[CBBaron]

Any of the bikes you tried except probably the 150 will do freeway speeds without a problem. I’m your size and ride an `06 Ninja 250R. I’ve been on the freeway several times and took it up to about 80MPH without a problem. The little bike likes to rev so it seems a little stressed at first until you realize that you are just starting to get into the meat of the powerband in 6th at freeway speeds.

Personally I’d consider a used bike for your first to save money. That way its easier to upgrade towards your “dream bike”.

Craig

[CBBaron]

This site has very limited profile information.
I’m riding an `06 Ninja 250R. Great bike that is very easy to learn on but has plenty of power and speed for any condition.
I’m a new rider also, just took the MSF last fall and picked up the Ninja just before the snow started to fall. So I spent all winter researching everything about riding I could find. This site has been a great resource.

Craig

[CBBaron]

The Ninja 250r does NOT have fuel injection in the US.
There were significant changes for the 2008 model year. Biggest was the new plastic, also improvements to the suspension and a move to 17″ wheels. The engine is tuned differently with a slight loss of peak power and worse fuel economy but supposedly improved mid-range power.

Sitting on the bikes the riding position and size is very similar however the seat is quite different with a two piece on the new one and the biggest thing for me is the lower and more aggressive cut in the fairing for the knees interferes with my long legs making it somewhat uncomfortable.

Craig

[CBBaron]

Welcome
Sounds like you are on the right track by taking the class and getting your gear before shopping for a motorcycle.
Ninja 500, Ninja 250 and GS500F are all popular sport styled motorcycles and a good place to get started. I think used is the best deal for a bike you are likely to drop and may look at replacing somewhat quickly.
Go to some place with a good selection of helmets and find the one that fits best. You want it snug so it doesn’t move but comfortable so you don’t mind wearing it.
A good motorcycle boot should provide better protection than a regular work boot but the work boot is much better than tennis shoes

Craig

[CBBaron]

Most of the dual sport and super moto bikes make good beginners if you are tall enough, except perhaps the more high strung European models. Bikes like TW200, DR200se, XT225, XT250, CRF230 and Super Sherpa are inexpensive entry level dual sports with low seat heights. The KLX250s, wr250r and DRZ400 are popular machines with more power and suspension than the ones listed previously. The DR650, klr650 and XR650L are bigger bikes, probably more capable on the highway but heavier. Nearly all of these bikes are lighter than any street bike and power is very reasonable.

Craig

[CBBaron]

I’m the same size as you (though more over weight and less muscular ) and ride an older Ninja 250r (`06 model). With both the newer Ninja 250r and the Ninja 500r I found the fairing to be uncomfortable where it hit the inside of my knee. It wouldn’t be a deal killer and there are aftermarket pegs that can solve the problem but it is something to consider.

The Ninja 250r is plenty of bike for anything you will encounter. I’ve had mine on the freeway at 80+mph without any problems. I havn’t really noticed any issue with the trucks yet either, though high winds were a little tricky the first time, nothing you can’t handle with experience.

The supermotos and dual sports like the WR250x, KLX250sf and DRZ400sm are also good choices. Probably more fun on tight roads, easy to handle and have more leg room for tall guys. Only downside is they are usually more expensive than the bikes like the Ninja 250r and GS500F. All should be capable of highway speeds but lack of fairing and single cylinder designs will make them less comfortable for long hauls. Given your island location I doubt that would be a problem.

Craig

[CBBaron]

As a big new rider (6’2″ 220lb) I can tell you that a Ninja 250r is plenty of power to start with and light enough to be easy to handle. The little Ninja will out accelerate most cars and easily exceed any freeway speed limit. But the bike is very forgiving of mistakes.

600cc supersports like the ZX-6 and GSX-R600 are in a completely different league. They have peak power over 100hp, brakes that can stand the bike on it nose with 1 finger and an aggressive riding position that is designed for aerodynamics and high performance, not normal road riding. I agree with others here that say any dealer suggesting these bikes to a beginner should be ashamed with themselves.

There are some 600 and 650cc bikes that are OK beginner bikes but I don’t think any you listed are a good suggestion. Even the SV650S has a quite an aggressive riding position. The non-S SV650 or newer Gladius is more newbie friendly as is the Ninja 650r and the FZ6R.

Your best bet is to find a good used beginner bike like the Ninja 250r, Ninja 500r, GS500F, TU250x, Rebel, Nighthawk, etc. These can be found quite cheaply giving you a chance to learn on a very forgiving bike for little cost. If/when you decide to upgrade you can usually sell these used bikes for about what you paid. The new model Ninja 250r seems to be demanding a premium on the used market currently. This means it has a better resale than most new bikes, however you will still lose about 30% the first year after you account for dealer fees and other expenses associated with a new bike.

