If you have riding experience but have never owned one, then I don't see what the big deal would be. It's your money and you are the only one that has to be happy with your purchase.

 

Will you likely live? Yes.

Will your riding skill suffer......likely.

I wouldnt recommend it...

 

Will your riding skill suffer......likely.

what certain skills would i miss out on moving to a larger bike?

 

the thing is, i'v never driven on the street, the 2 motorcycles were just parking lots. and cruising a bit getting the feel for it but i could get the speeds up. Ninja i hit like 70 in the mall parking lot just seeing what it felt like. I'v never been in traffic or any panic situations so I guess I'm worried about if somehow, i panic or something stupid happens, that it won't stand up or something like that

 

what certain skills would i miss out on moving to a larger bike?

You inadvertently answered your own question.

Skills are learned thru practice, making mistakes, etc. If your riding a super sport (600cc sport bike) its going to be VERY sensitive to throttle input, braking etc. Not a good combination for a learner.

Two outcomes.

1) You over ride your skill and end up sliding across the pavement.

2) You baby the bike around to avoid the above....and end up learning little to nothing.

There is a reason that most of the professional riders have worked their way up thru the ranks....start on something appropriate, learn to ride it....and I mean REALLY ride it.....then upgrade after the bike is holding you back.

This doesnt mean put 500 miles on a Ninja 250 then you can go buy a Hyabusa.

A GOOD rider on a Ninja 250 will walk all over a rider on a 600 GSXR with poor skills.

To simplify.....a bike your afraid is going to kill you at any moment is NOT the bike you want to learn on.

You NEED to be able to accidentally drop the clutch and not have the bike rocket out from under you.......you need to be able to grab to much throttle and not have the bike slam you into the vehicle ahead of you.

 

when i said the ninja, i meant the 250's sorry

 

It's like Santa said on A Christmas Story. "You'll shoot yer eye out, kid." Your experience is valuable and something to be proud of, definitely. But don't cheat yourself out of a well-rounded skill set. It's not like the 250r has training wheels on it. Starting small is starting smart.

Plus, the newer Ninja 250's have great resale value right now. If you buy and decide it's too small after a year of riding, you might even make a profit in selling it.:thumbsup:

 

Plus, the newer Ninja 250's have great resale value right now. If you buy and decide it's too small after a year of riding, you might even make a profit in selling it.:thumbsup:

Part of that is there are experienced riders out there who have "discovered" the joys of having a bike that is incredibly light and nimble, and will do anything you can legally ask of it while still feeling your really riding the bike like it's meant to be ridden.

A CBR600 can be ridden to it's full potentially, but not legally on any road I know of here in the States. That and it takes a good deal more skill to do so than most new riders have. also, being so capable of a bike, it is also that much more capable of getting you in deeper than your experience will allow you to safely do.

 

@the OP, the truth is by your own admission you have don't have any real riding experience, as your experience is limited to short stints in a parking lot. You can say you have ridden a 2 wheeled vehicle before but I wouldn't call it riding experience. People who are too eager, feel that they are above certain bikes are often the ones who end up doing themselves and their bikes serious injury. If you are dead set against the 250 Ninja, give the 500 a shot. It's not a bad beginner bike per se and doesn't have the crazy 100+HP of the supersport.

 

Thanks to all of you, it realy helps. I have been doing a lot of research ( about 6 hours last night) and most everyday. I have a friend from school that rides a sv 650. He started on a ninja 250 and said that he probably could have learned on the suzuki. What do you think of that as a first?

 

The 650s being twins are a *better* choice then the inline 4 600s.

The best choice is still going to be the 250.

Why are you so against it?

 

Another thing I am somewhat leary about is if I decide to take it out on the freeway, I'm cruising at 70 or 75 and I need a quick shot of acceleration to get out of a tight spot. Will the ninja 250 give me that?

 

Like I said in my last post, the getting stuck and not having acceleration. This seems like it would be a problem to me, but at the same time I've never driven.

 

The Ninja 250 will out accelerate most all "average" cars.

If you need to out accelerate a Dodge Caravan, Kia Rio or a Chevy pickup on the freeway your fine.

If you need to out accelerate an inattentive driver in a Porsche 911, Lamborghini Gallardo or a Z06 Corvette.....your screwed.

To put it in perspective.....I ride a 106ci big vtwin (or 1731cc) bike. The 250 Ninja will run right along side me.....nose to nose.....despite being only 250cc.

Its not weak......

 

I'm taking the new ninja 250's more into consideration now that you all have really layed things out in front of me. I like to hear info better from riders then dealerships or manufacturers so thanks guys

 

Glad to help out. Let us know what you get and post pics if you can!

 

Dan, is the ninja 250 what you have?

 

Alright I just looked at your bio and your bike is exactly what I'm looking for I absolutely love that color. How is it out on the highway?

 

It's absolutely amazing. The other day on the freeway I got in the left lane to pass a semi. As I was passing I looked down and i had reached 80 mph with no effort at all. Good thing no cops were around..

Handles like a dream on the backroads too. Love it.
:thumbsup:

 

I started out last year on a 2009 Ninja 650R. It'll run a 10.1 second 1/4 mile. It is faster than most cars. It seems to be the largest displacement bike (that style) that many would recommend a new rider buying. I'm 36. So, I could control my right hand pretty well. I'm sure that has helped me avoid trouble.

You'll be surprised at all the little things you will learn while riding. It's not that you aren't as competent as any other rider in the world. It's just that you have to learn some things through experience. Don't buy something that is much more likely to get you seriously hurt or killed. My bike is still very fun to me. I don't see myself ever buying a faster bike. I might, but it won't be within the next 5 years. I do see myself getting one with built in storage though.

 

Also at the higher rpms does it vibrate a lot? My friend his vibrated horrible trying to drive the interstate at 9k rpm

 

Did you know that a mouse heartbeat is so fast that it sounds like a humm. The same goes for a bike, the faster the motor goes, the smoother it feels. Until parts start falling off, of course.

 

Good analogy

 

I don't notice any vibrations, other than the normal hum of an engine between my knees. I feel fine running 70mph in 6th gear, around 8-9k rpm. That's actually right in the bike's powerband, so the engine should be at optimum performance.

 

alright well I got the definate ok from the 'rents (im 17) so looks like i got a summer of hard work ahead of me

 

I think you'd be best off learning how to ride on a 250. When you get older you can school everyone on your 650 or 1000cc+ bike. Good luck!

 

Good man on getting your parents' ok first. Keep at it this summer. The bike will be worth the hard work, for sure!

 

I will definitely come back with updates. I'm putting 85% of each paycheck in a bike fund and every single spare penny

 

I just started riding a few months ago. I agree with what everyone else says about your first bike. Mine is a 95 Ninja 500 I found for $600. Of course a friend of mine and I had to put a little work on it but she runs like a dream now. I like the bike because it's very forgiving but at the same time if I wanted to I could probably get her up to 130 in only a few seconds. It's faster then most cars on the freeway and will accelerate quickly without feeling overpowered. I put a total of maybe $1,000 into her not including gear, registration, and insurance. That's another thing to think about.. especially because you are young insurance will be through the roof on a new bike. You would have paid more per year on insurance than a 2006 F4i would even cost. Find a older 250 or 500 work hard for it, take the MSF course, and enjoy!

 

Good point RID3R. The insurance for a young guy on a 600 supersport would be outrageous. You'll get similar (useable) performance out of the 250, it will be an easier power delivery, and lighter bike. And it will cost a fraction in insurance of a 600ss.

 

Its the first bike i bought, loved every minute of it. no regrets.