[RRaczak]

So I’ve been really looking forward to getting a bike since I’ve always wanted to ride one. So been doing some research and I was set on the Ninja250 for a beginner bike, price and for the new 2009 look. But in my research I found out what the 250 stood for and other things I’m a big built guy, 6’2 and about 240-250lbs. Would the 250 ride well for me or should I step it up to the 500? Or is there another bike I should be looking for(I’m looking for sport).

[eternal05]

Man I really gotta step up to the plate and write this up for Ben. This is the same old question we get every day…a great question, perfectly fair, just very common.

Unless you’re VERY heavy, weight is not an issue on just about any motorcycle with a 4-stroke (almost everything on the street) and 250cc or greater displacement. The much bigger issue is your height. I started out on an ’08 250R almost two years ago and have enjoyed it for many miles, though not without issues. I’m 6’4″ and had to get adjustable aftermarket footpegs to lower the pegs about an inch to make riding possible. It continues to be problematic for some things, but for the most part, the bike is perfectly rideable.

Short answer: sit your ass down on one and see if it fits. Have a buddy or salesman hold the bike vertical and get both feet up. Make sure your toes are on the pegs and your knees and heels are pressed in, gripping the bike. Go through all the motions: feign rear braking, shifting up and down (both ways is important).

[WeaponZero]

The engine will carry your ass quickly regardless of how much you weigh. The important thing is whether or not the bikes SUSPENSION can handle your weight and whether youre too tall for the bike or not. Personally I’d say go with like a 500R or even a Ninja 650R at your size for a more comfortable ride, theyre still mild enough for beginners, because a 250R will need aftermarket modifications to the suspension and riding position to handle your size/weight.

[rb]

I second the 650 but you could say I’m biased:) The only problem you may run into is that the front suspension is not adjustable and is a little soft. I’m only 150 lbs so it’s perfect for me. The rear is adjustable.

Ultimately, you should go to every dealership in your area and sit on as many different bikes as you can. I mean everything. Sports, standards, and cruisers. After sitting on 15-20 bikes you begin to figure out what is going to work for you.

When I was shopping for my first bike I ended up not liking what I thought I would like (sport) because it just wasn’t comfortable for me. I ended up with an ER6n because it was very comfortable and the ergo’s fit my body type perfectly.

[RRaczak]

I see, well I will definitely try everything! Thanks all for the info!

[WeaponZero]

Youre right about the suspension (SV650 is the same way) but any lower end beginner-oriented bike will have non-adjustable suspension so unless he wants to start out on a GSXR or CBR thats something he’s just gonna have to live with.

[SafetyFirst]

I thought the big deal with the SV650 is how some years you can drop in GSX-R suspensions? Best of both worlds… sort of.

[briderdt]

A lot of threads on the SVRider board about doing just that — swapping the stock SV fork/triples/front wheel for the GSXR model (I haven’t done it, and I don’t know which year/model works). Same with the shock. Again, don’t know which year/model swaps in, and I think the dogbones have to be swapped as well, but everything I’ve read says it makes a HUGE difference.

[WeaponZero]

My SV has a GSX-R600 rear shock, which is a direct bolt-on replacement for the stock shock but does require you to put spacers on the rear fender to keep the battery from touching it. It has stock front forks. My SV is a first gen and the year of rear shock used was a late ’90s (97-00) generation “SRAD” GSX-R600 shock. For the spacers all you have to do is remove the 2 forward most bolts holding the fender/battery compartment to the frame and put oversized nuts in betwen the fender and frame before putting the bolts back in. This relocated the entire battery compartment approximately 1/4″ back and 1/4″ down giving you the room you need to safely ride that way. Also, put some sort of foam padding on the shock reservoir where the battery touches it.

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