vader1

Yeah, took a quick ride on a friends bike that does sixty in three seconds. Could I get used to it? Sure. It is still scared the crap out of me even though it was fun. For me it is limiting risk. I want it to be quick enough to be fun and get out of its own way and these all do 60 in less than 6 seconds so they are all fine. But when I snapped the throttle open on that bike and it took off like a rocket, my brain said, "Far to much potential for bad things to happen." And I don't want to canyon carve and knee drag. Twisties are fine but the pace does not need to be too rapid. I'll probably do a day long ride 3 times a year and maybe 10 commutes to work. Starters are just fine.

I always want my cars to be faster, a bike, I don't care that much about.

freq

If these new 300cc bikes were inline 4's, I'd have one in my garage for track duty.

My first brand new bike was an '86(?) Ninja 250. Back then, in the tight stuff, I'd keep up with and even pass lesser riders in bigger machines.

I learned a LOT on that little machine and put on 18K miles in just 2 years before moving on to '88 Hurricane and on and on and on .....

theprophet36

I agree. The first bike I ever even road was my brand new 2003 R6 back in the day. I had zero issues getting used to it or dealing with the abundance of power. In fact I had a full akra evo exhaust, k&n and a tune on it by the end of the first summer, lol. I put 15k miles on it in 2 seasons. It's all in the wrist

s2000Junky

Once upon a time not that long ago... What 250cc inline 4 sounds like at 20,000 rpms.
://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ur30SXOlne8

one more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXt7fQsDsk8

freq

Yup, never legally sold in the US sadly.

S2K Al

I too am looking into the starter bike market. There are Ninja 300's w/ ABS for $2500 local to me. At that price, despite the good reviews I'm reading about the RC390, R3 and CBR300R, its hard not to go with the Ninja.

I also would consider the CBR500R, and have been including SV650's in my search as well remembering from back in the day how many considered that to be the best starter bike. Have you checked for any of those OP?

s2000Junky

I think the SV650 is a great bike in general, not just a starter bike. Its classic naked sport design aged well and doesn’t look like a small starter bike, yet its light and as nimble as one, and certainly makes more power then any of the other bikes considered here. Its something you can learn on and keep both. I would prefer the slightly more upright seating position also. But we aren’t shopping for me here lol Just my 02.

cleenyc99

looks better then the new r1 now that's an ugle bike

S2K Al

I think 2008 was the last generation of SV650's in the US? Does it have a Suzuki successor, either directly or in spirit?

s2000Junky

I think 2008 was the last generation of SV650's in the US? Does it have a Suzuki successor, either directly or in spirit?
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Yes there is one, its called the Gladius.