Random fact:  Insurance on my SV1000 is $160 a year...full coverage.   

Dude, get what you like!  If you want the 250r, go for it.  You're on a GS500 site.     Of course they will flame the little ninja.  If we were on the SV forums, the R6 forums, the Ninja 650r forums, the GSXR forums, etc., they'd tell you anything less than a 600cc sport bike is weak...including our GS500s,  so go with what you want.  The ninja is cheap enough to make a mistake.  If you don't like it, you can always trade up.  But, if you do like it, you'll have a great bike for little cash.   

Quote from: oramac on March 17, 2009, 08:43:02 PM
Random fact:  Insurance on my SV1000 is $160 a year...full coverage.   

Are you serious? What company? I just bought an sv today, and I've only looked at Progressive.

Quote from: joshr08 on March 17, 2009, 07:34:27 AM
Ok here you go guys little something to think about.  30 yrs old no tickets no points no claims.  gs500f $480 a yr full coverage.  250 ninja $940 a yr same full coverage as gs.  now in michigan we have a MCCA that we get charged for and thats like 105 a yr on bikes but thats what the price difference is for me to ride a 250 over the 500.

I know you live in a different state, and I practially live in podunk, but it seems you might be overpaying for insurance.  Mine is less than $200 through Progressive, and I totalled my first bike.  

Quote from: bucks1605 on March 17, 2009, 09:04:25 PM
Are you serious? What company? I just bought an sv today, and I've only looked at Progressive.

Good for you!  Enjoy it!  ...and post pics and give us details soon!

Quote from: theUBS on March 17, 2009, 09:06:22 PM

Quote from: bucks1605 on March 17, 2009, 09:04:25 PM
Are you serious? What company? I just bought an sv today, and I've only looked at Progressive.

Good for you!  Enjoy it!  ...and post pics and give us details soon!

Thanks, I'll get some pics up tomorrow after I giver her a proper bath.

Quote from: bucks1605 on March 17, 2009, 09:04:25 PM

Quote from: oramac on March 17, 2009, 08:43:02 PM
Random fact:  Insurance on my SV1000 is $160 a year...full coverage.   

Are you serious? What company? I just bought an sv today, and I've only looked at Progressive.

My insurance is through progressive as well.  I'm 35, married, own my home, been with them for six years, and I've taken the ERC, though I don't know if that helped my rates or not.

Quote from: oramac on March 17, 2009, 09:08:43 PM

Quote from: bucks1605 on March 17, 2009, 09:04:25 PM

Quote from: oramac on March 17, 2009, 08:43:02 PM
Random fact:  Insurance on my SV1000 is $160 a year...full coverage.   

Are you serious? What company? I just bought an sv today, and I've only looked at Progressive.

My insurance is through progressive as well.  I'm 35, married, own my home, been with them for six years, and I've taken the ERC, though I don't know if that helped my rates or not.

My rates must be higher due to my age.

Quote from: bucks1605 on March 17, 2009, 09:07:50 PM

Quote from: theUBS on March 17, 2009, 09:06:22 PM

Quote from: bucks1605 on March 17, 2009, 09:04:25 PM
Are you serious? What company? I just bought an sv today, and I've only looked at Progressive.

Good for you!  Enjoy it!  ...and post pics and give us details soon!

Thanks, I'll get some pics up tomorrow after I giver her a proper bath.

...and change your signature!   

my insurance is a tad less than 300 a year full coverage with 250 deductibles across the board with progressive for my 05 GSXR 750. 

in aus i think it is a bit different.

By law every vehicle must have (Third Party Medical Insurance) which is around AUD$250 p.a.

And then you can choos
third party damage
third party damage and theft
full comprehensive (Cover of everything)

But i pay AUD$1050 for full comprehensive via my dad. He technically owns the bike and i use his insurance rating (65% discount) to get it that cheap. For me to insure it myself it would have cost me $3200 a year. And that is ridiculous.

I won't flame the little ninja, it's just that I know it doesn't have enough muscle for the highway, and that will bother you at some point.  Our GS is just enough for the highway IMHO, and it needs a 17-tooth sprocket to make it happen.  I wouldn't encourage you to own a 250 as your only bike.

