New member here, need some help though

[kabuki85]

Hello everyone! Although I don't own a motorcycle, I am planning to buy my first this winter or spring. I have been looking at so many different bikes online my head is spinning. It seems that everyone has their opinion, but I keep coming back to this website and the ninja 250. I still have a lot of questions beore buying a first bike. Street or Cruiser? What engine displacement? Ect. I think I am more confused than when I started. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[Alex]

kabuki85! Glad to have you aboard...

[Alex]

BTW,

Rule #1: Every new rider should buy a ninja 250 (new or used). There is no better first bike out there.

Rule #2: Every new rider should own a ninja 250 at some point, because even those most skilled on 2 wheels can have tremendous fun on a small, light, moderately-powered machine. This sometimes makes more sense a few more years into the hobby/sport/passion/addiction.

Rule #3: Even if you ignore Rules #1 & #2, this rule states that just about any motorcycle a new rider gets is a heck of a lot better than deciding not to get a bike, so don't stress.

Corollary #3A: No matter what bike a new rider gets, it's inconceivable that it will be the last bike they own, so spending an inordinate amount of time to get the "perfect" 1st bike, is a waste of time and resources anyway. You're not mating for life, you're just buying a machine.

Happy shopping.

[bob706]

Welcome to the forum

[SVBS]

welcome kabuki, what ever you choose, you will definitely enjoy it, and if you don't get a 250 ninja, you'll get banned from this board (J/K)

Originally Posted by Alex

BTW,

Corollary #3A: No matter what bike a new rider gets, it's inconceivable that it will be the last bike they own, so spending an inordinate amount of time to get the "perfect" 1st bike, is a waste of time and resources anyway. You're not mating for life, you're just buying a machine.

Happy shopping.

Listen to Alex's advice, you'll go through different bikes as much as Alex goes through womens ?

[Yasko]

Start small and learn how to ride.

[kevlarorc]

Welcome!
My advice is of course to get a ninja 250. :P
I would go to a dealership near you and sit on some bikes. You'll know pretty quickly, I think, whether you want a sport-styled bike or cruiser.\
Oh and also do the MSF course. It's a lot of fun and really helps you get comfortable if you don't know how to ride yet.

[tapdiggy]

Originally Posted by kevlarorc

...I would go to a dealership near you and sit on some bikes...

+1. To add to that, if you are going to buy from a dealer, go and talk to the sales staff. Ask about every kind of bike they have, whether you like the bike or not.
Listen for phrases like:

"You should start on a bike with (fill in blank) cc."

or

"Cruisers aren't as fun as sportbikes."

or

Any mention of how to "keep heat in the tires."

These are signs that the person you are talking to isn't thinking about your needs or wants as a beginning rider.

[kabuki85]

Thanks for the advice guys! I will definitely go check out a dealer and try out some bikes. I have been keeping an eye on the pre-gen ninjas on Craigslist. Most of them are around $1500-2000 here in the Seattle area. Anything I need to be watching out for when buying a used pre-gen?

[highpsiguy]

hehehe perfect bike...that's a good one. I am on number 18. I have enjoyed many of them. Right now REALLY liking my lil 250

[KJohnson21]

[Snake]

Hello and welcome.

[CC Cowboy]

Tacoma, Washington equals dirt bike.

[vnranger]

[Momaru]

Welcome aboard! The 250 is a great choice, whether your first, only or one of many.

[ride2rideagain]

wassup....as a fellow newbie, i highly recommend the ninja 250.

and WELCOME....this is a great site with some awesome helpful people

[Rosie]

Originally Posted by kabuki85

Thanks for the advice guys! I will definitely go check out a dealer and try out some bikes. I have been keeping an eye on the pre-gen ninjas on Craigslist. Most of them are around $1500-2000 here in the Seattle area. Anything I need to be watching out for when buying a used pre-gen?

A used pre-gen is a good choice, that's what I bought and I'm happy with it. Just make sure the previous owner kept it up to date with the service stuff

[Memengkamatis]

Kabuki, the Ninja 250 is the best bike to learn on. It's got great ergos, a more upright rider stance on the bike so longer rides isn't back breaking. It's got great speed for a beginner (110 mph +) if you're rushing. It's light and nimble, turn in is quick due to having a short wheelbase. Great gas mileage, a benefit for commuting. It's way better to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow. You will learn how to squeeze out and conserve your speed specially at twisties. I took my 1200cc BMW to Deals Gap (318 turns in 11 miles) once. The bike had so much power, I just stayed in 2nd gear (engine breaking, gas, engine breaking, more gas, over and over) = BORING. Guess which bike I took next? Best of all, the bike had been in production for so long, all the gremlins had been engineered and fixed. There's lots of aftermarket farkles, used parts on Ebay or Craigslist. Buy a used one for under 2k. If you decide to upgrade the next year, sell it for maybe 1.5k. It's cheaper than renting. BTW, insurance is cheap even if you're just a starting rider. So don't buy new. Use the money to get quality riding gear and apparel. More power to you and your quest. Happy holidays.

Meng

[kabuki85]

Thanks for all the great advice guys!

[wolfmensch]

I've been a car guy most of my life, but at age 53 I've started up with motorcycles. The benefit of starting this late is that I know from my car days how silly I've been buying vehicles of vastly more power and complexity than I needed or in fact could use.

Imagine buying a Mercedes S600 or Ferrari Enzo as your first car. You don't need the power (where are you going to go 180mph?). You don't need the space (where are you going to go riding in the back with a chauffeur?). I can tell you the first day I brought home my Porsche I spun it, and that was with more than 20 years' driving experience.

Now imagine instead your first car is a used Mini or a used Miata. They don't have the size or the power of the first two, but MAN, are they fun. They handle like go-carts, they certainly have enough power in the real world (an S600 or Enzo can't go any faster in stop and go rush hour traffic), they are utterly reliable, they look great, and they're cheap to insure.

Well, that last paragraph describes the relationship between Harleys, Ducatis, BMW's or any 600+ CC bike on the one hand and the Ninja 250R on the other. The ONLY reason I can imagine going to another bike at SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE is for comfortable two-up riding --and I'm not even convinced of that yet.

Fact is, most of my riding is on suburban and back roads at speeds of 50mph and less, with a radius of less than 10 miles. You don't need anything bigger for that kind of riding. I've been on the highway at 70, and though the RPMs were high, it was otherwise a non-event. The bike handles beautifully, accelerates faster than 99% of all cars out there, and certainly has enough power (especially compared to what was considered powerful just a few years ago) to turn an inattentive rider into road pizza just as quickly as much bigger bikes.

Just about everyone told me I'd quickly tire of the bike. But I don't tire quickly of great handling, great ergos, great reliability, great running costs, and -- to my eye -- a beautiful design.

If you buy this bike, you may never switch.

Just my opinion, as always.

Happy hunting!

[ducducgooseit]

Welcome to the 250 party.