Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hi I recently just passed the MSF course. I have a question on first bike. I honestly believe i am a good aware type of driver i am not addicted to speeding or anything. My question is if i got a ninja 650r would that still be 2much power to handle? even if i was going to just use it for pleasure riding around town and such on good days or should i just stick with getting a ninja 250 or like a gs500f/ninja 500 (i dont live in a city with continuous stopping)

Bikes can be addicting!

Even 50 bhp gets you going faster than almost everything on the road.

That said, get a sweet bike, but also the gear, extra training, and a healthy dose of awareness.

Ya!

The Ninja 650 is doable...it's right on the edge, though. A Ninja 500 makes for a good beginner bike, the 650 creeps over into the better-second-bike area.

But...if you respect the power, REALLY respect it, you can learn on the 650. It will go faster than you'd ever need to go, will be good in the twisties, and can handle the highways. Just spend a healthy amount of time getting to know that bike backwards and forwards in parking lots and on slower residential streets first. Become One with the throttle and brakes.

And about speed...it's easy to say you're not addicted to speed, but once you get on a bike that will smoothly do those speeds, you might find yourself battling Lead Wrist Syndrome. I went from a Honda Rebel to an SV650, and where speed was never a thrill before, I sure have to watch myself now.

The problem with 'respecting the power' is when you get into a situation where your brain is going "oh "poo poo", oh "poo poo", oh "poo poo"" not "gotta control the throttle so it doesn't get away from me". That's when you make mistakes and the large power bands will get you.

I'm pretty sure anyone here could control the throttle on a busa on a runway, but in traffic, not so much probably.

The EX 650 is a pretty good first bike, much better than a 600 rr but you may still consider a 500 or something.

Go to a dealership and sit on them, that may solve it for you. You may find the 650 just isn't comfortable.

Thumper wrote:Become One with the throttle and brakes.

Zen and the art of not becoming road pizza.

I agree with Shiv. I just purchased my first bike 3 weeks ago. I was also interested in the Ninja line, but when I sat on it, it took all of 3 min for my back to start to ache. I went with a Yamaha V Star 650. It felt comfortable and it fit my personality more. I'm a layed back guy so the curiser fit me better. The first thing i got was the correct gear, second, took the MSF, third : The bike.