I would encourage you instead, after you find stable employment and get your debts under control, to find a used, low mileage, mid-sized Japanese street bike.  There are many.  The GS is only one of them.  You won't out-grow it, you'll be happy with it, and it will serve you well.  Most people buy bikes, hardly ride them, then sell.  Anyone on a budget is foolish not to take advantage of that fact, and now that we have the internet and craigslist, it's sooo much easier than it was in the past!

I'm not looking for another bike, but if I was, my top pick right now is the ER-6n, and my lust is the Triumph Street Triple.  I can't believe how much Triumph has improved.  They were making turd burgers when I was your age.  Yamaha is also making wonderful bikes these days, but for some reason I don't care for them much, which is strange, because 25 years ago I was in love with the XJ Seca and Maxim series.  That was before the Honda Interceptor and Nighthawk were born.  Man, that 750 Nighthawk is STILL WICKED! 

Don't think new is necessarily better.  Like Buddha pointed out you need to look for good workmanship as well, and the Japs made a lot of bikes in the 80's and 90's with great workmanship, reliability, and design.  Our GS 500's are one example of it.  I lean toward air-cooled bikes because of their simplicity, but I don't want a damn cruiser.  Bike makers don't offer a lot for me today.

Quote from: jserio on March 15, 2009, 04:05:04 PM

Quote from: joshr08 on March 15, 2009, 03:49:17 PM
oh i c will this be your first bike?

yes it will. i learned a few years back on a rebel 250.

NICE!  i started out on one of those...

Quote from: bill14224 on March 28, 2009, 10:06:34 AM
I won't flame the little ninja, it's just that I know it doesn't have enough muscle for the highway, and that will bother you at some point.  Our GS is just enough for the highway IMHO, and it needs a 17-tooth sprocket to make it happen.  I wouldn't encourage you to own a 250 as your only bike.

I ran a 15 tooth sprocket on my '99, and it would do triple digits, no problem.  How fast does anyone need to go on the highway?  The thing I got tired of was the constant shifting in mixed riding.  I never had a problem on the highway.

Are you kidding me, tached out on the highway, I can make it to 110 with my 14t no problem.  Thats with the rest of the mods but still.

I have a friend with an 08 250r and another with a 09 250r they both seem to really enjoy the bike. Though they both kinda want something bigger already.
My friend with the 08 rode it 1000 miles round trip from lincoln to chicago... He swears he won't do anything like it again. So as long as you're keeping your interstate riding short the bike should be fine.

i would think it  would be an around town vehicle only...250cc are just not enough for the highway.  i think the top speed is about 65mph

Quote from: oramac on March 28, 2009, 06:03:29 PM

Quote from: bill14224 on March 28, 2009, 10:06:34 AM
I won't flame the little ninja, it's just that I know it doesn't have enough muscle for the highway, and that will bother you at some point.  Our GS is just enough for the highway IMHO, and it needs a 17-tooth sprocket to make it happen.  I wouldn't encourage you to own a 250 as your only bike.

I ran a 15 tooth sprocket on my '99, and it would do triple digits, no problem.  How fast does anyone need to go on the highway?  The thing I got tired of was the constant shifting in mixed riding.  I never had a problem on the highway.

+1 Oramac

Quote from: frankieG on April 09, 2009, 05:06:00 PM
i would think it  would be an around town vehicle only...250cc are just not enough for the highway.  i think the top speed is about 65mph

Perhaps you were just being sarcastic and I missed it, but if I remember the Cycle World article correctly, I'm thinking it topped out in the mid to upper 90's.  It weighs a little less, so I'd guess it might be slightly more subject to wind buffeting, but it does ride on the same size of stock rubber as our GS500.

I was in love with the 250r too. It was almost my first bike, but I was able to get a GS500f for $1000 less. Sure its not quite as pretty, but its good enough and you will never outgrow it. The 250 is prettier but that's about it. If that's what is important to you, I understand. Both are good bikes and I'm sure with a good rider the 250 could keep up just fine with a GS until the 60mph mark then its small engine shows.
But if you don't plan on touring, easily passing on the freeway or going up mountain passes get the Ninja. It can do all these things but you will know you are pushing it.