is running about 95~100hp at the wheel. It's a huge step, but a tolerable one. When stepping up to the bigger bikes, it's an easier thing to look at bikes like the SV650 and ER6N or even the new Suzuki 650F's. Take everything in baby steps...and I really preach that there's no reason to ever step up unless you're exceeding the limits of your current machine. I can't tell you how many people got EX500's thinking they'd ride it until they outgrew it...then never outgrew the bikes.

Don't wear sneakers while riding. Wear something that actually laces around your ankle. If it's a matter of dress code, carry your sneaks in your backpack or something.

[MKIIINA]

Nah my company is laid back, business casual, most people wear jeans year in and out, I prefer my Van's for day to day as they look decent and are comfortable, being an oil/gas co. boots aren't a problem!

I know this is going to sound bad but I have been looking at early model (2001-2003) GSX-R 600s. Just need to try and keep things in perspective.

[SYeNi69]

damn ... got a funny feeling i will live a little longer after reading this thread ... cause me and my friends are planning to get bikes early next year ... in our minds were GSX 1k/ R1/ zx1k ... But after reading all this ... F*CK !!! thx alot for all the info ...

Bad experience back in 2002 - stopped riding after that ... planned to start riding again next year !!
Hugged a pole - Ninja 250 ... not that serious but got a few ugly scars/stitches ... i was lucky only the bike hugged the pole cause i let go of the bike after loosing control and ended up in a big ass ditch ... It was a friends bike !!!

i was wearing a fullface helmet, basketball jersey, shorts and a pair of jordans at that time ... not a pretty picture after the crash (skin ripped open & i saw my own FRESH MEAT on my hips) ... wish i still have the pics ... that wasnt the scariest part though cause i knew i'll live ... the scariest thing about all this was the deep & long scrath mark left on the helmet ... if i wasnt wearing it ... i would have been smokin weed with the devil period ...

lesson learned ...
- start small ... i think it will probably go for an 2nd hand AP RS250 ... then after 2-3years ... prob. a RSV1k ...
- wear your gear ... i even wear a helmet when im paddling my bike around the neighborhood now ...
- Bikes are serious shit ... and im not joking when i say i have a friend who talks to himself(slowly recovering), another is on a wheelchair for life & 1 died ...
- When deciding to get a new bike ... i can just say ... stay AWAY from the dealers (asshole got me so excited to buy a GSX1k) ... luckily i read this in SF ... always get advise from other people ...


i regreted getting on that bike when i could have just walked to the store to buy a pack of killing sticks ...

[GTR-33]

Who rides in sneakers? I hate shifting in sneakers. It hurts my delicate foot.

[MKIIINA]

May as well update this with what i ended up with and learned.

I took my MSF course and passed. During the course I rode a GZ250, not a bad little bike but being 6'1" 175lbs it was just too small and uncomfortable. However I really liked the more upright seating position.

I picked up an Olympus multilayer jacket and an EXO700 Scorpion helmet. From there I started checking out bikes. Started with the Ninja 250 (too small for my frame) and a GS500 (better frame/seating position) to see how I liked them. Went to a local dealer and described what I was looking for and he mentioned they got a Ninja 650R (didn't even want to sit on it at first but liked the seating position, fuel injection, but they wanted way too much for it) in on trade recently and if I wanted to check it out. Next looked at the GSX650F (similar to the 650r but alot heavier it seemed and even more expensive than the Ninja!) GSXR600 (just had to look! but quickly realized I didn't like the stretched out posture).

Meanwhile the dealer got realistic on the Ninja 650r pricing (an 08' in Green with 1,985 miles, no signs of being dropped) and ended up picking it up out the door in the mid 3k range. Having ridden it now for a few months I really love it. The saddle is wonderful, seating position just right, the 649cc motor has good torque (can tool around in 6th and just crack open the throttle without downshifting to pass easily) and has been very forgiving for a newbie. The headlights are better than the ones on my Supra (both low and highbeams)! For highway speeds its a little buzzy around 4k rpms (fairings) but is a common problem that is easy to fix.

What I learned:

1. Make sure the bike fits you and what you are going to do with it. I ride 95% of the time in suburban stoplight-to-stoplight and the 650R is great for that. On the highway its not bad but I think I would change out the sprocket if I was going to do more of it.
2. Fuel injection is where its at. Hop on, fire up, idle for a minute or 2 and go without drama.
3. Buy the best gear you can! I cheaped on the gloves because I needed a pair for the course but now I'm looking to get decent ones. I still ride in my sneakers because it's easier to shift (for me) and move around but I have been looking into boots as I think its the right choice.
4. Beware of intersections! I'm usually the last person away from the light as I've seen way too many CARS getting nailed by redlight runners.
5. I'm a wuss because I don't ride under 40*F. Did it once (35*f morning) and then remembered I have a perfectly good car for those temps and when we have precipitation.
6. This is probably the most important - Most people who have been in major motorcycle accidents put themselves there. Speeding, drinking, stunting, screwing around, showing off have been the most common causes I have heard for accidents. They happen even when riding/driving safely but are made worse by doing what I listed above. A co-worker told me about a friend who still isn't right in the head after leaving (angrily) from his girlfriends appt and went into a fire hydrant after laying his bike down.

[TSTTrocks]

.