• Welcome to the Yamaha FZ1 Forums. Member registration disables ads and allows you to post and share. Register Here.

1995 era Ninja 500R

Absolutely agree with all of that, and that's why I think when someone is learning and has no muscle memory and extended reaction times the bike is a major factor.

I guess we can certainly agree the 250 is what we'd put our wives on. :)
 
I think I am going to be getting her the NInja 500 just due to it being not fast and whatnot. Weight wise, power wise the 250 and 500 are not very far apart. I'm not worried about her being a nut, I know she isnt like that. But we cant afford to get two bikes and I know she will be sick of the 250 within a month or two.

That is of course if she actually wants a bike after driving one lol.
 
PapaGeno21 said:
I think I am going to be getting her the NInja 500 just due to it being not fast and whatnot. Weight wise, power wise the 250 and 500 are not very far apart. I'm not worried about her being a nut, I know she isnt like that. But we cant afford to get two bikes and I know she will be sick of the 250 within a month or two.

That is of course if she actually wants a bike after driving one lol.
Click to expand...

The Ninja 500 may well be the right bike, but I know my wife has had her '09 Ninja 250 for a year and isn't the least bit board with it. I know the new 250 model ('08 and up) are restyled and may appeal more just on looks alone, but the seat height and weight could play a huge roll in confidence, especially at low speed and just trying to maneuver it while it's stopped. Just a few other things to consider. And I must say, that 250 is very zippy up until about 50-60mph, then it gets very anemic. The biggest problem I have with the 250 is not really being able to pass easily at highway speeds. I don't know how the 500 compares power or weight vs the 250.

Good luck. I hope whatever you decide on, she is happy and safe and having FUN! :woot:
 
The 500 has 60hp vs like 25hp from the 250... The 500 seems to actually be a quick bike up to around 90 vs the 250 looks like its a dog after 45mph..

I dont want her on a bike that cant get away from people on the highway, thats why I wont get a 250. Weight wise, they are not far apart and she isnt a tiny little girl so I am not concerned about that.

I cant afford a newer sweet looking 250, if I could she would want it just becuase its green and sexy but I can deff afford an older 500 that will do the job for a couple years lol.

Things would be easy if she could just ride my GSX-R600 but I really don't want to even try that with her. I drove that thing and its NO slouch... And after doing some reading, that Ninja 600 I got offered is actually 10 more HP over my GSXR so that would have been worse lol. She just liked it becuase it was green.

Figures haha
 
PapaGeno21 said:
The 500 has 60hp vs like 25hp from the 250... The 500 seems to actually be a quick bike up to around 90 vs the 250 looks like its a dog after 45mph..

I dont want her on a bike that cant get away from people on the highway, thats why I wont get a 250. Weight wise, they are not far apart and she isnt a tiny little girl so I am not concerned about that.

I cant afford a newer sweet looking 250, if I could she would want it just becuase its green and sexy but I can deff afford an older 500 that will do the job for a couple years lol.

Things would be easy if she could just ride my GSX-R600 but I really don't want to even try that with her. I drove that thing and its NO slouch... And after doing some reading, that Ninja 600 I got offered is actually 10 more HP over my GSXR so that would have been worse lol. She just liked it becuase it was green.

Figures haha
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good plan then. Get her some good gear too (if she doesn't already have it). Girls love to shop for clothes, even protective jackets, boots, pants, gloves, helmets... (I think my wife has 3 or 4 jackets, mostly cheap ebay buys, though)

ktmpink.jpg
 
The 500 is a good bike and has plenty of power for anything you might want to throw at it. That said, just because it's a 250 doesn't mean it's a dog... let's be honest, even a Ninja 250 can still run the 1/4 mile faster than the average road car, and it can cruise at 70mph without any issues. Some of the US magazine tests have recorded over 90mph flat-out with GPS on the older ZZR250s (pre-2008), so it's not like you'd really get run over by some traffic.

I know it might be confusing to you after riding your FZ1, but there's a thing called a throttle which makes the bike accelerate. It actually rotates quite a lot and the smaller bikes require you twist it more than an inch to accelerate. ;)

I think Kawasaki officially rates the Ninja 500R at about 50hp and the Ninja 250R about 32
 
The color seems important to her, and the Ninja 250 as far back as 1999 was available in GREEN, will resell better, and will cost the same money.

Considering all factors, and that this bike won't even be purchased for months, and the fact that the Ninja 250 cruised easily at 80mph under my 225lb body over an hour, this is starting to become mental masturbation. We don't even know if she even wants to ride, and we're focusing on HP figures and pulling away at 80mph on the highway?

