Rate my purchase **PIC**

[Tristicus]

I am weary about bikes for the reason you described. I'm a big guy, so it'd be a disaster if I fell off a bike. Then again I'd probably have to get a large Harley or something. :awe:

 

[Occ]

Looks nice, with the exception of the fender (eliminate ASAP, but don't be one of those guys with a sideways license plate, just mount it right under the tail so it's still easy to see) and the exhaust (my personal preference is for more understated exhausts that aren't obnoxiously loud). You may want to look into frame sliders, and I hate to see you lower that thing... how tall are you? My roommate's rather short and he rides a gsxr600 (both bikes have the same seat height according to wikipedia) without issues.

What made you decide to get a new one? If you only have a month's worth of riding experience, I would think maybe something with a couple years on it might be better in case of drops. I like the sound of rider.com (your Progressive quote sounds familiar...), but sadly they only offer it in like 5 states.

Anyway, have fun and be safe man.

 

[Kroze]

I just ordered the fender eliminator and will be ordering the race rails soon. I'm only 5'5 so I'm barely tiptoeing. Although the gixxer have the same seat height, the body is narrower so it is actually lower due to inseam. My buddy have an 08 gixxer and I can tell you I sit much lower on his bike due to the narrow inseam.

The reason I got a new one is because people are selling used ones for the same price lol. Kawasaki is having a sale on them $3k off msrp so the bike is only $7k.

Of course I can ride it at stock height but I feel more comfortable if it's lowered.
People who doesn't have this problem doesn't understand.

 

[Kroze]

The ninja 250r is just too slow for me. You have to wind the hell out of it at stop light to get it moving. It's extremely loud and doesn't move at all. I pretty much have to rev it past 10k rpm in order for the bike to start going. And at that rpm the bike is very loud. You look like a jerk making all that noise and only going 50mph lol. It's great on gas though and I would love to get it as a second bike. It's the fastest 250cc bike out there capable of going 100mph (verified by me hehe). The Honda rebel, nighthawk, Suzuki gz250, etc are nothing compare to it and barely get to 80mph

 

[Kabob]

600cc still isn't all that big. I've been looking got something in this range to start riding again. 1000cc+ is where it gets scary imo.

By that logic we all need to steer clear of cruisers as most of them are a good bit bigger than 1000cc's...

It's not the displacement, it's how it uses it.

As for the OP and your "rate my purchase" thing...

You get a "10" for the bike but a "2" for making a good move. I don't care how careful you've been or how many miles you've put on, you are not ready for that bike (unless you failed to mention that you've been riding dirt bikes for 10 years).

Riding a bike, especially a supersport requires alot of quick reactions that need to be second nature. You haven't had even near enough time to start developing those quick reactions. The bike will be "just the right speed" until it bites you.

 

[Kroze]

By that logic we all need to steer clear of cruisers as most of them are a good bit bigger than 1000cc's...

It's not the displacement, it's how it uses it.

As for the OP and your "rate my purchase" thing...

You get a "10" for the bike but a "2" for making a good move. I don't care how careful you've been or how many miles you've put on, you are not ready for that bike (unless you failed to mention that you've been riding dirt bikes for 10 years).

Riding a bike, especially a supersport requires alot of quick reactions that need to be second nature. You haven't had even near enough time to start developing those quick reactions. The bike will be "just the right speed" until it bites you.

I agree with the 1000cc cruisers. They are nowhere as fast as a 600cc sport bike. I don't think many 1000cc cruisers can run 10 seconds quarter mile like a 600cc sport bike.

Though I don't have much choice in beginners bike. Most of them look like crap and cost just a grand or two less than my current bike. The ninja 250r is the only one that look decent but it's just too slow and gutless. I love this bike for the price and performance it offer and look dead sexy at the same time.

 

[Throckmorton]

A Ninja 250R does 0-60 in 5.2 seconds. At half that rate of acceleration you're still getting to 60 in 10 seconds, same as most economy cars. Doesn't sound slow to me

 

[RockinZ28]

A Ninja 250R does 0-60 in 5.2 seconds. At half that rate of acceleration you're still getting to 60 in 10 seconds, same as most economy cars. Doesn't sound slow to me

Very slow for a bike. My stock z28 would walk all over one in the quarter mile.

A modern sport bike 600cc on the other hand, will walk just about any factory car except for some very expensive exotics.

I try to ignore bikes as best I can, cause I know they will destroy even my ws6 with ease.

