- This topic has 9 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 11 months ago by datattooed.
Not Quite There
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April 24, 2008 at 5:58 pm #1303datattooedParticipant
Hello everyone, after doing a lot of research on a bunch of motorcycles I stumbled across this site from one of the YouTube reviews of the ’08 Ninja 250R. I haven’t quite signed up for the MSF course, but I am having a difficult time deciding upon which bike will be best for me after I attend the course. I really enjoy the new looks of the 250R and I went to the dealer to check one out, but the salesman was trying to point me to the Yamaha FZ6, saying that I won’t get bored as quickly. I have searched for reviews on the FZ6 but haven’t found one as of yet, but haven’t found a bad review of the 250R. I have been doing more research on standard bikes more so than sport bikes and by far I have really enjoyed this site and look forward to more posts/reviews.
Thank you for creating a site for a soon to be NEWB like me.April 24, 2008 at 7:24 pm #5802MattParticipantWhat is the price difference between the FZ6 and the Ninja 250R? How much of that is commission for the salesman…
The FZ6 is a fine 600cc standard. It uses the same engine as the current R6. It is targetted at experienced riders who want a fun fast street ride, but don’t do many track days and don’t want to deal with the discomfort of a full blown supersport.
It is only newb friendly in comparision to a supersport. It still has 90% of the issues concerning riding a 600cc supersport as your first bike – awesome brakes, powerful engine, responsive chassis, more weight to handle in slow speed maneuvers. Not saying it can’t be done, just saying it isn’t as friendly a bike to learn on as a 250.
Worst case scenario: You’re an awesome rider who loves eye-popping acceleration. You get bored with the Ninja 250 in two months, and sell it off as fast as you can, loosing some money in the process. You now know enough about bikes to make a decision on which bike you REALLY want for your next bike. And you know enough people / forums / local clubs to get a much better deal when buying a used bike.
Don’t commit to buying anything until after you’ve taken the MSF course. For one thing, it’ll mean you can ride your new baby home when you buy it, but for the other, you’ll have an idea of how fast a “slow” motorcycle accelerates. I have no worries about my ZZR-250 not being fast enough to keep me entertained.
April 24, 2008 at 9:27 pm #5803datattooedParticipantThank you for the reply,
The FZ6 cost about the same as 2 250R’s at asking price. He handed me his card as I was walking out of the dealership, I think that he could tell I wasn’t going to come back… My father in law was with me and he just laughed at the comparison.
I am still doing the research and working it over with my wife to go attend the MSF course. I am definitely looking forward to doing this, but getting an open slot in that course is difficult up in northern VA.
April 26, 2008 at 7:06 pm #5830uncle_bernieParticipantOne thing I think you have to be really be aware of, and this is from my *extensive* two months of *real* riding experience… (i.e. Houston freeways with lots of cars and occasional road debris and people who aren’t looking and unexpected ends to curving freeway exits), is the fact that with the increased power and speed of the FZ6 you are looking at is the increased chance that you’ll get yourself into trouble on the road. Not to mention that *if* you do get into trouble it’s quite likely that it will be at a higher rate of speed and acceleration which means a decrease in your chance to not sustain serious injury. Not to be a downer, but that is a reality as others can attest to on this site much better than I can.
Buy a bike that you’re into and will be a little forgiving at first because you will make mistakes. Hopefully, if you’re reasonably careful and you’re on a bike that isn’t above your riding ability you’ll be able to learn from those mistakes while still rolling in the saddle and not skidding along the ground.
Also, I don’t think anyone who plans to ride regularly should skip the MSF course. I have already had to use techniques for quick stopping, swerving around freeway debris, and outrunning loose dogs three different times already (actually, the outrunning of the loose dogs, since I knew what to do, was pretty damn funny because it worked EXACTLY as it was supposed to!)
Anyway, good luck with your future riding endeavors and, as a guy here in Houston named Donald Burger (do a search for “Donald Burger Honda Rebel”, his blog is pretty informative) says, “Don’t Forget To Think!”
~He who laughs last didn’t get the joke…
May 3, 2008 at 12:11 am #5954datattooedParticipantYou know, I went to the Donald Burger website when I first read your response, but completely forgot to respond. Thank you for recommending it because it is very informative and I enjoyed reading about his earlier experiences…
Thanks again!
May 5, 2008 at 10:36 pm #6021ShannonGParticipantThis is too bizarre…
When I first started bike shopping I sat on an FZ6 and got sucked into the sales pitch. “Oh, it’s a perfect starter bike.” My hubby was buying from this dealership and they are a great bunch of guys, very young, hip, informed on what they’re selling but they’re all speed freaks and assume anyone looking at a street/faired bike is the same.
So I’m sitting on the FZ6 trying to figure out how I’m going to pay for it because I LOVE it when the salesman says something about it having 95 horsepwer. Huh? That’s almost as much as my car. How in the sam hell am I supposed to learn to ride on something that weighs 400 lbs and has the horsepower of a 3,000 lb car. Thank you, no.
If you can get the Ninja, do it.May 5, 2008 at 11:13 pm #6022datattooedParticipantHey ShannonG,
Thanks for the post and it is really funny that you went through the same thing that I am going through now. I’m still doing my research on as many bikes as possible, because I want to make sure that I fit on the bike. I failed to mention in the beginning of this post that I’m 6’0 and running about 225 right now. So, it seems like a larger bike would be the better decision for me because of my size. But after reading so many posts of people the same size and sometimes larger (not many)… and how they are getting the bikes that I’m having a harder decision on.
I think that I am going to have to take my sweet time and sit on as many bikes as possible… but the Kawi 250R is 1 sweet looking bike. I was looking at the Enduro Series of BMW… as well as the smaller version of the cruising bikes as well… If only I was rich!! HA
May 6, 2008 at 1:10 am #6034ShannonGParticipantHave you seen the Suzuki SV650? They make it both in a faired version and a naked. They’re like 59 horsepower and rated pretty highly as a beginner bike.
May 6, 2008 at 1:23 am #6036megaspazParticipantThe SV650 will actually net you around 70 – 72 hp depending on the year. (-:
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If there’s anything more important than my ego
around, I want it caught and shot now…May 6, 2008 at 1:35 am #6037datattooedParticipantyeah, I checked into the SV650, but I still just need to go and sit on all of the ones mentioned… I think that I will definitely have to do more hands on research more so than on the trusty MAC.
I really like the standard versions… with the sport bike look but more upright position. But the whole “Bang for ya buck” is pulling me closer to the Kawi.
I am doing all of this research, but failed to mention that I have yet to sign up for the MSF course. Still waiting for my ankle to heal!!
GOOD TIMES!
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