If your GF is going 70mph on the highway in her first summer it's a bad decision all around, so I'm out of this one. I truly wish you the best of luck, and hope you find the right bike at the right price. Just get her GOOD QUALITY gear for her 90mph highway passes.

No offense to anyone, but in my opinion this whole thing has become ridiculous. When we're at the point of quoting 1/4 mile times for a new rider on 250s and 500s, I'm going to excuse myself from further postings in this thread.
 
Yes, this is just me thinking out loud on forums which sometimes I should not do.

I am going to test ride all these bikes on my own before she even knows I am getting anything, and if the 250 will do it, then that's most likely going to be the winner. Everyone here seems to think the 250 is enough, and since most of you have driven one and think its good then I am sure I will as well.

Also, we are buying her gear when her tax return comes in this/next month just because she needs it being on my bike or her own regardless. I already explained to her shes not allowed on the bike without it. Since we went out twice so far, it was ok as since it was so cold we had so many layers on and she was able to use my other riding jacket plus tons of other layers but once it gets warm she needs her own jacket. I will be getting her the same helmet as mine so we can have blue-tooth wireless and can talk, as I feel that will make her very comfortable being able to talk to me while we are riding. She didn't understand how you are alone but your not at the same time on a bike until we rode and she couldn't talk to me while we were riding lol.

I understand you don't want to post in this thread anymore, and that is fine but your advice is what has sunk in the most as you seem to have a lot of experience on this thing and your very adamant that it will work. Which means to me that if you are fine on it at 225lbs I think she should be ok as she is no offense a bit lighter :P

I have been finding green/black 250's (Older versions) for cheap lately so in all seriousness that is 90% chance of what she is going to get assuming she likes it but I think she will. If the resale is as good as everyone is saying, selling it and getting her something bigger next year should not be a problem if she does want to upgrade.

I just keep forgetting this thing is for her and I look at all these stats about the 0-60 and the 1/4 miles and to ME it seems pathetic, but then again thinking about her never being on a bike and whatnot I have realized its a moot point. I can remember the first time I was ever on the highway, and 65mph felt like I was doing 150 in my car. I would imagine it will be the same for her, so I doubt she will be doing 4th gear pulls from 80 anytime soon.
 
I think the 1/4 mile times, and HP ratings as well, were employed in this thread only to illustrate how close some of these bikes actually were.

Papa, feel free to brain storm all you want. You should feel safe doing so here. Everyone here should offer their opinions. ...and that is all they are, OPINIONS. We all have different backgrounds and we will never reach consensus on a starter bike. You must take the advice and opinions with a grain of salt and do what is right for you and your girl.
 
I think the most important thing you can do to help you decide is to get her to throw a leg over each and see how she feels. While it might not be advisable to have her test-riding it without any experience, if you feel confident she can get around the block safely, maybe see if there's a Kawasaki dealer in your area or thereabouts that has both bikes sitting on the showroom floor that you can demo ride.

Liability beware though :)

All things considered, if I was in your position with your budget; I'd get the Ninja 250 for her.
 
We shall see. I'm waiting for them to open the class back up so I can get her in there to get her licence. Then we will see what the deal is.

She LOVES the 2009+ Green Ninja 250's but they are way out of my price range unless someone here has one they want to give me for 1500 bones....

:)
 
PapaGeno21 said:
She LOVES the 2009+ Green Ninja 250's but they are way out of my price range unless someone here has one they want to give me for 1500 bones....
Click to expand...

FWIW, up here in Vancouver, BC (where the bike market is not nearly as swollen and used bike prices are at least 20% higher), there were plenty of 08+ (new body style started in 08) Ninja 250s that were asking $2800-$3000 and I'm sure I could wave $2500 in front of them and at least one person would take it. I'm sure down there where the market is so much more competitive (simply due to how many more people there are) that you could find something even less.

Also, the older generation ZZR250s are selling for really cheap and I'm absolutely certain you could find an 06 or 07 ZZR250/Ninja 250 for $1500.
 
My 2 cents

I joined your forum tonight just to give some imput on this thread which was all over the place:chat:.
If you have'nt ridden a Ninja 500R (all 55 horses and 400+ pounds of it) you do not know what you are missing. The second generation bikes (1993 and newer) are the ones to get, and I sold my 2001 5 years ago for $2500....so you should get a 200something fo that 15K.
Up to 5 years ago they were the most popular and competitive bike for the sportsman twin racing class until the SV650 came out.
Light, nimble, low maintenance, bullit proof and already running a 520 chain.
All I did to mine was K&N air filter in a modified box, kerker slip ons, -1 in the front, went up from the 130 in the back to a 150 (the rim could handle it), and had Pilot Power H2's....your left toe would be dancing, but you could hang in the twisties with a lot of bikes,...topped out at about 110 with -1, and 120 stock....my fat ass would give anything up to a 1000cc a close race for the 1/8 then I'm toast.
Point I'm trying to make.....it's docile a great beginners bike, with smooth power delivery (remember its a twin) not twichy like the inline 4's.

