6'1" 180lbs newbie looking for first sport bike

[papperclippy]

I read several articles that make the ninja 250 to be the perfect first bike for beginners, at least for sport models. I also read beginners shouldn't go over 500cc on their first bike.

Has anybody with the same physical dimensions as I tried the 250 and find it fits comfortably. I really don't want to buy a bike that is so small that I won't like riding it.

I am going to the dealership later this week and wanted to have some specific models to have in mind to try out. I value the feedback from here because I really don't trust salesman and I don't want them trying to sell me a bigger bike if I don't need it.

[Wrider]

Hey bud I'm 6'2 and 300 and I find my sister's 250 to be a little small, but at the same time for a taller guy at almost 200 I'd vote either a Ninja 500 or a Suzuki GS500. Both great beginner sportbikes. Won't get you into too much trouble but can still hang if you know how to ride them!

[fireguzzi]

I agree with wrider. You could get a ninja or gs 500 if you are looking for a sport bike style.

Or you could be cool like I was and get an older naked gs 500.

[RC DAVE]

check out the F Z 600 nice bike a little taller in tha standard style but still not to crazy. don't get me wrong its still a modern 600 and they are quick but just not in that sportbike package. u wont be happy on a 250 u r to tall for the kaw. A bike to small can be as bad as a bike to big or fast'

[PacificShot327]

Um, I'm going to disagree with RC Dave, here. The FZ6 is a supersport-based engine. Stay away for now.

The 500s will do you fine.

And, for the record...

Seat Heights

2009 FZ6 - 31.3
2009 GS500F - 31.1
2009 Ninja 250 - 30.5

At your height, the disparity isn't going to make a ton of difference. It hasn't for me, so do yourself a favor and stick to 500 and below for now.

[XB08]

Most sportnikes feels small to anyone 6ft or taller, But we can put both feet on the ground.

[papperclippy]

Thanks for the replies by everybody. I guess I really won't know if I like one until I sit on some this week coming up. If anybody has more suggestions, keep them coming.

[roncg41677]

I'm 6'0 190lbs, and I think the 250 ninjas (and the 500's) fit me like a glove. They feel very comfortable.

Unless you're 6'6" or something I can't imagine most 500s or even 250s would be too small to be comfortable.

I rode a 125cc Eliminator in my BRC and it worked fine. I looked like an idiot, but it worked .

[PacificShot327]

I looked like an idiot, but it worked .

Didn't the majority of us?

[papperclippy]

So I tried out, by tried out I mean sat on, the 09 250 ninjas. They look sweet, didn't fit well at all. The inside of my thighs were where the lip of the cowling was on the gas tank and the foot shifters were too small for my feet. It was a no win situation unfortunately because I really wanted to buy one. The older ninjas actually fit better because there wasn't that curved lip on it, but it was still small for me. I though people were joking about how the older ninjas looked, they definately weren't.

Next I tried the ninja 500. It didn't fit too bad, definately fit better than the 250. It was more cosmetically appealing than the older 250's, but I still felt like the fit wasn't there even though the price was.

After that I tried the ninja 600 I think. I am not going to lie, it felt big and heavy. It looked fast, and all I could think about was how this bike was going to kill me. It fit alright, I was able to fit to the bike if that makes sense.

I then tried the suzuki gs500. This bike felt good. The price was actually pretty decent for it. It didn't have that many miles on it, but for some reason I could smell the scent of gasoline when I was on it. I am not sure if it had a small gas leak or what, but that still made me hesitant. To be honest, I might have actually just bought it if almost every article said it was a pain to start and the brakes suck on it. With a newbie like me, I really need a decent pair of brakes.

Lastly, I tried out the SV650. All I can say is WOW. The bike felt awesome when I was sitting on it and since it is a V-twin, it is still considered a beginner's bike. I saw both the naked and with fairings on it. I actually liked the way it looked with and without the fairings. Price was a little steeper on this bike, but as of right now I am leaning towards this bike. There weren't many of these bikes around where I live. Hopefully more will show up since an 07 is going for about 5500 with 5k miles on it.

I really wanted the new 250's, but no way is it going to be comfortable for me to ride. Out of the above listed bikes should I focus on for a beginner? I saw the versy's, it looked awkward and felt weird to sit on. But then again I haven't sat on many cruiser styles.