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300cc for first motorcycle.

X

Xpensiv_sht

squid
Joined
Apr 5, 2017
Location
San Jose California
Moto(s)
none ;c
Hello, wanting to hear your options on getting a 2017 ninja 300cc (new) as a first bike. Never ridden a motorcycle before. yes i have my m1 license and before ive been getting around town with a fixed gear bike. Only thing that worries me that ive heard many people say is that your gana get bored of it and it cant even wheelie. so kinda skeptical. or getting a 2014 650cc ninja (used) with 4420 miles on it. thanks for your time reading this! :D
 
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Too slow.

I'd start off with a Suzuki Hayabusa. Perfect beginner bike that you'll never get bored of! And it can wheelie!
 
Yeah, you'll probably get bored of it. 30 horsepower on a 400 lb bike is anemic. For a first bike you want something that you can sell for what you paid, and that you won't have to file a claim on when you dump it.

If you're hopeless with a wrench then that's a hard sell. If you're handy, shop used and be prepared to go through the bike before you start riding it in earnest. Budget $500 to get everything up to snuff.

Tires
Chain and sprockets
Oil change
Coolant flush
Brake fluid flush
Brake pads
Valve adjustment
Spark plugs
Air filter
 
as a new rider you will make a mistake and drop whatever bike you buy. Buy a small displacement bike used for like $2k, then ride the heck out of it.

When you get "bored" of it, sell it. You will learn infinitely more on a small bike than a larger bike.
 
quicksparks said:
Yeah, you'll probably get bored of it. 30 horsepower on a 400 lb bike is anemic. For a first bike you want something that you can sell for what you paid, and that you won't have to file a claim on when you dump it.

If you're hopeless with a wrench then that's a hard sell. If you're handy, shop used and be prepared to go through the bike before you start riding it in earnest. Budget $500 to get everything up to snuff.

Tires
Chain and sprockets
Oil change
Coolant flush
Brake fluid flush
Brake pads
Valve adjustment
Spark plugs
Air filter
Click to expand...

so do you recommend the 2014 used 650?
 
Plenty of used Ninja 300s out there as well. A 300 is plenty for the curvy roads around here, but it will be anemic at highway speeds. A 650 is a reasonable step up but usually only an additional 20hp-25hp over a 300 twin.
 
Arguable that a Ninja 300 or 650 are sports bikes. They have very upright ergos.

Either of them are fine to me, probably lean towards the 650 as the extra grunt is nice at highway speed. Plenty of people recommend SV650s as starting bikes and they're basically identical to the Ninja 650.
 
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I don't suggest buying used unless you have someone with knowledge wrenching on bikes to look things over for you before purchase. I'm pretty handy with a wrench on cars but didn't feel comfortable enough to shop used alone for my first bike.

I'm on a 300 now as my first bike, under a year in seat time and I'm having a blast. Just took it on 101 today for the first freeway run and I didn't feel underpowered at all. I'm on an R3 though it's got a little more giddy-up than the ninja..just a little. Whatever you choose just make sure it fits you and you're comfortable on it. Good luck with the purchase :thumbup
 
If you can get the suspension upgraded on the R3 (full carts and a new rear shock), it's a total hoot everywhere around here.
 
OP, out of the two options you listed -- brand new 300 vs. used 3-yr-old 650 -- go with the 650.

But there are still many other options to consider. No matter what bike you choose, odds are pretty high that within 1 year you will decide that either A) riding isn't for you and you want to cash out or B) you start lusting after a different bike.

In both cases, it's good to not have sunk too much cost into your first choice. The thing about street riding is that it's easy to get cocky and out-ride your skill level and get maimed or killed. Dirt riding is just the opposite, so if that's at all in the cards for you, I highly recommend it.
 
I've owned the 650 and my wife rides a 300 now, which I borrow sometimes.

The 300 is a much better bike overall, feels better built, and more fun to ride. The only thing the 650 does better is straight line acceleration. I'd take the 300 over the 650 for any sort of spirited riding in twisties, and the 300 is completely fine on the freeway. Even touring on it is pretty easy.

BTW, both can wheelie. Also, my 650 was built in Thailand but my wife's 300 is made in Japan.

If I had to choose between the 300 or 650, I'd go for the 300.
 
I haven't had a new 300, but i have had a 2nd gen ninjette and even a GPZ305. Both are acceptable first bikes. My 305 was my first streetbike after several enduros. I was 16, so I crashed the 305 A LOT.

Personally, I would buy the cheapest option you feel comfortable on. Plenty of time to upgrade after you wad up your first bike a few times.

New vs. Used: There are plenty of nice, low mileage used 300's or 650's on sale. Both are solid and a bike that appears to be in reasonable condition will, in all likelihood, be fine mechanically.

If you are completely useless at gauging the condition of a used bike ask for help here and someone will probably volunteer to come with you for the price of a beer or slice of pizza.
 
Wow the old argument continues...
New rider not much experience everyone is pushing him to a bigger bike.
Getting bored and wheelies have no bearing on learning how to ride, and not getting in over your head,
But hey its a different generation.
Seen plenty of newbs get that bigger new bike and days later they are on the mend, and the bike is trashed.
Didn't we have one recently who thought he could run with the bigger dogs and totaled his kawi?
I also had a friend who bought a versys 650 and wrecked it immediately after buying it not 60 yards from the dealer.
reminded me of the Pee Wee Herman wreck. I know it was bad, but it was also funny as shit because many of our friends told him not to get it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzVAx1n1QFw
 
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A brand new first bike is dumb in my opinion. It will hurt more when you drop it plus you will instantly loose money on it when you go to sell it.

You could easily buy a used ninja 300 and then once you got all the basics down, turn around and sell it for exactly what you paid for it, even after a drop. You have the rest of your life to buy bigger and faster bikes. Don't ruin your motorcycle career by getting something too big too soon.

Forget about whether the bike can wheelie. I have a S1000RR and I can't wheelie it.
 
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I was not considering the 650 (twin implied) to be a "big" bike for street riding. It's gonna have, what, like 60 horsepower max? At the same time, it will sip fuel, be reliable, and cheap to maintain.

A 600 cc I4 on the other hand...
 
Not a slice of pizza

[QUOTE
If you are completely useless at gauging the condition of a used bike ask for help here and someone will probably volunteer to come with you for the price of a beer or slice of pizza.[/QUOTE]



Its gone up.. Its some pizza and beers!:thumbup
 
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