any small rider with heavy bike here? HELP!

[fr1dayn1ght]

Little back story...I have the 250 for a year now, still newbie basically and I'm looking to upgrade. Truth be told im very paranoid about heavy bike (400lbs+) as i am a small guy (135) so I was 99% sure I would get the ninja 300 next.

But then when I was about to literally buy the 300 at the dealer, my friend told me they have a used 650r and that would be a better upgrade. I can tip toe on both legs which is fine, bike looks hot, love the showy suspension, i can put clip on for more sporty feel and probably better for my highway commute everyday, BUT its a whooping 440 lbs wet...Im afraid I wont be able to walk the bike or pick it up and looks like a retard

Now Im torn...please convince me weight won't be a problem ???
Thanks for your help! My insurance for the 250 is ending in about 2 weeks so I would like to make a decision soon!

[ForceofWill]

Why do you feel you want another bike after a year? What are you trying to upgrade? Between those two I would get the 300 regardless of your skill level. I don't personally like the 650.

[Ducati999]

Just o let you know, my wife is 5ft tall and 103lbs. She has the same issue as you. The only solution we could find was to lower the bike. There is no way to back up a bike or be really sure you wont drop it unless you are mostly flat foot on the ground so if it starts to go over you can get some leverage to lift it back up same for backing it up.
Some people say that lowering the bike is bad. With the light weight you posted for yourself and the proper sag settings you should not have too many issues with the suspension bottoming out. The other main issue against lowering is that parts can touch down sooner that with stock ride height. Both of the before mentioned issues also depend on your riding style and the type of roads you ride on. People who drag their knees will have issues with the possibility of parts (exhaust, foot pegs) touching down at lower lean angles and if your riding area has really rough roads or speed bumps then this is not a good option for you. Since you stated that you can tip toe on the 650 the just dropping the rear 1inch and lowering the forks 3/4 of an inch should be enough for you to feel more comfortable. You did not state if you do/plan any track days or racing on this bike nor if you will be riding with a passenger on the back. Any of the before mentioned situations would be bad for a lowered bike but people have done it before with success. You have the option of lowering the bike till you become more confident and comfortable and then raise it back up as the changes are just as easy to reverse as they are to implement.
The extra weight will be a factor (at first) if you cannot stand flat footed or relatively close. You are the only one who can decide if it is worth it to you

[Yakaru]

You've got 40 lbs on me still

I don't have anything bigger than my 300, but remember you aren't having to actually lift the bike, the wheels can take most of the weight. If you drop it, use the 'squat' pickup technique which will let you bring a lot more strength and stability.

Don't get something that makes you uncomfortable, but if you're careful and patient you can handle it I suspect

[fr1dayn1ght]

I want to upgrade because I have enough saving from my new job now, I didn't want the look of pregen 250 originally but I had to get it (and Im glad I did) because I wanted to ride so badly even though I had tight budget
Im just wondering maybe weight is a non-issue, as when I first started I was scared that I couldnt flat foot my 250 but then I got used to tip toe-ing and it was no big deal. Same situation apply here??

[fr1dayn1ght]

Originally Posted by Yakaru

You've got 40 lbs on me still

I don't have anything bigger than my 300, but remember you aren't having to actually lift the bike, the wheels can take most of the weight. If you drop it, use the 'squat' pickup technique which will let you bring a lot more strength and stability.

Don't get something that makes you uncomfortable, but if you're careful and patient you can handle it I suspect

What do you think of the ninja 300 when upgrading from 250 in term of power and stuffs?

[old3]

135 lbs.? The 300 is plenty and a great upgrade. I'm 200 lbs. and ride 2 up and added taller gearing on a 300.

The 650 is a nice bike but I can't think of a reason it is really better for you at this point. You will fly on a 300. The bigger ergos of the 650 fit me better, you would be stretched out too much. My brother had a Ninja 650, he weighs 135 too. He hated it.

There are bikes built for your size/weight and the Ninjettes and CBR250s are them.

Where in NJ are you?

[JohnnyBravo]

Get a test ride on a 300... I freakin love mine!!!

[Aggrotech]

Do you even lift?
buy a kettlebell D:

[nickjpass]

I weight 135ish, and am 5'10". I ride a bike that weighs more than 400 lbs. It's harder to maneuver slowly than say, my 220lb dirt bike, but I manage. It helps if you get stronger and build more muscle.

[fr1dayn1ght]

Originally Posted by old3

135 lbs.? The 300 is plenty and a great upgrade. I'm 200 lbs. and ride 2 up and added taller gearing on a 300.

The 650 is a nice bike but I can't think of a reason it is really better for you at this point. You will fly on a 300. The bigger ergos of the 650 fit me better, you would be stretched out too much. My brother had a Ninja 650, he weighs 135 too. He hated it.

There are bikes built for your size/weight and the Ninjettes and CBR250s are them.

Where in NJ are you?

Im in Jersey city

Originally Posted by JohnnyBravo

Get a test ride on a 300... I freakin love mine!!!

No test ride allowed

Originally Posted by Aggrotech

Do you even lift?
buy a kettlebell D:

Im a designer so I only lift enough to be able to move the mouse

[JohnnyBravo]

You can find a test ride if you look. Find a private seller, find a used bike, etc

[Yakaru]

Originally Posted by fr1dayn1ght

What do you think of the ninja 300 when upgrading from 250 in term of power and stuffs?

The stock 300 was almost exactly where my 250 was after all my modification work (carb tuning, exhaust, pod filters). Since then I've done a similar set of work on the 300 -- I'd honestly have to go ride a stock 250/300 again to compare. But as someone sub-100 lbs my 300 is more than enough to get me anywhere I want to go at a speed that will get me in legal trouble if I let it (I do not ).

