at moderate or high speeds on a light bike try an emergency manuver. jerk yourself out of the way of something. see what kind of traction or gyroscopic inertia you have. there are situations that you do not want too slide or lift your wheels up. and you want enough power to get out of someones way. you want your bike to be the 'forse' that matters, not your weight.

don

Notso-
I've ridden a lot, and for a long time and I can tell you that where you sit on the bike, ie: low in the frame, like a cruiser has more of an effect on the stability of the bike than just the weight of the bike.
As to words of advice, just remember ANYTHING that happens to you on a bike is YOUR fault. You must always anticipate what the other idiot will do.
Take the MSF course!

no way!

havent ridden in about 16 years. i liked Nortons.
750 ss commander. a perfectly balanced bike. about
360 pounds, double my weight back then.

when ned2683 was talking about 250 viragos i think
of that little harley lookalike or dirt bikes, not rice rockets.
and i picture a 300 pound man on top of a 200 pound bike.

keep the mass low

don-- 'driving a grandma's diesel', as the boy says

Just to clarify I was telling Ned to take the MSF Course.

Thanks guys. I am more into the rice rockets than cruisers. so this is more like an intown bike, not highway cruising (thats what my 300SD is for)

I was looking into a Ninja 250R, and it is $3000 brand new, so to me it would make sense that a used one would be cheap. any maybe a 5 year old model would be under $1000. however don't have any luck searching for used bikes. there doesn't seem to be a lot around.

If i do get into it i will take the course for sure. since i believe you will get a insurance discount if i do. i won't cheap out on the protective gear either.

so coming to the technical side of it. how long do bikes typically last? you know like it would be hard to get a neon to 300K should i expect a good japanese bike to last 200K miles? or more etc. i am very new in this so i don't be wanting to buy a bike on its last leg.

however motorcycle crash stories give me the chills. but can't live life afraid you know?

__________________
198? 300D ???K - Future DD
1989 300TE 285K - traded in '12
1984 300SD 186K - Sold in 08
1978 300SD 330K - Died in 05

I am a motorcycle nut. I currently have 5 bikes. I am 30 years old and I have been riding for over 20 years. The absolute best advice I can give anyone who wants to ride a streetbike? Buy yourself a small dirtbike. An old Honda XR will do. Get one a little smaller so you can plant your feet firmly on the ground at standstill. Ride the snot out of it. You will inevitably fall. If you do it in the dirt it won't hurt that bad and that bike will teach you the basics on how a bike will act when it slides or leans and such.

__________________
'85 300SD (formerly california emissions)
'08 Chevy Tahoe
'93 Ducati 900 SS
'79 Kawasaki KZ 650
'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

I have given up bikes due to the danger.
Yes they are fun but I have more fun on
my skateboard, snowboard, sailboard
and I am much less likely to get killed.

A off road dirtbike is a good idea.

Yamaha RD 250 "75"
Yamaha SR 500 "79"