Starting with a Kawasaki Ninja 500R

[SquidKid]

Anyone else start out with a 500R? Any advice?

[Velocity]

Anyone else start out with a 500R? Any advice?

How about a little more information, SquidKid?

Are you starting out with a 500R, or are you just thinking about it?

Are you planning on learning on a 500R? Have you thought about taking the BRC (or perhaps you have already taken it)?

[SquidKid]

How about a little more information, SquidKid?

Are you starting out with a 500R, or are you just thinking about it?

Are you planning on learning on a 500R? Have you thought about taking the BRC (or perhaps you have already taken it)?

I'm planning on starting with a 500R as my first bike, so yes I'll be learning on a 500R. I'm taking the BRC before I buy the bike.

[Velocity]

How about a little more information, SquidKid?

Are you starting out with a 500R, or are you just thinking about it?

Are you planning on learning on a 500R? Have you thought about taking the BRC (or perhaps you have already taken it)?

I'm planning on starting with a 500R as my first bike, so yes I'll be learning on a 500R. I'm taking the BRC before I buy the bike.

Good move, taking the BRC before you buy the bike. That's the course I took after seeing that advice from others, and I'm glad I did it that way. I did start shopping and did some research and sat on a lot of bikes before I took the course, to get an idea of what was out there for what price, how I fit on various bikes (and styles of bikes), and various bikes' pros and cons.

I haven't ridden the 500R, but I understand that some do start out with that as their first bike. The Ninja 250 seems to be a more popular choice as a first bike, and it has plenty of power and top end.

Here are several good articles about the Ninja 250 and 500 as a beginner bike:

http://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/ ... 250-review
http://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/ ... w-part-1-4
http://www.bestbeginnermotorcycles.com/ ... 500-review

Whichever way you go, you might want to look at used bikes for a first bike. You might also want to check with your insurance company before you buy the bike to see how they feel about insuring the Ninja.

Good luck with the BRC!

[MTexile]

+1 Velocity's comments. You might be able to find a pretty good deal on a used bike in this economy. Also, do you have experienced friends that ride? If so, hope they take your skill set into account. In other words don't try and ride at their level until you feel comfortable in doing so. Good luck!

[jaskc78]

+1 on BRC, and when I took my BRC the Ninja 500R was what I used, so I can't imagine it'd be that tough of a bike to learn on if they used it for the class. Only thing I'd suggest is taking it slow--practice what they teach you in the class and if you're ever out riding and feel like you're going too fast, you probably are.

It's definitely a fun bike, though. Thinking about trading in my Ninja 250 for one so it'll be a little more capable at higher speeds. Haven't really decided yet, but thinking about it.

[SquidKid]

Thanks for the advice guys.