First bike. How long do you own it for?

[sadza]

Thank you to everyone who has offered their thoughts. I'll have to wait until next weekend to go and test a couple of the machines mentioned.

I'll let you know the outcome.

[HTFU]

Someone needs an HTFU pill.

I'm 6' and fit on my old ZXR250c fine. Admittedly only 80kg but still. Plenty have done it without issues on Hyosungs or Hornets.

[boman]

I am 6ft about 100kg, depending on who's scales I use. Ride a 250 bandit at the moment. Had her for about three years. Paid $4000.00 for her, sold her after I get my full in a couple of weeks for $3000.00. Never considered buying new as I new from past experience that a 250 will get too small too fast. If you can get an exemption do so. Spend your money on a 600 that will suit you for longer than a 250 will. IMHO.

[vifferman]

I owned my first bike until I killed it 15 months later (t-boned a car at about 65 km/h).
It rose from the dead when the guy who bought its mangled carcase resurrected it.

[Little Miss Trouble]

Don't forget that the Ninja is a GPX in raceyer (sorry Hitcher is that a word?) clothes.

And I do just so happen to have an 07 GPX for sale...

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=85319

[1 Free Man]

Thoughts from an old fart. (newbie to)
Buy a new bike. get full insurance cover on it. Most important. Ride it for the 12 months it will take you to get your full licence. Have a shit load of fun on it. Sell it and upgrade. Loose a few bucks on the deal but hey, you will never get fun and pleasure from anything for the same price.

I know I am there and doing it. $6k's worth of bike $1,000,000 worth of fun.

[sadza]

Thanks for all the advice. Now the long wait until the weekend!

[Gubb]

With regards to the exemption:

I'm taller, and wider than all of you who have posted your stats in here. I'm also glad I didn't go down the exemption route. Personally, I think it's a good rule and it prepares you for the real world. It's the people in a hurry to buy their first litre monster that scare me the most. I think car drivers should have to go down a similar route.

Take your time, absorb as much information as you possible can, ride by yourself, and in groups. pick up tips for everyone, and see what works for you.

As for bikes, I settled on a Hyosung, purely for it's size, and I could afford to buy new. The Ninja's weren't released at that time. If I had to do it over again, I would have a Ninja. Although they are noticably smaller than the Hyosung, they tick all the right boxes, and if I can commute on it, almost anyone can.

That being said, if your after a Hyosung (with a new engine) and lots of bells and whistles let me know. Not to shit on my own pillow though, but you'd have to be brain damaged to take me up on it.

[piston broke]

absolutely agree with gubb about exemptions.
i don't think there need be any.

[ckai]

I'm with Gubb also. I'm not as big (just over 6ft and around 90kg) but I'm more than happy with my 250. In saying that an extra 25 kg would make a difference.

Since you're only 20 go with the full term and really learn something on your bike first and don't be in a hurry to jump up to the big boys. I know the extra power and speed will light your tyres but so what if you're a little slower? Work the corners and piss off the bigger bikes by keeping up with them around the twisties

You mentioned that you want be touring that much? Well, there's nothing better than getting in with a group of good guys and going for rides around the "block".

I brought new and I'm only going to have mine for a max of 1 year before my full. I got a good deal and guaranteed trade so I have that assurance.

But hey, digest everyone's advice. At least you'll know you heard both sides of the story.

[discotex]

+1 for the last 3 posts. The longer you stay on the 250 the better you will learn to corner. Once you get on the bigger bikes you tend to get lazy and use straight line speed.

[TOTO]

+1 on the last 4 posts.

[HTFU]

I'm with Gubb also. I'm not as big (just over 6ft and around 90kg) but I'm more than happy with my 250. In saying that an extra 25 kg would make a difference.

Work the corners and piss off the bigger bikes by keeping up with them around the twisties

But hey, digest everyone's advice. At least you'll know you heard both sides of the story.

Its not so much the speed its the handling that will be the issue and especially in the twisties. My bike will scrape just about everything as the suspension is just soft and even by keeping it fairly upright and hanging off it the big bumps and tight corners result in touchdowns. I do not know of any 250s with suspension that will handle 115kg.

One of my mates is that weight on a light day and his sons gsx 250 wasn't too happy about him being on it. Nothing worse than soft suspension, reckon it will limit the big boys ride more than the engine size.

Another good option other than the 500cc Suzuki would be a second hand 250 with a shock upgrade. I know you can get the Kawasaki GPX on trade me for around $4000 and a Hagon shock upgrade for the GPX is $795 and available in NZ. Good use of $5000 on a bike purchase.

Maybe the new ninja 250 has a harder spring and if that's the case buy it.

[iangee]

I'm with the guys who say not to bother with an exemption. I just applied for an exemption to excuse me from the restriction on the night time hours and what a hassle that was, they granted me an exemption with many limitations on the exemption granted, I went back and they had to re-consider. They finally came back with something that suited but they still restricted me to certain timeframes rather than just letting me ride anytime between 10pm & 5am. If they are so strict just on these hours I can't imagine what it would be like to ask to skip straight to a full license! I'm very happy with my Ninja, i've done just under 3000kms and can still scare myself on it, I'm certainly not ready for a bigger bike yet. Good things take time... Oh and the rear shock absorber does have a 5 way adjustable preload on it. Good luck!