is the kawasaki ninja250r right for me as 1st bike..read on!

[LFCinSA]

first off, 'hello' to all as i'm new to this site. i just read sticky's post on newbies buying 600+cc bikes as their first, and i'm glad i did BEFORE i buy my new first bike! i went to my local dealer last week with my heart set on deciding between a kawasaki ninja 650r/suzuki gsx650f/yamaha fz6r(all new 2009's). i sat on several cruiser/standard/sport bikes to test their feel and found the 3 bikes above to be the most comfortable. after reading sticky's post though, it doesn't look like any of those 3 would be the safest/smartest choice for my first bike. i did sit on a ninja 250r while i was at the dealer and it did feel very comfortable and i like the way it looks/feels. for those in the know, is the ninja 250r a good choice for me based on my following info?...
i'm 37, 5'10 and 200lbs. i haven't ridden a motorcycle since i was 19, so i will take riding classes. most of my riding will be for work/school in the city-but i want the bike to still be comfortable enough for occasional rides out in the country(maybe 200miles round trip). i wont ride in the rain until WAY down the road when i'm more experienced. i'm not a speed demon that's gonna be weaving in/out of traffic, but i do want to be able to get out of the way or speed up when i need to. i would like to be able to have a more 'sit up straight' posture as opposed to the 'crotch rockets'-although as i mentioned above, the 'cruiser' bikes i sat on didn't feel right and i can't stand the way they look(i know, safety over looks!). i also didn't care for the look/feel of the suzuki gs500. so, does the ninja 250r sound right for me guys(or gals)??? i would rather buy new and keep it for 2 or 3 years to get my experience up, then hopefully i'll be ready for one of the 3 bikes i originally wanted above.

[Brackstone]

Yeah from what you said I think you should start on the Ninja 250.

Honestly I only kept mine for one season then I upgraded it. However if you plan on doing all that touring (200 miles) on the 250 I'd say look into getting an aftermarket seat that is much more comfortable.

Honestly I never had a problem with the seat on my 250, but I never sat on it for 200 miles either.

The seating position you are looking for is called "standard". Most naked bikes have them and I think some standard bikes have faired versions too.

[LFCinSA]

my local dealer did have a 'new' 2007 honda cb900(919) in the showroom. it was the only standard bike i liked and that felt good-but again, from what i'm reading, it looks like that would be too much bike for me to start off with.
and, sorry for the confusion, the 200 miles round trip i mentioned is referring to the 2 or 3 times a month when i'd be heading out for the country roads. my daily commute for work and school is probably only 30 miles round trip.

[Brackstone]

my local dealer did have a 'new' 2007 honda cb900(919) in the showroom. it was the only standard bike i liked and that felt good-but again, from what i'm reading, it looks like that would be too much bike for me to start off with.
and, sorry for the confusion, the 200 miles round trip i mentioned is referring to the 2 or 3 times a month when i'd be heading out for the country roads. my daily commute for work and school is probably only 30 miles round trip.

I probably didn't explain myself well (it's 5:00 AM) either. I understood what you meant about the long trips. It's just since most people use the 250 as a starter bike I usually would recommend not spending lots of money on accessories since you won't be able to recoup that loss after reselling it.

About the 919....
Honestly starter bikes are really all up for debate on this forum. Some people think starting on a 250 is dumb cause you're just going to sell it. The higher CC you go the less people will endorse it basically.

My opinion is that if you start too big (CC) and without proper training you will never be as good as someone who started out small, got proper training, then moved up.

But that pisses off anyone who started out on a 600CC RR who thinks they are super awesome and will tell stories about how they outperformed some guy who took professional classes etc. etc. etc.

The sticky about starting bikes is there to be informative and also to lay the grounds for the consensus of the school of thought on this forum. What you decide ultimately is up to you.

My opinion is stick with the 250. I had mine and I ALMOST dropped it quite a bunch of times. The only reason I was able to stop myself was that it was low to the ground and light.

[Big B]

you are doing the exact right thing - researching and listening to informed opinion. that said, there doesn't get much better than a ninja 250 for a first bike. it'll be perfect for your daily commute, and yes, you can go on 200 mile trips with it - there are guys who've ridden them on cross-country trips. a 919 is waaay too much for a newbe rider - stick with the little ninja - it'll keep it's resale value and after you learn the basics and get some miles under your belt you can upgrade if you want, and by then you'll have the skills to be able to enjoy a more powerful bike.

[jstark47]

my local dealer did have a 'new' 2007 honda cb900(919) in the showroom. it was the only standard bike i liked and that felt good-but again, from what i'm reading, it looks like that would be too much bike for me to start off with.

From an on-line review of the 919: "The fun part is mostly due to the CB's engine, though. The bottom-end punch is super-strong for the modest 919cc, but mix that with the bike's weight and this thing leaves a stop like a scared rabbit. If you're feeling brazen, it's a simple matter to be a bit careless with the throttle and loft the front end when you cross the crown of an intersection, but we don't condone that kind of behavior." If you're just getting back to it after 20 years, it isn't smart to start with this combo of torque and weight. Get something a little milder for your first season.

[LFCinSA]

is 'too much to pay' for the ninja 250r? i'm guessing with summer coming up soon the price is gonna bump up a little. i'm asking about price because every dern dealers' webpage around here(san antonio,tx) has 'call for price' for the ninja 250r. i just don't want to pay more than i should be paying. thanks again for all the help!!!