Starter motorcycle
Senior Member
Joined: 05-13-2009
Posts: 466
From: Western North Carolina
250cc is fine!
Being a rider myself and an MSF instructor, all I can say is start small! The Ninja 250s/500s are great starter bikes. Don't listen to others about the 250 being "too small" or "you'll get bored with it". Learn the basics on a bike that is VERY forgiving. Plus, if you buy a used one, you can pretty much sell it for what you pay for it at the end of a season or 2. Another forgiving bike is the Suzuki SV650. If you get the naked version, there's no plastic to worry about if it tips over or you drop it.
A BIG +1 on the gear and respecting the bike. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders and are not letting your ego get in the way! Start small, learn the right way, master the basics, and pass all the Liter Bikes in the corners on a little 250. :-)
Enjoy the ride!
A BIG +1 on the gear and respecting the bike. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders and are not letting your ego get in the way! Start small, learn the right way, master the basics, and pass all the Liter Bikes in the corners on a little 250. :-)
Enjoy the ride!
Senior Member
Joined: 11-27-2007
Posts: 1,115
From: Austin, Texas
Great.! Please keep us posted. I have many family members that now ride, and they all did it right (MSF, good starter bike, and don't ride over your head or be pressured by peers to ride beyond your comfort zone). One of my nieces and her husband ride many thousands of miles per year, and have fantastic vacation trips on their bikes, as well as occasional track days. If you do it right and safe you will have many riding years ahead of you. I just sold my BMW M/C in a fit of being fed up with incompetent (text messaging) cage drivers out there, but already miss not having a bike. Cheers!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 06-25-2008
Posts: 305
From: Austin, TX
Well it's been raining pretty much since I've had the bike, so for now I'm just waiting. Took the MSF class, about 75% in the rain, but those bikes were beat down old Eliminator 125cc's, and I'd rather get started on mine on dry pavement, so I get to wait.
Haven't really been able to snap any pictures either, and I suck at camera work as it is, but here's a shot:
Haven't really been able to snap any pictures either, and I suck at camera work as it is, but here's a shot:
Senior Member
Joined: 07-06-2008
Posts: 156
From: Roselle, IL
Well it's been raining pretty much since I've had the bike, so for now I'm just waiting. Took the MSF class, about 75% in the rain, but those bikes were beat down old Eliminator 125cc's, and I'd rather get started on mine on dry pavement, so I get to wait.
Haven't really been able to snap any pictures either, and I suck at camera work as it is, but here's a shot:
Haven't really been able to snap any pictures either, and I suck at camera work as it is, but here's a shot:
Member
Joined: 10-07-2009
Posts: 79
From: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
I was playing around on craigslist and found a couple pretty good deals on used bikes. Just curious if anyone has any suggestions/recommendations/etc. I've never ridden a motorcycle before and I'll be taking a Texas DPS Safety Course before I drive it in anything but a parking lot.
So far I've found a couple Kawasaki Ninja 250's and 500's that are between $1500-2800 asking price and 2003-2007 model year. Trying to stay below $1800 for a 250 and $2500 for a 500. Just want to pay cash for a new toy, no financing, and definitely no brand new bikes because that's just really not necessary. Any other models I should be looking into? Trying to keep it tame for the first bike so I don't get something I can't handle.
So far I've found a couple Kawasaki Ninja 250's and 500's that are between $1500-2800 asking price and 2003-2007 model year. Trying to stay below $1800 for a 250 and $2500 for a 500. Just want to pay cash for a new toy, no financing, and definitely no brand new bikes because that's just really not necessary. Any other models I should be looking into? Trying to keep it tame for the first bike so I don't get something I can't handle.
John
Member
Joined: 10-07-2009
Posts: 79
From: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Being a rider myself and an MSF instructor, all I can say is start small! The Ninja 250s/500s are great starter bikes. Don't listen to others about the 250 being "too small" or "you'll get bored with it". Learn the basics on a bike that is VERY forgiving. Plus, if you buy a used one, you can pretty much sell it for what you pay for it at the end of a season or 2. Another forgiving bike is the Suzuki SV650. If you get the naked version, there's no plastic to worry about if it tips over or you drop it.
A BIG +1 on the gear and respecting the bike. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders and are not letting your ego get in the way! Start small, learn the right way, master the basics, and pass all the Liter Bikes in the corners on a little 250. :-)
Enjoy the ride!
A BIG +1 on the gear and respecting the bike. You seem to have a good head on your shoulders and are not letting your ego get in the way! Start small, learn the right way, master the basics, and pass all the Liter Bikes in the corners on a little 250. :-)
Enjoy the ride!
Senior Member
Joined: 12-20-2008
Posts: 835
From: durham north carolina
good luck
my advice is to ALLWAYS KEEP YOUR EYES WIDE OPEN , and to practice swerving , so when some idiot pulls out in front of you , you might be ready..it is only by the grace of God and my ability to swerv hard that i am able to type this advice today....I'd rather drop a bike praticing to swerv than to try to do it with a split second warning and some idiot heading straght for me.....just braking won't get it , sometimes you may have to really lean or even to the point of dropping the bike , but that is the last resort.....And no drinking
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