[Proud2Be]

Hi, I’ve been riding dirt bike now for the past 3 years. I can handle a clutch and shifting without a problem and i plan on getting a sports bike this summer or next summer. I’ve talked to friends and other riders about what kind of motorcycle i should get and some say a Ninja 250 and others are saying that i’ll grow out of that very fast and to just go straight to a 600 that i’ll never grow out of. So im not sure what to look into getting. Thanks for veiwing please post any opinions.

Jake

[briderdt]

…than a big bike slow.

You’ll have a better learning curve and likely a lot more fun finding (and riding at) the limits of a smaller bike, than the SS bike finding YOUR limits.

[IBA270]

Maybe a 600/620/650 TWIN…but not a 600. My racebike is a 600…granted, it’s had some work done too it, but not much in the way of go fast performance. It’s scary fast…I’m not kidding you fast…plus, you just can’t enjoy what they have to offer in the way of performance.

If you feel like you’re an accomplished enough rider (I can’t make that determination for you) then consider a larger twin. They too are scary fast, but have power bands that are more manageable. The SV’s, my wife’s Ducati Monster and the Ninja 650R’s I’ve ridden are a kick in the pants and I doubt I’d grow tired of them…If I had to live with my race bike in street trim? I’d grow tired of that beast.

[Jeff in Kentucky]

Your dirt bike experience should be great for not dropping a street bike, and for scanning for car drivers not paying attention. I would take the MSF course to get your motorcycle license and to better understand dealing with cars and pavement while on a motorcycle, and it will lower your insurance.

It is safer to start out smaller, then work your way up, even though this method has a lot less status. Another factor is how you plan to ride on the street- long straight trips at 75 mph, or short trips on 60 mph country roads. The 250cc Ninja is a little light for the interstates- the 500cc Ninja or a 650cc to 800cc twin cylinder is better on long trips at 75 mph. Also check the insurance rates before you buy- if you are young, a 600cc sportbike will probably cost thousands a year more for insurance, because they have a higher crash rate and are stolen more often.

I still ride a bike with 35 horsepower, after 14 years of street riding experience- the maximum power is at 35 mph, 55 mph, and 75 mph for the first three gears- perfect for feeling like you are drag racing legally on the street. I may get a 600cc sport tourer next (ZZR 600), but the extra power may be too much and make it boring, unless I rent track time.

In Europe, they often make a beginning rider on the street ride a small bike for a year or two, or a big bike with the throttle governed down to 30 horsepower, so the maximum speed might be 80 or 90 mph. In Japan any bike over 400cc costs a lot more for insurance- they are trying to save lives.

This is the bike I am considering buying:

http://www.motorcycledaily.com/14february05_zzr600.htm

[TrialsRider]

Jake, you forgot to mention how much you weigh and if you plan to ride along with the friends on 600’s. Personally I own a 1000cc inline four but would still love to own a 250r or even a Yamaha YZF-R125, but then I’m a light weight and the bike hardly knows I’m there. Like Allen says the 600 is an outright crotch rocket, unless it’s only for the track, price the insurance before you fall in love.

[Proud2Be]

Thanks guys. I’m about 5’8″ 140 pounds. The riding i will probably be doing is highway, in small towns under 15,000 people and country rodes with only a little interstate riding for when i go to see my girlfriend. I will probably being doing alot of riding alone or with family. I already do most of my riding on country rodes with my dirt bike and i live outside of a small town so i even go up into town with it some days. Thanks for post its really helping me please keep them coming.

[owlie]

Have you considered a dual sport rather than a sport bike? I hear that they are a blast, and if you are in the middle of a peer pressure dilemma it would take you completely out of the bike style paradigm.

Best of luck!

[Proud2Be]

I have looked into different dual sport bikes there just not the type of body build im looking for though. I want a bike thats going to last me a long time and with a decent amount of power but not so torquey that i cant handle it but i also want it to have that super sport look behind it and with a dual sport i just cant get that. Otherwise i think there great bikes.

[TrialsRider]

with dirt experience too What’s your dirt bike?
…don’t hang around me or I’d have you buying a nice Trials bike and a little pickup truck to make out with the girlfriend in
One thing about the 250r you can go visit but unless she is real tiny, you’re going to feel her on the back more than on the larger displacement bikes. I really like some of the large displacement singles. It’s tough having so many decisions isn’t it ?

[Proud2Be]

I have 3 a TTr 125 a TTr 110 and a MT 250. She’s pretty small under 110 pounds. Yes it is, My dads trying to tell me to get a 250r(but i think he just wants to take it for a ride) he rides a big ole gold wing. But then i have other people saying its a waste to spend a summer on that then go to a 600.

[TrialsRider]

…ya, you’re right he just wants to ride it !
I would too and that really should tell you something.
Just for a lark Google “450 Supersingle”

[Proud2Be]

Yup thats it. Put it back together last year. Those 450 Supersingle are pretty sweet, i’d like to see someone make them in full production i think that’d be a great bike that’d solve my whole problem right there.

[TrialsRider]

…maybe someone at Honda will read this and smarten up
Watch out for frame cracks on that Elsinore, right down below the countershaft sprocket.

[briderdt]

“Also check the insurance rates before you buy”

Yeah, no kidding… Case in point:

I was looking at getting my “next bike” just a little while ago, and thought about various bikes I might like. The Honda RC51 and VFR800 were front runners, so I called my insurance company to check on coverage costs (as having to finance the bike would require full coverage).

The RC51 was something like $1300 a year, due to the displacement being at the 1000cc mark. The VFR was better, but still significantly higher than my SV650s.

Then I looked at a Triumph Daytona. Almost the same displacement as the SV, I figured it wouldn’t be so much more… I was about a half hour away from calling the seller and telling him I’d take it, and then I called the insurance company… $1908 a year! They said it was because “replacing parts is extremely expensive”, and “people who ride those bikes tend to do stupid things”.

I got another SV650s…

[CBBaron]

As everyone said as 500 or 650 twin is very powerful and fast but much easier to handle than the super sports. Plus the insurance is usually much lower.

I’m 6’2″ 220 and the 250r was easily able to do freeway speeds with power to accelerate. On one of the ninja forums there was a ride report of a 250r rider who did an Iron Butt ride on his. He went from OK to AZ to NC and back to OK in under 5 days (may have been 4). It is a very capable bike.

Craig

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