GS500E or Ninja 250?

[fesgali]

Which would be better for a newbie?

[Roadstergal]

Depending on the newbie and the particular bike, either would be better.  

[My Name Is Dave]

For a complete noob (no time in the saddle at all) I think a Ninja would be great. But I am really happy I got the GS5. It's got more power, yet is still forgiving.

In terms of looks and comparison to their older brothers, the GS5 F looks much more similar to the GSX-R 600 than the Ninja 250 or 500 do to the ZX-6R. If you even care about the looks. I know I do  

Dave  

[LizardQueen]

For a taller newbie, I'd recommend the GS. For a smaller one or one with shorter legs I might go with the Ninja.

I've sat on both (friend of mine has the Ninja) and was very uncomfortable on the Ninja. I have really long legs and really short arms, so on the Ninja my legs were folded up like an accordian and I couldn't comfortably reach the handlebars because the bike was so low to the ground relative to my shoulders!

Both are fine starter bikes, with the GS being a little simpler in engine design and with less plastic to break if they get the unfaired version. I think it really comes down to how the bike fits the rider.

LQ

[groff22]

Ninja 250 all the way! I hear those GS500's max out at 40 mph and when they get wet they fall apart so forget ever washing the thing...

Not to mention all the carb problems.

[Slavik]

GS.....it offers more flexibility on where you can ride (hwy speeds are pretty easy to maintain), and a great starter bike

[JoChan23]

GS500 for sure, first of all its not too fast so you wont scare yourself, and remember, unless your ultra rich and can afford to buy another motorcycle whenever you want... you wont be a noob forever, and when you are no longer one, you will hate a ninja 250.  I am 19 and have been riding motorcycles for 13 years.  Dont get me wrong i would like a bigger bike, but..  for around town and the occasional pleasure ride the gs500 has enough go.  I have never been on a ninja 250 but know a few people who got bored on em pretty fast.

- Jordan

[pantablo]

For a taller newbie, I'd recommend the GS. For a smaller one or one with shorter legs I might go with the Ninja.

Surprisingly, its the other way around. There's a guy on about.motorcycles.com that took pictures of himself, all 6ft somthin, testing a bunch of bikes when he was shopping and it was surprising that the 250 fit better than any of the 500's. has to do with better cutouts for the knee's at the gas tank.

Either bike is a good first bike.

[Roadstergal]

I haven't sat on a Ninja 250, but it has an awfully low listed seat height, and it doesn't have those annoying wide seats that the '01+ GSs have that makes them inhospitable to short riders.

[bbanjo]

pantablo rides a HONDA.

The better bike is that GS

[pantablo]

pantablo rides a HONDA.

The better bike is that GS

:nana:
but I cut my teeth on that lovely gs...

[LizardQueen]

The Ninja 250 I sat on felt like a pocket bike to me :lol: .  I'm tall enough and with long enough legs (5'10, 34" inseam) that it felt like if I stood up and someone pulled from the front they could pull it out from under me with inches to spare.    I wasn't comfortable at all on it, felt like a circus bear on a bicycle :lol: .

My friend (who owns the Ninja) is short with short legs, and my GS was too big for her. She can't even flatfoot the Ninja, is sort of bobbing around on the balls of her feet, and with the GS her feet were just about dangling in midair, even with my saggy rear shock.
Finding a sporty-ish bike that fits shorter riders can be tough - the cruisers seem easier for short-legged people to fit on but not everyone likes them.  

There's always the Ninja 500, another decent starter bike and a little taller than the 250, I think.  More HP than the GS, too.  I don't know much about them and haven't sat on one but most on message boards who have them seem pleased with them.  

I still like my air-cooled no-plastic GS best!

LQ

[Jace009gs]

other very very short ride height bikes to look at are the rebel 250, the nighthawk and the kawi. drifter 250. The  nighthawks are bullet proof IMHO because they have withstood the MSF classes :lol:  constant newbies dumping them

[Roadstergal]

Or a Savage 650 - as light and low as a Rebel, but more freeway-able.