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there is also the slighty older GS500E which doesn't have any fairings to scratch up but is otherwise identical to the GS500F.

UJMs work well and fit a wide range of sizes. I fit just fine on my CX500 at 5'10" yet my wife who is 5'3" can also flat foot it with no problems

Once again, as the person who asked the original question, thank you all for your input. I'm going to use this site as one of the primary places where I get input over the next few months/years.

Also, I'm scheduled to take the MSF in march, I'm going this route 100%, NYC is a hard enough place to drive so I'm going to make sure I'm as well trained as possible before I deicde to ride here.

Thank you so much for all of ya'lls advice. It definitely is helping me to get a better feel for a good bike to start out with. I appreciate it. Another question, and I apologize if this is off of the original subject: What are the advantages and disadvantages of a naked baked vs. a bike with full fairings or even half? Is there a performance difference between the two, or is the major difference mostly looks and cost of repairing the fairings in the event of the bike being laid down?

I have a naked bike with no front screen at all...its fine @ 75 on a calm day...but add some headwind and it can be downright miserable.

On freeways @ 60mph I barely notice the wind at all.

i have an unfaired bike and it does prove to be a handfull at speed especially if there is wind about.....but i havent in normal everyday type riding ever felt disadvantaged by it......if ya want to do and hold decent speeds ie anything above 100mph then a totally unfaired bike prolly isnt the best choise.......problem is unfaired or street fighter looks are fookin hot

My unfaired bike becomes uncomfortable for me above 140km/h. At 170 I hate it. So I don't go that fast. Speed limits around here are 110 or so, so I'll take it up to about 135 and enjoy myself. Headwinds slow me down, tailwinds speed me up.

I'm trying to get a windscreen, but that's easier said then done.

so would you say a ninja 250 would be a touch too small for me at 6-2 and 220lbs? I was thinking the 500 too, just for size purposes. I sat on the honda 599 and it fit so very perfectly I almost cried cause I am NOT going to start on that bike. I am going to the kawi dealer tonight to see what they have and try these bikes on.

Dichotomous wrote:so would you say a ninja 250 would be a touch too small for me at 6-2 and 220lbs? I was thinking the 500 too, just for size purposes. I sat on the honda 599 and it fit so very perfectly I almost cried cause I am NOT going to start on that bike. I am going to the kawi dealer tonight to see what they have and try these bikes on.

I'm 5'8" with a 34"inseam... the Ninja 250 felt like a toy and I don't weigh as much as you. I'd try the Nija 500 or hold out for the Ninja 650 - new this year... sportbike seat position. The US horsepower hasn't been posted yet, cause the emissions stuff is expected to reduce the original 70+ hp somewhat.

The other option is to get yourself something USED that fits okay. Don't stress too much over cosmetics, etc... just use it to learn on, then buy something nicer when you feel you're ready to move up.

P

I went by the kawaskai/yamaha dealer today after work, roadside marine in williston, vt. and the guy was wicked nice and walked me all through my options and what would be good and not and had me sit on a bunch of bikes. turns out after trying out the seating positions and such, the cruiser is more my style, I seem to fit really nicely on the Vstar 650 and the vulcan 750. the ninja 500 was just too small as well, I have a 34" inseam as well(well thats what my pants say) but I'd wager my thighs are a little thicker than yours and the tank ridge was about an inch too short, something that was also true of ducati monster 620. too bad, no fit, oh well. I like the cruiser feel better, and all that chrome!!! anyways. he said that anything up to an 800 for a starting bike would be just fine for me, and the 750 or 800 would better accomidate 2up riding if I chose (my gf is fairly light). he steered me away from the 250 right off, first using the "you'll grow out of it" ploy, which I responded by telling him this is myfirst bike and I have no intention of racing or going fast and none of that really mattered to me, THEN he discouraged the ninja 250(which my buddy shawn was on at the time so I didnt feel the fit, but he fit fine and is much smaller so I assumed...) by explaining that its so light that trucks passing on the interstate are a pretty big problem, and hills can be a chore. considering this bike will run through smugglers notch a few times every week (just think steep twisty mountain pass and kick it up a notch, single paved lane, closed in winter...) I figured that was just the final nail in the 250 dream's coffin. So I sat on the vulcan and he said it had plenty of power for me and my squeeze (once I had LOTS of saddle time he emphasised) to snake through the notch, we "wouldnt be passing mustangs right and left" but we'd"do just fine". He mentioned that he might be having an 800 cruiser coming in used sometime. He also stressed that my first bike should really be used, and that at my price level (I said look for $2500 and around) they would have some scratches and dents butbe perfectly road fine, which I thought was a nice attitude. Anyways does anyone have any thoughts between the vulcan and the vstar? I checked the specs and the vulcan has quite a bit more power than the vstar, and the tank is a little narrower witch I felt more confident with, but the vstar seemed to have bette suspension parts. thoughts?