- This topic has 8 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 2 months ago by Ixecapade.
Just Saying Hello
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February 11, 2010 at 10:43 pm #3701MilbroParticipant
Hello, I am getting in the world of biking as my father was an avid bike builder and rider back in Ireland. He has allowed me to start riding bikes now and I look forward to the learning process. I now live in Atlanta, GA and I signed up for a MSF next month ( a bit chilly for Atlanta past weekends). I have looked at used bikes around the 250cc range but the only thing is that i am 6’4″ and 245lbs (high school football makes you huge). I am learning so that I dont have to take the twenty-something monster off-road Jeep (father likes to make offroading vehicles too) to friend’s houses and look out of place with their BMWs and Audis (go to a rather rich school). Taking the bike to work would also be easier than one of the cars . The mpg factor is also big because of having to pay for my own gas. A new project is also another reason because I always have some project to tinker with. I was looking at some old models of GS500 or a Ninja 500 or even 650R(that might be a bit too high). I am looking for a more road bike than a cruiser but am open to most anything that gets the job done and I dont look goofy on. I look forward to learning all about riding and will post questions as I go. Thanks to everyone.
February 12, 2010 at 3:09 am #24522owlieParticipantWelcome to the forums!
February 12, 2010 at 2:18 pm #24528eternal05ParticipantI went to the west coast’s fancy-schmanciest private high school. I’m not kidding. Try being a senior on financial aid getting dropped off by your parents in the back seat of an old VW compact car while all of the newly-16 kids two grades below you are pulling up in new BMWs, Jags, Mercedes, Corvettes, etc. I know it’s not fun, believe me. The consolation is that–and this always holds true–nobody worth your time will care what you drive. Every time one of my jackass classmates totaled their brand new Saleen Mustang (only to have it replaced by an AMG SL65 with a souped-up sound system), I lost a little faith in mankind, but in the end, they all turned out to be useless wastes of space that are only feeding themselves right now because, after failing out of college (not because they’re dumb, but because they don’t try), their loaded mommies and daddies had jobs for them at their top-notch law and investment firms. *Ahem* Right, on to your questions.
I’m 6’4″ as well, and I did have to make a small modification to my first bike, a Ninja 250R. Adjustable footpegs installed, and voila! Comfortable riding. Your weight’s not an issue at all, so don’t even bother mentioning that to anybody else. A Ninja 250 can comfortably haul over 300 lbs, and any larger bike won’t even break a sweat. All of the other bikes you mention are great candidates too, so you really can’t go wrong. Go sit on each of these bikes, see what feels comfortable to you, see what you like best on paper, and figure out which one of them excites you the most. Problem solved.
February 12, 2010 at 3:22 pm #24529CBBaronParticipantA pre-08 Ninja 250r doesn’t even require the adjustable pegs for comfort, though it may help open the leg angle some. I found the Ninja 500 to have the same problem as the new 250r. The GS500F fit me real well and used bikes are fairly easy to find around here. I really liked the Ninja 650r and its siblings (EN6r and Versys) however they are newer, more expensive models which means cheap used versions were harder to find. I doubt you would have much trouble with one of the 650 twins as a starter bike if you don’t mind the cost.
I’m 6’2″ 220, so almost your size. I picked up a very nice looking `06 Ninja 250r for cheap to start on. I think the Ninja is a much better fit for a big guy than the most of the other 250 class machines. The only other ones I really liked were the newer dual-sports and supermotos. However they are harder to find on the used market and are usually more expensive.Craig
February 12, 2010 at 7:55 pm #24530MilbroParticipantI am on financial aid as well but my father insists for me to drive one of his Jeeps to school most days so that I can fine tune his work and find any problems. I am kind of his Guinea Pig in a way but it is cool. My friends think that it is cool that I drive the modded Jeeps but some of the parents and teachers treat me like I need to be talked down to or I am not on the same level as them. Best thing is I brought my father’s ’93 Grand Cherokee Laredo 4X4 inline 6 with a set of 35s and a 2 and 1/2 inch lift kit today. It proceded to snow hard towards the end of the day which is not normal at all for Atlanta. The parking lot is on a major flood plain by a river and the river overflowed and had about a foot and a half of water on the fields and lot. Everyone was freaking out so I got in the Jeep, put it in FWD, and proceded to leave the school in a spectacular show of flying mud through the fields and onto the road. Try doing that in your AMG SL65 or Saleen.
Leg room was one of the issues that i had with the Ninja 250R. I have rather long legs so I did not want a bike that had somewhat cramped leg space. From what I am reading, I am leaning towards the 250 for price and just a great begginer bike. I do like the more vertical posture on the Ninja 650R compared to other bikes but I guess I will look into it later when I complete the MSF course.
February 12, 2010 at 8:49 pm #24532eonParticipantDriving these Jeeps sounds like fun to me, though Atlanta is not exactly the best place for an off road vehicle (occasional storms aside). Once you start riding though be careful of Atlanta traffic, especially on the freeways. I lived there for 3 years and probably saw more accidents there than anywhere else I’ve lived. Eight lanes of inattentive drivers doing 85mph is quite an experience.
On the plus side you have great riding roads a few hours to the north of you in north GA. Although I never liked the town of Helen that area has some great roads. Sadly I was not riding back then, only driving. If you go even further north to places like the Blue Ridge Parkway you have some of the best roads in the country (outside of the north west )
February 12, 2010 at 10:00 pm #24533eonParticipantAt least you got dropped off at school. In my day I had to walk there, rain or shine (mostly rain). I also had the additional pleasure of having to walk though the enemy school (enemy being those who had the misfortune of being educated in the wrong religion). Character building I tell ya!
Never had to worry about BMWs in the parking lot though. Leaky British pieces of crap at best. Apart from Miss Moore, the leggy blond PE teacher who turned up in full leathers on her motorcycle (Honda I think, my attention was elsewhere at the time).
February 13, 2010 at 1:30 am #24534MilbroParticipantYa we do the Off Roading in Northern Georgia at the foot of the AT. Got a small cabin up there for weekends, well more like a hut but it works. My father’s shop is on the south side of Atlanta so that is where most of the work, and soon work on the bike, is done. Thanks for the roads. I know Blue Ridge and all the other nice roads at the foot of the Appalachians. The traffic is readful here, I know. I love how the speed limit is 55 and you can drive by a cop at 85 and they do not care. Its amazing how bad it is here.
February 14, 2010 at 8:00 pm #24544IxecapadeParticipantoh stop crying about how cold it is!!! lol
its hasn’t really gotten about 32 all week and I’m up to almost 3 feet of snow!!!
welcome!
And hell yeah to the jeeps!!! I used to get dropped off in an old ass beater pickup- it was very akward- esp an old diesel that spat black flames when you cranked it over but when I finally got to drive and seniors could leave for lunch on fridays- it was way cooler ot have wheels than not. I’ll take a beater any day as long as it drives and its a manual!
Good luck with finding the bike- go sit on everything you’ll find your bike- the size issue isn’t as big of a thing as you think.
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