[old3]

JC, nice. I'm in Ringwood, up in the mountains.

Why do you think the 650 will be better for you? The weight already seems to be an issue. If you build your skills, that will matter much less, if at all, but this is now.

Highway? The 300 can cruise at 80 easily, it'll do an actual 87 MPH at redline in 4th with a 15t CS sprocket. It only struggles at above 90 MPH. It'll do about 106, but it has to be clean air, no uphill, lots of room. Getting to/over 100 MPH is the only + I see with the 650. The negatives of its weight and size compared to yours seems to be the bigger factor.

You are the perfect size for the 300, I'd be taking advantage of that!

[JohnnyBravo]

Originally Posted by old3

JC, nice. I'm in Ringwood, up in the mountains.

Why do you think the 650 will be better for you? The weight already seems to be an issue. If you build your skills, that will matter much less, if at all, but this is now.

Highway? The 300 can cruise at 80 easily, it'll do an actual 87 MPH at redline in 4th with a 15t CS sprocket. It only struggles at above 90 MPH. It'll do about 106, but it has to be clean air, no uphill, lots of room. Getting to/over 100 MPH is the only + I see with the 650. The negatives of its weight and size compared to yours seems to be the bigger factor.

You are the perfect size for the 300, I'd be taking advantage of that!

My speedo hit 109 going uphill today, an it was windy, I think it may have had more in it, but I got to my exit

[TOPFLiTE1994]

I'm 5'10" 130lbs without gear. I have had no problems on the 650r or even my r6. The weight is intimidating at first, you get over it. I can just as easily turn my 650 around, on a dime at 3 miles an hour, as I could on the 250. Get the bike you really feel you will be happy on, you'll grow into it as with any bike.

[fr1dayn1ght]

its love at first sight...

http://www.kawiforums.com/attachment...14083209_n.jpg

[TOPFLiTE1994]

Originally Posted by fr1dayn1ght

its love at first sight...

http://www.kawiforums.com/attachment...14083209_n.jpg

She sure is perty. Bet those rims were a pretty penny....

Here's my girl:




..yes those are 250r mirrors

[fr1dayn1ght]

Originally Posted by TOPFLiTE1994

She sure is perty. Bet those rims were a pretty penny....

Here's my girl:


..yes those are 250r mirrors

Im curious how much did you pay for it? new or used

[RedPepper64]

The latest addition to the garage is a '13 Ninja 636 ~425lbs. At 125lbs and 5'3" myself I am still able to lift the bike myself using the squat lift process. The jump initially is extremely noticeable between the 250 and a heavier bike but after the first 100 miles you should be having no problems adjusting. If it is love at first sight, get the bike!

[TOPFLiTE1994]

Originally Posted by fr1dayn1ght

Im curious how much did you pay for it? new or used

Bought it used a year and a half ago, $4100 w/5k miles. Put over $1600 in it and another 10k miles in less than a year, then bought the r6 and fell in love.

[TOPFLiTE1994]

Originally Posted by RedPepper64

The latest addition to the garage is a '13 Ninja 636 ~425lbs. At 125lbs and 5'3" myself I am still able to lift the bike myself using the squat lift process. The jump initially is extremely noticeable between the 250 and a heavier bike but after the first 100 miles you should be having no problems adjusting. If it is love at first sight, get the bike!

You dropped that masterpiece






poor thang

[RedPepper64]

Originally Posted by TOPFLiTE1994

You dropped that masterpiece

poor thang

Thank goodness for frame sliders, no evidence at all. Trying to maneuver out of a steep driveway late late at night and the bump at the bottom caught me completely unawares. Tipped her too far. *hides in shame* Talk about rocking ones confidence to the core...

[fr1dayn1ght]

Just an update
I was thinking 300 was too little of an upgrade and 650 was too much, so after I sold my ninja last sunday I decided to pick up the cb500f instead (wanted to try a naked bike.) Sorry kawi

...but im not leaving, i love this forum!!

[chugs]

I'm short as well but these new gen bikes are tiny compared to my k2 gixxer.

[agentbad]

Try some of the 600 supersports they are just as light and the ride height should be about the same. Also the street triple and honda hornet are both pretty compact.

[Sirref]

^ I find it easier to flat foot a street triple than my 300. At 5'10" 135-140lbs I'm able to flat foot most 600s just fine (excluding the r6 for some reason) the ninja 650 is also really easy to flatfoot

while I'm posting, @TOPFLiTE1994 that is a pretty slick looking 650 you've got there, me likey not a fan of two bros exhaust but the short exhaust style looks so much better than the exhaust type that the 300s have stock (long exhaust that goes out the side)

[TheDementedDrummer]

i'm 5'11 135-ish lbs, and i have no problems with my ZX10r, if that's anything to go by.

[TOPFLiTE1994]

Originally Posted by Sirref

^ I find it easier to flat foot a street triple than my 300. At 5'10" 135-140lbs I'm able to flat foot most 600s just fine (excluding the r6 for some reason) the ninja 650 is also really easy to flatfoot

while I'm posting, @TOPFLiTE1994 that is a pretty slick looking 650 you've got there, me likey not a fan of two bros exhaust but the short exhaust style looks so much better than the exhaust type that the 300s have stock (long exhaust that goes out the side)

Well thank ya

My bikes are my life, and I do whatever it takes to make them everything I want em to be. It's gonna be sad to see her drive away with someone else soon...

[Sirref]

If I were in GA I'd be tempted to make that person me