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mjs · 06-07-2006, 07:35 AM

ninja 250 is a good first bike

rogeryin · 06-07-2006, 07:36 AM

Yeah Ninja twofity is definitly a good Beginner's bike...stable, reliable and a blast to ride on.

I took the MSF course and all you need after that is to take the writen DMV test and your done.. and you can learn some skill too.

davidhaner · 06-07-2006, 07:36 AM

First post!

A ninja250 is a good beginner bike, fun and forgiving. Sometimes on the freeway you wish for more power; it's nice to be able to escape situations by fleeing quickly, you might want to consider a ninja500. However, that said, I was happy with my ninja250 as a first bike.

At the end of the MSF class you take the same test that would be administered by the DMV. However, note that the brunt of the riding in the class is spent practicing the exact same exercises as are in the test, so you should be able to pass it. You almost certainly won't pass it if you take it at the DMV without significant practice of those exercises.

davidhaner · 06-07-2006, 07:36 AM

I type too slowly.

SnowFalco · 06-07-2006, 07:39 AM

First post!

The DMV thing depends on the state. I lived in AZ recently, and there was a beginners course that left you with a MC endorsement on your license, saving the nasty DMV experience. I don't think that's true in every state, however. You are going to get a ton of advice on a first bike-- I would ordinarily recommend a dual-purpose bike, though 2 hours on the freeway on a dirtbike could be kind of brutal. A used Suzuki GS500 or Kawasaki 500 ninja would be good. The 250 might be a little buzzy and uncomfortable for cruising down the freeway for two hours. For insurance reasons, plus the fact that you will likely have a tip-over or two, I would definitely recommend against a new bike at first. Get a good cheap used one, thrash it for a year, then make the decision about what you want for the long term. Go to www.cycletrader.com and browse around for used bikes in your zip code.

Good luck!

SnowFalco · 06-07-2006, 07:51 AM

Any I type too much! Maybe I should start with: "Fifth Post!!"

seruzawa · 06-07-2006, 07:54 AM

I wonder what MR ALLCAPS would recommend.

Chukchi · 06-07-2006, 07:55 AM

The ninja 250 or ninja 500 is a good bike to start on. The suzuki GS500 is also a great starter bike. You might also want to start on an enduro (e.g. DR200). If you had fun on the Honda dirtbike, an enduro is a very easy/inexpensive way to learn and won't suffer as much damage if you have a few beginner incidents.

SRMark · 06-07-2006, 07:57 AM

The 250 is great but see how well you fit on it vs. the Ninja 500 and 650. I'd lean toward the 650 but then that brings the Suzuki SV650 into the picture and the Moto Guzzi Breva 750 and Triumph Scrambler. Get to a bunch of shops and take a seat. You are new enough that everything will seem like the best thing. Keep riding that dirt bike too.

SRMark · 06-07-2006, 08:00 AM

Toss up between a CR500 supermoto and a ZX14.

06-07-2006, 07:35 AM	#1
mjs Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 114	Re: BEGINNER ON TWO WHEELS ninja 250 is a good first bike

06-07-2006, 07:36 AM	#2
rogeryin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1	Re: BEGINNER ON TWO WHEELS Yeah Ninja twofity is definitly a good Beginner's bike...stable, reliable and a blast to ride on. I took the MSF course and all you need after that is to take the writen DMV test and your done.. and you can learn some skill too.

06-07-2006, 07:36 AM	#3
davidhaner Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 194	Re: BEGINNER ON TWO WHEELS First post! A ninja250 is a good beginner bike, fun and forgiving. Sometimes on the freeway you wish for more power; it's nice to be able to escape situations by fleeing quickly, you might want to consider a ninja500. However, that said, I was happy with my ninja250 as a first bike. At the end of the MSF class you take the same test that would be administered by the DMV. However, note that the brunt of the riding in the class is spent practicing the exact same exercises as are in the test, so you should be able to pass it. You almost certainly won't pass it if you take it at the DMV without significant practice of those exercises.

06-07-2006, 07:36 AM	#4
davidhaner Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 194	Re: BEGINNER ON TWO WHEELS I type too slowly.

06-07-2006, 07:39 AM	#5
SnowFalco Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 11	Re: BEGINNER ON TWO WHEELS First post! The DMV thing depends on the state. I lived in AZ recently, and there was a beginners course that left you with a MC endorsement on your license, saving the nasty DMV experience. I don't think that's true in every state, however. You are going to get a ton of advice on a first bike-- I would ordinarily recommend a dual-purpose bike, though 2 hours on the freeway on a dirtbike could be kind of brutal. A used Suzuki GS500 or Kawasaki 500 ninja would be good. The 250 might be a little buzzy and uncomfortable for cruising down the freeway for two hours. For insurance reasons, plus the fact that you will likely have a tip-over or two, I would definitely recommend against a new bike at first. Get a good cheap used one, thrash it for a year, then make the decision about what you want for the long term. Go to www.cycletrader.com and browse around for used bikes in your zip code. Good luck!

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06-07-2006, 07:51 AM	#6
SnowFalco Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 11	Re: BEGINNER ON TWO WHEELS Any I type too much! Maybe I should start with: "Fifth Post!!"

06-07-2006, 07:54 AM	#7
seruzawa Robby Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 8501 ft. Posts: 16,803	Re: BEGINNER ON TWO WHEELS I wonder what MR ALLCAPS would recommend. __________________ I've seen things you people wouldn't believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched c-beams glitter in the dark near the Tanhauser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in the rain.

06-07-2006, 07:55 AM	#8
Chukchi Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 13	Re: BEGINNER ON TWO WHEELS The ninja 250 or ninja 500 is a good bike to start on. The suzuki GS500 is also a great starter bike. You might also want to start on an enduro (e.g. DR200). If you had fun on the Honda dirtbike, an enduro is a very easy/inexpensive way to learn and won't suffer as much damage if you have a few beginner incidents.

06-07-2006, 07:57 AM	#9
SRMark Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,465	Re: BEGINNER ON TWO WHEELS The 250 is great but see how well you fit on it vs. the Ninja 500 and 650. I'd lean toward the 650 but then that brings the Suzuki SV650 into the picture and the Moto Guzzi Breva 750 and Triumph Scrambler. Get to a bunch of shops and take a seat. You are new enough that everything will seem like the best thing. Keep riding that dirt bike too.

06-07-2006, 08:00 AM	#10
SRMark Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1,465	Re: BEGINNER ON TWO WHEELS Toss up between a CR500 supermoto and a ZX14.