I have a 650R that I bought a year ago, and my wife is interested in riding as well.
Looking at the new 250R for her, but at 5'9", I was wondering if she'd get tired of it on long rides... any opinions?

I started on this bike and I'm 6'2.

You're wife is pretty tall! My gf wants to start riding and we were actually planning to go sit on a few different starter bikes (250r included). Her problem is she's 5 1... my guess is she won't be able to flatfoot the lil-ninja We'll see this weekend.

I think your wife should be just fine on the 250R btw.

I guess for the vertically challanged, the Buell Blast is the hot ticket. The low-seat version is barely two feet off the ground.

My wife, however, is near the other end of the spectrum...tall, with long legs, and arms. I was worried that the new Ninja would be a little cramped, for three-hour rides. When we get a little closer to buying time, I'll have to try and rent something similar, so she can get a feel for it.

Yea we'll try to sit on those Buells too to get a feel for it. Thanks for the suggestion.

Originally Posted by jannix

You're wife is pretty tall! My gf wants to start riding and we were actually planning to go sit on a few different starter bikes (250r included). Her problem is she's 5 1... my guess is she won't be able to flatfoot the lil-ninja We'll see this weekend.
I think your wife should be just fine on the 250R btw.

I'm 5.10 and have no problem riding at stock height on an 04 ninjette

The First generation ex250 has a lower seat heigth than the 2008+

My wife is also 5'1. I added adjustable rear links and a lowered Sargent seat, and that worked pretty good

i recently bought an 09 650 but only because i couldn't stay off my daughter's recently acquired 06 250. i'm 5'10"ish x 180 w/31" inseam. 250's ergos were fine for me. i'd already been ridin' cruisers for nearly 12 yrs.

I just sold my 06 ninja 250 last week. It was my starter bike and im about 6'1.

My knees would feel cramped up after so long of riding. But if I were you, i'd still go with a bike the size of the 250. You can't beat it as a starter bike for an inexperienced rider.

I'm 5'9'' and used to have a 250. I put 3000 miles on it and was very confortable riding the bike.

5-11

5'10 220lb and have no issues... Also you know there is only about a 1" difference between the 650 and 250 right?

I'm 5'8" and have no problem on my 09 250r

I'm 6'-3", 195 lbs, 34" inseam. I can ride my son's 2011 250R all day long. Amazing bike.

Originally Posted by kurt

I guess for the vertically challanged, the Buell Blast is the hot ticket. The low-seat version is barely two feet off the ground.

I was just reading a comparison article of beginner's bikes (from '03 I think), they HATED the Blast, even though the seat height was low, it was wide and was harder to touch the ground than the EX500 and the GS500. It also had cramped seat, peg, handlebar dimensions. Overall they made it sound like the Blast was a "cobbled together" attempt at a beginners bike. I guess the first clue of that would be the fact that the engine was derived by loping of one cylinder from a Sportster engine. Just looking at pictures of the bike, it looks like they built the bike to accommodate parts they already had, instead of building parts to accommodate the bike they wanted to build.

Heck, even Eric Buell "admitted" the Blast was a failure when he started crushing Blasts to make into tables, I guess as an apology for making the Blast in the first place.

5'11", and my '89 Ninja 250 fits me pretty good.
Tony