And best of all...some years do come in green.

Sorry about the rant guys.....just hate people beating up a bike when they haven't ridden it.

Cheers:tup:
 
PapaGeno21 said:
Edited for my own stupidity.
Click to expand...

Not fair Geno! I knew I shouldn't have looked back at this! You deleting the craziness above mine makes me look like an insensitive a$$. Bad Geno, bad! Tell your GF to spank you immediately, then slather you in pudding for punishment.

At least you and I are square and know what we were discussing. Thanks for the PM.

That WILL be my last post in this one. Really. I mean it this time. No, seriously.
 
Blavenia said:
Not fair Geno! I knew I shouldn't have looked back at this! You deleting the craziness above mine makes me look like an insensitive a$$. Bad Geno, bad! Tell your GF to spank you immediately, then slather you in pudding for punishment.

At least you and I are square and know what we were discussing. Thanks for the PM.

That WILL be my last post in this one. Really. I mean it this time. No, seriously.
Click to expand...

I for one know you are not an insensitive a$$. I, on the other hand, may be a big one sometimes. ....and I am very sorry for that.:shame:

All of you guys are awesome. That is why I love this forum. I guess if we are all passionate about safety that is a good thing right?

Don't leave us alone in this thread Brian! :cry:
 
Last edited:
I'd like to offer one more view. You all have valid points/debates but I'd have to disagree that all riders should start out on smaller bikes. As a matter of fact, it wouldn't be my place to EVER tell a rider what they should or shouldn't start out on. While I might make some recommendations to a rider, it isn't my place to berate them for their choice.

I agree that practice and experience are 100% key. No amount of classes and training will cover real-world experience.

First, you need to know/understand the person who is about to ride. I'd put my daughter on most bikes. Why? Because she is level headed and overly cautious. I know she wouldn't be that hamfist or hooligan. Now my sons... I do not care if they took the MSF each weekend for a year... I would NOT ever put them on motorcycles because they would not behave at all and would wind up injured or worse. The good news is, they KNOW this and have told me they won't ride until they've reached a point in life that they can control the urges.

My wife's first bike was a 650cc, granted is was a cruiser with a low torque/low HP thumper (Suzuki S40 Boulevard). She then moved to a V Star 650 Custom, then the FZ6R and this spring, she will exit the garage on the FZ1.

Now, it was Brad, I believe, that stated women are a lot less inclined to act out on a bike. That is very true. My wife rides a constant throttle and is cautious. She has no desire to go stupid fast but she understands that I am a male with testicles and cannot always control my own urges to twist the throttle. However, she understands that while I do go a lot faster than her, I don't do it with reckless intent. I'm not going as fast as I can, I'm honing technical skills to become what va_rider has labeled the "A" rider. I've got a long way to go. She knows I will leave her behind on the corners but also knows I'm waiting for her at the other end. She's OK with that.

What's my point? Well, the discussion is about Papa's GF and her first bike. We do not know squat about this young Lady. We do not know if she is an all-out adrenaline junkie who lives on the edge outside of motorcycles. Perhaps she is a woman who loves to stay home and watch movies, sip wine and eat strawberries. Or, she is somewhere in between. Only Papa knows what her mentality is, how she handles what life hands to her and what his gut feeling is about her being on a motorcycle. What if this was her first car and money wasn't an object? Are we going to force her into a Smartcar when she wants to go buy the Veyron because she can afford it? They both have four wheels and a steering wheel and she just got her license and knows how to drive both. You see, it's just not our place to pass that judgement.

If I apply this to my own kids, and they are all adults and can do as they please.... I urge them in a direction because I can apply my own life's experiences and help them understand the pros and cons of each choice. But in the end, I cannot tell them what choice to make, only hope that I've given them enough information that they make an informed decision. I'd trust my daughter to ride most any bike, same as my wife. The boys both know that they cannot handle a bike and respect my feedback thus have no desire to own a bike yet although one is getting curious. I still tell him he is not ready because he drives his car too fast for my liking so I see him on a bike going all that much faster.

My opinion? Papa knows her best. Guide her to make an informed decision but do not force her hand. She will respect you all the more and listen to you better as you guide her through the first 10k miles.

Hope this helps in some way/shape/form for you Papa.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top