[Wart]

My first post!

Starting to look for my first motorcycle. I’m 6’4″ and around 215lbs. Is a 250 going to be enough bike for me to learn on or do I need to look for something in the 400 to 500cc range? I’ve been looking at a Ninja 250 or maybe a Rebel for my first bike. I’m trying to avoid the lay down on the bike crotch rocket style, so the upright sitting Ninjas (at least pre-2008) seem appropriate to me.

I’ve got a short commute – about 5 miles one way to work each day. However at least half the drive is on a highway at 65mph. I don’t want to have to take city streets because I’m too big for my ride.

Also I had a coworker offer to teach me to ride on his Ninja 600.. Should I take him up on it or just wait for the BRC coming up in September where I live? Or maybe both? I’m a little worried I’ll learn on his 600, then get a 250 and be disappointed with it.

Gotta say I’ve found the site as a whole to be very helpful. Tons of great advice for everyone eager to learn.
Thanks!

[JackTrade]

Based on my experience (I’m 6′, 200 lbs), a 250 might be a mite too small. It can be done, but you might be more comfortable with a 500 (esp. in getting up to speed on the highway). Check out the Suzuki GS500F…sportbike style, but upright riding position.

By all means take the BRC. It’s a standardized course with trained instructors and a set cirriculum…you’ll learn an immense amount, including stuff that your coworker may not know or may forget (not saying he’s not an expert of course, just that the BRC course builds in failsafes to make sure you get everything you need). Also, in most states, you can take the DMV course at the end of the BRC, saving you the hassle of the DMV.

[eon]

If you do take your friend up on his offer I would make sure both of you are clear on who pays for what in case you drop it or hit something. Something to think about.
If it was me, I would try to hold off till the BRC. Just seems the simpler & safer option.

[eternal05]

I’m 6’4″ myself and my first bike was an ’08 Ninja 250R. It’s a GREAT bike, and it can be a lot of fun to ride, but the ergonomics simply aren’t ideal. If I’d known more about riding and the ergonomic issues that would come up, I’d probably have gone for an SV650 or something. I’ll sum up a couple issues I’ve had:

1) Your knees will be too high up on stock footpegs (I got lowered aftermarket pegs) to fit in the knee grooves in the tank.
2) You will be really tall relative to the bike. The Ninja 250R is SUPPOSED to be relatively upright, but because your torso will be longer than expected, you’ll end up in more of a sporty riding position. This means less wind protection and more work for your back and leg muscles.
3) Even with the rear brake and shift levers dropped all the way to their lowest positions, they’re too high. This is especially bad for downshifts because you can’t keep your foot on the peg.

Now about your friend’s offer, Kawi doesn’t make a Ninja 600 these days, so if it’s a newer bike, it’ll be one of two: the Ninja 650R or the Ninja ZX-6R. If it’s the Ninja 650R (649cc) and your friend is a responsible, cautious, and safe individual, go for it. If it’s the ZX-6R (599cc), don’t do it. The ZX-line bikes are all race bikes, and while it has 50cc less in engine displacement, it makes almost double the horsepower of the 650R, has a much more aggressive setup, lethally powerful brakes, blah blah blah.

[dcJohn]

I also started on a 250R, and it’s a great bike, and I would definitely expect someone 6’4″ being uncomfortable on it. I’m 5’8″, and it was a perfect fit for me. I also agree that the Ninja 650R (and also the ER6N and Versys) might make sense.

I moved up to a the Versys, which uses the same 650cc engine as the Ninja (just mildly detuned for added torque), and I didn’t find any trouble at all with adjusting to the extra power. The Kawi 650 engine is very, very well mannered and has a very predictable (linear) power delivery that I think is reasonably beginner friendly.

[Author]

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