Beginner Motorcycle
 

Hi all, I'm looking to buy a starter motorcycle. I have been looking between the Honda CBR250R and the Kawasaki Ninja 250R. They both seem very similar spec wise. Is one better than the other? I was also told by a friend that a 600 would be a decent starter bike too as long as I'm not doing anything crazy. Do any of you bikers have any suggestions? Thanks :tiphat:

I'm looking for a beginners bike too. I had a 1995 ninja 600 for 2 months.. it was fun.. but then it started to have problems. But now i want a fuel injected bike.. thinking bout getting a Suzuki gsxr600.

Both the 250s are great starter bikes. You can't go wrong with either one of them.

It depends a lot on your experience and ability, but a 600cc can be ok too. Avoid 600cc sport/supersport bikes with 4 cylinder engines. It's too much for a noob. Twins and singles up to about 650 are a lot more manageable.

If you've never ridden, start with the 250. The hold their value well so you can get back most of what you paid after riding it for a year or two building experience.

Here's how I started: I jumped right into a Harley Davidson Night Rod Special weighing in at near 800lbs, a 1250cc motor, 240mm rear tire, and advertising 100+hp. Sure there have been times when I had the pucker factor but I survived riding in Hawaii, Seoul Korea, and South Carolina without any major issues.

If you want a 600 start out there. Just realize that you can get in trouble on any bike. Always respect the bike, ride defensively, use common sense and take the MSF courses.

The one time I dropped the bike was in my garage of all places as I was parking. My foot slipped since it was wet and by freak chance I gave it some throttle so the bike ended up on its side. No damages, just one bruised knee and a big lesson learned.

Have fun!

600 is fine for a starter bike. My 08 ZX6R that i bought in 09 was my first bike and i've never crashed.

Take the motorbike safety course and when you get your bike, do the same drills you did on the course. I spent a full day on my bike when i first got it, just going around in a parking lot getting use to the clutch and balance. So pretty much just take your time and if you go for a ride with friends that are expeirenced, dont try and keep up with them if they start speeding up.

OP, your friend that said a 600 would be a good starter bike is spot on. As long as you respect it's power and don't do anything stupid it'll treat you well and give you room to grow. 250's might be great for learning but after the first year you'll be bored with it and want something bigger so just get a 600 to begin with and save yourself some money. Definitely get a fuel injected bike. They are much easier to maintain especially when winter storage is involved. My starter bike when I started riding a few years ago was a Honda CBR600 F4I. Just remember that even the 600's are absurdly quick and should be treated with respect.

Best thing you can do as a first timer is take a "Beginner Motorcycle Safety" class. Not sure what they offer in your area but here's a link to one of the big sponsoring groups for these types of classes. Motorcycle Safety Foundation

+1
Definitely take the MSF course. My first bike was and is an 08 cbr600rr. If you go the 250 route you feel like you've outgrown it in a few months to a year. I don't regret my decision to skip the 250. 600's have excellent power, throttle response, and stability both at highway speeds and in the twisties.

thanks for the tips guys. yeah i am looking to take the motorcycle safety program that my dmv offers. still contemplating whether to go with 250 or 600. what is your takes on buying used bikes? anything i should be looking out for specifically? Im interested in the YZF-R6. what do you guys think of that bike?

Definitely find one that's fuel injected. And low miles.

A used bike is probably smarter since it won't sting as much when you drop it and value depreciation isn't as bad if or when you want to sell it to get something new. I would try to find a bike that hasn't been stunted because the forks will be in much better condition. I wouldn't be too worried about mileage as long as it's been properly maintained, including valve adjustments for higher mileage motors. The 4 Japanese 600 sport bikes are all good, it's gonna be a preference thing. Although I would suggest trying to sit a look at each one to decide which one looks better to you and sit to feel the ergonomics. Each one is slightly different ergonomically and performance difference is negligible unless you are an experienced track rider. The R6 is a good bike.

That bike is over 100hp and I would not consider it suitable for a beginner. This is why I say I4 600's are a bad idea for beginners. You cannot compare the power output of an inline-4 600 to a twin or single. You also cannot compare it to the output of a 1300 or 1600 v-twin Harley because the I4's make ridiculous power with small displacements.

Small mistakes = big trouble. Keep it under 80hp.

As others have said, DEFENITELY take the motorcycle safety class. I started on a R6 however I have riden dirt bikes since three years old so I am very confident on two wheels. I had that for about 1.5 years and after 8-10 track days went for a 1000 and have had a R1 and GSXR1000 since <3 my GSXR

Go for 1,000 CC's, that will end well :p

I dont understand why someone couldnt start with a 1000cc bike. Is it really that much different than learning to drive on a 370z? Shouldn't it all come down to responsibility/maturity. I would imagine your wrist is the difference between 600cc or 1000cc.

I could be completely wrong however

A 1,000cc bike is a BIG difference over a 370z