Family thinks 650R is too big...

jbrandona119 said:

Alright. So you know how it goes, trying to find that first bike...

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Depending how old are you are...maybe your dads buddies comments hold true. If you are 16-18, I wouldn't even recommend getting a street bike until you have atleast 3 years experience on the road before. 90% of the dangers of motorcycling comes from the environment around you (not necessarily, birds/trees/weathers but other drivers/situations that requires experiences/etc)

That being said, the 650R is not too much motorcycle for you to start with if you surpass what I stated above; but it is also a motorcycle that you need to respect from the get-go and in-turn it will allow you to grow into it. Personally, I had 5 years of dirt bike experience on a KLX 125, and 4 years of driving experience before purchasing my first bike the 09 650R.

Regarding your comment on the ZX-6R(or similar motorcycle of different bran), are racing machines...bread for the track but sold on the street. That being said, you need to realize that it is not the seating style that should turn you away from a bike like that for your first bike. But instead why the seating style is like that, which is because it is a racing machine.

As far as the 250 is concerned, that was one of my options as well before purchasing the 650. I figured, it gets amazing reviews, it's cheap (being a college student that appealed to me), it had the styling I wanted and it wasn't too much for me to handle. Well, my father went to go look at the bike; sat on it then called me and told me "There is not a chance in hell I am letting you on the streets with this motorcycle. The dealer is showing me a 650R right now. If you want a motorcycle, allow me to give you the difference between the 250R-650R and I will allow you to own a motorcycle." Well, let's just say it didn't take much convincing because originally I was going to fund the motorcycle on my own. The reasons my father didn't like it, is because he felt it was too light and did not put out enough power for me to be riding on major roads safely.

My personal thoughts on the 250R...it's a great bike for what it is but that's about it. The only person I would recommend a 250R to, is some one like a gf who is trying to get into motorcycling only because you have one and they probably won't be riding that much to begin with. Most who I have spoken to that owned a 250, owned it for a season or less. The acceleration most likely wont leave you satisfied being about the same as most low-mid $ modern day sedans. The power on the bike tapers off at around 70 mph; which could potentially create a hazard if you find yourself in the wrong situation on a highway. Not to mention, with your height and build; frankly I think it's a miss match. I am only 5'9 135 lbs and I have had no issues w/ the 650.

Bottom line...the 650R is the way to go.

jbrandona119 said:

Yes, it is.

Could you explain why? Is it easier to handle, lower power etc.?

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Well there are numerous reasons. The SV has been on the market a lot longer, and youll be able to find one for super cheap, and there are a whole slew of models to choose from. The motor is arguably better all around, there are a lot more options for bars and clipons, and the aftermarket for the SV is probably 5X the size of the 650R. Power is actually better on the SV slightly.

If you want a better touring bike with much more upright ergonomics stock and a full fairing, the 650R is a bit better. If youre leaning towards a sportier bike, the SV is the way to go.

Think of it this way, the 650R is totally aimed at complete beginners or budget minded sport tourers, and can be made into a competent sport bike. The SV is a true middleweight sport bike (not supersport, mind you) from the start that's also good for beginners or sport tourers.

My two cents is this: generally speaking a new rider can learn the basics of riding better on a smaller cc machine. So I would not recommend that you start with any type of super sport as your first bike.

I started riding on a GS500F (a very good learner bike) I had no prior riding experience, And at the end of one season of riding I was at the same level as my friend who had dirt bike experience but bought a ZX7R.

The reason is quite simple, on a smaller bike you have less weight, and you learn how to go thought the gears, plus you can experiment a bit and make some minor slip ups without getting in trouble. If you start on a super sport the power may be intimidating at first and you will spend a month or two babying the bike, always scared of messing up, which can really hamper your learning curve.

Hope this helps a bit, the 650R should be good for you.

Thanks for all the responses! Definitely thinking about the SV650 pretty seriously now...

I have been driving for I think about two years now, but I do understand the risks other drivers pose to you on two wheels is much greater. And I was joking about the seat being the only reason I didn't pick it At the time I started getting into motorcycles I didn't understand the difference in engines. I only knew cubic centimeters and the 2-strokes and 4-strokes. But now, I get what a track bike is designed for...the track...

But, I'm turning 19 in January, and will probably end up buying a bike in the early spring, which gives me a lot of time to do research and get a feel for more bikes. I've seen lots of SQUIDS who ride like idiots on GSXR-1000s and R1s and zx-hugemotors w/e and whatnot. I saw a guy crash into the side of a big van going over 75mph. The dent he left was huge, and blood was on the pavement wear his helmet laid. I understand the safety concerns and consider myself more mature than others my age.

And the weight, I only googled for the numbers quickly. I'm not 100% sure of that. Don't want anyone listening to my advice ahaha. Riding a quad definitely prepared me for using the clutch and switching gears. I know I've got that down...so it should not take long transferring that skill onto 2 wheels.

twowheeladdict said:

The one problem with larger displacement bikes is the perception of speed. You find yourself going faster than you might think you are going and that is when you get into trouble.

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xlnt point. after nearly 12 yrs of cruiser riding i bought a 650. omg, when i got onto the freeway i was not prepared for the acceleration when i cracked the throttle.

the claim that if you buy a 250 you can sell it for what you paid for it after one season is not necessarily true.....

in may of 09 my daughter bought for $2200 an 06 250 with not quite 6000 miles on it. she replaced the battery and a tire after purchase. she put 2000 miles on it, and sold it off craigslist a couple weeks ago for $1850, after listing it for $2200 for several weeks and receiving very few inquiries. as far as i am concerned she paid a fair price for it when she bought it.

anyways, i would suggest a smaller bike, and a 250 would be a good choice. when my daughter bought hers, she did not have the M designation on her license (she had already passed the msf course and done the paperwork with the dmv), so i rode the 250 about 20 miles home on the freeway, after dark. it was perfectly fine. no it's not as quick (acceleration) as a 650, but you don't need it if you are a beginner.

jmho fwiw.

oh, yeah, forgot to mention that after she bought her bike, my daughter went to mexico for two weeks. while she was away i put 500 miles on her 250. the experience inspired me to buy a 650.

jbrandona119 said:

I weigh ~215lbs and I'm almost 6' tall

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Freeow. I'm way smaller than you, and I find the Ninja 250 cramped.

I do agree with the guy who mentioned dirt riding. At your age and time on the street, I think dirt riding would be an awesome way to go; dirt riding is lower-speed and there are no cars to hit you. You learn a lot about bike control in the dirt, and it's great fun. Also, most dirtbikes and dualsports are a lot taller than streetbikes, which would be good for your ergos, without being heavy. If you're not going to hit a lot of freeway, a DRZ400S would be a good bike to consider. You can hit the dirt, and it's good for backroads and urban environments. It's light for a streetbike, and since it's a dirtbike at heart, it's no big deal to drop.


All that being said, the 650R is a very beginner-friendly bike. The throttle has a ridiculously long throw, so the power comes on easily. The bike is light and slender, as streetbikes go. You can get them used for pretty cheap, now that they've been out a few years and are into a second generation.