Bike beginner, looking for advice on sport bike choices for school commuting.?

well as you heard used is a great idea for several reasons. also a 250 is a great buy, and regardless of what other people tell you its still a motorcycle and its still very fast. although if you want something faster and more expensive (including insurance) go ahead and get a 650. not 636, not 675, those are something else. but again its still a motorcycle and its still fast. i have a 100 as my first bike and it being so forgiving its saved my @ss a couple of times from me not knowing what i was getting in too. but a motorcycle is a great, fun, exciting, way to get places and also remember to take the classes and wear a helmet.

Ride safe. and i hope this helps!

I agree with your statement that there are no starter sport bikes. I also say that any bike can be a beginner bike. The difference is made when you make the decision to ride responsibly. If you start out on any bike and twist the throttle open every chance you get, you will eventually become a statistic. If you use proper throttle management and safe riding techniques, you can have a happy and enjoyable time on two wheels. My opinion is to stay away from anything under a 650. If the frame compliments your body size, it should be a good bike. If you are too big for a Ninja 250, you would likely never enjoy the ride anyway.

Get a bike with a 650 or better. Get a helmet. Make a conscious decision to be grown up on it. You will be fine.

Good luck and be safe!

What is the crazy facination with sport bikes? Get a standard of some sort and enjoy the ride. Being a green beginner you'll like drop it at least once and sport bikes have too many things that are easily broken and expensive to repair. Try to find you an older Kawasaki KZ440 or something like that. Not too heavy or too powerful and decent at highway speeds.

Since this the way you are convinced you want to go, then I'm not gonna call you a squid. (you did take the trouble to lay out your intentions of the machine) I can appreciate the fact that you say you don't want to go out knee dragging.....

If nothing else, you will simply have to experience some of the disadvantages for yourself. (I ride A BIG cruiser to school) The saddlebags and luggage rack make it extremely versatile. -and the co-eds like riding on the back of a Cadillac of a bike.

Where you gonna put all your books and school paraphernalia? -bungeed down on a postage stamp sized seat?

Where you gonna put groceries? -And most anything you want to carry?

Where you gonna put that hot chick? -on the aforementioned postage stamp sized seat?

How about when you take a trip, where you gonna put your bags & inclement weather gear? Are you prepared to ride when alot of people won't even get out in a car?

I cannot speak for the Suzuki 650, but what are you going to do when there's a 40+ mph crosswind? -on a Ninjette?

I could go on but a beginner needs to learn certain things on his own....

used is great.. cos they dont cost much & its not so bad when you throw them down the road..

ninja 250 .. or sv 650 suzy are both good bikes to learn on.. ( there not 600cc rockets) but there not that far behind... I would suggest the 250 for a year.. then trade up to the 650..

Small bikes teach you good habits,, you have to do things right to keep them moving at a reasonable rate..

A good rider on a 250 will beat an average rider on a 600.. when the road is twisty.. but nothing beats horsepower in a straight line..

just today i got a slightly used 500 R NInja. LOVE it so far.

like th 250, its smaller and less impossing than the larger 600 and 900cc bikes.

but the 500 cc is MORE than enough, i got up to 65 mph on the frontage road in a HURRY!

plus cost was Very low ($3000 for 700 miles on the bike) and insurance was cheap too $350 for the year.

just make sure you remem ber the stuff from your riders course. look out for others and stay alert!

the bottom line is this you are a beginner and a squid. do yourself a favor and get the ninja 250 to start with then in a year or year and a half sell the 250 and get something bigger. if you buy a new 250 and take care of it you will be able to sell it for at or near what you paid for it. start slow you will live longer.