M-Class License.

[Kiro]

So I just got my M-Class license. (Motorcycle license)

I was told to look for a Kawasaki Ninja 250 or a Suzuki GS500 since they're beginner bikes, but I've been looking at a Ducati Monster 696 and a Triumph Triple R. A friend of mine owns both so I'd get them cheaper than if I bought them new, but there's always the issue of being a beginner on a "not beginner" bike.

I did my test on a Ninja 250, so I'm assuming that would be a good starting off point. But fuck all is it ugly. I mean the 2009 isn't bad, but.. compared to a Ducati Monster it looks like complete shit (just my preference, I like naked bikes).

Any advice on jumping from a beginner bike to a more "advanced" ride? I won't be riding it 24/7 since I have a car also, but with the summer weather it'd be nice to change it up a bit (yeah man, wearin' that road suit in 96 degree weather should be AWESOME).

Just for reference..

Ninja 250
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...nja250R083.jpg

GS500
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...986/GS500F.jpg

Triple R
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w..._Imagecred.jpg

Monster 696
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...1230204114.jpg

[Meat]

Don't get a 250, it's god awful ugly and to be honest you'll outgrow it in 3 months.

Anything in the 550-660 range is going to be more than enough, my oldman's been riding since he was 8 and he still rocks an r6.

[Kiro]

That's what I'm saying.. the 250 is ugly as fuck, but as a beginner I think that's all that I can handle at the moment. It's like.. what, $6,000 new or something? If I had the money I'd just bury my dick into a Hayabusa, lol. I'd die a month later though.

[Meat]

it takes a day or 2 in an empty parking lot to get used to the torque difference between a 250 and a 660.

It's impractical to get a new 250, it's not going to last, they're made to be outgrown. And it happens, fast.

[Zeb]

You can kill yourself as easily on a 250 as on a Hayabusa, so get what you want size-wise. What kind of riding do you plan on doing? If you're leaning toward one of the bikes your friend owns, see if he'll let you ride em for a day or two. Comfort is the #1 thing to look for. Mainly the seat, how much lean you have to the handle bars and how well you can flat foot while on the bike. Don't buy it if you can't put on 100+ miles in a day comfortably. You can't really tell from just sitting on the bike for a few minutes.

Same thing goes for buying a helmet btw. Wear one for at least 15 minutes before you decide to buy it.

[FNH]

get a 500 ninja it will take you a long ass time to outgrow it than you'd like to think, plus they're cheap and easy as hell to get parts for when you do wreck it. And you will wreck within your first 2k. Also, never buy a new bike buy a cheap used one, take that money you saved and invest in a full set of gear.

[FNH]

It's impractical to get a new 250, it's not going to last, they're made to be outgrown. And it happens, fast.

If you live in a city you don't need more than a 250.

[BerenTebogo]

Enjoy doing an impression of a bloody tampon dragged across a stretch of asphalt.

[Kiro]

You can kill yourself as easily on a 250 as on a Hayabusa, so get what you want size-wise.

Exactly what I was thinking. The Ducati Monster, so far, has been the most comfortable ride. I haven't been on it for 100 miles, but.. that low-grip has been amazing compared to what else I've tried. I don't plan on riding it 100+ miles a day, week, or w/e. But.. I want something I can enjoy at least 4+ days a week. I live in the city so a 100 miles a day is pretty much impossible, lol.

I already know there's that saying, "There's riders that have crashed, and riders that haven't crashed yet." I'm prepared to crash, I've got that 50 foot slide suit ready, no way you'd catch me ridin' my shit with jeans and a jacket, especially in Seattle.

[*Shinzon*]

So I just got my M-Class license. (Motorcycle license)

I was told to look for a Kawasaki Ninja 250 or a Suzuki GS500 since they're beginner bikes, but I've been looking at a Ducati Monster 696 and a Triumph Triple R. A friend of mine owns both so I'd get them cheaper than if I bought them new, but there's always the issue of being a beginner on a "not beginner" bike.

I did my test on a Ninja 250, so I'm assuming that would be a good starting off point. But fuck all is it ugly. I mean the 2009 isn't bad, but.. compared to a Ducati Monster it looks like complete shit (just my preference, I like naked bikes).

Any advice on jumping from a beginner bike to a more "advanced" ride? I won't be riding it 24/7 since I have a car also, but with the summer weather it'd be nice to change it up a bit (yeah man, wearin' that road suit in 96 degree weather should be AWESOME).

Just for reference..

Ninja 250
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...nja250R083.jpg

GS500
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...986/GS500F.jpg

Triple R
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w..._Imagecred.jpg

Monster 696
http://i733.photobucket.com/albums/w...1230204114.jpg

Sup, so I'm a newer rider much the same as you. Here's what most my friends and family told me, who are all riders, when I first got my license. Essentially most people do start out on a 250 style of bike because they are not as torquey as the 600s and 1000s which is primarly why people go that route. For some people it takes time to learn adequate throttle control and 250 bikes are relatively cheap, can get beat up, and retain some of their value. The problem is most people who ride often enough will outgrow a 250 very fast.

