CBR 125 vs Ninja 250

[Fawaz]

They are both good starter bikes and I have lots of each in my fleet. I actually like the 125 a bit more as a starter bike.

99% of people who have them trade them in after a year when they outgrow them.
The 125 is cheaper so getting into one is easier, parts in case you do have an incident cost next to nothing! (try $22 for a rearset!)

Neither is going to be a great bike for the highway or for two upping.... that being said you really shouldn't be doing too much of either your first year anyways.

If you have the extra money to spend on a Ninja 250 its a great bike but expensive for parts, etc in comparison... if you don't want to spend that much get a 125 its a much cheaper bike to maintain and buy.

If you have any questions about either feel free to PM me.

Thanks!
Fawaz

[bikermahn]

I see plenty of 250's going for under 3000 in the used market, low km's and in good shape. Get a good used bike, its your first you'll drop it anyway. When I shopped for insurance I didn't find a price diff between cbr 125 and ninja 250.. ? maybe my age.. dunno.

When you go to sell the bike in a year you'll probably get close to what you paid for it.

If you can do the maintenance yourself then either bike is cheap to maintain...

[MattB]

The biggest difference is that you'll outgrow the CBR125 in no time, but you could actually keep the Ninja 250 for quite a while, if not indefinitely. The Ninja 250 will do highway speed, is a peppy little monster, and some people are happy with them and don't upgrade. You'll even find a lot of experienced riders who own bigger machines that keep a Ninja 250 in the stable just for the fun of it.

[Anti Hero]

Thanks everyonefor all the advice, but I think I am going to wait until I take the safetycourse and get a chance to try out the cbr 125 and see how I like it. I’mhoping then have a ninja 250 there as well.

[jaymurr]

Ninja or CBR 250 are the general consensus.

I'm tempted to pick up a CBR125 to putt around town.

[Anti Hero]

Well I just gotmy m2 from learning curves, and I got to try out a CBR125 and it was better thanI expected. Even if it was a bit small, I like how it felt and drove. So I maypick one up sometime this year. Also today my buddy let me take his bike outfor a ride (he has a 2004 v star 650) and it was very fun and comfortable toride, so my question is what would be the differences in price to insure aCBR125 compared to something like a v star 250 or a Honda rebel 250(also if you guys also have any other bikes you would like recommend that would be great).
Thank you

[LoneRonin]

difference will probably be just a couple hundred bucks. You'll be much better of going with a 250, however a cruiser 250 will be more like the CBR 125 on the top speed but more torquey.

[3h2b]

Well I just gotmy m2 from learning curves, and I got to try out a CBR125 and it was better thanI expected. Even if it was a bit small, I like how it felt and drove. So I maypick one up sometime this year. Also today my buddy let me take his bike outfor a ride (he has a 2004 v star 650) and it was very fun and comfortable toride, so my question is what would be the differences in price to insure aCBR125 compared to something like a v star 250 or a Honda rebel 250(also if you guys also have any other bikes you would like recommend that would be great).
Thank you

Why don't you call the insurance company and find out how much you need to pay for each of the bikes. I am curious to see how much is it for a 16 yr old. I am 24, got my m1 half a year ago, clean driving record. I called TD, statefarm, and Jevco, its about $3000-$4000 a year for 250 or 600cc bike.

[ivandem]

Well I just gotmy m2 from learning curves, and I got to try out a CBR125 and it was better thanI expected. Even if it was a bit small, I like how it felt and drove. So I maypick one up sometime this year. Also today my buddy let me take his bike outfor a ride (he has a 2004 v star 650) and it was very fun and comfortable toride, so my question is what would be the differences in price to insure aCBR125 compared to something like a v star 250 or a Honda rebel 250(also if you guys also have any other bikes you would like recommend that would be great).
Thank you

I know the CBR 125s very well (as I'm one of the instructors at LC) and, as you know, there are a couple of the Ninja 250's there as well. The 250 is a great bike. It's a little bigger, a little heavier, but it feels more like a real bike then the 125. As mentioned in this post, if you want to ride the highways or any of the northern twisties like the 503 (and you WANT to ride these roads) then you really want to do what you can to get the 250.

As for cruisers, and I'm cruiser rider myself, you have to go at least 650. Engines are just tuned differently so they really want a bigger cc to move.

Depending on insurance costs, another option is nto look at some older bikes (pre '95 ish?). Check with your insurance company but it's a little cheaper if you stay behind a certain age as well. Look at some old 600's. You can get them pretty cheap and insurance might not be too bad.

Good luck and don't forget to check with the insurance company before you make you final decision.

[ItIsWhatItIs]

Well I just gotmy m2 from learning curves, and I got to try out a CBR125 and it was better thanI expected. Even if it was a bit small, I like how it felt and drove. So I maypick one up sometime this year. Also today my buddy let me take his bike outfor a ride (he has a 2004 v star 650) and it was very fun and comfortable toride, so my question is what would be the differences in price to insure aCBR125 compared to something like a v star 250 or a Honda rebel 250(also if you guys also have any other bikes you would like recommend that would be great).
Thank you

If cruiser is your ultimate direction, perhaps the Suzuki TU250

http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/...orcycle-review

82 mpg and fuel injected.