First Bike

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GTStreet · #1 Unread post by **GTStreet** » Mon May 11, 2009 4:36 am

I've been thinking about it for a couple years, but didn't seriously start thinking about buying a motorcycle until a couple weeks ago. I'm not going to be able to actually buy one until July when I get back from Studying abroad. I've been talking to bikers that go to my school and also scouring the internet information to make a good decision on buying a first bike. One of my buddies (Whom I first approached about this) said he learned to ride on a CBR600. He said it was a little much at first and suggested that I start on a Ninja 250.

As of now, I've found a few bikes that look like they'd be decent to learn on and was hoping to find anyone who's had experience on any of them to give me their $0.02.

The Ninja 250 really caught my eye (especially the new generation). Would it be worth forking out the extra cash to buy a used '08, or should I look at the 07 and earlier models? The only problems with this bike seem to be that my dad (who will be footing part of the bill, I'm a poor college student without a job) is afraid of the fact that it's classified as a sportbike. And second, the insurance payments are the highest out of any of the bikes I'm looking at. I'm assuming that's because of the fairing?

The second one I started looking at was the SV650. It's naked, and technically a "standard" (It looks pretty damn sporty to me even naked, though), so the insurance isn't as bad. They also seem to be pretty easy to find used (I was thinking about buying an 03), with few changes from recent models to make them outdated like the new gen Ninja. The extra power seems a little intimidating but I understand that it's not as twitchy as a 600cc+ sport bike? Either way, it seems like a decent option that I doubt I'll outgrow anytime soon.

The last one I started looking at was the GS500, which seemed like an acceptable medium in between the two other bikes, and also dirt cheap for a used one. This bike has been the hardest to find information and detailed reviews on, but it looks like a smaller, calmer GSX-R.

I'd appreciate any input or alternatives to these.

Mon May 11, 2009 1:25 pm

I have no opinion on your options....just want to say

to TMW.

go here..... viewtopic.php?t=24715

wrecks · #3 Unread post by **wrecks** » Mon May 11, 2009 3:28 pm

Go for the SV a lot of aftermarket and welcome to the site!

dean owens · Tue May 12, 2009 1:38 am

all three of these are pretty nice bikes. i don't have any ride time with any of them, but i'll share my thoughts anyway. that's what the internet is for.

first, it stinks that the insurance company is going to charge you more for the 250. you would think they would be happy that someone wants to start off small and cut them a break. even though insurance will be high, this is a great bike to start out on. there really is no down side on this bike for someone starting out.
as far as new or old... it's all looks. keep in mind this will be your first bike. i've read that on average, motorcyclists get a new bike every 3 years. the older one's are cheaper. i'm cheap, so that's probably where i'd lean. i'd learn everything i could on it and then sell it. the great thing about starter bikes is there are always new starters looking for a bike. so you don't really lose that much money when you turn around and sell it.

next is the sv650. this is a "grey" area bike. not knowing you personally, and having no ride time experience with this bike, i'd have a hard time suggesting it for you. it's light and has a decent amount of hp. i do like those bikes though. and you're right that you can find them for a good price... and if you could learn on it you'd have a bike that you could ride for years. but again, will you ride it for years? or will you sell it and get something else? out of the three, this would be the last one i would suggest to you.

lastly, the gs500. i personally think these are great bikes. if it sat a little more upright i might have one now. there is someone on these boards who's been riding for years and still rides a gs500. a friend of mine that has been riding for probably 35+ years has a gs500 right now. he said it's one of the funnest bikes he's ever ridden. so i don't think you'd grow out of this bike. plus, it is a pretty good starter bike. still probably not as great as the ninja. it gets great gas milage (still probably not as great as the ninja). and the faired version is pretty sporty looking. and the bike for the money on these is great. i'm amazed at what you get for how little you pay for these.

so, having said all that, i'd not run to the sv650... and the gs500 and ninja are both great to me. if i had to pick between the two i would probably go for the gs500. if i were picking for my son/daughter/wife to learn on i'd go with the ninja 250.

GTStreet · #5 Unread post by **GTStreet** » Tue May 12, 2009 10:24 am

first, it stinks that the insurance company is going to charge you more for the 250. you would think they would be happy that someone wants to start off small and cut them a break. even though insurance will be high, this is a great bike to start out on. there really is no down side on this bike for someone starting out.

Yeah, that's what I thought. I think that it's the fairing- with good reason, I'm probably gonna drop it at least once.

Honestly, the SV looks like it'd be tough to ride for a first timer, but I like the idea of having a lot of low end power- seems more appropriate for roads and commuting than the race track, which is more what I'm looking for. If my (little) experience from flying is any indication, I'm not very ham-fisted which a lot of people cite as being a problem learning on an SV.

The GS seems to be a more and more attractive option the more I look at it, but I doubt I'd replace the SV until it died on me. I don't have much interest in crazy Hypersport bikes and I doubt I'm going to have the time to get into racing (I commission in the USAF in 1 year) due to my job. Would it be worth getting the faired version or would it be better to learn with it naked?

Enderhall · #6 Unread post by **Enderhall** » Thu May 14, 2009 6:02 am

Go for the SV. Learning on a 600 is easy enough and you will outgrow a 250 in a week or two.

jmillheiser · Thu May 14, 2009 9:14 am

The new ninja 250 is definatley good looking. I thought it was a 600 the first time I saw it in person.

The 250 is a fine starter bike, and you wont outgrow it in a few weeks.

Some other bikes to look at that are a bit larger cc wise. The ninja 500, the GS500, the ninja 650 (the ninja 650 is very comparable to the SV650) and the SV650.

the 650s are fast bikes, but the power is much more manageable than a 600 super sport. As long as you take a mature approach to those bikes they are fine for starting bikes.

The SV650 has a huge aftermarket and are easy to find used and you wont outgrow it pretty much ever

matthew5656 · Mon May 18, 2009 10:26 pm

ur decision should not be difficult...

sv650. no questions.

unless ur wanting to spend less cash, the ex500 is perfectly capable too.

BigBearOutlet · Fri May 22, 2009 7:03 am

I agree that the 250 would be a good starter bike, but I also think that after about 6 months you are going to want more of a bike. You sound like you would be a pretty conserative rider, but I still think even with that, you will wish you would have gone with the GS500 over the 250. So my vote, for whatever it is worth is for the 500.

Lara · #10 Unread post by **Lara** » Sun May 24, 2009 12:58 pm

Speaking as someone who took the advice to go with the bigger bike for a first.....I would say go for either the Ninja 250 (you will probably NOT outgrow it, ever, but you likely will want to try something different when you are more experienced) or the 500. Used. If you go that route you will have the confidence to gain the experience you need to make the decisions on what you want for your next bike.

I would NOT recommend you go 600+.