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Ninja 300 is a very, very wise choice for your first. You'd do just as well to find a used Ninja 250 and use the savings to buy good gear (unless money is no object). Either way, do NOT shortchange yourself on gear. Find out what your type of riding is going to be and buy top of the line gear made for that. Think a full panoply of protection: jacket, pants, boots, gloves, helmet. Depending on your geography, consider how the heat in summer will impact you and your riding style and may need additional/different gear for that.
I have been riding since I was 17 and have had Harleys, Ninjas, BMWs, and currently a V-Strom I rode across N. America on last year.
Other advice is as follows: 1. Sign up for an Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) course. No ifs/ands/buts... just do it. In most states, they will give you a certificate that will let your DMV assign the "M" rating to your drivers license without taking a test so that's cool.
Understand that the cost of your bike is likely to just be a down payment on the rest of the things you'll need to buy as part of prudent motorbike ownership. As mentioned above, gear will be the biggest expense (I have multiple outfits for full 3 season riding [including winter and heated gear so i dont get cold]). If that's not something you see yourself stomaching/affording/storing, I'd strongly recommend you find a place that will let you rent a bike and do that for a couple weekends before committing yourself.
Learn how the bike works and what regular maintenance can consist of. I have witnessed with my own eyeballs some kids who got messed up pretty good by failing to know how to measure/tighten/lubricate their chains. Basic, basic thing. The most expensive bike with the biggest motor, the best suspension, and the biggest brakes is still only in contact with the pavement at two places: the front tire and the rear tire. Failing to understand that (and all the implications of it) will make you a danger to yourself and others. For the sake of every driver/rider out there - if you are not interested in understanding this stuff, please ride only a closed track or not at all.
What's a good online outlet to buy gear from?
Revzilla - 100%. The guys behind that shop just happen to be riders, they are first and foremost E-comm professionals from a solid background.
Their video product reviews are really, really helpful and their return/exchange policy is top notch.
The quality of brands will show up in the price and customer reviews, so don't be afraid to buy several different styles and return the ones you dont like. The other thing to keep in mind about riding is that it is INTENSELY personal to you and your preferences. There are truly countless brands and styles of gear out there (some of theme are even fully custom/handmade products.... at affordable prices, too) because this is such a cottage industry. Don't let anybody try and sell you into a product that doesn't fit you like, well, a glove. Don't do it - keep searching until you find whats right for you. You'll know it very quickly. There are some brands of gloves that are very good but I can't wear them because their cut just doesnt fit my hands. Same with helmets... do yourself a HUGE favor and try on several in a store for 20+ minutes at a time. My first bike... I had to go through 3 different helmets because my head is shaped such that only a certain brand worked for me. Every other style left hot spots on my head from pressure that became excruciating after 20-30 minutes. That kind of frustration with any gear is the sort of thing that will distract you from the ride/road and make you think motorcycling is uncomfortable and not fun when in fact its just incorrectly fitted gear.
You'll also find that riders are among the nicest and most prolific internet forum people out there. There are even some dedicated just to Ninja riders so check that out. Find one you like and start a 'new rider' thread - people will point you in the right direction. You'll also probably find a group of people nearby who will ride with you and offer constructive criticism of your form and skills.
Top speed is a fools game, get yourself a Monster and enjoy the acceleration and turns.
I rode until I slid into a pole in the rain and broke my neck and arm. I'll take a bike on a track again one day. I'd recommend a 750CC for a beginner. 300s are garbage scooters and a 600 has to rev way higher than you're used to and it'll fuck you up. But just don't do it. You're gonna die or get crippled.
Different strokes for different folks, but I'd submit that the plan to earn some wings on a 300cc is the right move. There are also some like the Honda CBR 500 which are great beginner bikes. I would advise staying away from single cylinder bikes though, unless it feels right. Especially with spirited riding, a thumper can be uninspiring. Starting at the lower end of the CC range keeps the field of bikes considerably more open than 750+
The reality is that 99% of any rider's time is going to be spent in the realm where a 600cc (or smaller) engine will meet 100% of their power needs. Yes, you'll have to work the gearbox a bit more instead of just being able to open up throttle. But that makes a better, more engaged rider that knows the sweet spot of their machine - not a wuss. Power can be a crutch.
I'm a former car owner and definitely a gear-head. Half the reason I want a bike is to learn the machine and get used to the ins and outs and doing my own maintenance. Eventually I will want to move up to a high-power machine, and the 'busa has been on my mind literally since I was a teenager. But I've learned to appreciate the slow climb upward in everything I do and from what I've read a low-CC bike seems to be the consensus among seasoned riders. The Ninja 300 is just the bike with my favorite design in that range.
I agree with your pragmatism quite a bit. As a new car owner around 2008, I was all about going fast, going to racing events, keeping my car super clean, spending money on upgrades I'd never use, etc. After my second car accident I got a BMW 3-series and began to drive more like grandpa than Vin Diesel. I came to appreciate my car a lot more, squeezed much more use out of it between maintenance, and eventually learned the reality of vehicle ownership: it's a tool, not a toy. Even at the track it's a heavy piece of machinery that could easily kill someone. I guess that's the difference between the mind of a 20 year old versus at 30.
So for me the Ninja would be all about going places in the summer. I'd likely find a place to put it in the winter, but who knows - I need to get into the life to know what I'll want to do. Plus storage in NYC is expensive. That's the other issue I need to figure out; I see some garages charging $150+ monthly, which is nuts. Street parking I'm a bit wary of despite the fact I live in midtown, just because I'd want to avoid alternate-side rules and the related headaches. I'm considering a move to Jersey City, where this would be much easier and cheaper.
I'd be willing to bet @Isaiah_53_5" could provide some insight.
