I just joined today becuase something in me said I need a bike!!
looking at the Ninja 250R, never rode before so don't mind my lame questions as I know nothing about motorcycles yet........
This bike sounds like the perfect beginner bike with it's great styling but can it handle to people with a combined weight of 360lbs???
I'm 230lbs and my g/f is 130lbs (i think).
Thanx

 

I weigh 180, and have had a couple of passengers that weigh in at about 110-120 ride with me. At that weight, I felt the bike was at it's limit for what it could carry without constantly bottoming out. For your weight range, look for something larger. You will not be comfortable riding 2up on a 250R.

 

or I could get rid of the g/f!!!??

so is it more of a problem with the suspension not being able to support the weight or is it the displacement of the enginenot being able to handle it? Although most people would buy their first bike used.........I want my new.......and at $3499 it is well within my price range........what would you recommend under 10K?? and is it safe for a newbie to ride a 500cc + bike..........I used to race my VW Corrado VR6 and I do speed often.............will I get into more trouble with these larger bikes??

 

lol.

The engine can handle the extra weight, but the factory suspension is too soft. I know the '08s will at least have an adjustable rear suspension which will help out a lot. All I'm saying is if you plan on doing a lot of 2up riding, a 250R is not the best choice. Any of the other larger sized bikes have stiffer suspensions that 2up riding requires. You shouldn't go wrong with any larger bike.

 

So the next step up isa 500R.........i know that the 2008 250R has been redone..body styling etc.........what about the 500R?? I hate buying something only to have it redone the next year and mine will end up looking old!

 

Tell me about it. If I would have waited to buy my 250R for another year and a half, I too could have bought a shiny new '08! I would guess the 500 will be updated, but there is no buzz about when. Try stepping up to a used 636. That would be a far better deal than a 500 IMO.

 

okay, but I can't find anything about a 636 on the Kawasaki website (bike discontinued?) and I do want a new bike....my heart is set on it and now I've had to ante up to a New '08 Ninja 650 R $6499 or the '08 ZZR600 $7299.........would you know about these bikes? which one is better for 2up......are any of these two bikes redesigned?

 

Yeah, the 636 was discontinued after '06, but were very popular. the ZZR600 is actually the old ZX6R before the 636 came around in '02 or '03. They just rebranded the bike to keep selling it. I do like the Ninja 650R for it's unusual look. (Not a bad thing at all.)

Thing is, if you buy a 636, you canfind onefor a good deal, they are very powerful for their class size, it's fuel injected, and upgrade parts are very plentiful. The bike also looks really nice too.[8D]Buying new is often a mistake I think. Just find a year old bike some sorrybastard needs to sell because they couldn't afford the insurance and payments on it.

 

Can't go wrong with the 636. Fairly priced and riding 2 up is no problem-o. I'm 5'8 and my g/f 5-9 she says it's comfy too. Buying new is nice except for the depreciation factor. Oh, find something with a few scatches too, you won't feel so bad when you drop it by accident.....sorry to say but it might happen. Most of us have been there.

 

Thanx guys,

The 636 sounds like a good idea but I think I might go with an '08 ZZR 600.........any thoughts on that?? I'm pretty careful with my stuff and I have saved enough for a new bike, don't mind depreciation.....this is all a dream until the spring......gotta wait for winter to start and finish. Thanx for all the help.......started with a 250R and might finish with a ZZR600