Half way through the MSF course!!

[storysunfolding]

The 500r is a perfect beginner bike.

+1

[Nalian]

The 500r is a perfect beginner bike.

+1

+2 That's a great bike to start on.

[Wolfey]

The 500r is a perfect beginner bike.

+1

+2 That's a great bike to start on.

+3

Mine's an 1100. I thought it might be too much to start with too, until I worked with it a few times. I'm loving it, and I'm an average-sized, middle-aged female. Just practice what they teach you in the MSF. It will help you become accustomed to your bike. Work your way up to more challenging environments. And don't sweat it when you drop it, if you do.

I'm still gonna read that post though...

[RhadamYgg]

I'm picking up a 2009 Kawasaki Ninja 500R....got it for a really good price....and it was the only one that I could find that was new or used within 100 miles

Sweet bike!

[matthew5656]

that's a bit more bike than I would recommend to a newbie.

why?

read viewtopic.php?t=24715

thanks for your efforts, tenif shoe. but i already read that article about a year ago. as well as i read all the rest of the current stickies however long ago. i didn't start on an actual sport bike myself, but please be aware that the ex 500r is not a super sport. as a matter of fact, it's not technically a sport bike. it may look sporty, but it's not sport. but it is an excellent bike to start on. i came very close to purchasing a 98 ex500 for my first only up until the owner flaked on me. maybe i'll find one again someday, they are pretty quick and have awesome gas mileage.

[Tennif Shoe]

just wanted to make sure you had read it because i would hate for you to go to tyhe dealer to see the 500 and see a 600 sitting right next to it for $200 more and go hmmmmm maybe just maybe

[Brackstone]

that's a bit more bike than I would recommend to a newbie.

why?

I'll answer your question but I'm really not looking for a debate.

It's 70lbs Heavier Dry
It's more powerful
Won't resell as easy as a Ninja 250

[Wrider]

As for you Matt old buddy, you're wrong in your classifications.
The EX250 and 500 are both technically sportbikes, but the ZX CBR, R1/6, and GSX-Rs are technically considered supersports/race replicas/race ready machines.
As for you Brackstone, I agree it is a bit heavier and obviously more powerful (twice the engine size oughta be! ) but it's just as easy to re-sell.
Ninja 500s are just not popular because everyone either started on a Ninja 250 and went to a 600 or started on the 600 right away. They're a middle bike that doesn't get much attention that it deserves.

[RhadamYgg]

Well, the Kawasaki dealer wouldn't have had a problem selling me the 500 over the 250 for my first bike. I almost got it too.

But in the end I sat on both bikes at the dealer and found that (at that time) the 500 'felt' too big for me.

Both in height and weight it felt like a monster compared to the EX250.

Now, with experience, I sit on just about any bike and it feels good, when I get home and sit on my bike it feels tiny.

Although some bikes still feel big - like the seat height on the Interceptor, it doesn't feel uncomfortable.

For someone bigger than me (taller) with a higher inseam, the 500 might be a good bike to start on. But then you get tied up in all sorts of 'ifs' like if the person can control it, etc.

The biggest thing for me for the EX500 to be a starter - would be how reactive the throttle is - something I haven't any experience with.

I mean I can wring the hell out of the throttle on my EX250 and not feel uncomfortable. If you can do something similar to that with the EX500... But maybe not as much, then it would be ok. If the throttle is touchy... Forget it. I think that is the only reason I'm not interested in a supersport 600 for my second bike. I want something that is controllable rather than something that would control me.

RhadamYgg

[matthew5656]

they're standard bikes with sport fairings attached.