My girlfriend is learning to ride:


Which is pretty cool. But she will soon outgrow the `73 Honda 125., I'm thinking this:


The `08 Ninja 250. Discuss.

That or a good used old style to-fitay 

considered getting one...I have heard they are a great starter bike, very friendly.

Supposedly around here, those new 250 ningas are hard to come by.  One dealer said he was back-ordered 5 bikes.  They look great for a small bike.

mitt

Quote from: printman on May 06, 2008, 06:49:43 PM
That or a good used old style to-fitay 

I'm happy with the old style 250, but she really likes the looks of the new 250. And you gotta admit, it is pretty hot for a twofiddy.

As for finding them, I've been seeing them on my local craigslist for basically what I can get it new from a dealer w/o taxes. But that is a few months away...

Quote from: dolcissima on May 06, 2008, 06:50:20 PM
considered getting one...I have heard they are a great starter bike, very friendly.

she instead ended up with a Half-A-Gixxer GS500E!...pretty damn cool bike , I must say, I must say

So a friend of the gf just bought a 250 to learn on. I went and test rode it for him, then rode it here (he can't use it for a coupla weeks). Of course, it's found it's way through the twisties a coupla times somehow-you know-to make sure it's ok.


That thing is FUNNNN. It's not slow, it's just not torquey-as in you can whack open the throttle and move very nicely, but you can't get going too quickly in too short a period of time. It stops very nicely, and while the suspension (this is an '05) is not ideal, it was far from uncomfortable. I found the controls easy to use, the bike terribly flickable and it felt stable. It was also very light, which made it feel easy to control. I did find it vibrated more (specifically, the bars) over 80 than I would've liked, but it wasn't uncomfortable, though for anything over half an hour on the highway I'm sure it would get old.

The only time the lack of power was really noticeable was at higher speeds (70 or so and up). While numerous people claim it's essential to be able to accelerate away from things if need be, I still maintain that the last thing a newer rider is going to do at high speeds in a panic situation is go faster. It's not something one would normally do.


I think it's the ideal starter bike-I wish I had started on one. I wouldn't hesitate to get one for the gf to start on.

Really? It'll do 80? Cool!

What about size? I know I'd look like a circus bear on a trike (I already do on the S2R) at 6' 4" 250lbs. She is 5' 3" 100 and can barley flat foot the 125 (though it's seat high is higher than a Buell Blast by about 4 inches).

I'd like to see how she handles the Buell Blast but I'm going to keep her on the 125 for now. She isn't the smoothest at letting the clutch out yet and the 125 is very forgiving with that. I'll give her acouple more weekends of working on that before the Blast.

I'm just happy she is willing to learn, and enjoying it too. I think if she gets out on the street I'm going to get a smaller, slower bike to play around w/ her. The Duc is no fun riding slow...

Quote from: wbeck257 on May 06, 2008, 07:11:00 PM
Really? It'll do 80? Cool!

What about size? I know I'd look like a circus bear on a trike (I already do on the S2R) at 6' 4" 250lbs. She is 5' 3" 100 and can barley flat foot the 125 (though it's seat high is higher than a Buell Blast by about 4 inches).

I'd like to see how she handles the Buell Blast but I'm going to keep her on the 125 for now. She isn't the smoothest at letting the clutch out yet and the 125 is very forgiving with that. I'll give her acouple more weekends of working on that before the Blast.

I'm just happy she is willing to learn, and enjoying it too. I think if she gets out on the street I'm going to get a smaller, slower bike to play around w/ her. The Duc is no fun riding slow...

Heck, it'll do 95-I just typically cruise at 80 

The guy who bought it is around your height-he didn't look ridiculous on it. I fit fine (I'm 6', 200). The girl fit even better (she's 5'4"). See if you can score a test drive, get used to the fact that you left your torque at home, wind it up, and find some corners.


You might end up not letting her use it 

You are probably right about me useing it more.

I've been riding my Sister's Buell Blast more than the Duc. I'm really coming to learn that it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.

The '08 will do over 100mph, and personally.....I've been considering a black one for a few weeks now.  I have a 17 mile commute to work that's over some EXCELLENT twisties and they're tight too!

Hmmmmm......tight curves....  oh.  Sorry.  Wrong thread.

Quote from: wbeck257 on May 06, 2008, 07:18:25 PM
You are probably right about me useing it more.

I've been riding my Sister's Buell Blast more than the Duc. I'm really coming to learn that it is more fun to ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.

For anything not freeway or *really* high speed twisties I prefer the 250, then the gf's 695....then my bike (S4R). Yeah.....

That's pretty cool, but get her some gloves...

Quote from: NAKID on May 06, 2008, 07:40:23 PM
That's pretty cool, but get her some gloves...

Already did -- she just forgot to put them on for that session.

I really didn't even think about it -- it is just so automatic for me to have gloves on.
(She's also getting a new jacket for her graduation gift next week. By far the coolest and hottest middle school teacher I know.)

Quote from: someguy on May 06, 2008, 07:14:23 PM
Heck, it'll do 95-I just typically cruise at 80 

It didn't max out at 95, that's just what I got up to passing a car. I'm sure I'll have more chances before I hand it over to the newbie friend.