First Bike - Advice Needed (CBR250 vs Ninja 250/400)

[Skyrat]

Thought I'd wade in / bump this as I'm looking at these two bikes

I've just got my A2 licence and I'm restricted to 33bhp for 2 years, therefore the Ninjette seems to tick all the boxes. My mate thinks I should get a 600/650 restricted and ride that but they're heavier (i.e slower) more expensive to insure / buy / run. I don't see the point when the Ninja is supposed to be great fun.

I suppose I'm just wondering whether the Ninja is worth the extra money over the Honda. I'll be buying used but can get a brand new pre-reg CBR250 for £3200 vs the same price (ish) for a ninja that's a few years old

Update: test rode a Ninja today. I'm getting one. Superb

Edited by Skyrat on Sunday 1st July 20:07

[epom]

Bump for this thread.... have decided on a Ninja 250 as my first bike... good idea/bad idea?? Cheers.

[steve954]

Saw a 250 ninja the other night and it was really slow! Really surprised me how much so, cbr500 is what I would go for as I have seen what they can do and are a lot better than the ninja! Not to sure about price and what test you need for it though.

[jcelee]

I passed my UK DAS module 2 on 12 August (with just a little prior experience on 125s, mainly an automatic scooter) and bought a 2003 Honda CBR600F on 14th August. I actually ended up riding it around 90 miles home at night that day.

The bike is lightweight, bright yellow (with a lot of road presence), very planted, so forgiving and a total pussycat below 6000 revs, you can ride with so much confidence like Miss Daisy. The throttle response is very gradual - you will not accidently whip the throttle open and control the power when setting off with the clutch anyway (its not going anywhere without the clutch engaged). There is nothing frightening or intimidating about this bike at all.

Once qualified and properly trained I'd try to check out a few 600s as well as lower cc bikes. I suspect the pair of you will find the 600cc bikes (especially inline 4s) easier to ride and one may well prove all the bike you ever need.

[Jonjo91]

Ninja 400, I would say that as I have one

[epom]

steve954 said:

Saw a 250 ninja the other night and it was really slow! Really surprised me how much so, cbr500 is what I would go for as I have seen what they can do and are a lot better than the ninja! Not to sure about price and what test you need for it though.

Will be quick enough for me I expect. Obviously I'd prefer to start on a 600cc, would look cooler etc and is obviously where I intend but don't want to have eye's bigger than my belly (or talent in this case). But licensing and I guess only so many clean underpants dictate I'll do a few months on this first. Looked at the Honda CBR aswell obviously but I think I'll go with the Kawasaki. Cheers for the reply.

[obscene]

What's your licence allow? My sister has a Ninja 250 and it's horribly slow. Where as I test rode a KTM 390 Duke and that's the perfect amount of power on the road for a small bike to hoon it everywhere and still keep your licence intact.

[CBR JGWRR]

epom said:

Will be quick enough for me I expect. Obviously I'd prefer to start on a 600cc, would look cooler etc and is obviously where I intend but don't want to have eye's bigger than my belly (or talent in this case). But licensing and I guess only so many clean underpants dictate I'll do a few months on this first. Looked at the Honda CBR aswell obviously but I think I'll go with the Kawasaki. Cheers for the reply.

Bikes only go as fast as you tell them to go - just get the bike you really want.

[Pothole]

Bob_Defly said:

Hi,

My wife and I are about to do our bike tests and buy a bike. We only need one to share as we will rarely get to go out together 'cos we have little kids at the moment. We just want something we can go out for a quick blat on, or maybe use to go to work on when we feel like it.

I don't want a 600CC bike as I'll probably kill myself on it and it will be too much for her as a beginner bike, IMHO.

am I worrying about nothing?

Yes.