Newbie questions

[AdvanS13]

hi all, i have decided to try out and finally get a bike. i never had a chance living at home, because my dad was so protective he never let me get one. even though he let me tweak quick cars! lol

now at the age of 23 i have decided to get one. i am enrolled in the brt msf course for this may. i was hoping to get in around april, but it fills up damn fast here!

so after doing some research, and after enrolling i am looking on bike selection. i have briefly gone to some dealers....nervously sat on some bikes (didnt want to look mentally challenged) ...

...so i have read some 250cc reviews, shootouts etc. and then i have read "no go for a 5-600cc bike, you will grow out of the 250's". the thing is, i have a car, i want a bike for short commutes, nice days, and a change from a car. basically the only reason i am even considering the 250 range. i sat on a rebel for the second time today, and realized that i am too big for it.....my knees feel way too high, and my footing is very awkard. i am 6' 1" and 150lbs. i still need to sit on the virago and gz250, are these better in the height dept?

i have yet to look at the 250 ninja, but i sat on some "real sportbikes" (cbr,gsxr) and it seems way too uncomfortable, i could not imagine riding like that even for a few miles...maybe later on, and i am guessing it pertains to this little ninja as well.

so thus i have somewhat sided on a cruiser or possibly standard for position/comfort purposes.

do you guys have any good suggestions for my criteria? i know the msf course will help a lot, but i am hoping to at least do some pre testing on these. i am aware 250's are not fast, but my criteria fits them perfectly (cheap, good gas mileage, slow somewhat)

thanks
~B

[DivideOverflow]

I am 6'0 220, and I fit very nicely on the Hyosung Alphasport GV250 cruiser. The Kymco Venox was a good fit too, but did not handle or perform quite as well as the GV250 when I tried it. You might fit on a Virago, but it is still smaller than the previous two.

A brand new GV250 can be had for about $3700, and a Venox can be had for $4000.

Check this article for 250cc cruiser comparison: http://www.motorcyclecruiser.com/roadtests/250s03/
I found it very helpful in narrowing down a bike... I am picking up an Alphasport sometime very soon.

[Kal]

Welcome.

It sounds like you have your head screwed on right which is a good start.

The 250 class is a good place to start. Personally I run a 125 standard on journeys up to 50 miles or so.

I've just passed the 750 mile mark and I am still enjoying CeeGee, its nice fun bike to ride that is letting me learn and yet is very forgiving.

I'd suggest that for a first bike you cannot go much wrong with a standard, my reasons are basicly you are very likely to drop the bike, even at a standstill. On a sports bike or a bike with lots of crome this hurts your wallet. Secondly on a standard you get to choose your riding position rather than having one forced onto you by the way the bike is set up. On CeeGee my seating position is actually almost halfway onto the pillion - this is the most comfortable postiion for me to ride in and I can spend a large amount of time on the bike before aches and pains set in. (I'm not aging well!)

The better the riding position you adopt the less distracted you will be and the more attention you will have to deal with all the idiots out there who think that a motorcycle makes you fair game.

That said dont let anyone else force you into riding something you arent comfortable with. You are the one who HAS to ride your bike. Besides, this will hopefully be your first bike not your last.

Safe riding and again, welcome.