QFT, and being 5'5" I think you should be ok with most 600's. Might have to tip toe it a little but no biggy. You can also lower the front a few millimeters and it will actually help handling a little. My R1 is lowered about 7mm in the front and it helps turn in a lot.

 

MSF course definitely helped me! I learned a lot about riding. I had never been on a bike before then and I bought an 07 Gixxer 750. It's all about keeping your right wrist in check IMO. If you can control it, you can get whatever bike you want. I agree with everyone that says you will be wanting more if you start out with a smaller bike.

BTW...if you're interested I'll be selling my bike after the first of the year.

Good luck!

 

anybody who thinks a 600 "R" bike is a good starter bike is an idiot. These new 600's are running as fast as the 1000's did only a few years ago. 600's have alot of power these days and driving a bike is not a matter to take lightley.....these bikes will kill you or worse make you a vegetable and your friends and family will have to take care of you for the rest of your life. I started off with a 750 monster ducati, but that bike was slow and topped out at 115mph, it only had like 81hp at th crank. Start off small, youll be a better rider in the long run.

 

Please, please, please do NOT start on a Ninja 250. I rode dirt bikes for a few years and then borrowed a friends Ninja 250 and almost killed myself b/c it was way too light! I'm 5'7" about 140 and that thing was tossed about any time a wind gust picked up, and just so you don't think that it was me being new at bikes, my buddy who bought the bike was riding he's 6 foot 200lbs. and he was almost knocked over several times by the wind. Get a 500 or 600 if you would like to live when it's windy out...

 

I'm just gonna say f*ck it and get a 'Busa. The way things are going now I'd really like to top it out and find a nice big tree at the end of a curve.

 

Thanks for all the responses guys! I sat on ym first bike last night it was a GSX-r. It was heavier than i expected, but i imagine it lightens up (or seems like it) when your moving. Shifted seemed iffy dont care for the pedal trick but i guess it goes with never being on one. SO general consensus is find an old ninja 250 and practice on it?

 

hahaha +++++++1

start with a 600. no need to be ballsy...a 600 is just as respectable...half the street riders on a 1000 have never and most likely will never use the full potential of the bike. if its ur first bike...u can LEARN on whatever u want...but make ur first bike a 600. i promise u...u get real brave...REAL FAST...and when u feel like ur better then the bike...the bike will tell u who's boss....i know, i have the scars to prove it. take it slow...like i said a 600 is just as respectable...and u will be able to keep up...nobody does 200 mph on the freeway. and if u cant ride...im sure someone here can help u out...hell ill help you out...its not hard...just takes some getting used to.

 

Nooooooo...... 250=death trap in the wind!

 

I've got to agree; if you've got the drop the bike this alters the machine beyond what it was engineered for. I hate to see people drop the fork tubes etc. I think it looks stupid. Start off slow and even when you think you have it down you need to practice some more. My philosophy on bikes is you should be to the point where you can anticipate/expect people to pull out in front of you, traffic doesn't see you even if you think people are looking straight at you, and you need to realize that besides your helmet nothing is protecting you-and yes concrete does hurt !!!

 

Don't worry what others think, just go with the 250, its the safest and most practical bet.

I'd sign up for the MSF and take that. First, it teaches you all the basics you need to know, as well as accident avoidance and all that. Second off, you get to play around in a parking lot for the weekend, on SOMEONE ELSE'S bike!!

To top it off, an MSF certificate means you don't have to take an actual riding test at the DMV, you only need to take the written test at the DMV to receive your motorcycle license. If thats not enough reason, the MSF also gives you a discount on insurance.

Another good thing about the MSF is you might find that motorcycles aren't for you. With the MSF, you don't have to buy a bike so if you want out, you can do it relatively cheap.

Good luck with whatever you choose. Remember, you can be the best rider in the world, but its those people in 4-wheeled cages that you gotta worryu about most!

 

be carefull starting off on a newer 600. I had an old 94 Ninja ZX6D and an even older suzuki who-fing-knows .. but a few thousand miles on them, then went about a year without a bike.

I just recently got a deal on an 01 CBR F4i ... and this bike is ALOT faster than either of my old bikes. Too fast for a starter bike IMO.

So yeah, my advice, MSF (has anyone mentioned that in this thread yet ), and try out an older 600. Early 90's CBR's (F2, F3), nice, not to crazy by todays standards, and CHEAP. Stay there for a year or so.

Best of luck either way, and stay safe.

-Matt

 

BTW, where in texas are you? I've got some decently cheap bikes on my site here...http://www.1morebike.com/auctionsear...earchok=Search

There's an 02 Ninja 500r for like 3k and an 07 suzuki gs500 for sale for $4,000. THe suzuki is in dallas, not really sure where the ninja is..

 

Just get a Gixxer 1000 or an R1. Those are good starter bikes.

 

I suppose i will get a ninja then. lightweight or not i will be practicing on my street and in a parking lot. I think a 600 would be a bit much for me right now. mainly need to just get used to it, plus the ninja's are cheap and if i take a spill who cares i didnt spend that much on it. Thanks for the help people.

 

your a smart man, I commend you on that

Start off slow...So later you can ride Fast with confidence and Knowledge

 

How much hp does the 250 make, anyone know 1/4 mil times, just curios?

 

couldnt find any test numbers on the 250
Ninja 500R ('01) 12.81 @ 101.2

 

How can you say you dropped it and loved the handling afterwards? Lowered bikes handle like **** compared to even a stock setup.

 

I'm 6'0 and 200lbs, rode an '05 250 for quite awhile and never had the least bit of trouble in any kind of wind. To the OP, good job on choosing a smaller slower bike just to start out on, you wont regret it and you can trade in later.

 

I think it makes something liek 11 or 16 ft lbs. Haha.

From that what would you say 30-50hp.