2006 Kawasaki EX250 or EX 500

[MidSSouth]

Just my $.02

I got a Ninja 250 after finishing my MSF class. It's my first motorcycle and I really like it. Around town it has more than enough power, I even accidently wheelied coming up an inclined road onto a highway. On the freeway it is fine unless you need to suddenly go from like 60-90, it will get there but just not quickly.

Last weekend I took about a 250 mile roadtrip to do some geocaching and didn't have a problem after cruising about 90mph for over a hundred miles. Even got 60+mpg doing so. I topped it out somewhere around 105 indicated and even had to take it down a gravel road for a while with no problems.

The upright seating posture makes it feel more like a standard with sportbike fairing than a sportbike and I wasn't sore at all when I was done. I probably had 20-30 pounds of cargo in a backpack that I strapped to the rear, I weigh 200 in full riding gear and am 5'6".

The only complaint I had was the small windscreen. There was a lot of wind noise and I had to wear earplugs at highway speeds. If I stood up straight (and stretched a little) my head was above the turbulant wind and it got quiet (but cold) and if I tucked in and laid on the gas tank the wind went away but it because painfully loud (without earplug).

Other than the occasional scooter joke you might get from the big cruiser guys who get less mileage than their cars and might even be slower (my buddies 750 honda only goes 100) I think it is a great beginner and all-around bike. Now if only there was model specific locking luggage for it...

[miked78231]

see thats the only thing that gets me. i know being a beginner i really dont need anything too fast but 105 just isnt that great to me. i use to drive a camero and i got that baby up to 145 and that was fast. but then again i weigh 145 and im only 5'5 so i should be able to get a little more then 105 out of it. scooter jokes? what do you mean. the way i see it is the 250 would be cheaper and has great gas milage but the 500 looks better goes a little faster and i think it has the same gas mialge too. thanks for the input. i plan on doing much more reading i dont plan on getting a bike at least for another month or two.

[Sev]

Remember that with the wind whippping past your head, and your whole body hanging out there 100 feels a LOT faster on a bike then it ever will in a car, even with the top down or the windows open.

[Dragonhawk]

see thats the only thing that gets me. i know being a beginner i really dont need anything too fast but 105 just isnt that great to me. i use to drive a camero and i got that baby up to 145 and that was fast. but then again i weigh 145 and im only 5'5 so i should be able to get a little more then 105 out of it. scooter jokes? what do you mean. the way i see it is the 250 would be cheaper and has great gas milage but the 500 looks better goes a little faster and i think it has the same gas mialge too. thanks for the input. i plan on doing much more reading i dont plan on getting a bike at least for another month or two.

As a beginner, if the fact that a bike tops-out at 105MPH makes you hesitate to buy it because you think you need to go faster ... don't get a motorcycle.

[jmillheiser]

look at it this way, how often do you drive 105mph.

the 250 is not designed for top speed. Its resonably fast at normal street riding speeds and will still leave most cages sitting at the light. The 500 is not much different in this respect. a 500 will smoke a camaro up to about 90mph then its acceleration trails off.

My 500 which is older and heavier than the ninja is downright quick riding around town and will get to 90mph in a big hurry, I see no reason to need a bike that will hit 150mph in 15 seconds.

The ninja 250 can be a blast because you can wail on it and not be going at seriously illegal speeds.

The ninja 500 (or any other 500 for that matter) is not a bad choice for a beginner and has enough power that you wont get bored with it in a month.

[miked78231]

i guess your right because its not like im gonna be out there racing with advanced riders. i just need somthing thats quick and easy to learn on. i figure that if i cant find a good deal on a 500 then im just going to buy a new 250. thanks man

[jmillheiser]

either the 250 or 500 would be good choices to start on