 

[Kroze]

A Ninja 250R does 0-60 in 5.2 seconds. At half that rate of acceleration you're still getting to 60 in 10 seconds, same as most economy cars. Doesn't sound slow to me

I'd like to see where you get those numbers from.

 

[996GT2]

I'd like to see where you get those numbers from.

According to Wiki, the current generation Ninja 250R runs 0-60 in 7.72 seconds and does the quarter mile in 15.58 s @ 81.98 mph. Top speed is around 95 MPH.

Those 0-60 and 1/4 mile specs aren't really better than the average family sedan (e.g. a Honda Accord V6).

A ZX6R, on the other hand, can run 0-60 in the low 3 second range and the quarter mile in the 10 second range. That's Veyron-like performance.

 

[alfa147x]

Bike n00b: How do you do sub-3 second 1/4 mile and not do a massive wheelie or flip over?

 

[Kroze]

I can tell you that once the 250r is on the highway, a 4 cylinder honda accord would give it a run for its money. I mean if you want to pass someone, pray that they don't accelerate because you ain't going to pass them.

 

[sdifox]

Isn't it cheaper to wear boots with thicker soles?

 

[Kabob]

Bike n00b: How do you do sub-3 second 1/4 mile and not do a massive wheelie or flip over?

Putting your weight over the front of the bike and not whacking the throttle wide open. It takes finess.

Isn't it cheaper to wear boots with thicker soles?

LOL!! :thumbsup:

 

[Kabob]

Though I don't have much choice in beginners bike. Most of them look like crap and cost just a grand or two less than my current bike. The ninja 250r is the only one that look decent but it's just too slow and gutless. I love this bike for the price and performance it offer and look dead sexy at the same time.

Yup, many of the beginner bikes look like crap but are you that worried about the look of the bike when you're learning? Nothing looks more retarded than a squid on a supersport with no skill and horrible riding form who bought a bike because it "looked cool." I got passed by one today on the way to work (in my 115 hp Honda Civic FTW!)...guy on an older ZX-6R doing 50 MPH in full tuck and then slowing down to take corners while trying to remain in said full tuck...

I understand, nothing looks better than a supersport, they are amazingly fun and impressive bikes but if you are so weary of "slow, ugly" bikes that you don't take the time to learn how to ride you will never get the most out of that bike and, as mentioned previously, you can seriously injure your body or ego.

If you "outgrew" the Ninja 250 (which I still think is ridiculous) I could understand a move to a 500 or even an SV-650S or something of the sort, a jump to a supersport is like trying to go from shooting hoops in your backyard to trying out for the NBA...

 

[halik]

Yup, many of the beginner bikes look like crap but are you that worried about the look of the bike when you're learning? Nothing looks more retarded than a squid on a supersport with no skill and horrible riding form who bought a bike because it "looked cool." I got passed by one today on the way to work (in my 115 hp Honda Civic FTW!)...guy on an older ZX-6R doing 50 MPH in full tuck and then slowing down to take corners while trying to remain in said full tuck...

I understand, nothing looks better than a supersport, they are amazingly fun and impressive bikes but if you are so weary of "slow, ugly" bikes that you don't take the time to learn how to ride you will never get the most out of that bike and, as mentioned previously, you can seriously injure your body or ego.


If you "outgrew" the Ninja 250 (which I still think is ridiculous) I could understand a move to a 500 or even an SV-650S or something of the sort, a jump to a supersport is like trying to go from shooting hoops in your backyard to trying out for the NBA...

My sentiment exactly. Plus at 5ft5 (unless you're morbidly obese or something), I really can't see how you "outgrew" the 250. Especially if you can't flat foot the 600.

All I'm gonna say is to start a piggie bank for new fairings, because statically speaking you'll need em.

 

[Kabob]

All I'm gonna say is to start a piggie bank for new fairings, because statically speaking you'll need em.

I wouldn't replace the fairings for a while, if we're going by statistics he'd need to replace them more than once.

Invest in frame sliders to start with.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

<- disappointed. Not in the bike, but in the choice.


Again, same thing every spring. At least you *started* on a 250.


But...

A buddy of mine did the exact same thing, bought the 250, felt like he outgrew after a month and 900 miles. After wrecking his next bike he's in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Single vehicle accident with no memory of what happened.



So, be careful and good luck. No matter what you think you are not ready for that bike yet.

 

[aleckz]

<- disappointed. Not in the bike, but in the choice.


Again, same thing every spring. At least you *started* on a 250.


But...

A buddy of mine did the exact same thing, bought the 250, felt like he outgrew after a month and 900 miles. After wrecking his next bike he's in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Single vehicle accident with no memory of what happened.



