1st bike

So I'm thinking of getting a sport bike. My friends tell me not to get a 250 cuz that's like driving a smart car. They say get at least a 600. What do you guys think? I'm 6'6 and 280 pounds. Also what's the oldest I should be looking at? And what's the most miles on a used bike I should look at?

 

What's your riding background?

 

None what so ever. I had a raptor 700. But that's a quad.

 

your friends might want you dead.

really though, it depends on your riding background, maturity, and general mechanical ability. a 250 might be a bit small, but there's a HUGE difference between a little kawi 250 and a 600cc slightly-detuned race bike.

have you looked into the standard/upright ~500cc bikes? or even the more sport-standard fz6 or sv650? i had an sv650 as my first bike and i highly recommend it. plenty sporty and lots of torque from the v-twin engine, but not enough hp to be too fiesty.

 

The sv650 isn't a real bad idea. Look at the ninja 650r. They're a good starter bike for someone of your size. I'm 5'9 and weigh bout 200 and a ninja 250 is a bit slow for me(I own a gsxr600). First things first though. Go buy a good helmet, leather jacket, and gloves. Ya get what you pay for too! Then look into takin the MSF course. Great thing for a beginner rider!

 

I think a 250 would be too small for you. If you keep a level head when you are riding, then you would be fine with a GSX-R 600, Ninja 600, or CBR 600. You can hurt or kill yourself on any motorcycle if you are driving like Jason Britton while you are on open roads.

 

Buy a used Ninja 250 or Rebel. You will drop it at least three times, but you can sell it for almost what you paid for it. Take the course. Buy the gear. Don't be a squid. That is all.

 

My girlfriend had a Ninja 250 but was wanting a 600 the day after she bought it. She said she wished she had bought a 600 from the start. Get what YOU feel most comfortable on. She had no problem selling her 250 when she wanted too. It's a good starter bike for sure.
Whichever bike you decide on, take a rider safety course before you get out on the road.

 

Any 600 IS a race bike. Why do people always say that? Don't get anything big.. a 600. Difference between a 600 and a 1000.. about .03 seconds in the 0-60.
Now if they said "650" or 800, something, that's a different story. most 600s have 3 or more times the horsepower of a 650. Because a 600 is a race engine.

But you are a big fucker. You'd look silly on a sport bike of any size. Believe me, I do, and I'm a bit smaller than you. And the sport bikes are a bit cramped. They're build for jockeys

Tall guy needs a DUAL SPORT.

and yes even at 280 a 250 will get you around.

 

I started off with a 600(R6) when i was 17! Im sure you can too

 

The FZ6 is slightly detuned but still an R6. I (at 200lbs) would have to crawl up on the tank to keep the front wheel down. Though a lot more comfortable than an R6 and a great awesome all around bike.

 

Its just less forgiving. Horrible "learner" steering angles, short wheel base, grabby brakes, tweaky throttle.

Did you ever lay down your bike?

 

i'm 6' 200lbs and for my first bike i got a 2002 triumph tt600 and think it was a great fit for a first bike...has enough in it to get up and go, but not enough to where i'd be over powered by the bike...i recently rode my cousin's 750 gsxr and fell in love with it, but the bike just wants to go, and it goes fast! and for your size i'd suggest a 600 for sure...after a week of riding a 250 you'll be wishing you got something bigger...

as island said, you may want to look into something other than a sports bike tho for your size...check out styles like the harley sportsters...they have some bigger engines but they are heavier and not made to go fast (yes they will go fast but they are made more for cruising not crouching and banking into corners)...

 

http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/2011-ktm-duke-200-spy-photo-test-ride/#more-18668

wait for the ktm 250 lol

or get the new rc8 r, just dropped in price,
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/bikes/2011-ktm-1190-rc8-price-msrp-reduced/

 

Good question.

Make sure you are comfortable on the bike, and take a safety course. Some Jr. colleges offer these (At least here in Illinois)

 

Not made to go ... period. I don't know what they did to the buells to make em go. But it was more than just lightening up the frame.

Having a comfortable seating position goes a long way in making you comfortable riding the bike.

Get and R6 or other racer and you'll practically be pinning your bars to the tank with your knees. And you better have strong shoulders. I can't do it due to an old injury. I even put a longer draw and rise on my KLR.

Get a nighthawk 250 or a buell blast type standard mini bike, or many of the cruisers, and you'll pin your legs to the tank in sharp turns, or try to swing your knees way out wide to avoid it.

Got to get something that fits, and no sport bike will do that for you. Little bikes are fun, but I'm pushing it on size for them and that's the super motos and dual sports. Ones with low bars are just out.

If you can at all stand the look or performance characteristics. A dual sport or a low end cross country tourer is great.

Something like a F800 or any bmw, the KLR 650, Versys, all the triumph standards, and tiger, a cruiser with drag bars or retard bars (though retards aren't safe, legal or fun), the honda 650 dual sports, and even the yammy wr250 bikes. Might be a 250 but its an aluminum fuel injected 250. Comes close to some larger bikes numbers and it's very tall.
I've had trouble, looking like an idiot and pinning my knee even with stock cruiser bars, especially the universal japanese cruiser ram bars.

 

Being 6'6" makes things a bit tough.
But like others have said, don't go out and get a 600 repli-racer.
Learn on a smaller bike and then step up to a bigger bike, in the long run it will make you a better rider.
An SV650 would be a good start but I don't know if you would fit too well on it given your height.
I would also suggest a Suzuki DRZ400SM but you might need to upgrade the suspension for your weight.
I would say go take the class first, then you will have some seat time on a bike and maybe be able to better figure out what you want.

 

kawasaki came out with a 400cc this year. looks just like the 650.

 

I've had 3 gsxrs,1 r6,1 zx6,and a tl1000r. A 600 is more than enough for the street.I've been riding since 1998 and never needed a 1000. You will never use a 1000 to it's fullest. I wouldn't do a 250 but that's just me.600s sell a lot cheaper used than a 750 and 1000