Compare 3 "First Sport Bikes" (Under 600cc!)

[sirRealist]

First off, hello to everyone and thanks for your time. This forums seems full of patient, friendly and knowledgeable people.

I used to drive a very fast car, but those days are over. When I graduated college, I decided to sell my car and move to NYC. However, I terribly miss the heart-pounding excitement I would feel when I would mash the accelerator or pull tight turns. And I just miss feeling the wind through my hair (it was a convertible).

I have ridden on motorcycles a few times and even driven one once. I crave acceleration, and a motorcycle is the perfect replacement for my car. I'm just starting to heavily consider it, and I plan on taking the MSF and learning more before buying a sport bike, of course. I've been doing a lot of reading here, and I can see that getting anything 600cc or more is a mistake. I'm young, I'm a good driver, I've driven fast cars etc etc... all those arguments in the sticky I thought to myself before reading it. Now I see that I should start with something smaller.

I've been considering these 3 sport bikes, which seem to be the best for a new beginner:

Suzuki GS500F
Kawasaki Ninja 500R
Kawasaki Ninja 250R

I know it doesn't matter much, but I'm 5'11" 165lbs

Can someone who has experience with some/all of these break down the pros/cons of each? I've been seeing a lot of recommendations for the Ninja 250 and 500, but *ASSUMING* the only difference between the two is that 2x displacement increase for 500, shouldn't I go for that, since its still in the "beginner" class? I guess I don't understand why the 250 is getting so much push as being the ideal first sport bike, when they are saying 500cc or less and there is a 500cc Ninja. Why the 250 over the 500? Make sense? If not I can clarify. Apologies in advance for those of you who have answered similar questions 1000 times...

[sirRealist]

Okay, obviously i know almost less than nothing, because I am going to ask this question:

What makes this a sport bike and the Ninja not? And what are the differences (handling, performance etc) between a sport bike a "sporty standard"?

Their website sys this on the subject: "This all new 250cc sport machine carries a full compliment of true sport bike features. Starting with a thoroughly modern perimeter frame, this true full fairing sport bike features inverted front forks, mono shock rear suspension, clip on handle bars, fully adjustable rear sets (foot rests) and a powerful 72 degree V-twin power plant. Projector head lamps and modern chassis and body work design add to its unique utility and value."

What does this mean though, from a newbie/practical point of view?

This one looks amazing, do you know more about it? I guess these are hard to get used? Do they have a good history for being low maintenance, not too hard to get parts for, etc?

[JCS]

Welcome to the board.

Step 1. Great idea on the MSF. It will NOT teach you everything you need to know but it is a great place to start.

Step 2. Forget everything you learned about going fast in a car. Most of it will not apply.

Step 3. Do not pay much attention to the Crimson Rider's advice. Nice enough guy but Not a solid source of info.

The 250 is pushed as a beginner bike for several reasons. Power in not intimidating but if you learn how to use it properly the bike can embarrass bigger bikes. Great mileage, too. Light weight. Not a lot of plastic to break when you drop it. Easy to find parts for repairs. Comparatively cheap to insure.
If you are in NYC this bike will have all the power you need for quite a while. Some will say that there is not enough power for highway use. They haven't figured how to use it yet.

Either of the 500's will also get the job done with a little more power and weight. At this point you could go with either of them but don't need to. Also a little more to insure.

The bike CR put up has a lot more plastic to break. Also an almost non-existent dealer network. Lack of easy parts and no track record in the US. And no, Verm, I don't mean "racetrack!"

[sirRealist]

Welcome to the board.

-Thanks!

If you are in NYC this bike will have all the power you need for quite a while. Some will say that there is not enough power for highway use. They haven't figured how to use it yet.

-Just as a note, I don't plan on riding in The City for quite some time after starting to ride... WAY too dangerous. I think I would be taking it out into the countryside on long, probably winding roads. I don't really know yet because I haven't had a chance to explore what the roads are like in the country around here.

I just want to make sure that:
A) I get a bike thats "safe" (i.e., not too much)
B) That I get a bike thats will be able to satisfy my desire for that heart-stopping acceleration

Please note the order of those two items... I'm trying to balance my need for something that fits my inexperience with my desire for something really fast. I know where the priority is though: my safety.