Given how inexpensive the Ninja 250r is and how capable the bike is I would say it is one of the best values. I am curious why Megaspaz feels it is overpriced. The only new bikes cheaper are air-cooled 250s and smaller that are not really capable of cruising at highway speeds.

Craig

[CBBaron]

The older ninja 250r (not sure of the name in the UK) probably fits a little better than the newer model of the 500r. Both of those have fairing cutouts that interfere with the knees on long legged individuals. The Suzuki GS500F also seemed to fit better.

I think supermotos are a great way to go for a first bike, especially for taller individuals. They are very light and have taller seat to peg distances. Plus they look quite sporty (atleast to me).

I’m 6’2″ and ended up with an `06 Ninja 250r, mostly due to cost. The ninja was like new and less than half the price of any used supermoto I could find. Plus its a great bike. Just could use a little more leg room

And definitely look into bike restrictions in the UK. I’m not sure you can buy a 500cc your first year.

Craig

[CBBaron]

The MSF course minimum is helmet, gloves, shoes/boots covering the ankles, and long sleeve shirt and pants.

My commute is 8 urban miles, no speed limit above 35MPH but still I consider my minimum to be:
Full face helmet
leather or similar motorcycle gloves
armored jacket
abrasion resistant pants
high boots

I just think about what would happen if I wrecked at 40MPH and its not hard to convince yourself to armor up.

In LA mesh jacket and pants are probably a good idea. Try to get some with ballistic nylon at the contact points.

Craig

[CBBaron]

I’m 6’2″ and found dual sports to have the most room of the light weight bikes. KLR650, DRZ400, WR250R and several older models all have plenty of room. Only the small entry level DS bikes were a little tight like the DR200 and TW200.

The Versys would fit nicely but I found it quite top heavy compared to the lighter DS bikes and smaller sport bikes like the Ninja 250 and GS500. Probably not a problem with experience but simple little mistakes often made by newbies can result in a drop. With the light bike it is much easier to “catch” the top heavy Versys is more likely to end up on the ground. The GS500F was also a good fit.

Small cruisers and beginner bikes like the TU250 and Rebel will probably be really cramped. I find the Ninja 250r very fun to ride but my knees are quite bent and get cramped after an hour or so.

Your best idea is to go to several dealers and just try sitting on the bikes. Have someone hold the bike up so you can put both feet on the pegs.

Craig

[CBBaron]

Wonderful little bike. I’m loving mine despite being 6’2″ and a little cramped on the small machine. It definitely does not lack in power for most sane riding.

Craig

[CBBaron]

I don’t think air-cooled is necessarily a deal killer for urban environment. I putted around on an air cooled ATC back as a teen without any problems. I was usually gong much slower and stopping nearly as often as an urban street bike. Same goes for many dual sports which operate in similar environments including several 650cc bikes.
The GS is an under stressed 500cc so its not likely to have much trouble.

On the other hand I do think that the Ninjas are better bikes in many ways so I would probably shop based on price/value.

Craig

[CBBaron]

With all insurance you need to shop around. I’ve seen different people have the best rates with State Farm, Progressive, Geico, Nationwide, etc.

I would not recommend riding without insurance for the same reason you need auto insurance. Bikes are still plenty heavy, powerful and potentially dangerous to cause serious damage to others and their property. The point of insurance is to cover you “incase”.

Craig

[CBBaron]

Basically my third time out. Not that I’m recommending that route.
I would not suggest taking an hour long ride for your first time on the freeway. Depending on your steed freeway speeds can be quite tiring. However they are not hard to ride. You almost never shift or brake. All the traffic is going the same direction and lanes are wide with good site lines. But everything is moving much faster with lots of wind noise and more wind gusts to knock you off your line.
I only did about 15min but it was tiring on my Ninja 250 without earplugs. When I got back on the freeway later that day I used ear plugs and they helped tremendously.

For your trip I would suggest looking for an alternate and avoid the freeway if possible. It is much more fun and rural road are much better than urban.

Craig

[CBBaron]

Had the same problem recently on a ride. Was stopping taking pictures several times when after one stop it did nothing but click. Found out it is very easy to bump start my Ninja 250 with just a slight slope. Completed the ride then paid the ridiculous price at the local auto store for a new battery. It seems crazy to pay $80 fr such a small battery you have to add the acid to yourself.

Craig

[Author]

Posts