Thinking about getting a bike and and I don't want to sell it in a year after I realize that it is too under-powered. I know resale on bikes you tend to lose a lot so I want to avoid needing to sell it soon after I buy it. I want to be able to go on highways and have enough power and not feel like I'll be blown over the first time a large truck passes me. Should I be looking at 600cc? I feel like I'll keep a 600 longer than I would a 300. Also if I wanted to sell it, it would probably be easier to sell later. Opinions?
Will I outgrow a 300cc too soon?
- Thread starter tdiguy
- Start date
Beginner bikes have high resale value, you probably won't lose much at all when you sell your 300cc. If you have no experience on motorcycles, stick with the 300cc, it'll save you from paying high insurance premiums and will help you develop a good basic foundation for motorcycling.
Do you think it'll be good for a highway commute?
yes
OK
My opinion, coming from a guy who started on a 500.
The 300 will be enough for your first year to learn.
For the 2nd year you'll be able to push it even MORE (lean, non-lean corners, better control input). 300 and 500 are pretty similar in power output (as 300s are lighter so power to weight ratio is close) but the 500 will have the lil extra oomph for the longer highway rides.
Quoting my buddy who started on a 600 "I dont regret buying my bike, and i still love it, but having ridden a 500 (mine and another actually) I know i wouldve enjoyed my 1st year a lot more on the smaller bike as its easier to handle and learn on"
oh....and also, insurance on 599cc+ for n00bs is BRUTAL. So the depreciation (which is actually very low on jap bikes) you get on your newer 300 you'll be paying that much if not more just in insurance for a 600 most likely.
Honestly even if you were to sell after a season, the experience would be definitely worth it and the market for 300s is quite a considerable one so you wont have trouble selling one, contrarily to 600s that are more and more difficult to insure year after year.
My opinion, coming from a guy who started on a 500.
The 300 will be enough for your first year to learn.
For the 2nd year you'll be able to push it even MORE (lean, non-lean corners, better control input). 300 and 500 are pretty similar in power output (as 300s are lighter so power to weight ratio is close) but the 500 will have the lil extra oomph for the longer highway rides.
Quoting my buddy who started on a 600 "I dont regret buying my bike, and i still love it, but having ridden a 500 (mine and another actually) I know i wouldve enjoyed my 1st year a lot more on the smaller bike as its easier to handle and learn on"
oh....and also, insurance on 599cc+ for n00bs is BRUTAL. So the depreciation (which is actually very low on jap bikes) you get on your newer 300 you'll be paying that much if not more just in insurance for a 600 most likely.
Honestly even if you were to sell after a season, the experience would be definitely worth it and the market for 300s is quite a considerable one so you wont have trouble selling one, contrarily to 600s that are more and more difficult to insure year after year.
conundrum
Well-known member
300 will be fine unless:
1. You want to be a fake racer and ride well above the posted limits.
2. You plan on doing long touring rides at highway speeds for many hours on end (eg. constant trips into the US, 5+ hrs rides above 100km/h, etc)
3. You weigh 250-300 lbs or more.
Outside of that, the modern 300s will easily do 140-170km/h or more, and can likely out accelerate most average cars, so try not to think of it as a beginner bike. I rode a CBR250RA for 2 years, and it was a great bike...main reasons for selling is I did want more passing power on the highway (and that bike was around 10hp less than the Ninja 300R -- topped out around 152km/h), and I do a lot of longer/distance rides, which did get tiring at a constant 11,000rpm or so.
I should also add that I miss the 250 sometimes -- It was fun to be able to bang through most of the gears up to redline, and not really be breaking speed limits. Try to do that on a 600 (even non SS), and you'll likely end up with lights behind you (even my non SS CBR650FA can do around 90km/h in 1st).
