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So I just passed the riding portion of the MSF course today, and wanted to share some toughts with you guys. No dropped bikes, but one person dropped out each day.

First of all I had a blast and can't wait to get a bike.

I rode a pretty crappy Honda CB125T the first day, and a Honda Nighthawk the today because the 125 wouldn't start.

I didn't like the 125 much at all, the seat wasn't very comfortable and the throttle seemed very unresponsive, I'd gun it and there'd be a noticable lag before the thing took off.

The Nighthawk was much nicer, more responsive and more powerfull, the only thing was I had more trouble finding neutral (could have just been me). The only thing I didn't like about it was my knees came up pretty high and it felt a bit small. I didn't sit on any of the little cruisers they had but those seats were even lower.

After actually riding a bike a ninja 250 with 36hp seems like plenty, as even the nighthawk with 22hp had pretty good grunt, although we didn't reach any high speeds, I don't know how it would do on the highway. But if the ninja fits like the nighthawk, I wouldn't really want it, since they're both standards I assume the fit will be similar?

Now my question is this: Is something like a ninja 500 or gs500 any bigger physically than a 250 or is it just the engine size?

I did alright on the riding part, made a few mistakes on the test, (94%). I crossed the boundry on the U turns once, although in practice I'd done it without crossing, then accidently held the throttle on in the quick stop wich made me stop later. The first time I tried a U turn I did horrible, went WAY out of the lines, because I tried to push and lean instead of turning the handlebars.

C-1_Biker wrote: But if the ninja fits like the nighthawk, I wouldn't really want it, since they're both standards I assume the fit will be similar?

I have sat on both and found the Ninja 250 to be a decent bit taller and a bit more of a stretch to the handle bars.

Congrats on passing!

Congrats!!!

Congrats

Congratulations!

The nighthawk and the rebel are actually pretty hard to find nuetral in while the engine is running. So it wasn't you.

The ninja and nighthawk are actually quite different in sitting on them. A standard isn't a standard isn't a standard, which is my way of saying that even between similar riding positions the bikes feel can change dramatically.

congrats on passing the MSF.

After passing mine, I bought a used ninja 250 off of craigs list and have not regretted it one bit. The MSF course I took had us riding rebels and gz250s. Good bikes ... but not for me.

The 250 is sporty and fun. Very forgiving and easy to ride. To me the ninja 500 is just a tad bit taller, but doesn't feel much bigger. The price difference as going about 600-1000 bucks between the ninja500 and the ninja 250, so i went on the cheap.

I do plan to get a bigger bike eventually, but not for a while.

Also there's a great online community for the 250 ... www.ninja250.com great site, lots of support.

Thomas

C-1_Biker wrote:
Now my question is this: Is something like a ninja 500 or gs500 any bigger physically than a 250 or is it just the engine size?

This is on most web of their web sits as far as overall length and some other basic measurements. Whats not in there is the proportions. Just because the bike is longer and handle bars are wider ect... still doesn't mean it will fit let alone be comfortable for you.

You really need to read the spec's, compare them and them site on your top choices. i.e if we are both 5'10 tall doesn't mean my bike will fit you fine. Your legs may be longer etc...

Most of all congrat on the test. I think its a test of nerves as much as parking lot skills, both important.

storysunfolding wrote: A standard isn't a standard isn't a standard, which is my way of saying that even between similar riding positions the bikes feel can change dramatically.

After a while I went out and left the hospital and walked back to the hotel in the rain.

The nighthawk and the rebel are actually pretty hard to find nuetral in while the engine is running. So it wasn't you.

Alright cool, it felt weird because on the other bike I rode the first day I could find neutral everytime, and on the nighthawk I had trouble every time.

I guess I'll just have to try out different bikes and see which one I like. I wont be able to get a bike right now anyways, but I'm hoping that I will have enough money within a few months, and at the latest I should get one during the summer. I'm switching jobs this week so I'm getting all my vacation and sick hours paid out so I might use that to buy a helmet/jacket/gloves. After finishing the course I got a coupon that gives me 20% off a helmet and jacket combo at a local shop.