My reasoning behind a 250cc being too slow.

[R121991]

As a first bike I would LOVE to buy a 250cc (price, gas mileage, ease to find, bike height, bike weight). As good as all of those reasons sound, I feel that I will bore of a 250cc. Now I KNOW many of you are shaking your head right now and probably want to jump through the screen and choke me; but I live for speed and fun on a day to day basis. I hold top lap times at go-kart tracks, I love just cruising fast in my car, and I just generally can not get enough of it. Now OF COURSE I would not just run out on a bike and hit the gas. I have rode my dads fat boy harley around town a number of times within the year and have still yet to take it on the interstate because I want to take it slow. But I feel that with me not being a dead beginner to motorcycle riding, I would bore of a 250cc within a couple of months. I also ride 40 miles on a 60mph interstate to work and school everyday including weekends. I do not really think a 250cc is the best for this type of commute. These are my basic reasons behind going with the 600cc+ bike. All opinions would be appreciated.

[Johnj]

I think you need to learn to walk before you run.

But, I also think for a first bike you should go no more that 50hp and 500lb.

[havegunjoe]

As you are not a total beginner you could probably go with more power and be fine. You might try a 650 Yamaha Vstar. That is what I ride and I find it has plenty of power and still gives me good gas mileage.

[storysunfolding]

The guys racing stock ninja 250cc motorcycles in WERA (West, East RoadRacing Association) are getting some of the same lap times at 600cc motorcycles. If you want to ride fast in a straight line displacement matters. Once you throw in turns it's the performance capabilities of the rider that matter and no extra amount of hp will make a difference there.

I commuted for two years on a ninja 250 around the capital beltway and Interstates 66 and 95. It got me, my stuff and itself up to 80 mph indicated quickly and efficiently in all weather conditions. The bike was more than capable. Me thinks your thought process isn't happening upstairs

[Wrider]

As it mentioned in your other post you weigh about 125.
Let me put that into perspective for you.
With full clothing and street riding gear I weigh approximately 325 lbs. My sister in her gear weighs approximately 175 lbs. Together that's right around 500 lbs.
We took a short jaunt on her Ninja 250 together. This is geared up and everything.
Not only did we outaccelerate my buddy in his Caliber (For what it's worth his Caliber is exactly the same in acceleration as my 2001 Dodge Dakota 4.7 V8), we also were doing 90 MPH without the engine straining.
Not only that, but trust me when I tell you that a 250 is a whole lot more fun in the corners than a 600. Easier to corner, easier to correct mistakes on, etc.
That's my rebuttal, personal experience.

[R121991]

I just don't want to buy a 250 and find that its boring and more importantly, find that it can't take the 40 mile commute to work and school everyday is all.

[totalmotorcycle]

R121991, I can totally understand where you are coming from. But let me calm your fears of the 250cc unknown and say that "it will be fine mate, you'll love the 250cc and miss it when you do sell it one day".

The 250cc bike is fast, as Wrider said, it will out accelerate most cars easily and you'll find motorcycles are "cheap speed" where you don't need a V8 to go fast. In fact, my old 1982 XJ650R ran a 1/4 mile at 12.6 seconds, that's faster than the Dodge Challenger, Ford Mustang and Chevy Camero. Not bad for the $960 I paid for it back then. Now my 2001 Kawasaki ZR750F will best my XJ650R and I paid just $2000 for it. I can't get a under 12 second car for $2k!

I was at the Kawasaki dealership on the weekend looking at bikes (hey, who doesn't look right?) and I have to admit, the Kawasaki Ninja 250R looks almost exactly like the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R, and I would put money on it if you removed the 250cc sticker off it any non-rider couldn't tell it was a 250cc as the engine is hidden.

I've rode so many motorcycles, from small starter bikes all the way up to full Harley-Davidson tourers and I have to say I still miss the smaller cc bikes. That may be looking back with rose-colored glasses, but the smaller cc bikes were just so cool and fun and you could go anywhere and ride anywhere without worry about weight, too much power or concerns about cost (as they were inexpensive).

The last issue, outgrowing a starter bike. GOOD. You should outgrow it! That means you are learning and increasing your riding skills. If your skills grow so quick you outgrow a 250cc in one year, BONUS. Replace that 250cc with a 500/600cc and repeat. It gets harder to outgrow as you move up in cc size and bike capability. I've been riding now for 19 years (with a pause near the start) and I'm still loving my 750cc. I push it 80% man, sometimes 100%, but I'm happy with it and I've had this one for 2.5 years now.

Nothing like pushing a bike to it's limits and realising you still have more skill left over.

Mike

[totalmotorcycle]

I just don't want to buy a 250 and find that its boring and more importantly, find that it can't take the 40 mile commute to work and school everyday is all.

LOL, you replied as I typed the above post... so to address your new post:

I wouldn't worry about 40 miles, that isn't a lot, a 250cc can easily handle that. Remember you only need around 125cc to do highway speeds.

If you really don't want a 250cc, there are other bikes out there like the Ninja 500R or GS500E, GS500F, Savage 650, etc. Anything you have in mind that you love?

[R121991]

Yeah I have been looking at the ninja 650r. I read a little on the honda cbr600 but from what I have read i hear that isnt not a very comfortable bike for commuting. also the sv looks nice when i see it listed on craigs list. This winter will really be when i buy the bike because it will be the end of riding season. The gsxr, ninja zx-6r and katana also struck out at me if you can tell more more about those bikes and why there are/are not ok for beginners. Thanks!

[storysunfolding]

Your reasoning doesn't jive with the collective reasoning of the internet. The only ones you'll find support from are those that started on a 600cc inline four and lives- that's justification not validation.

The modern 600cc inline four motorcycles are producing roughly the same power as the 1000cc bikes from 2000. Ask your dad if he feels your ready for a 2000 cbr 1000, that's essentially what you're looking at in the new bikes. They idle at highways speeds, hemorage premium fuel, have significantly higher insurance rates and don't provide much of a commuting platform. I rail a ZX-6 around New Jersey Motorsports Park, Virginia International Raceway, Summit Point Raceway, Road Atlanta, Daytona, Jennings, Barber and when I go west coast the streets of willow and leguna seca. The more fun courses (leguna seca, shenandoah at summit point) are so technical that the ZX-6 rarely ever gets true speed going. At the same time, there's nothing boring about scraping your elbows as you ride through turns. If you want to keep believing the stories about how the ninja 250 is too small for your needs from guys that probably don't know how to ride, more power to you. Realistically you'll learn more from riding a small bike fast than a big bike slow.

However, if you want a CBR- get the F4i. It's more upright and easier to commute on than a race replica.
Check out the FZ6 instead of a race replica. The upright seating position and fecundity of touring options make it an ideal commuter (with more power than you'll ever need).
The SV 650 upright is ok, but the throttle is twitchy as hell which gets fatiguing in traffic. They sell an aftermarket throttle tube that fixes that issue. I can't remember the name but the fix is better mechanical than electronic.