Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hello all

I'm a potential new rider looking at getting a bike sometime this summer.

Some background info:
I have no prior motorcycle riding experience. I'm planning on taking a MSF class in early summer before purchasing a bike. My main use for the bike will be commuting to work which is currently around 40 miles round trip per day. The majority of my daily trip consists of either interstate or state highway with periodic stop lights depending on route taken. Chances are I'll postpone commuting primarily via motorcycle until next summer after I've had some time to ride and am more experienced.

The bikes (used) I'm currently considering are as follows:

Buell Blast

• + Inexpensive
• + Cheap insurance
• - described as small in most reviews
• - Single cylinder / vibration

Kawasaki Ninja 250

• + Inexpensive
• + Cheap insurance

Kawasaki Ninja 500

• + Fairly inexpensive
• + Cheap insurance (Progressive quote roughly the same as previous two)
• - Mildly difficult to find used locally

Suzuki GS500 (haven't checked insurance yet)

• + Described as good beginners bike
• + Fairly inexpensive

The general opionion most places seems to be start small and upgrade as your experience level increases. Are the two 500cc bikes listed above (not counting the Blast given it's power output) excessive for a beginning rider. If I do end up going with the Blast or Ninja 250 will they strain to maintain highway crusing speeds (70 MPH)? I have a feeling I may not be ready for freeway riding until next summer given the somewhat short riding season here (Twin Cities, MN) so this may be a moot point anyway for the time being.

Any input would be appreciated.

Nice to see a well thought out bike selection. You have picked very well. You would be fine on any of them. I would suggest to get a feel for them. I dont know your hieght, but you can start by sitting on them to make sure you can put your feet down with all of them. Also, if you have long legs, sitting on the bike with your feet on the pegs, you can tell if you have enough leg space (comfort), which if you are tall in the legs, you may find the blast a bit small. Also after taking the course you'll feel more comfortable as well.

Hi Jake, and welcome!

It sounds to me like you're going about this the right way. The MSF course will give you a good idea of what kind of bike you will want. (sport, cruiser, standard) The bikes you listed as considerations are all acceptable beginner bikes, but I've heard a LOT of negative comments about the reliability of the Blast.

The power output of the Kawi 250 Ninja is probably about the best of the 250 class, and it's capable of free-way speeds as long as you don't mind winding it out a bit. I think I recall reading somewhere that they top out at roughly 90 MPH give or take.

The GS 500 gets my vote among your choices. They are plentiful, powerful enough to keep you interested, and darn-near bullet proof. There is a vast following, too and more than one on-line site dedicated to just that one bike. I was considering that model among my other choices when I decided to get back into riding.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

I'm 5'8" and of average proportions. One of the locally offered MSF courses has a Blast in their fleet so I may get a chance to test it out before I'm at the purchase stage.

the only problem i found out with a ninja 250 which i saw the other day on the 400 was it was a litle underpowered. not so much to get on and do the limit, but if you wanted to pass say, a garbage truck, you'd be stuck behind that mother. kinda like the guy i saw, luckily i was in the lane he wanted in and let him in, covered for him as he barely got around the truck, then off i went. this isn't to say i was ridin the 250, but it sounded like he had that thing pinned