1. You want to be a fake racer and ride well above the posted limits.
2. You plan on doing long touring rides at highway speeds for many hours on end (eg. constant trips into the US, 5+ hrs rides above 100km/h, etc)
3. You weigh 250-300 lbs or more.
Outside of that, the modern 300s will easily do 140-170km/h or more, and can likely out accelerate most average cars, so try not to think of it as a beginner bike. I rode a CBR250RA for 2 years, and it was a great bike...main reasons for selling is I did want more passing power on the highway (and that bike was around 10hp less than the Ninja 300R -- topped out around 152km/h), and I do a lot of longer/distance rides, which did get tiring at a constant 11,000rpm or so.
I should also add that I miss the 250 sometimes -- It was fun to be able to bang through most of the gears up to redline, and not really be breaking speed limits. Try to do that on a 600 (even non SS), and you'll likely end up with lights behind you (even my non SS CBR650FA can do around 90km/h in 1st).
boyoboy
Well-known member
how much do you weigh? depends on what you want to use it for. commute, ok. carrying passengers on long trips, not great. track days, ok. 600 is not a beginner bike. used - ninja 500r, cbr500, kawi 400 are cheap and easier to live with than a 300. 600ss no. please don't tell me you are buying brand new for your first bike. you will always lose cash the moment you buy a new bike - but if you buy a clean used bike and sell it in a year you won't lose nearly as much value. i find it odd if you have never rode before, that your thinking 600. do you have dirt bike experience?
Riceburner
Well-known member
My 4th bike was a 250. Shared the garage with a couple of 750s. A gixxer and a sport tourer. You don't outgrow them, you just use em differently.
Dave Ropers' daily rider is CBR250. Gary Nixon also rode Ninja 250 socially.
Im 6'1. 215 pounds and I have a ninja 300. Got it last year in july as a first bike. Great bike, hold highway speeds easily, has enough power to pass cars. Im 19 yo, and the purpose I got a 300 was because of insurance. A cbr500 was 1500+ more than the ninja 300 for insurance each year so it was pretty much my only option. Driving the bike now, I realize a 300 was the best bike to start on because of all the skills you are able to learn on it, whereas on a larger bike you may not feel as comfortable to whip around the bike and gun the throttle. Ofcourse I want more power, as most of us do, but it has enough power to keep me interested until I can afford a larger bike.
You did the right thing. Once you get a real bike you'll appreciate the acceleration. But there's more you should know about, which seems to get glossed over. Modern bikes have evolved over many decades and the one thing the japs have nailed perfectly is the sphincter tightening c/s/s.a. pivot, axle triangle. When you grab a handful on a real bike the rear end doesn't go flaccid like a 1968 Chevy Impala, no, it tightens to harness all the energy into forward motion. It's something to behold.
Hehe. Nicely done.
Boots
Well-known member
I bought my ninja 400 for 4250 and sold it at 4250 after 2 years of use. Resale is great on the lower CC bikes... if you bought it used to begin with. Too many people are trying to sell their 300s for MSRP + tax.
It depends what kind of riding you're doing. I sold my 400 in the hopes of buying a higher cc bike to do some tours with, I couldn't stand being at 8k rpm for hours, my legs were burning from the engine being wrung out for hours and my ears were ringing despite the earplugs.
I can't comment on the being blown over on the highway, the 400 had a similar weight to the ninja 650 so it was pretty planted.
in terms of passing power, they're pretty powerful. On a stock bike I beat (in 'Mexico') a done up (new engine, exhaust, tires etc) 80s camaro. Thing was quick it makes 400 hp.
In reality very few people will use all the potential of the 300, but it all comes down to personal preference and what type of riding you're doing.
It depends what kind of riding you're doing. I sold my 400 in the hopes of buying a higher cc bike to do some tours with, I couldn't stand being at 8k rpm for hours, my legs were burning from the engine being wrung out for hours and my ears were ringing despite the earplugs.
I can't comment on the being blown over on the highway, the 400 had a similar weight to the ninja 650 so it was pretty planted.
in terms of passing power, they're pretty powerful. On a stock bike I beat (in 'Mexico') a done up (new engine, exhaust, tires etc) 80s camaro. Thing was quick it makes 400 hp.
In reality very few people will use all the potential of the 300, but it all comes down to personal preference and what type of riding you're doing.
