+1^^^^

I'd get the 250 - sounds like fun.

<drill sergeant> Holy s---!  You'd better be working in g.d. army intelligence!  That's the smartest f'in thing I've heard come from the military in a long damn time!  Get comfortable on a cheap ride before diving in head first?!  That's some genius s---!  We need more smart sons of b's like you, Adamm!

First- Thanks for the service to our country

Next, buy the Ninja 250 and ride the piss out of it.   I rode the 89 250 (picked it up for $500 put 2k miles on it and sold it for $450, insurance was only $125 for a whole season) I learned on for a year and I am so glad I did.  Now I feel much much more comfortable with my Monster which equates to more fun and less dropage. [moto]

Quote from: Speeddog on July 14, 2008, 11:55:24 PM
IMO, consider a 250cc-400cc enduro bike.
They're great to learn on, and you can ride 'em almost anywhere, jeep trails, fireroads, etc.
They hold up very well to being dropped.
And riding in the dirt is a really good way to learn, mistakes tend to be a lot less painful.
You may even decide to keep it...

+1 !!!

a used DR350 (or 400) would be an excellent learning bike. tons of fun

Thank you for serving,  I myself started on the 250.  The only thing I rode was a little mini bike growing up.   I knew I could do it but it was not going to be pretty.  I wanted to go for a bigger bike but my gut told me to start small.( So did my husband)   The 250 was great, I rode it for almost three years and learned allot.  Of course I took the riding course first.   Go by what you feel is right for you,  do not think of yourself being a pussy because you are being smart not stupid.    Good luck and again thank you for serving. 

the ninja is irrelevant.

asking is what makes you a pussy

Little Ninjas are fun!

First thank you for your service its much appreciated from the bottom of my heart.  Second,  if you on a 250 125 scooter whatever you can kill yourself.  Learning how not to crack the throttle wide open and self control is key.  With that said I tend to believe get the bike you feel most comfortable with and ride the piss out of it then upgrade if you feel a need to.  I am 6'0" about 235 lbs so getting a 250 for the most part was out of the question for me my first ride was s2r800 which I shortly upgraded to the 1000.  If I had to do it all over again I probably would have kept the 800 prior to my most recent upgrade of the the 14t made a world of difference on the 1000.  I was very scared at first because I thought the 800 was more bike then I can handle after about 4000 miles in 2 months I felt comfortable and felt that maybe it might be time for an upgrade not because of the engine but because of what the 1000 had to offer.  Things like better brakes better front suspension and of course that sweet dry clutch.  Test ride the 250 and test ride a monster and see which bike you feel the most comfortable with then decide. 

-panthro

 

Get the 250 first. I think it is a wise decision that you will be happy with in the long run. Thanks for your service.

At age 45, I bought my first bike 3 months ago, an S4RS, after taking the MSF course.  I am thoroughly enjoying it, but using my head to stay out of trouble (so far).  That being said, the bottom line, is, do what you feel comfortable doing.  And last of all, thank you for your service.  Anyone who fights for our country could never be called a pussy.   

as a veteran myself, thank you. i'm not going to tell you to grow a set, as you already have, but you can always grow a woolly tuft of hair on them, that onced shaved, you could make a cargo net or 2 indian blankets .somehow, i hope this helps your desicion.  [moto]

Find out which shop supplies the bikes for the MSF courses in your area.  

They will rotate the bikes every year.  They usually only have a couple hundred miles on them.  They have been dropped, so there are already a couple dents in them, but you can save a chunk of change - sell it in a year when you are ready for you Monster, and only be out a couple hundred - a lot less than repairs when you drop a Monster.

But to answer your question, No, being smart and getting a smaller bike to learn on is not what makes you a pussy.  

Good luck out there.

if you have to ask if you are being a pussy, then you are in fact, already a pussy. I did not read your question, the thread title alone gave the question and answer.

I read back, and would also like to say thanks for the service, and I whole heartedly (sp?) recommend the 250. I think its the best for damn near everybody.

As a newbie, I'll throw in my .02. 

I did the MSF class last week having never been on a bike.  Picked up a M696 this past weekend.  I don't feel that it is too much bike for me as a new rider whatsoever.  In fact, I've been pleasently suprised how forgiving and easy to ride it is.  I'm taking it easy, of course, and staying well within my limits as I go, but the bike is more than happy to do that.  I've yet to feel that I was behind the bike or that it was getting away from me at all.  At the same time, I can tell there is a lot more machine in there than I am taking advantage of, so its nice to know that the bike can grow with me as I continue learning...

If you know you want the Monster - I say go with the Monster. 

-Russ