Ninja 650R for a beginner?

[Doward]

ah, sorry, didn't realize it was a Ptwin, not a Vtwin

I'm thinking maybe I'll take the MSF course, pick up a cheap 500R, then when I'm reading, sell it and get the 650R?

Unless the resale of the 500r is awesome (or I just find that awesome deal) tho, I can't really justify paying for two bikes in 5-6 months.

[Lion_Lady]

ah, sorry, didn't realize it was a Ptwin, not a Vtwin

I'm thinking maybe I'll take the MSF course, pick up a cheap 500R, then when I'm reading, sell it and get the 650R?

Unless the resale of the 500r is awesome (or I just find that awesome deal) tho, I can't really justify paying for two bikes in 5-6 months.

Thats the great thing about buying used... and as you may be finding out, used 'starter' bikes are hard to come by and in great demand. Don't sweat 'paying for two bikes in 6 months.'

Unless you trash that 500cc beater, you can pretty well count on getting back what you paid for it. I sold my beater bike for MORE than I paid for it, and my hubby sold his for what he paid. So all those bikes cost us to use was gas and insurance (which was also dirt cheap: less than $70 each).

P

[Amazing1]

I was in the same boat as you Doward. I took the MSF course early last month in anticipation of getting a new 650R. Then my dealer told me late Jan or early Feb before he will have his. I thought long and hard about whether I could handle 70 hp bike as my 1st bike. I felt comfortable in the class and have over 100,000 miles in the last dozen or so years on 2 wheels (bicycle racing and training) plus my mature age (48) and thus lower testosterone level led me to feel I surely could.

When I got the bad news from my dealer about the 650R I was lucky enough to come across a 2001 Ninja 250. I say lucky because wanted to ride before what I learned as just a memory. I've put 400 miles on it in the last 2 weeks and frankly feel like I have already out grown it. But the plan was always to sell it when I got my 650R, so no big deal. Long story short, I truly feel I'd have been able to handle the 650R as my 1st bike. It's weight is a tiny bit less than the 500R, it has a lower seat height and a low center of gravity (therefore not top heavy and easier to handle). To me it is a bike a beginner can handle if they can discipline the throttle hand and still have lots of room to grow into.

My 2 bits.