Is a 250 too small for a 180 pounder?

[Push 540i]

since you will do a lot of highway, you might wanna go w/ the 650cc Vstar.

Or the Honda shadow 650-750.

I'm open to ideas for bikes in the cruiser and sport groups, can anyone suggest the best bike within the parameters already outlined here? I have a feeling I'm going to have a very difficult time choosing a bike. If you guys are thinking of one, just let me know I'll move it to the top of the list.
Does one brand stand out from the rest in all bike types?

Thanks.

Push

[Dragonhawk]

I'm 25, a former football player who's still fit, I weigh nearly 180 pounds and I'm 6 feet tall.

By "too small" I meant HP and the ability of the bike to move me around and later move me on the highway. And the Virago 250 would have enough power to move me on the highway when I get to that level? Wow, I guess I'm not realizing the power to weight ratio of mororcycles very well.

When I weighed about 160lbs. I took a 36HP Ninja 250 to 105MPH. Your extra 20 pounds isn't gonna slow it down that much.

You sound like you are more into cruisers. That's cool. Again, just keep the horsepower in a reasonable range and you should be fine.

A 650cc Honda Shadow or a 650cc Yamaha VStar are around 40HP. Those should be plenty of power for you as you start out.

[swatter555]

I would be VERY wary about financing a first bike. If you have the cash to buy it outright, thats the path to take. That way if you grow out of a 250cc cruiser you will be able to get a new bike without losing a bunch of money.

Alot of people come onto newbie message boards and ask what bike to buy. On a board like this people will strongly recommend a 250cc - 500cc bike, without regards as to how the person is paying for the bike. That is good advice, but that advice often stops short of fully informing the new rider. When you finance a bike, you will have it for awhile whether you like it or not. Think real hard about financing a first bike.

Get your first bike used, that would be my advice.

[Push 540i]

I'm 25, a former football player who's still fit, I weigh nearly 180 pounds and I'm 6 feet tall.

By "too small" I meant HP and the ability of the bike to move me around and later move me on the highway. And the Virago 250 would have enough power to move me on the highway when I get to that level? Wow, I guess I'm not realizing the power to weight ratio of mororcycles very well.

When I weighed about 160lbs. I took a 36HP Ninja 250 to 105MPH. Your extra 20 pounds isn't gonna slow it down that much.

You sound like you are more into cruisers. That's cool. Again, just keep the horsepower in a reasonable range and you should be fine.

A 650cc Honda Shadow or a 650cc Yamaha VStar are around 40HP. Those should be plenty of power for you as you start out.

I don't know if I'm more into crusiers or not but they are growing on me. I never thought they were "sporty" enough. Now that I'm seeing soo many of them I now like them but sport bike are the tops when it comes to cool. So I guess it will come down to riding position. I would still like eveyones thoughts on which bike to buy in both fields.

I would be VERY wary about financing a first bike. If you have the cash to buy it outright, thats the path to take. That way if you grow out of a 250cc cruiser you will be able to get a new bike without losing a bunch of money.

Alot of people come onto newbie message boards and ask what bike to buy. On a board like this people will strongly recommend a 250cc - 500cc bike, without regards as to how the person is paying for the bike. That is good advice, but that advice often stops short of fully informing the new rider. When you finance a bike, you will have it for awhile whether you like it or not. Think real hard about financing a first bike.

Get your first bike used, that would be my advice.

Yeah I work at a car dealership and I cringe most days when people say "I'll have to go over the numbers again". Bikes seem to be fairly cheap for the enjoyment they bring, so I won't fret about buying one, even new. As for buying used, I just might do that. Chances are the first bike I get will only be with me for two years and I may even lay it down, so haveing a "show condition" bike isn't my concern. I may even get a "last years model" or find a used on in a newspaper, either way I'll make sure it's in top form and fairly new.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[VermilionX]

w/ your size, you might be cramped on a sportsbike.

the sport tourers like katana, hayabusa, ZX-14, K1200S should be big enough for you but they aren't beginner bikes.

oh wait... the katana 600 falls under the grey area so you might wanna sit on it and try it.

you might also wanna try dual sports like the Vstrom 650.

[Push 540i]

w/ your size, you might be cramped on a sportsbike.

the sport tourers like katana, hayabusa, ZX-14, K1200S should be big enough for you but they aren't beginner bikes.

oh wait... the katana 600 falls under the grey area so you might wanna sit on it and try it.

you might also wanna try dual sports like the Vstrom 650.

The Vstrom looks nice but I think the Katana's should be my second or third bike, the 600 gets 80 hp and from what I've read, that's a whole lotta mustard for a new guy.

I still can't get over how affordable bikes can be. Some of these bikes are down right cheap.

[VermilionX]

I still can't get over how affordable bikes can be. Some of these bikes are down right cheap.

you rich bastrd!

in that case, buying new shouldn't be problem for you.

[Push 540i]

I still can't get over how affordable bikes can be. Some of these bikes are down right cheap.

you rich bastrd!

in that case, buying new shouldn't be problem for you.

Rich? That's not what the girlfriend says!

I drive, that's where all of my fun is. I hate working for a living and if I couldn't be in or on a machine having BlastiBlast <<<{trademark} I wouldn't be able to be happy.

So there aren't any vacations, pools, additions for the house, kids, etc. on the way.

And I've struck gold when it comes to buying cars, I have a 98 BMW 540 that I'll profit $12,000 on and a little red Porsche that will be sold for more than I paid for it {4 years ago} and have an almost free Audi AWD for the winter, so I'm not rich. {Unless a small company currently in Africa finds an untapped diamond mine!} I research everything and then spend a little cash and have loads of fun!

[TechTMW]

If you are sitting on a chair w/ four legs - Put your feet waayyy back under the seat, hunch down and then put your elbows down by your knees. That's what riding a sport bike feels like (Just look at Verm's Pic... )

"Start looking Used" is good advice. scan thru your local classifieds and see what is there. If you want pricing information, I find that NADA is usually more accurate than the KBB for real world pricing.

Here in Italy "Maxi-Scooters" are all the rage, and people are constantly zipping around on the highways with these 150-500cc scoots. So yeah, a 250 will be fine on the highway, but it won't have too much on tap for passing maneuvers and whatnot.

[Dragonhawk]

I don't know if I'm more into crusiers or not but they are growing on me. I never thought they were "sporty" enough. Now that I'm seeing soo many of them I now like them but sport bike are the tops when it comes to cool. So I guess it will come down to riding position. I would still like eveyones thoughts on which bike to buy in both fields.

This is why I tell people not to even think about what bike they want until they take the MSF course.

Before I learned to ride, I was dead-set on a cruiser. That was all I wanted. I wasn't remotely interested in anything else.

Then I learned to ride.

Quickly, I realized that I loved standards the most. Sportbikes suck because they are uncomfortable. Cruisers suck because they are not very nimble. Standards were just right for me. So, that is all I ride.

Once you learn to ride, you too will be able to choose the style you are the most comfortable with.