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Help on bike selection
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September 19, 2008 at 11:24 pm #2116RobMParticipant
Hi all. Just passed my MSF class this weekend and enjoyed it immensely. More fun than someone should have in school (or school yard). Now I have to decide on a bike to purchase. I have some background riding dirt bikes as a kid and I had a Kawi 550 LTD in college for a while 20 years ago (see my intro for the story about that one). I rode the Yamaha TX 250 for the class without any problems and this is the bike I used for the test. I also tried the Honda Rebel cruiser. I much preferred the upright and higher seating position of the TX. Based on what I’ve read on this site and my MSF experience, my candidates are a used Ninja 250, Suzuki GS500 or SV650. Here are my concerns. 1) I’m afraid that the Ninja might be too forward leaning for me. 2) I’ll out grow the GS500, and 3) the SV650 is too much bike for me (plus its pricey). My main goal for the bike is commuting 10 miles on surface streets (max 50 mph) to work and weekend jaunts to the mountains and deserts.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
September 19, 2008 at 11:52 pm #12403MunchParticipantTry something like a Buell Blast ( can’t believe I said that). They are 500cc single piston pumpers with a crotch rocket styling and “standard” seating position (assuming I am understanding the whole categorizing of positions) Solves both the forward leaning and tooo much bike problems.
Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h
September 20, 2008 at 12:29 am #12408megaspazParticipantas far as i know, the ninja 250 has very little forward leaning. it’s pretty much almost standard riding position. best advice is to go the showrooms and sit on as many bikes as you can.
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If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…September 20, 2008 at 12:41 am #12409RobMParticipantFinding these bikes in a showroom in San Diego has been pretty difficult. I tried last weekend at one of the Suzuki dealers and they didn’t have anything I was looking for (GS or SV), or hardly any lower cc bikes. I guess I will have to keep trying. On the Buell, I ruled it out because of the low rpm vibrations I’ve read about. Maybe I should consider it again. Any feedback on the low rpm vibes?
September 20, 2008 at 1:15 am #12412megaspazParticipantbesides the fact that vibration sucks? you should talk to someone who owns a buell. i don’t really know anything about them.
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If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…September 20, 2008 at 1:19 am #12413MunchParticipantLess then some dirt bikes but somewhat noticeable…. remember single piston…theres nothing there to oppose the action as with the twins.
The Buell Blast is what my MSF bike was.
Yesterday is a memory, tomorrow is a prediction, but today…… is a Bi**h
September 20, 2008 at 2:11 am #12416bob250ParticipantIf you have a short reach then you are probably going to be leaning forward on a 250 ninja. Try sitting on the ninja 500. I liked the feel of the 500 as far as the seat and riding position but got a good deal on a used 08 250. I would say go for the used 250. It will handle your needs and you’ll be able to sell it for about what you payed when and if you outgrow it.
September 20, 2008 at 4:16 am #12424RobMParticipantElwood1960 and others, thanks for the input. I agree that I need to think about how I will be using the bike and what I expect out of it. Getting out there and sitting on a few both new and used will help a lot with my decision process. The problem is that I’m just impatient and want to get it now….The waiting is killing me. The cost is an issue so it’s just not a matter of going out and buying new (I promised my wife that I wouldn’t spend too much money on this endeavor). I will be getting something used. On the reach, I’m an average 5’6″ middle age fellow that’s barely 140 lbs sopping wet, so reach may be a problem. I am also worried about comfort after riding for an hour or so in a forward leaning position.
September 20, 2008 at 4:23 am #12425megaspazParticipantholy shite you’re skinny! i hate you.
RobMParticipantJust small boned……..sorry…We small people have our hangups too…How will I get that big bike of me when I fall in the bushes like Ben?
September 20, 2008 at 5:54 am #12428IanCParticipantRobM I also live in San Diego and as of yesterday I have been to every dealer in San Diego As you found out small bikes are nowhere to be found, well almost no where. If you want to sit on a Ninja 250 try Quinsey Powersports in El Cajon they had a pre-release one as of yesterday. Motoworld in El Cajon has a Yamaha YZ6 (no I’m not recommending that bike for a first bike) but it will give you another standard to sit on and it’s seating position and height is very similar to a SV650. Southbay Powersports has a VStar 250 (another cruiser) to sit on and an SV650 sport (dropped handlebars).
I was told that 2009’s will start trickling in over the next month but SV650’s are going to be in short supply for a while.
But your best bet is Craiglist (and you should be buying used). Ninja 250’s show up just about every couple of days. SV650’s show up about twice a week. Ninja 500’s rarely, the 250 cruisers about once a week.
I bought a used Rebel 250 and am doing preliminary research for for my next bike and I think I want to get away from a cruiser. Even though I probably don’t want a cruiser for my second bike this bike has been a wonderful bike to learn on. There’s a world of difference betwen 20 in the parking lot and 45-55 on real streets and doing corners. It’s light, has a forgiving throttle (I’ve found that out a couple of times), it corners great, and it’s been more than adequate to learn on. I’ve been up to Julian three times, on some really twisty back roads and last weekend I went to Idlywild (200ml round trip) including 30 miles of freeway driving. Drop me a line at [email protected] if you want to talk more about what I’ve found out about San Diego dealers, etc. and if you want to do a ride once you have a bike.
Ian
September 20, 2008 at 9:23 am #12432dcJohnParticipantWhen I heard about the more forward lean of the 2008+ Ninja 250, I was dubious. I’m not tall (5’8″), and really wanted a standard, not a sportbike, riding position. I just recently bought a new Ninja (one of the 2009s that are beginning to trickle into dealerships), and I’ve been happy to find that it’s still very comfortable. It may be a bit more like a sportbike’s riding position than earlier (2007-) versions of the bike, but only slightly.
September 21, 2008 at 1:21 pm #12446RobMParticipantIan…Thanks for the input. I’ll give the dealers in El Cajon a try so that I can sit on few bikes. I’ve been looking hard at Craigslist and have even contacted a few about looking at bikes. Unfortunately, most of the time, the bike is gone by the time I get in contact with them. I’m a little hesitant about going to see a used bike just to sit on it and see if the geometry and style is what I am looking for.
I’m really glad that the Rebel 250 is working out well for you. Sounds like you are having some real fun with it. I have thought about the ride to Idlywild on the back roads and was considering it as a goal to work towards. Did you go up through Santa Ysabel?
September 21, 2008 at 1:24 pm #12447RobMParticipantAre the bars on the Ninja 250 short clip-on style or more upright? One of the things about the Ninja 250 that I worry about is steering leverage with the shorter bars. Having ridden more standard type bikes in the long ago past and the dualsport in the MSF class, getting across the idea of shorter bars is proving hard for me. Again I need to go out and sit on a few and maybe ride one or two, if possible.
September 21, 2008 at 2:55 pm #12452BuddParticipantThe classic 250 sits almost straight up. The bars have about a two inch rise on them. I wouldn’t worry about control of the thing as it goes where you want it too.
“I am the best there is at what I do, and what I do ain’t nice.”-Wolverine
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