New rider, new member

[storysunfolding]

Get some money, get some gear, get a 250. its a great bike for what you are looking at

Full coverage for a Ninja 250 would cost me $800/year.

For less than $600 i can get my new vstrom 650 insured with full comprehensive, a 250 deductible and $250,000 per person/ $500,000 per accident coverage. Is there some crazy story that screwed you over for insurance?

[Shorts]

Story, I keep watching your injury update there in your sig - glad to see its moving along. Paralysis a real pill!

[logitech104]

I'm not going to argue over your financial situation. It's your money, and you decide how you spend it. Just be prepared on what you are going to have to pay.
Anyway, since you are looking for a "sporty" type bike within the +250-500-600cc range, I thing your options, while staying within the main brands are these.

Suzuki
-GS500F
-DR-Z400SM [Supermoto]

Kawasaki
-Ninja 500r

Buell
-Blast

Honda's and Yamaha's bikes are +600cc +100hp bikes, unless you want a cruiser.

Be safe,
~Shelly

[Kal]

I'm wearing pink underwear...

[Shorts]

I'm wearing pink underwear...

I think they clash with my personality.

[-Holiday]

In answering your question, as was mentioned, something like the GS500F by suzuki, or or possibly the Yammy FZ-6 would work for you, given your experience and what you're looking for.

As for the insurance question, I'd check with other people in your state, or your best bet, check with whomever you're going to finance your bike through. Most financiers will want you to carry insurance on the bike they're financing. I'd be really surprised if they didnt. Its to protect them and you, so its really in your best interest to insure your ride.

Insurance also protects anyone you may injure in a crash, so IMO, its really irresponsable of anyone to operate a vehicle on the road that is not insured, especially if they dont have the cash to cover someone ELSES medical bills should they be at fault in an accident. 'Nuff said.

As you've done, take the people who assume they know whats best for your financial situation with a grain of salt, since obviously they dont know all the information and you alone are the best one to decide what you can and can't afford.

So check out the bikes listed in this thread. I'm sure you'd find one you'd enjoy.

[dean owens]

here's what i don't get. i'm in somewhat the same situation. there is no way i can afford a bike right now. i can't even afford to put 100 bucks towards a payment each month. from my finances, i see myself with a bike in 2 - maybe three years (unless my wife and i get hooked up in a way we don't expect). what am i doing about this? i'm paying off my truck. then after i pay it off, i am going to save up the cash needed to by a used smaller bike that will pretty closely hold it's value for a few years. then i will buy the bike, have no payments, and use the money i was using for my truck payment to help pay off student loans.

man, if i were in a situation where i thought i could set aside 100 a month - i would be happy. do that for 2 years and you have a bike. then you have that 100 a month after you have the bike to go to insurance (which you really should get) and repairs.

but again, you know your situation. but what i know from life so far, everything costs more than you think. so when you think you have enough, wait a bit longer. it's taken me a while to learn that. and i'm still not good at it

[Lion_Lady]

...
Way to miss my points. I'm through here. I know what I'm going to do and I'm not going to argue over an internet chat whether my reasons are justified or if I'm responsible enough for a motorcycle.

I appreciate you looking out, but my decision was already made when I came to this forum. I was only asking for help regarding what kind of bike I should be riding.

If this topic could be closed to avoid and further derailment, that'd be wonderful.

Thanks again,
Ryan

Sounds like another newbie looking for validation instead of enlightenment. <sigh> Best of luck to you, Ryan.

[storysunfolding]

Sounds like another newbie looking for validation instead of enlightenment. <sigh> Best of luck to you, Ryan.

Oh Pam, you slay me

[-Holiday]

some of you guys can seriously come off as elitist dbags.

he came here telling us he has some moto experience and asking what bike he should look into in the 250-600 range ( which certainly fits into the "best practises advised in the stickies on this site doesn it?) . just because you think you understand his finanial situation and have an opinion on it, that doesnt mean he didnt ask a valid question.

He asked a simple question and you're talking about his finances.

He's alread said hes buying a bike, he wants to know what is the best one given his experiance.

Get over yourselves and answer his question like an adult instead of judging him on something he didnt even ask about.