2009 250r or 650r?

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• June 23, 2009 at 5:53 pm #3051
  zeokamen

  Participant

  Hi I have not ridden in 12 years but I just took the msf course this past weekend and now am ready to ride once I get my motorcycle endorsement.

  Kawasaki has two affordable sports bikes(250r and 650r) as compared to other brands such as yamaha, suzuki and honda in the same class. I am 6ft 190lbs and am leaning towards a new 2009 650r but a 2009 250r looks good too.

  What are your thoughts?

  June 23, 2009 at 6:36 pm #20078
  A

  Participant

  650R will be more capable for the long run, 250R will reach its limits sooner.

  June 23, 2009 at 11:30 pm #20097
  SantaCruzRider

  Participant

  I also returned to riding after a decade hiatus, but I rode a mid-size bike every day for years prior to that and I felt very comfortable getting back in the saddle.

  Others returning from a long break may have had much less time riding (seasonal, weekends only, 1 year experience, etc…) For those folks, it might be more fair to say that they are starting fresh.

  Both bikes are nice. One might be too powerful for many beginners and the other may be too small for some folks egos (or is that ergos??).

  June 25, 2009 at 4:39 am #20170
  Speedy Rodriguez

  Participant

  …and being one, I have to agree. The bike has been fantastic. I’ve never ridden a 250R, but from what I’ve read here, the advantages of a 650R will be:

  1. Lower revs at higher speeds. Instead of a screaming 10k at 80 MPH, the 650 will hum nicely at around 6k.

  2. Heavier, but not too heavy. About 450 lbs with a tank of gas, the 18-wheelers won’t blow you off the highway.

  3. The engine will likely last longer than a 250R, should you decide to hang onto the bike for 5+ years.

  4. Chicks will love you for it when you lower your voice an octave and say, “Yeah, I gotta six-fitty–thankyouverymuch, thankyouverymuch…”

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