Yet another newbie 'what bike to get' question....

[hays0023]

Ok, so my wife just gave me permission to get my license, buy a bike, etc...YEA!!! I have narrowed it down to one of two options and am looking for some insight from seasoned riders.

1) Buy a started Ninja 250 or 500. I just went to the local dealer the other day and sat on one of the 250's and it was way small. I am about 6'3". 200lbs and it felt as if I was sitting on a toy. I have read that your first bike needs to be comfortable, so I am contemplating the 500.


2) Buy one of the new Can Am Spyders. I saw one last weekend and it is just...WOW. My concern is that I might decide after a while I want a road bike. One of the reasons that I am leaning towards the Spyder is safety. I work in an emergency department and considering what I see, it is feat that I am still interested in getting a bike.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

[vladmech]

I'm 6'0" 170 lbs and bought a Ninja 250 to start with. Felt a little big on it at first, but am quite comfortable zooming around now. I still plan on selling it next summer and getting a bigger bike, but I definitely do not regret buying it as my starter. It's a fantastic bike to learn on, not too much power and superb handling.

[Zohw]

I can't help you with the ninjas, but I can throw in my 2 cents about small postured bikes.

My Savage is too small for me (I'm almost 6 foot and the bike was made for 5'7 and under). It feels like a bit of a toy on me, and really light weight too. Do I regret getting it? Absolutely not. I feel much more in control with this bike then I would with something much bigger. Of course the difference is that it's a cruiser, so even if you're too big for the bike, you can still tolerate it somewhat.

I recommend taking the 250 out for a test ride and see if any posture issues turns into pain. The 250 will be cheaper and it's a starter bike after all. If you want to keep your starter bike for longer, then perhaps the 500.

[SHADOW1100T]

IMHO A 250 FOR A PERSON OF YOU SIZE WOULD BE MORE DANGEROUS THAN FUN, A LIGHT WEIGHT ON THE FREEWAY WOULD JUST BEARLY BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE PACE, YOU NEED TO BE LOOKING AT 500cc AND UP, I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST THAT YOU STAY AWAY FROM CROTCH ROCKETS BECAUSE OF INSURANCE AND YOUR SIZE, GO WITH A CRUISER, THAT WAY YOU HAVE ROOM TO MOVE AROUND AND WITH A CRUISER THE HORSE POWER IS MUCH EASIER TO HANDLE, IN THE LONG RUN I THINK YOU WOULD ENJOY IT A LOT MORE.

[Nibblet99]

Each to their own, but I disagree with you Ted.

Not having been able to ride those bikes specifially makes my comparison a bit off, but I believe the Ninja 250/500 are closer to standards not sportsbikes.
I've chewed up a lot of 70mph motorways on 15bhp 125cc bikes without issue, the 33bhp ninja 250 should have no issues with freeways. Having said that, I'd probably suggest the 500 to start on as I would expect it to feel just that little bit more solid

[jonnythan]

IMHO A 250 FOR A PERSON OF YOU SIZE WOULD BE MORE DANGEROUS THAN FUN, A LIGHT WEIGHT ON THE FREEWAY WOULD JUST BEARLY BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE PACE, YOU NEED TO BE LOOKING AT 500cc AND UP

Wow.

Are you saying that if he rode a Ninja 250 he would barely be able to maintain highway speeds?

I must be a sitting duck in my car, then, because the Ninja 250 - with a 200 lb rider - can out-accelerate my Pontiac Grand Am from 0-60 and leave it in the dust in the 1/4 mile.

[SHADOW1100T]

Well,,,I stand corrected on the 250 issue, I was just thinking about the rider weight human wind sail factor and supposed lack of power, it *has* been awhile since was on a 250

[RC Fan]

Ok, so my wife just gave me permission to get my license, buy a bike, etc...YEA!!! I have narrowed it down to one of two options and am looking for some insight from seasoned riders.

1) Buy a started Ninja 250 or 500. I just went to the local dealer the other day and sat on one of the 250's and it was way small. I am about 6'3". 200lbs and it felt as if I was sitting on a toy. I have read that your first bike needs to be comfortable, so I am contemplating the 500.


2) Buy one of the new Can Am Spyders. I saw one last weekend and it is just...WOW. My concern is that I might decide after a while I want a road bike. One of the reasons that I am leaning towards the Spyder is safety. I work in an emergency department and considering what I see, it is feat that I am still interested in getting a bike.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

I'd check out all the standards and the small sportbikes--just stay away from the supersports. Other than my Bandit, I really liked both the SV and the SV-S, the FZ6, and the 650R.

As far as the Spyder, I can't imagine it would be as fun as a bike.

[Wrider]

Just thought I'd throw in my two cents...
I vote the Ninja 500, a little more get-up-and-go, but not too much.
As for the spyder, wouldn't recommend it, you're still leaning like a standard position bike, but you can't lean into corners... I'd find that rather unnerving... Granted, there's no real way to flip it as you would, say, a 3 wheeler, but still... just rather unnerving to me...
Wrider

[Brackstone]

IMHO A 250 FOR A PERSON OF YOU SIZE WOULD BE MORE DANGEROUS THAN FUN, A LIGHT WEIGHT ON THE FREEWAY WOULD JUST BEARLY BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE PACE, YOU NEED TO BE LOOKING AT 500cc AND UP

Wow.

Are you saying that if he rode a Ninja 250 he would barely be able to maintain highway speeds?

I must be a sitting duck in my car, then, because the Ninja 250 - with a 200 lb rider - can out-accelerate my Pontiac Grand Am from 0-60 and leave it in the dust in the 1/4 mile.

Not trying to "Pile On" but I just wanted to throw in my 2 cents. The other day I posted about almost pinning the throttle on my ninja 250. I know it's my first bike and I don't have much to compare it to but I NEVER thought it would have that much pickup.

Without elaborating on why I'll also add I passed some guy fighting me in his Jag today with ease.

I got onto the highway here for the first time and I was able to do 65MPH comfortably as well.