[sirRealist]

i wanna know what kind of 0-60mph run is something you consider "heart stopping"?

Thats a tough question to answer, being subjective and all, but my old car did 0-60 in under 6 seconds.. closer to 5 i think.

It was a saab 9-3 viggen convertible with aftermarket superchip. I had it up to 155mph (with the top down no less) a bunch of times and just loved how fast it was. That was incredible to me. It had incredible acceleration, both off the line and in midrange speeds (70mph or so). I'm not trying to boast or anything, I know there are PLENTY of cars that are way faster and all that, but for me it was about as fast as I could want.

I think the ninja 500 would be best for me.
I read this from TechTMW:
"If you want sportbike for a good biking experience, you want the Ninja250/500. The gs500 LOOKS cool, but it's softer and weaker than a ninja under that skin."

[Wrider]

Well even a decent bike will can and will accelerate as fast as your old Saab. If you look up the bike in my sig, the one I own, it does 0-60 in about the same time when I use the power right. That's saying something, because I usually shift into 5th at 60, but 4th can go up to 75 MPH. Friend of mine has a 1600cc Vulcan, and he does it in about 4 sec. And just so you know, I'm jealous... lol I've been up to 112, but that's the fastest I've ever been able to get a car...
Wrider

[flynrider]

Okay, obviously i know almost less than nothing, because I am going to ask this question:

SirRealist,

Sorry, I just caught sight of this thread. The person who has been repeatedly responding to your posts and sounding like a knowledgable biker(Crimson Rider), likely has never actually ridden any of the bikes that you mentioned, nor even the one he mentioned. He's not far removed from being a newbie himself. Take his responses with a grain of salt.

Any of the 3 bikes you mentioned in your original post would be great starters. The power to weight ratios will seem more than adequate for someone used to car acceleration. The 500s are definitely zippier, but still newb friendly. What it really comes down to is, how much do you want to spend. Go sit 'em and see how they feel

Won't comment on the Hyosung because it hasn't really been around long enough to prove itself one way or the other.

BTW -

[High_Side]

They are all great bikes but if you are planning on doing any highway riding go for the Ninja 500. It may be a little dated but it is a great bike that will last you longer as your experience grows.

[ninja79]

first of all, ignore everything vermillion (a.k.a. crimson rider) said. He cosiders only race replicas to be sport bikes, which is obviously bullshit. That's like saying corvette is not a sports car because it's not a formula-1.

The *only* difference between Ninja 250 and V2S 250R is the plastic. Sure V2S looks better, but that's not the objective for your first bike.

I like Crimison Rider but he is way too concerned about image and, more often than not, gives absolutely ridiculous advice to newbies.

Anyway, the 3 bikes you listed are well-known starter models. It really comes down to personal preference which one you like best.

I would pick ninja 500. From what I read, it is a notch above GS500 in everything but looks, and should keep you satisfied for several seasons.

I personally consider ninja 250 to be a bit underpowered but I'm in the minority. However, its power/weight ratio is still greater than most cars. The other interesting thing about it is a very high-revving engine, which behaves very much like a supersport engine. I have heard it said that this is the best bike to learn on if you are planning to move up to a supersport like R6, GSX-R, etc.

It looks like you are on the right track. Definitely take MSF and make sure you buy all the gear. Go to dealerships and sit on the bikes to see which one feels better. As I said, either of those 3 is a great choice.

[Koss]

I love my ninja 500, but also I wont say its any better or worse than a ninja 250/650, hyosung 125/250/650, gs500, etc.

Just sit on all of those bikes, and figure out which is the most comfortable for you. Consider how heavy the bike feels, how easy it is to get both feet to the ground when sitting on the bike(and the bike upright as well), and what will fufill your needs. Are you just going to ride around town on the weekends? Commute 100 miles a day? A little bit of touring out of town? Although the last two shouldn't be on a new riders mind, you should also think about the future. Unless of course you want a used cheap bike that you will hold onto only as long as you feel comfortable to move up on. Really, you should not think about finding what you think would be called the best bike out there, but really find the bike that best suits you and your needs. For now and for the future, or lack of future if you want to move up quickly.