New rider: 2 bikes. Need help!

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dieziege · #21 Unread post by **dieziege** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 2:31 pm

where you come from seems to a be a very sexual place.

Might be. Might be. Grew up in South Orange County...spent a bunch of time in Newport Beach as a lad. Experience probably addled me.

Gotta admit, when I'm in a 'net forum and see a first post, on April 1st, that screams the way that post screamed, I want to join the fun. Maybe I owe the guy a "my bad", but after years on usenet, mailing lists, and so on, it's a conditioned response. And probably a correct response.

Peace out.

#22 Unread post by **Jamers!** » Sun Apr 02, 2006 2:53 pm

dieziege wrote:
where you come from seems to a be a very sexual place.
Might be. Might be. Grew up in South Orange County...spent a bunch of time in Newport Beach as a lad. Experience probably addled me.

Gotta admit, when I'm in a 'net forum and see a first post, on April 1st, that screams the way that post screamed, I want to join the fun. Maybe I owe the guy a "my bad", but after years on usenet, mailing lists, and so on, it's a conditioned response. And probably a correct response.

Peace out.

ah oh ya, it was april first, good chance he was a troll messin with us on the joke day. Ha wow i feel dumb

JWF

mdl · #23 Unread post by **mdl** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 7:32 am

I need to bring this back from the dead.

I'm still undecided as to wether i need the 250 or the 500. If i decide to go with a 500 i don't know whether or not to go with the suzuki gs500f instead of the kawasaki. Any differences in quality? Would be a lot easier for me to find a kawa but i can try to look for the suzuki if its worth it.

SuperRookie · Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:35 am

Both the GS500 and EX500 are great bikes to start with...the EX having a few more horsepower (at the top of the range, which you most likely won't use.) IMHO the differences are really neglible insofar as using either bike as a tool to learn. Your subjective taste concerning the aesthetics of either bike will be your main point of contention.

CNF2002 · #25 Unread post by **CNF2002** » Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:50 am

My recommendation is to take the MSF class first. You really wont have an appreciation for the different styles of bikes (riding position, throttle control, position/style of the shift lever, seat cushion firmness, etc etc) until you learn to ride. Once you take the MSF and get some basic skills down, you will be able to make a much more informed decision.

Buying a bike isn't just about the engine power and most certainly not about what it looks like.

That said the Ninja 500 seems to be a pretty good bike. The 250 is a fantastic beginner bike. The 500 I think is more stylish IMO. Dont let the salesman sway your opinion, you'll end up with a Honda Rune.

Go to dealerships, sit on the bikes, check out the positions of the controls, pretend to ride it to get a feel of the position...deciding on your first bike is pointless just looking at pictures.

Finally, dont...no matter what the nice salesman says, buy your bike before you have your MSF certification and license.

dieziege · Mon Apr 03, 2006 10:08 am

It is very confusing....probably because it doesn't really matter.

So here's another way of looking at it...

Do you have friends that drive either of them? If so, which is more common? Having a friend who has already unstuck the thigimitulator is worth more than 10 HP.

How is the dealer/repair shop network in your area? Even if you won't be buying new, you'll need parts, and perhaps a mechanic every once in a while. I'd be leary of a bike that didn't have at least two dealers in the general area, just in case one of them really pissed me off. You mentioned that it would be easier to get a Kaw... that might be reason enough right there.

Is there a good user network in your area? One of the bikes I'm looking at has a significant local "owner club"... about 150 miles from me... if another model had a similar club centered 15 miles away that'd be a strong argument for the bike with the closer club.

These are all secondary factors... but then so is the HP at 9500RPM.

The reality is that you can hurt yourself, and others, just as badly with a little bike. When I was a kid my neigbor across the street used to love minibikes, mostly with 5-10HP motors... he managed to fall off the back often, and once to send it like a torpedo down the street at full throttle and into a parked car 1000' away... because he was an idiot. If you aren't, then (as long as you avoid the riderless minibikes flyng out of back alleys) you'll be fine.