first motorcycle, help me pick one Options

[Hanyo]

I know, i know; the very commonly asked "first bike question" but i need help finding a first bike.

I know about the 250/500 ninjas and the gs500f from Suzuki are all great beginners bikes. I'm really leaning towards a 2008+ 250 ninja because I like how short and light they feel.

But I have a few opinons from my other friends what to get. My friend tells me to get a older 600cc bike such as a 98 katana; My other friend is teling me to get a gs500f to start off with because i will get tired of the 250 real quickly.

My main use of this bike is to commute and I would eventually want to go on the highway with it.

Does anyone have a suggestion on a bike that is less then $3000 and is a good beginner bike (600cc)?

[Hanyo]

Nows the best time to buy. I live in MN and I bought mine around this time of the year. The thing is people don't want to keep paying for the bike they financed for over the winter when they can't enjoy it.


Stay away from a 250. You'll ride it for a month and get sick of it. now for the ninja 650 it just doesn't do it. Theres nothing super sport about it. The handle bars are mounted high. You'll want clip-ons.

get a ninja 600 and call it a day. If I could go back I would have picked up a ninja 636. More torque.

I totally see your point of view. I always kick myself for not getting a bike sooner when i can get a R1 for the same price as a boring 250 or a sport touring 650. But the point is i want a learner bike that is fun also.

I donno about you, but after about 30 minutes stuck in that push-up position on the highway, my back FU*KING HURTS..... I had to sit up straight with one hand on the fuel tank and my right hand still on the throttle... back problems killing me on these sport bikes! xD

Maybe he's better off with a sport touring..... just a thought.

You got my drift. I'm looking for detuned sport bikes. After looking around, Old 600 and sport touring are the bikes to learn on. Big enough to know what power is, but not raiser sharp enough to cut off your head.

Yeah my back started hurting towards the end of the summer, but you go through with it because you love to ride. Besides I want to start doing track days with my bike, and how lame would I look on a sport touring?

Haven't you seen people go on the race tracks with 250 ninjas and tear up the 600rr in the turns? Its what ever you make it. When racing in the track days; The winner is never the guy who has the fast time; but the guy who had the most fun.