I started with a 600cc Or higher bike and Turned out Okay

[VermilionX]

Is there a huge power loss when bikes gets older?
( I know things perform differently when they get older , but question is how bad, compared to a new one)


Cuz I wil be getting an OLD ninja 250 or a bandit. Maybe between 1989 and 1996.

don't worry about power for now.

but yeah, all engine lose a little power over long periods of time and use.


for now, get a bike that you feel comfortable sitting on... and if possible, one that appeals to your taste.

[Sev]

The power loss comes from one of two things:

1) the newer versions are better tuned and as such produce more hp out of the box
2) the old bike is starting to fall apart

Either way it shouldn't be an issue if you make a decent purchase.

[Toyuzu]

Is there a huge power loss when bikes gets older?
( I know things perform differently when they get older , but question is how bad, compared to a new one)


Cuz I wil be getting an OLD ninja 250 or a bandit. Maybe between 1989 and 1996.

Well... I'm one of the oldest guys in my unit (Army) and not many others can keep up with me on a run. Out of 189, only about six can beat me in the two-mile. Then again, I'm not a motorcycle.

Seriously though - if the bike has been maintained well, it should perform just fine. There should be little if any diminished performance from new condition.

[Dragonhawk]

As I said on my website ( www.CaliforniaBikeNights.com/learn ), it is dangerous and stupid to ride a motorcycle with performance characteristics which greatly exceed the skills of the rider.

Think about it.

Notice that statement doesn't mention anything about how long you've been riding. Because it doesn't matter. If you've been riding for 2 days or 20 years, the same logic applies - riding something with performance characteristics that greatly exceed your skill is just dumb.

The question then becomes, do you have something to prove, or are you man enough to admit you are NOT Valentino Rossi?...

[silentx]

As I said on my website ( www.CaliforniaBikeNights.com/learn ), it is dangerous and stupid to ride a motorcycle with performance characteristics which greatly exceed the skills of the rider.

Think about it.

Notice that statement doesn't mention anything about how long you've been riding. Because it doesn't matter. If you've been riding for 2 days or 20 years, the same logic applies - riding something with performance characteristics that greatly exceed your skill is just dumb.

The question then becomes, do you have something to prove, or are you man enough to admit you are NOT Valentino Rossi?...

LOVE THIS STATEMET THATS ON YOUR SITE

As for "what kind of bike" to buy, take the following advice to heart - As a good article said:
"A beginning pilot would not expect to learn to fly in an F-16 fighter or a wide body jetliner, so why do beginning motorcyclists expect to learn to ride on a 750cc sport bike or a 1200cc cruiser?"

I undertand the Pilot language.. lol WOW... how come I never thought of this... LOL

[Dragonhawk]

As I said on my website ( www.CaliforniaBikeNights.com/learn ), it is dangerous and stupid to ride a motorcycle with performance characteristics which greatly exceed the skills of the rider.

Think about it.

Notice that statement doesn't mention anything about how long you've been riding. Because it doesn't matter. If you've been riding for 2 days or 20 years, the same logic applies - riding something with performance characteristics that greatly exceed your skill is just dumb.

The question then becomes, do you have something to prove, or are you man enough to admit you are NOT Valentino Rossi?...

LOVE THIS STATEMET THATS ON YOUR SITE

As for "what kind of bike" to buy, take the following advice to heart - As a good article said:
"A beginning pilot would not expect to learn to fly in an F-16 fighter or a wide body jetliner, so why do beginning motorcyclists expect to learn to ride on a 750cc sport bike or a 1200cc cruiser?"

I undertand the Pilot language.. lol WOW... how come I never thought of this... LOL

Thank you. And as a firm believer in "credit where credit is due" remember that I lifted that quote from Chuck Hawks website here:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/good_first_motorcycles.htm

[ofblong]

to go with dragonhawk for me a 250 was too small. It took me 1 day of riding in the MSF course to figure out the suzuki 250 (Hey I had never riden a clutch type vehicle like that before) To me I felt it was too small and a little "lacking" for my skill/LEARNING curve. See I learn things almost 2x faster than the avg person. Now I started on a modified Honda Shadow Deluxe VLX that has 650CC (unmodified it is 600CC). I wouldnt recommend it to someone that has an avg or slow learning curve. IMO skill and learning curve go hand in hand because without a very good learning curve your SKILL will not improve at a very quick rate. I have almost had my bikes highway bar pegs touching pavement going around a curve already. Not saying that that is safe (cause well its not on the street) but I have done it. Of course I also look ahead of me between 1/4 of a mile and 1/2 mile (depending on situation) for anything happening especially since I ride at night. I have put 1000 miles on my bike and have riden through rain/hail/30F weather and have only had my bike for 2 months. However I have been driving for 10 years (cars im talking). I dont know how old you are but I would never recommend anything bigger than a 250 for someone who is 16/17/18 years old (well unless they have been riding dirt bikes since they were like 3 years old lol) because I know how I drove back then and you will kill yourself if you go any bigger.

Now to go along with that I am in no way an expert rider nor am I extremly proficient with my bike yet. I do feel it is lacking in the higher speeds (over 40mph) but I can and do take off faster than 90% of vehicles out on the road. Obviously im not going to beet a lamborghini or ferrari out of the hole but hey its still pretty darn fast for low end. I would say after taking the MSF make a decision based on that class. You get to ride 250's in that class and thats what I based my decision on getting a bigger than a 250 on. If your nervous on a 250 you wont want to get something bigger.

[TeamONEinc]

Hasn't been quite a year yet but I started on my 03 R6. Took the MSF. I get tempted to do stupid "poo poo"....but won't dare to actually do it. Haven't dropped mine or anything close to that.

Use your head and think about what is best for you and how much control you have.

If you get ballsy on the bike it won't forgive you and once you try correct your mistake...it could lead to a bigger one.

[Sev]

Ninja 250, ninja 500 are good sportbikes to start on.

I have to say though, that those who think they're better then those around them usually end up with an unpleasant surprise at the end.

[TeamONEinc]

Most def Sev.

Stick to your own limits and don't let anyone try to sway you different.