[Anonymous]

Hello,

I have never ridden a motorcycle and was wondering which would be a good investment. I don’t plan on ever going to a 1000cc bike, and the 500 would most likely be the largest engine I would ever need/want. However, I hear that a 250R is a better learner bike. My dilemma is I have never driven a motorcycle and I will be using the bike for commuting, but I would also like a little kick in it for those highway/freeway. So should I go with the 250R, learn how to ride, and then upgrade later or just get the 500R and keep it until hell freezes over?

[acidpope]

Everywhere I’ve gone and everything I’ve read has said that a 500r is an excellent first bike (that’s experts, bike instructors, etc.). That doesn’t mean it’s not better than a 250r for learning. But depending on the rate with which you learn you’ll outgrow the 250 in less than a season of riding. I’d also go with a 500r if you’re doing any highway riding. I’ve seen 250’s on the highway, and they’ll go highway posted speed. But I’ve also watched a video of a 250 doing a bikeday with the ninja 650 on the highway and they pulled away from the 250 with no effort, and the 250 was hummin like a hive of bees trying to stay with. I’m sure the 500 would distance itself from the 250 without much effort as well. If you’re looking for “kick” that might save your bacon when you need it, then take the 500. The 500 shouldn’t be too much bike, and it will grow with you, whereas you’ll grow out of the 250 the 500 you could ride until it dies.

[Matt]

The notion of buying a bike and keeping it forever just doesn’t hold true. Regardless of original intention, the vast majority of bikers swap their bike every couple of years.

To argue with acidpope, I own a ZZR-250 (basically same as Ninja 250). I now regularly take it on the highway. Freeway speeds are NOT a problem for the ninja. Acceleration with the bike, at any speed is not a rocket. It is a non-linear climb. It feels like an elastic band is pulling you forward, you start accelerating slowly and then it just builds, as you accelerate faster and faster. It’s a very different rush from insta-torque, but it is mighty fun in its own right.

Will a 500/650 out-pull a 250? Every day of the week. But as I said, you won’t be hurting for acceleration, and you can pull some harrowing corner speeds when you start getting good.

Out-growing a 250 is a myth. The bike’s performance envelope is much higher than people imagine. Skilled riders push these bikes around in ways that keep up with lesser riders on far more powerful bikes. The reality is, when someone says they are bored with the 250, really, they just feel like changing bikes. They want something different, and the insta-torque of bigger bikes is appealing. Saying you’re bored with or have out-grown a 250R is nothing more than an excuse for 90% of the people who say it.

Will I move up from my ZZR? Yup. Will it be because I’m pushing the bike’s limits? Not likely.

As for the buzzing- the 250 is an incredibly high revving engine. It redlines at 14000. At 50mph, in 6th, it turns 6000rpm. On the highway at 60mph it turns 8000. At 8000rpm the engine isn’t strained, it is just starting to wake up.
The engine is designed to run at high rpm all day long.

My advice is:
Buy the bike you love. Don’t buy the 500 because you are afraid you’ll regret buying the 250. I assure you, you won’t.
But, if you really like the stomp of torque, or just the different seating position of the 500, then go with that.

[acidpope]

I just want to point out I did say 250’s would go highway posted speeds. I’m sure they’ll do over posted as well, without too much trouble. By outgrow I didn’t mean to say that the bike would become incapable of meeting road conditions and speeds either. The majority of people do move on though, and the smaller the bike it seems the quicker this happens. It can also be said that the reasons why the 250 fans don’t move on are just as transparent as the crowd that says start with a 500+. The coin has two sides, and both having value to them but neither being of more value than the other. In the end we all tell ourselves what we need to hear to justify our own position.

[Author]

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