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Rode for 2 years, have not for the last 5, want to ride again. What bike to get?
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May 14, 2009 at 3:31 pm #2826VampyreParticipant
Well first off my name is scott and here is my motorcycle history. This is probley
going to get long. So sit back, relax and read on.I was in FL attending a scuba school, I thought that’s what I wanted to do for a living I’m working in I.T. now. While I was down there I could of either of gotten a rental car or get a bike. I picked the bike. I never had any riding experience, MSF or anything previous. I picked up a pre owned ninja 500 had it delivered to the place where I was staying. I got a helmet, gloves and jacket and learned how to ride in the parking lot. I dropped it in the first 5 mins but only cracked the turn single housing.
After that and about a hour of time I figured out how to keep it up and jumped on the road. I was incident free till one night towards the end of my stay in FL. Long story short I was being a squid and dumped the bike 3 times in one night. That was after me and my buddies swapped bikes and he put it down pulling to the side of the road to swap back and pulling into gravel. I learned a lot that night of what not to do. The Bike was kind of trashed after that. A few days later a little duct tape and welding and it was semi streetable. A week after that I sold it to some person for 1/2 of what I payed for it. A day later I left Florida and returned to Texas. During my time in fl, about 6 months, I had very very fond memories of that 500. I loved that bike and loved riding rain or shine.
Fast forward a few months and I found myself shopping for a used F4i. Found one and got back in the saddle. That bike was fun and I did not do as many squid things as I did on the 500. Right after getting that bike I took the local MSF and actually got the M on my license. Never dumped that bike or had any incidents. About 4 months later I remember years ago I went into this Aprilla dealer. Saw some SICK looking bikes. So I rode over to that same dealer and took a look at what they had. Fell in love with the 2002 Falcor 1000r with the street fighter kit. Fast forward a week. I traded in the F4i and rode off on that falco. So within a year of riding on was on an Italian 1000cc super bike. That went well and that falcor was a kick ass bike. The street fighter kit sounded SICK love that v-twin sound that thing had.
About a year passed and the bike started have slight overheating issues on the really hot days. Eventually a hole was burned into the side of the one of the slip ons carbon fiber covering. I had no incidents with this bike while I had it, but one day in the parking lot at the bank going 3-4 mph I hit a gooey tar patch in the parking lot and the back tire went out and I dropped the bike. Scratched the burned slipped on and that was about it. A few weeks later I had someone offer me more then I payed for the bike a year ago and at the time I kind of needed money so I sold the falco and have been bike less since.
Fast forward 5 years I currently live in MN and recently have been getting the itch to get on a bike again. My GF also rode about 5-6 years ago on 250’s 450’s cruiser/dirt bikes. She is interested in getting back into the sport aswell. So we have been talking and researching different options. Here is what I am thinking about doing but I am not sure, but first we are both going to take the local MSF corse to get the rust off.
We went to a local bike shop that had all the bikes we are considering. Tammy thinks the best fit for her is the new 08 ninja 250. It would have to be lowered by at least 2 inches for her feet to touch the ground but other then that it fits her nicely.I on the other hand am 6’2″ and around 280, down from 310 on April 8th. My goal is to hit at least 250 by next month. The 250 is way too small for me. I feel and look like a bear on a trike. I sat on a old friend a ninja 500 and it felt a bit smaller then I remember. I was about 220 when I was in FL btw. My legs kind of hit where the tank comes out on the sides and I feel a bit cramped in the leg area. I also sat on a 08 kawa 650r and that fit me like a glove. I felt really comfy on that bike. I also sat on a 08 sv650s It felt alright, better then the 500 but not glove like like the 650r. I Also sat on the sv650s but felt like I was leaning over a lot more then I would like. The 650r is more upright. The the ninja 500 is right in between.So after all that tammy has picked her bike, a kawa green 250r, and I’m kind of torn between the kawa 650r or the ninja 500r.
This time I DON NOT want to jump to a 1000cc asap. My plan was, before sitting on them, to get a 500 ride that for a season or 2 sell it and then look at getting something bigger. After sitting on the 650r I like the feel better then the 500r but in the back of my head i’m thinking it might be too much for me cause I have not had a bike for 5 years. So the options are, one get a used 2004+ 500r for around 2500-3000 ride that along side tammy for a season or to then go shopping again or look for a used 08 green 650r, that’s my fav color on the 08, I also like to looks of the 08 vs past year. The other option is to look for a used 650r right off the bat or maybe the regular 05-07 sv650. I DO NOT want to get in over my head bike wise and want to do this slow this time and become a better rider before even thinking about a 1000cc bike again. Heck I might not ever want a 1000cc in the future. I dont really have the want/urge to get one now.
So what do you guys think I should do? Get he less comfy 500r now and sell in a season
or two and get a 650 or get the better fitting 650 now.Thanks for reading.
May 14, 2009 at 3:49 pm #18501megaspazParticipanti’d take the 650r over the 500 any day… just sayin…
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