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Rider Profile: geekonabike (Suddenly wants larger fonts)
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| I never thought I would ride motorcycles. But a couple of trips with the wife-unit to her homeland of Taiwan (a.k.a. Small-Scooter Nirvana) and I was hooked. But back in the States, a Honda Elite-80 scooter got really old for riding around our little town, since I had to go wide open most of the time. And MSF convinced me I fit better, feel safer, and have more fun on a genuine motorcycle. So next was a CB250 Nighthawk, but then I got highway ambitions when I heard others toured on them. Well, not when I'm 6'2", 215lbs, battling Oklahoma winds and a 70mph speed limit. The Nighthawkette could only reliably do about 65mph with me on it. Rebels and the very pretty GZ250's performed likewise, and a brief stint with a used GS500E with carb and other problems convinced me to buy new. I really wanted a VStrom or Bonneville, but the budget was for used, so while overseas for many weeks to think about it, I kept thinking, "why NOT a Ninja?" The price (in '05) and abilities were great. The ergos were the concern, but after nearly a year on a GS500 I was used to that kind of thing. In fact, my legs are more comfy on the Ninjette. Still, if I could have afforded one, I'd probably be on a 500-Ninja. Oh well. A little poverty (self-inflicted!) keeps one honest.
Now I've had it since September 2005, and I could not easily be more pleased. It will do scooter mode if kept under 4K rpm's, where it has amazing fuel efficiency (greater than 70mpg), or you can go into Formula-One mode around the twisties, or you can let it be vacuum cleaner smooth at 9.5K rpm's cruising down the interstate (update: with 15/41 sprockets but Avon Am51/52 tires, it's more like 8.4K, with 55-60mpg). I still can't believe all you get for your money. Liquid cooling, 6-speed tranny, tach, CENTERSTAND!!! Oh, and it's the most highway-worthy 250cc-class motorcycle out there, at least in the US. Now if Honda still made CB350's...... Nah, these Ninjettes are the real deal. 6/30/07 Update: I walked into a Suzuki dealer 20mi away and bought a new 2007 DL650 VStrom last week, but left it there for them to finish the paperwork and so on. It rained ever since, and I was busy so I didn't ride it home, until today (6/30/07). But a funny thing happened in between. See, I rarely got to ride more than a couple hours round trip before, because that would be severe goofing off, according to "She Who Must Be Obeyed," especially since we have two daughters at home. But they've been traveling and I've been home alone, and so I've done two longer rides: one for Allen (KawiDavis) Davis's 15th birthday celebration (he tragically died three months earlier) of about 385mi round trip in one day, and another just this morning that was about 250mi round trip, but my first ride in somewhat serious rain, and I wouldn't have missed it! Both were on the Ninjette. I realized then that it's true, that it's the ride not what you ride, to a point. I'm not going to do highway travel on an Enfield, for instance, or a Rebel or similar for that matter. The Ninjette can take you on any paved road at any legal speed and then some (unlike most other 250's), so it really is all you need. Don't get me wrong, I took the VStrom home, and very much enjoyed on the way doing much of the stuff one does to break one in, fully intending to have fun and comfort I couldn't on the Ninja once this V-Strom is broken in. And if I weren't so tired from the previous ride today I would have liked it more. But I still wanted to scratch my head thinking, clearly the most value for your bucks you can have in motorcycling is still the 250-Ninja. (Update: with the 2009 at $4K, sadly I'm not so sure anymore.) Man what it can do! You almost have to be a total squid, or die-hard cruiser dude, to not appreciate it. The V-Strom is a great deal too, and I got mine $700 off MSRP. Its suspension is quite an eye-opener, and for tall dudes its ergos and handling are fabulous. I can't really taste the power yet unless I do a harder break-in than I want. But I can tell just from the 3000-5000rpm range that it will pull hard. Being 6'2" I like the height. But what's this BS about the centerstand being a $220 option? See what I mean about the Ninja being a great value? V-Strom Update: I've put about 5K miles on it in the year+ I've had it. Very comfy, easy to ride bike with a lot more ability than I need. For short rides I take the Ninja. However, I once did a 400mi round trip (200+200) on the V-Strom and felt fine, and the next day did 120mi on the Ninja and was quite stiff, so the V-Strom is definitely better for this body. It's just not as engaging unless you want to push it. I'm thinking I need a set of Givis for it next summer. :D Riding Apparel: HJC CL-12 and CL-14 helmets, Olympia AST jacket and matching pants, Teknic two-piece riding suit, MotoBoss 2-piece mesh suit, Frank Thomas boots (two styles). Ninja Mods: 15/41 gearing, 0.80kg/mm Sonic fork springs, Galfer stainless steel brake lines, Avon AM51/52 tires (update: Pirelli MT75 on back after puncture), Jeb's rack, Oxford First Time tail and saddle bags, Mike's Touring and Sport Touring shields, extra brake lights mod, Alaska Leather "Sheepskin Buttpad." See most recent photo of farkled bike. |
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| Last Updated June 24, 2009 |