[Elias]

Ok

There is an OK picture of her.

Don’t worry, I’m posting more below.

But I wanted to create a buffer zone to inform you that the following pictures are NOT how I ride my bike. This was “Cubano Night” for my birthday party, and I was just dressed up for the occasion. Rest assured, fellow safe riders, that my gear is inside the house.

So, here are some more shots of me and her:

BTW, I have named her Holly.

Yes, Elwood, that’s an 883 Sportster in the back

So it’s official, I have a bike. None of these pics do her justice but I will be sure to post in the Picture Discussion when I have some good ones.

[Elias]

All good advice, and much of it I have already applied, even on my first day. I feel like my proactive driving habits in my cage are finally paying off, as I have dodged several potential accident scene’s already. I couldn’t be happier with the power of this bike, I feel like I can get out of trouble QUICK. And as for freeways, it’s not the speed that scares me, it’s the increased chances of injury in a fall that freak me out. Actually, I’ve already gotten her up to 60 (without realizing it) and it felt very comfortable. Of course, when I realized I was doing 15 over the limit, I brought her back down. I’m going to have to get used to that…And as for emergency braking, I feel very comfortable using my brakes on this bike. The dual front discs decelerate me at about the same rate I can accelerate, it’s just amazing! I have been practicing my e-stops at stop lights (don’t worry SafetyFirst, I’m never in the center of the lane) and feel that I have began to understand the safe limitations of my braking power. I’ve been doing small box turns and figure 8’s as well. The only thing that really erk’s me at this point are damned stop lights not seeing me.

It’s a thrill ride, and I’m loving it. Thanks for all the advice guys, I’ll be sure to keep practicing and keep her shoes on the ground.

[Munch]

She’s gorgeous!!! Nice lookin bike there sir.
You know…very now and again I have the urge to try a sport bike on for chits and grins… to bad I know no one that would let me saddle up for a test ride.

[nok610]

That’s a good looking bike!

[SafetyFirst]

Damn what a nice bike. Now you gotta tell us all about how it rides, because I’ve honestly thought about getting an SV650S or SV650FS (but don’t tell my Baby Ninja or else it’ll get upset with me.)

[zeppelinfromled]

Haha, I get the same feeling for cruisers.

[Elias]

She is a CHAMP! 373lbs dry (feather light), plenty of power (72hp), great brakes (dual disc on front), and FI! What’s not to love? I know you are comfortable with the 250’s power, but if/when you decide to get a bigger bike, I think you would like the SV. I have sat on the 250R, and these bikes feel very similar ergonomically. I would highly recommend getting frame sliders on her tho, because whoever dropped my bike before I bought it, put a big bend in the radiator which looks tacky. But it doesn’t leak, so it seems to be pretty bulletproof. Even being my first bike, I have to say it is FAST, but I don’t feel like it has ever gotten out of hand. It seems to be very forgiving of mistakes, as long as you have motorcycle clutch/shifting experience. I wouldn’t recommend this bike to a COMPLETE noob, but you would love it.

[SafetyFirst]

Frame sliders are said to actually cause more damage to the frame. How ironic.

I might be moving up to one of those or a Ninja 650. Roll on from 60 to 80 MPH in about 3.5 seconds? Heck, yeah. It was much more than that on the Ninja 250. Squid alert! JK I wondered if it was too slow to get out of the way, since I was riding it already in the powerband. Riding it anywhere other than there just makes it feel awful to ride.

Though lately, I’ve had the hots for a Honda CBR125R. It’s sexier than my Ninja 250F, 125cc sport bike, FI with 95 MPG. Anyone want to help me through the hoops to import it from Canada, eh? I’m not sayin’ I’m taking it on the super-slab for more than an exit or two, but it would completely rock for riding around town wasting time and getting to work.

Hurts to think of ditching the baby Ninja after I just put new tires on it and am getting used to it, but I think it’s only a matter of time. You gotta figure the pre-08 Ninjas are running on 16″ wheels and are quite a lot different from the 08+ in design. Being able to not only put my feet down on the ground, but be able to do it with knees still bent made learning easy, but now might be the downfall.

And I’m glad there was a pic of you in gear. I was about to raz you on that, Mr. AFGATT.

[eternal05]

From what I’ve gathered so far, I’m taller than you by quite a bit (you’re 5’10”, right?), AND I’ve been riding a GSX-R around the track for the past year, yet I don’t mind the riding position or the power of the 250 at all. That’s especially funny because the pre-’08 250 had MORE power and MORE legroom (though lower seat height) than the ’08 that I have. I mean, sure, it could be that I’ve “been there done that” with respect to power and so I can appreciate the Ninja more knowing I can hop on the speedster any time I get the itch, but still…

I dunno man, I think you’re trying to talk yourself into a bigger bike. You may be legitimately right, and it could make a lot of sense for you. I don’t deny that possibility. But I’m not convinced, nor do I think you’re convinced yourself. I think you’re just intoxicated by your upgrade options

I’m not saying this because I think you’re going to squid yourself on a big bike. I’m saying this because, and this is especially true of supersports/bikes, you may discover it’s not what you wanted after all.

You’re worried about ergos? I just got back from a two hour ride on the GSX-R (I’m trying to push it to its next service before my next track day this coming Weds) and man, my back hurts! It’s fine around the track because you’re in proper riding position, but you can’t do that on the street. You don’t have visibility and you’re harder for others to see when you’re crouched down. What that means is that, even though the bike wants you angled forward, on the street you have to fight that and try to sit up. This is impossible to do in a remotely comfortable way. On the other hand, going back to the Ninja is going to feel like getting in a Lazy Boy in comparison. It’s so nice and upright!

Anyway, if you feel you must (and you do know best…if you’re honest with yourself), I’d absolutely concur with the recommendations of the SV650SF/Ninja650R. It’s a much friendlier bike in day-to-day riding, and it’s just about as fast as a race bike in the 0-60mph test. I’d still stay away from the naked/streetfighter (e.g. Triumph Street — not Speed — Triple) type unless you REALLY want to do yourself in. Those are just naked sportbikes with more upright riding positions in disguise as normal motorcycles.

[Author]

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