Hiya, I need some advice in regards to what size bike to get. I've read all the stickies, but I've sometimes gotten a a mixed picture, so I guess this is an attempt to clear it up.

quick background on little ol me.

I'm 25, currently ride a turbo rx-7 which with it's little 1.3 liter engine, whoops a lot of cars =] I can either soup up the rotary, with with about 2.5 k I can do mid 12 sec 1/4 runs, or get a bike. I have a couple friends who have bikes (one a tl1k, the other 750gsxr), and I really like the idea of going out and just riding and having fun. I have some overwhelming pressure though not to get one (my uncle died young from a bike, and my step mom's brother perm. messed up his ancle in a bike accident). I also understand that, living is a risk itself, and hence if all you think about is the potential consequences of a action, then you're better of living in a bubble.

I've never ridden a bike before, but just looking at the power to weight ratio should be enough for anyone to respect a bike. I had first thought about getting a older (200-1996) 600gxsr, but after reading some stickies, I figured I'd get a ex250.

However upon telling my friend I wanted to get a 250, he told me that 1) I would want to get rid of the 250 faster then fat people slam 6 pack of twinkies because I'd out grow it so fast, it's not even worth getting 2) that I can kill myself on any bike, and if I respect it - I should be fine 3) no one is going to ride around with me on a 250, considering they are not all that sexy.

So I'm wondering, how long would I have to ride before I could graduate to a 600 (I really dont want to go farther then a 600 - ever). If one can just as easily harm him/herself with a 250, as opposed to a 600 what are the incentives to go for the 250? How much can track riding effect your riding abilities, as opposed to street riding. CAn anyone direct me to a site with bike statistics (rider to accient ratio, etc) The coolness factor of the 250 really doesn't bother me (I'll go riding by myself if I have to), I just want to learn to ride a bike well.

any input would be appreciated.

Your friend is the kind of person who I hate. Sorry but it aggrevates me so much to hear crap like that. It is the same when people say 600's are girls bikes.
I rode a 250 for 2 years, yes they are not very well powered, and compared to bigger bikes they are slow.
But that being said I do not reccomend 250's very often.
I do think the GSXR, R6, F4i are bad begginer bikes.
Take a look at these as a used bike:
Suzuki SV 650
Suzuki GS500
Kawi EX500
Suzuki Bandit 600

They are all realativley cheap, easy to get, cheap insurance and minimal plastic to learn on.

And if anyone says they won't ride with you because you have a 250 does not deserve to have ANY riding buddys. One person I rode with in the past had a EX250R and he was on my ass in the canyons the entire ride with exception of the straights.
Your friend http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/piss.gif

http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

jontflesh

I'd have to agree with Fleshy on this one. Try out a SV650 or even an older ZX6. I started out on an older ZX6 and was fine. The cool factor is still there and you won't grow out of it very easily. Having said that, if you learn to ride with an MSF course or equivalent and do a bunch of track time you'll grow out of it in a year or two and then maybe upgrade to one of the newer bikes, gsxr600, R6, f4i, etc... In most peoples opinions you'll be cooler riding the 250/sv650 then a gsxr600 that could get you in a lot of trouble. I'm guessing your friends are your age but they sound like they are 16-18. If they won't ride with you there are plenty of people who will. Come up here, I'd be happy to ride with you. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I'm in the same boat bud (my current cage is a roush stage 3, 400 hp 12.2 sec 1/4 mile)
But I wanna live so I'm getting a 500 (remember ridden right the 500 can whoop any car.)
I wont be a http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/squid.gif forever!

Thankz for the advice guys. A 12 second runner? Damn =] I talked to another rider last night, and I told him about my plans with a 250, and he said "my pocket bike will go faster, you're a big guy, a 250 wont move you". Now I'm not sure what he meant by "big guy", I'm only 6 foot 185 (big upper body), but he almost made it seem like I can run faster then the 250. Well I guess I'll just bite the uh......plastic and get a nice cheap 250. Speaking of which, what price range will I be looking at for older (96-00) 250s? Also since MSF classes are filling up due to "spring madness" here in socal, would it be smarter and wait till august or something?

thanks again.

250

Man... if u could get a hold of an Aprilia RS250 without the track package... that'd shut your friend up

http://www.aprilia.com/ridezone/common/models/gfx/galleria/rs2501.jpg
http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/yumyum.gif

My wife went through the MSF course last Easter, Got her license, felt confident. We bought her an '02 Gixxer 600. She rode it a total of 4 times since then. It is up for sale. I bought her an '03 Ninja 250R 2 nights ago. She has done more riding, more confidently than I've ever seen. I was once like ya'll thinking, Well Shit! I never had a problem learning how to ride. (I started at Age: 6, I'm 29 now) All you need is respect. I never took into account the fear factor (wasen't that a tv show?) She was overly intimidated by the bike, the shear power, the very quick revving nature of the throttle, the costly costly plastic, etc. etc. that she could not have fun. She could not relax and learn. She has come further in her learning curve in 2 days with the 250 than she did in 12 months on the 600. Now I'm not skinny, I'm 190 Lbs. (I'm not fat niether you fuckers!) and that 250 can still move well with me. I can stuff any 600/750/1000 in a turn on this 300 LBS bike. (The straight aways is another story) I can do 90-100 MPH (with my wife on back which is another 150 LBS.) 0-60 in 5.4 seconds, and high 13's 1/4 miles. Moral of the story, GET the 250! Man that thing is such a blast!!!

'03 Kawasuki Ninja 250r in YELLOW out the door $2900 CASH.

-John (Iguess I need to change my name to 2Gixxers&aKawiJohn??)

Jon T. Flesh said:

Your friend is the kind of person who I hate. Sorry but it aggrevates me so much to hear crap like that. It is the same when people say 600's are girls bikes.
I rode a 250 for 2 years, yes they are not very well powered, and compared to bigger bikes they are slow.
But that being said I do not reccomend 250's very often.
I do think the GSXR, R6, F4i are bad begginer bikes.
Take a look at these as a used bike:
Suzuki SV 650
Suzuki GS500
Kawi EX500
Suzuki Bandit 600

They are all realativley cheap, easy to get, cheap insurance and minimal plastic to learn on.

And if anyone says they won't ride with you because you have a 250 does not deserve to have ANY riding buddys. One person I rode with in the past had a EX250R and he was on my ass in the canyons the entire ride with exception of the straights.
Your friend http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/piss.gif

http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

jontflesh


i agree and the sv650 is a great starter bike with good perfomance,and looks,throttle controll much easier than the gixxer,and other sport bikes http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Hey man your friend is right. As long as you take it easy with the bike you will be ok. You will regret getting a smaller bike real fast. Its like a car, you can just as easily kill yourself in a car, but that doesn't mean to buy a geo metro. I started off on an older gsxr750 and I have had no problems. I have crashed before but that was when I was trying stunts. If you want to be fast and handle great get a gix. If you want to putts around get a cruiser. If you want to sell apples get a scooter.

edited to add some people can handle things different then others so its your call

Dont go with the 250. Everyone will laugh and bitchslap you. Plus you will be so bored with it in aobut a week. Go with the SV. You cant go wrong with that one. Or if you are on a budget maybe check out a katana. http://www.gixxer.com/forums/images/graemlins/lick.gif