[selar]

I and two roommates are all looking at purchasing used 250s 500s. We were thinking between 2000, and 2003, with the exception of one roommate who wants mid 90s.

My dad pushes me towards the 500, and believes that to be more my size to start on since I'm 5'11" 200lbs. My roommate are both roughly 5'7" 130 lbs and they are looking at 250s, maybe considering a 500.
To clarify thats ninja 250r or 500r

Would a 500 be too much to start on?

The main reason my dad says the 500 is that he thinks it will be more comfortable on me when making the 120 mile to visit one house, or if i ever were to try and make the 500 mile trip all the way to the other house.

Thanks for any suggestions

 

[ZX-2R]

Ninja250R//Ninja500R

We have guys larger than you are riding Ninja250R bikes, without mods. When it comes to me giving advice I would put you on the smaller of the two because the 500R weighs more than the ZX-6R or ZX-6RR, but it is an excellent bike. The only reason that I push so hard on the 250 is that the Federal speed limit is only 75 andthe 250will do that all day and night around the clock! THe 250R gets better mileage, is 84 pounds lighter, cheaper to insure, cheaper to maintain, easier to park in tight spots or maneuver in tight spots (it's light) and it costs less to buy, or replace...leaving you more money the entire time to spend on other things like gear for riding...so that should you decide after a couple of years that yo are ready to step up to a larger bikeyou already have the gear and you will get back most of your money on a 250 as long as you take care of it. YOu could start out on a 500R...but why?

 

[selar]

Thanks for the input, any recommendations on where to shop and what models of helmets and leathers to match the bike?

Preferably matching on the driver's and probably just a solid black on the passenger.

 

[tlwisner]

If you are planning on making long highway rides, I would go with the heavier 500, you will appreciate the extra weight and the stability it gives cruising on the highway. Passing trucks and windy conditions will have less effect on a heavier bike - although no bike is fun in a heavy crosswind.

Both bike are excellent, the 250 is less expensive to buy, maintain and insure.

 

[ZX-2R]

weight

YEP, the 500R is 388 but watch out if you jump to a 600 the weight drops again to 355...that was one of my reasons for recommmending the 250 over the 500...the weight. Good accessories are available through this forum at Beartooth or a variety of places like AGV online, or any of the mail order/web order places...best to buy where you can try things on though, esp a helmet, as they are all made different and fit completely different...

 

[selar]

beartooth have an online inventory to look through?

anyone use radio headsets when traveling in groups? sorry for how newbie of a question that is, with my general luck I'll have just asked if anyone has done something thats either frowned upon or illegal. But, never know if you don't ask

 

[ZX-2R]

Headsets are cool and expensive...

Better than headsets is just a few signs in American sign language, FOOD, Gas, Bathroom, Okay?, okay!, slow down, catch up/speed up, Danger, COPS/Emergency vehicle, with a couple of signs you can have a blast riding and never say a word...

 

[Narcisse91]

Plus you don't have to worry about the person you're riding with trying to have a conversation with you, while you're trying to enjoy yourself.

 

[bikeaholic]

re

two-way between bikes in group riding is a BIG saftey issue :wink:

i would NEVER considser leading 20 bikes around without 2way between road captain
and tailgunner -without radios a simple lane change could be fatal-if half the pack catches
a red light my tailgunner lets me know and we pull over and wait for the rest of the group
we don't won't to leave no one behind


i use nady 2ways and they work great and are very inexpensive for the measure of saftey they provide :
not to mention passing back bikini alerts so the t/g gets some scenery too! :twisted: :lol:

 

[Lori03Ninja500R]

As you can tell I went for the 500, I am 5'4" 120lbs. I didn't want to go with the 250, I think I would outgrow it in a year or less, also I do some freeway riding and appreciate the extra weight and smoothness. I have now put 500 miles on my bike and can open it up a bit more. Way fun! Good luck, be safe. Lori

 

[Curt]

Re: Headsets are cool and expensive...

