[gitchy42]

Hate to sound like a broken record here, but I agree with MadJak and eon, take the basic course, and buy used.

Something to remember when you are looking for Ninja 250s, in 2008 they updated the model to a more “sporty” ride, with a little more “umpf” in the middle of the RPM range. Pre-2008 models are more forgiving, have a more neutral riding and are likely to be cheaper. Also, you may want to consider a smaller dual-sport.

For riding gear you may also want to look at Cycle Gear http://www.cyclegear.com/ They have decent prices and selection, although it seems that their best deals are always on their store brand.