1988, 89 90 or 91 FZR 400 - look for one of those clean with 20k or less on the clock. \Should be waaaaay less to insure than a 600, handles great and is 4 cyl/4carbs. Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298938858.jpg

Yer gonna get tired of that 250cc engine really quick.
Buy something bigger.

i like that FZR.

There are some hills near Scottsbluff

a 250 will not have adequate power for you unless you are the size of a teenage girl

Stop messing around and just get one of these....

YouTube - Pocket Rocket

While I would agree that this bike is underpowered... I would also argue that a little 250 can also absolutely humble larger bikes under the right conditions. They really can be quite capable for most situations. I wouldn't tour with one, but they are great little bikes for the twisties. I had a little fun awhile back with my 30HP Ninja 250 vs 600s and 1000s in the intermediate group at a track day :)

YouTube - Ninja 250 250R at Buttonwillow Race Track

HI,
i am driving Honda CBR250R from a long and remember this bike with my good thoughts....
I hope you also enjoy this bike as like me.....

I've never ridden a 250 on the highway, just around town. They're great around town. Plenty zippy, handle well, and that one looks like it has great brakes. But in Nebraska, isn't the highway speedlimit 75? This bike goes 90. 75 or maybe 80 is pretty close to its tapped out speed. If you're a average sized guy, their will be a fair amount of wind drag (most people who test these are on the small side). That could add up to a strained experience on the highway, a real buzzy feeling that is unpleasant on longer trips.

I rode a CBR 600 for years - great bike. More than I needed, pulled hard up every hill, out of corners, etc. If you plan on getting on the freeway this summer, I would suggest something 400 cc or bigger. That little FZR bike posted above is a tasty number. If I came across one of those, I'd probably buy it just to have it!

angela

I am a total newbie on bikes, so take my opinion lightly. I recently bought a drz-400 Suzuki dual sport. It is 315 lb wet, has about 35-40 HP, but has a close ratio gearbox that isn't good for high speeds. As a newbie, this bike has more than enough power. I don't think I'd be unhappy with a 250. So far, with less than 100 miles under my belt, I find myself intimidated on the road. I'm still trying to learn the controls. When I do get going, I get bored easily. Honestly, I'd rather be on a bicycle, but I am a big fan of cycling.

However, off road, this drz is a blast. It is so much fun. I learned more about motorcycle handling in five minutes off road than 50 miles on the road.

I guess my point is perspectives change once you actually start riding. I was so concerned about buying a bike that could do 65 MPH. This DRZ was modded for more power and wears taller sprockets to handle 65 MPH. Now, I have no desire to run on the interstate and don't need the extra power. On the other hand, I bought the bike for 90% on-road. Now, I'm not sure if I will use it much on the road. If I can find trails nearby, I'll fit the dirt wheels and ride off-road. Lastly, while a 315 lb bike is relatively light, coming off bicycles, it feels like a bucket of lead. Of course, my opinions will probably flip-flop later after I get in a few thousand miles under my belt.

Get a bike where you feel comfortable. Get some miles in and you can start thinking about your next bike.

I couldn't recommend a 250cc four-stroke as a first bike either, especially a brand new one.

My wife started riding two years ago and decided she liked the Suzuki GS500F for it's comfort and decent power to weight (~400lbs, 50hp) so we shopped around and found a very clean one for less than half the cost of a new one. Typical of a first motorcycle, it got laid down once in a low speed u-turn maneuver in a parking lot with some loose gravel on the pavement but it survived mostly unscathed... in this case, it actually DID buff right out! She learned a valuable lesson without breaking the bank by dropping a brand new machine. Three months into riding, she felt that the 50hp wasn't nearly enough (imagine having just 28hp, or in the case of the CBR125R, 12hp!) and decided to upgrade to a 600cc inline 4. We shopped for a clean GSX-R600 for a month or so but came up empty since so many were modified by owners of little knowledge of esthetics, so when we found an original owner, low mileage GSX-R750, we grabbed it. Sure the 750 a lot of bike but as stated above, it only gives all 155hp when you throw the throttle wide open and since your wrist is not an on/off switch, it can be ridden tamely if you use some self-control. My wife put 12,000kms on that bike in 2010 (her first full season) and loved every second of it. She never had any issues with the power, in fact, she said it was actually much easier to ride as it had enough low end power to not have to wring its neck to get it rolling, and it had plenty of reserve for safely overtaking slower traffic on two-lane roads. Sometimes more power can make for a safer ride.

Moral of the story? Well in the end, you need to buy what you're comfortable on. Seat comfort and riding position are huge factors to consider and honestly, power should be secondary. The only issue that I see (for Canadians anyway) when going for the larger engine option is that insurance starts getting very painful the bigger you go. I know that motorcycle insurance in the US is way less but always get a quote before signing the dotted line for your dream motorcycle.

I would love a FZR400 but finding a good one will be difficult...and the seller will want top dollar. Better off buying a $2500 600 cc machine.

Whatever you buy, don't buy a sportbike. Buy something with an upright riding position. Don't worry too much about the engine size and power at first. There's a lot to learn about riding a motorcycle and very little of it has to do with how much power you have. You'll be staying off of the freeways (hopefully) so whatever top speed a bike may have is irrelevant. Anything on two wheels (excluding some scooters) can keep up with the normal flow of traffic. If you want to have fun on two wheels, and you want to learn much faster, buy a dedicated dirt bike.

JR

stay away from a sportbike? why?

i did a cursory search, for about half an hour. i only found one for sale, and the net was very broad. they wanted $4500 for it. i am sure that is more than it was new, by about $1000. it is a cool bike, for sure.

the fzr 400s may have been a ROW only bike. It was indeed avail. up here in Canada, just as my CBX 550 which is also a great choice if you like the naked look, as was the Bandit 400 another cool little bike of the last 20 yrs or so.

It depends of what the usage will be.

A 250cc engine is just a little bigger than a 175cc moped. The weight and bigger tires would make it a much safer ride up to 50-5 mph or so on the side streets, but a little precarious on the highway. 50mph is a lot different in a Model T than a Lamborgini. It would probably make a decent(but expensive) city bike.

If you have primarily 50mph 2-laners around where you live, you will need more bike.

Because of the riding position and the fact that they usually have a little steeper steering geometry. Something with the riding position of a dirt bike is infinitely easier for a beginner to deal with and something with slower, heavier steering is also better.

JR

we are just going to have to disagree on all of those points, javadog. except the steeper steering geometry, as that is a fact.

Okay. For every MSF school that you can show me that uses a modern sportbike for its entry-level class, I'll show you 10 of them that use something with an upright riding position. There's a reason for that. And, most of the bikes will be small, like a Honda Rebel, or similar.

Whatever he chooses, I still think a 20 year-old sportbike is a poor choice for a beginner. Especially one with lots and lots of plastic bodywork.

JR

I bought a F4i for my first bike. Haven't had any issues with it.