Better than headsets is just a few signs in American sign language, FOOD, Gas, Bathroom, Okay?, okay!, slow down, catch up/speed up, Danger, COPS/Emergency vehicle, with a couple of signs you can have a blast riding and never say a word...

I know a few signs in our Great American Sign Language. They're really handy when someone does something stupid.
Curt

 

[ZX-2R]

OKAY

One handed signs are prefered and I meant modified ones...But I think I know what you meant....Curt...IF you have to give them a one finger salute give them the pinky...because they don't deserve the very best!

 

[selar]

know of any good radio/headset combinations which would support full duplex communication?

Or voice activated instead of push to talk.

 

[tlwisner]

beartooth have an online inventory to look through?

anyone use radio headsets when traveling in groups? sorry for how newbie of a question that is, with my general luck I'll have just asked if anyone has done something thats either frowned upon or illegal. But, never know if you don't ask

There is an article about that subject on Motorcycle Consumer News (www.mcnews.com) with a lot of info.

 

[Anonymous]

a 500 is too little to start on. start on a suzuki SV650. or a suzuki gsx-r600 or if you really want a 500, go with the gs500f. it doesnt look like it belongs in the 80's.

 

[Freakinout]

a 500 is too little to start on. start on a suzuki SV650. or a suzuki gsx-r600 or if you really want a 500, go with the gs500f. it doesnt look like it belongs in the 80's.

500 too small? hardly. and a gixxer 600 to start on is waaaay too much, you are suggesting a bike that has over 100HP to start on. :shock: SV650 isn't a bad bike, but a gixxer is definitely not the bike to be starting on.

 

[Anonymous]

a 500 is too little to start on. start on a suzuki SV650. or a suzuki gsx-r600 or if you really want a 500, go with the gs500f. it doesnt look like it belongs in the 80's.

500 too small? hardly. and a gixxer 600 to start on is waaaay too much, you are suggesting a bike that has over 100HP to start on. :shock: SV650 isn't a bad bike, but a gixxer is definitely not the bike to be starting on.

don't say that. that is not true. people can start off on a 250 or a 500, and in less than a year, they can get bored with it. it will take at least a year to get bored with the gixxer 600, and thats for the REAL! extreme people. i know several people that started off on a gixxer 600, and yes, they are still alive. my cousin started off on one and he now rides gixxer 1000's when he is not lookking who stole it and not on his ship, the U.S.S. Oscar Austin. if you ask me, a gixxer 600 is the perfect bike to start off on.

 

[Freakinout]

don't say that. that is not true. people can start off on a 250 or a 500, and in less than a year, they can get bored with it. it will take at least a year to get bored with the gixxer 600, and thats for the REAL! extreme people. i know several people that started off on a gixxer 600, and yes, they are still alive. my cousin started off on one and he now rides gixxer 1000's when he is not lookking who stole it and not on his ship, the U.S.S. Oscar Austin. if you ask me, a gixxer 600 is the perfect bike to start off on.

I believe the gixxer 600 is in the top of the unforgiving bikes, more power than any new rider needs, and its very twitchy. I know people who started off on them too, but most of them have told me that they shoulda started on something smaller to begin with. Modern 600cc bikes have more power than 1 liter bikes did 10 years ago.

 

[Anonymous]

I believe the gixxer 600 is in the top of the unforgiving bikes, more power than any new rider needs, and its very twitchy. I know people who started off on them too, but most of them have told me that they shoulda started on something smaller to begin with. Modern 600cc bikes have more power than 1 liter bikes did 10 years ago.[/quotif you dont like the way the new gixxer 600 responds, go with older models. and try the gs500f. or the sv650.

 

[Freakinout]

if you dont like the way the new gixxer 600 responds, go with older models. and try the gs500f. or the sv650.

Its not the problem with the way the new gixxer responds, its just that it is way over the head of someone with no riding experience.