Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests kawasaki ninja 250r

OK guys,
I am looking at getting my first bike. I have never drove one before and dont want something I am going to kill myself on. I have rode dirt bikes before but want a street bike. I was looking at this. Any of you guys have one or know anything about em. I am not looking for people bashing that it is a 250 and not a 1000 or w/e...just information on the bike.
Thanks
Bill

good bike, stone reliable, and certainly excellent to learn on. you will want a different bike after about two months of regular riding though... so be prepared for that.

I picked up a used one 2 years ago as my first motorcycle. Put about 9,000 miles on with only having a solid 4-5 months of good riding weather between 2 years.
I found a 92 with about 5K miles for just over a thousand bucks. It's been a great bike, never broken down or left me stranded. I really can't say enough good things about the 250 for any rider. Great MPG and cheap insurance. Parts are easy to find and relativly cheap. I don't know how much research you've put into the 250, but feel free to ask my anything here or via PM.
www.ninja250.net is a great site with an exhaustive FAQ and a reliable messageboard.
And don't forget about the MSF course, you'll learn a lot.

If you need a testament as to how much I enjoy the 250, check this photo out: Click

My friend's first bike was a 250r. We tore the **** out of that thing. He couldn't have cared less about it. Constantly dropped the clutch at 9k+ rpm trying to do wheelies, changed the oil maybe twice, let everyone and their mom take it out, hell I can't even count how many times it's been dropped. Just generally abused the live hell out of it and it kept going. I think it's still even sitting in the back of his garage. Only thing is, it's going to be cool at first but then you drive it for a while, see all the other nice bikes and suddenly it's sloooooooow. Not to mention kind of ugly and 80's looking when you park it next to other bikes. Depending on how long you're planing to keep it, how big of a guy you are, and what type of riding you want to do, you might want to consider a 500.

Get an ex500, 250's are okay in the city but its a pain in the highway to pin the revs so high.

I'd get a 500 as a starter bike. 250 can barely get out of its own way. And really some 600s are good starter bikes, but new cost ~$3k more and have higher insurance than a 500. That's why I say (and eventually will do) start with a 500.

250's are ridculously slow - unless you're a 40 woman, get a 500 AT LEAST.

The first bike i bought was a GSXR 600. It was the first road bike I had ever rode and after about six months I wanted something bigger. If I was you I would go aleast 600.

This is my first bike. '95 Nina ZX-600c, very easy bike to learn on, it has plenty of power and is nice an light to throw around. I was actually nervous about starting out on a 600, but I'm glad I did. It's actually up for sale if your interested.

Later,
-Tim

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def. go with atleast the 500, I am a 4'11 woman, and I don't even want the ninja 250 to learn on (even though it would be an ideal starter bike for me)