I spent a lot of timing looking at good beginner bikes and arrive at this conclusion: It really comes down to what you feel comfortable on. So, I went to the NY international motorcycle show and sat on everything. From bikes that were more upright, supposedly easier to ride, to full sport bikes. For me, the Suzuki GSX-R was the most comfortable between my legs.

Now, the GSX-R is an exception to most sport bikes for one reason. It has 3 selectable modes that can limit the amount of power that goes to the wheel. What this means is that you actually wont outgrow the GSX-R ever. If you were to buy a GSX-R 1000, and you select the lowest horse power mode (c) the bike will only produce about 500~ccs. You however would need to be comfortable on that size of bike, 600s and 1000s are usually close in feel but the 1000s are obviously noticeably heavier. Also the 600 features the selectable horsepower feature as well, and in it's (c) mode will only produce about 250~cc.

The Ducati Monsters are great bikes, but very expensive, especially for newer riders. They have high maintenance costs and are expensive to buy. If you drop the bike, which you will, it's gonna cost a pretty penny to get it fixed. The Triumph triple is actually not beginner bike. It's a very very torquey 600 since triumph redid the engine at the start of last year to improve performance. It's a bike that likes to wheelie even with slight over-throttle. Hope this post helps.

Edit: If you're interested in doing some reading about the bikes further: Motorcycleusa.com offers video reviews and great articles about the bikes and how they preform on the track and the street.

[Mojo]

The 2006 Ninja 250R doesn't look as bad as the newer Ninjas and you can find them on Craigslist for around $2000. You might outgrow it, sure, but I don't think this should warrant too much concern. You can sell it to someone else when you get to that point and you don't have to worry so much about dropping something nice.

[Moosey]

Don't get a 250, it's god awful ugly and to be honest you'll outgrow it in 3 months.

Anything in the 550-660 range is going to be more than enough, my oldman's been riding since he was 8 and he still rocks an r6.

Agreed 100%.

I'd feel like a 250 wouldn't have enough power to get moving quick enough,
500-600 range is not at all hard to get used to and has more than enough power. Especially in FL where most roads have pretty high speed limits, you gotta get movin quick.

Also, yeah they're ugly as shit.

[*Shinzon*]

The 250s on average are great bikes if you're only driving in a big city. On the highway they are actually kinda scary because their power dies off substantially about 65MPH~.

[Mojo]

Agreed 100%.

I'd feel like a 250 wouldn't have enough power to get moving quick enough,
500-600 range is not at all hard to get used to and has more than enough power. Especially in FL where most roads have pretty high speed limits, you gotta get movin quick.

Also, yeah they're ugly as shit.

A 250R can do 0-60 in 5.7 seconds and will beat any non sports car to 40 pretty easily. Given the OP's riding experience, I don't think he would need any more than that.

[Quisten]

You're gonna cry when you rash up a brand new/slightly used 600s fairings A 250/500, not so much.

[*Shinzon*]

Especially on a duc D: While I was learning on the Suzuki GS250 I got my boot stuck on the peg when I was trying to just put my feet to the pavement and fucked up the handle bar when I dropped the bike. I was so fucking embarrassed lol

[FNH]

another thing to think about is insurance. I think my 500's insurance with progressive was like $30 full coverage. Mostly due to progressive basing their coverage(at the time idk if they still do) on the cc of the engine. Other companies do it a different way, but the important thing is that a ducati would be much more impractical to insure than the 250/500 kawis. Don't care either way you'll probably stop riding a few months later when it gets cold and you want to store it. plus seattle hope you learned to ride in the rain.

[Pikarya]

Monster just keepin' it classy.

[*Shinzon*]

Insurance is usually CC more so than brand. It also goes by the type of bike, whether sport or tourer or cruiser. The Duc is a streetfighter type bike but I'm not sure if that's how an insurance company might class it.

[Kadrian]

I had a Suzuki GS250 and I did outgrow it fairly quickly. It is not meant for highway or high speeds. I felt uncomfortable getting on the highway because it just did not go fast enough. Riding through the streets was fine and I loved the way it handled, but speed was crap.

I would suggest a full suit when riding. I totaled my 250 in a construction zone when a semi decided he wanted in my lane. It was not a pretty sight in the slightest. I was wearing my helmet, but my t-shirt and jeans did not fare so well. The next bike I get is going to be a bit bigger and I will not leave the house without protective wear.

Go with what you are comfortable with and if you get the bigger CC, take it easy for the first couple of weeks.