So, be careful and good luck. No matter what you think you are not ready for that bike yet.

I think this is what sums up my thoughts, no matter if you think you are ready after a certain time, there is no real way of seeing it through. I think after a month of riding and 1000 miles, you're at a good start, but I think upgrading was a bad choice. I'm not going to say that Kroze is going to flip/die/crash/burn because in probability, he has a good chance of doing none of these. I hope nothing happens to him, but one still has to realize that after one month, you haven't seen more than the tip of the iceberg when it comes to riding. Same with driving, if you were to go from an '89 Civic then upgrade to 2010 Z06 you'd probably be risking your life a lot more than with the Civic. The only benefit of having a car is that you have a protective layer of metal and plastic that surrounds you. A car, however; allows the user to make mistakes and live to tell about them. A motorcycle isn't the same way, why do you think they call them donor-cycles at hospitals.

All I can say is make sure you are fully geared and ride safe. Good luck!

 

[eBauer]

It all depends on the rider. Some people have the natural ability to jump on 1000cc superbike and never look back.

Is this the norm though? Absolutely not. Your average person will be scared sh*tless on a 600cc supersport if they use that for their first ride.

Damn nice bike btw - I'm glad they went back to the side exhaust for the 2009 zx6's. Undertail exhausts look nice, but are a pain in the ass when wrenching on the bike.

 

[Kabob]

Same with driving, if you were to go from an '89 Civic then upgrade to 2010 Z06 you'd probably be risking your life a lot more than with the Civic.

Not the same thing because, well, cars aren't motorcycles.

As powerful as that Z06 is it's nothing like riding a supersport, even a "little" 600. Will hammering the throttle put a Z06 into a wheelie? Will slamming on the brakes potentially flip you over? Last time I checked you didn't have to hang your arse out the door to properly turn a car either. In theory the idea is the same (massive performance leap) but the extremes on the bike side are much greater.

It's more like moving from a Mazda Miata to a Forumula 1 car.

 

[Kroze]

I will be careful on this bike. It's just perfect in every way and I loved it. The thing about full tucking at 50mph, I do that sometimes to relax my arms, stay out of the winds, Stay warm, and just to relax. People don't tuck just for aggressive riding or speeding you know. I don't really use the front brake and when I do, I only use 2 fingers. It's just too sensitive.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I will be careful on this bike. It's just perfect in every way and I loved it. The thing about full tucking at 50mph, I do that sometimes to relax my arms, stay out of the winds, Stay warm, and just to relax. People don't tuck just for aggressive riding or speeding you know. I don't really use the front brake and when I do, I only use 2 fingers. It's just too sensitive.

omfg. Seriously? Seriously? This post is a HUGE indicator that you should NOT be on that bike yet. I don't have the time to pick apart every point you made, but this post is an enormous red waving flag to me.



If you've already sold that 250 then you need to find some decent (i.e. NOT wheelie riding squids) riders to teach you about braking (loading front suspension, etc), body positioning (holding yourself up w/ back muscles) and etc.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Not the same thing because, well, cars aren't motorcycles.

As powerful as that Z06 is it's nothing like riding a supersport, even a "little" 600. Will hammering the throttle put a Z06 into a wheelie? Will slamming on the brakes potentially flip you over? Last time I checked you didn't have to hang your arse out the door to properly turn a car either. In theory the idea is the same (massive performance leap) but the extremes on the bike side are much greater.

It's more like moving from a Mazda Miata to a Forumula 1 car.

...I completely agree. Someone with an average understanding of automotive physics can jump in a z06 or miata, play around for a few hours, and actually push the car to the limit. Yes, there is skill involved in nailing low lap times but as far as safely having fun you're pretty much ok as long as you're not acting like an idiot.


A supersport is totally different. A 'new' rider (even someone who knows how to properly drive a car) needs at least a few hundred hours of street time before a lot of actions become second nature. Until that happens you are a sitting duck.




Kroze, did you already sell that 250? Your last post has me seriously worried that you're gonna end up plastered into the back of a truck/car/wall when you try to emergency brake with the rear brake only.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

I was accelerating and at about 80mph, I hit a bump on the road and the bike started to tank slap. It was extremely violent tank slap and lasted 2 seconds (feel like an eternity) My brain was firing a million molecules a second and my balls went up to my chest. I was prepared to go down and was at the planning stage on how I should landed to minimized injuries. Luckily the pre-installed factory steering stabilizer saved my bacon. Holy hell it was ugly.

This is why people recommend novices don't play with race replica's as their first bike.