I'm too much of an adrenaline junkie to own a bike. I've met the types and seen the wrecks from a young age. Some get through it, but others are permanently injured or have spine/neck issues for life even from a skid out to hit a tree or something with gear on.
I think I'd be too addictive to the bike and I like to push the limits. I'd likely be going 150 on certain routes that I deemed 'fun' and 'low risk' to go to jail by being caught by the cops. So if you're in that mindset of racing from the cops if you are about to get arrested, you start to work on your speed, your agility. Your maneuverability in traffic .. for fun. And for speed and efficiency - I mean you're on a bike right? Why not if its legal - all of this adds up to the possibility of me being a quadriplegic.
I have done a lot of shit things in my life (not in society's view, but in my own personal view of my beliefs versus my actions). Long story short, if God chooses to make me a quadriplegic, it is my spiritual duty to be the best quadriplegic I possibly can, so that sounds like hell to me. I used to visit someone with locked in syndrome and have had serious conversations with quadriplegics (even a quadriplegic judge) who have made it to be successful and in some ways I don't know why these people of authority in the community were placed in front of me in my life, but their path seemed way too hard for me to follow, so in that sense, I avoid bikes for the first (danger to spine/neck/arrests/and spiritual rediculous tenacity path in life that some people get and are awesome with it, but that is one place I hope to never venture).
Cycling is dangerous enough. Each time I go cycling I make my peace with God and everyone in my life. I am prepared to die.
This year though, I've had an incredibly bad case of the 'fuck its' and just have been doing anything and everything I want, for fun, with thanks to God. Its been pretty damn awesome.
Have been all over the world this year, compete in sports across multiple disciplines, and finally have the paperwork in for my third LLC that I am working on, which is exciting for me.
I'll probably get a bike for show and end up riding it and get addicted to another expensive expensive hobby. It looks soooooooooooooo fun though. Riiiight?
:P
I've been a fan of the Monster for a decade, just as it has kind of evolved with my style and the way I could ride up to a meeting on it in NYC with a briefcase if I got a bike (italian briefcase in backpack for deals / to close deals).
This is my current favorite:
2018 Ducati Monster 1200 S
It looks pretty understated and clean which I like, but has good power. I heard the maintenance is worse on the Ducatis so you 'must know how to fix the bike', which is a skillset I do not have, so not sure what to do there, except only to buy it when I can afford a good bike mechanic along with the equation.
The Ninja 300 is an excellent bike and what I first bought to get used to the streets. They are usually common and easy to pick up and sell since demand is so high, I sold mine for what I bought it for (I had the 2014). I upgraded to the Ninja ZX6R, love it to death and it's stupid fast and sounds amazing (I got an obnoxiously loud Two Brothers exhaust!!). I really wanted a Gixxer, but the Ninja was a steal of a deal, and hey - it's a Ninja 636, who could resist?
But once you got that itch - it won't go away. Every time you hear a loud bike drive by your head will turn!! There's something just so free about being on a motorcycle, whether it's a Super Sport or a growling V-Twin. Enjoy!!
So MidasMulligan pretty much hit every single point to a T but I'll just further reinforce:
1) 300cc is an excellent starting point - my first bike was a KTM RC 390 and it was and still is a blast - yes I kept it and race it now in my local amateur superbike/supersport series (CMRA). It teaches you so much about momentum, maneuvering, etc. without putting you in a position to kill yourself in under 3 seconds. It's forgiving, you'll have time to react, to catch yourself doing something, etc.
2) Gear. All the gear, all the time. I had my first crash while racing my KTM, I lowsided at around 90mph in a high speed sweeper style turn. My one piece leather suit and the armor inside of it absorbed the cartwheels, the flips, the 150+ feet of pavement sliding, etc. That's the day I started wearing leather suits on the street as well even. Gear saves lives, don't skimp. Also, buy gear from companies that are specialized in that domain. For exmaple: don't buy a helmet from Scorpion, they make clothing, their helmets are outsourced - buy from Arai, or Shoei for example, helmet specialists.
3) A little saying you may hear at one point: To go right push right, to go left push left. This is called counter steering and you learned how to do it when you learned how to ride a bicycle. Use your front brake mainly and use the rear brake lightly. Look where want to go, not where you are going. Always look far ahead and when in traffic behind a car, ride to one side of the lane or the other so you can see whats going on ahead. Take your advice from riders who have been riding a long time, the older/wiser the better. You will crash eventually so get geared up. And remember this, there two kinds of motorcycle riders: Those who have crashed and those that are going to. There are old riders and there are bold riders but there are no old and bold riders.
Have fun, welcome to the greatest family and community in the world.
Edit: Buy "A Twist of the Wrist" after you get your license
+1 for ATGATT!
The above comments are amazing. Just to add, I got a Ninja 250 when I was 17 and I agree its an excellent STARTER bike as it is super forgiving and easy to learn on. Though I will warn you, you will want to upgrade to a 600 soon after getting the gist of everything.
I 200% agree with the comment about the top level gear as your life is priceless. I was dumb and use to ride in shorts with no helmet when I first got my bike and after a near terrible accident, I realized how awful of a mistake I was making. Also, safety is everything which is which the course is so important. Don't get sucked into the dangerous speed demon movement, safe riding is fun riding trust me.
The final thing I would advise is that if you do get a bike to try to join a group or find some friends to ride with. It makes the experience much greater plus you'll learn so much from experienced riders at the start! Also, working on the bike and adding upgrades is fun, easy and a bit addicting haha.
There's a lot of helpful tips and common sense on this board. I don't have much to add, but...
I'd go bigger than 300 to start. I really think you'll get bored pretty quickly. Those bikes don't have enough power to move on the highway (if you really need too) and they won't move very quickly if you're a bigger guy. I'd go with a honda 500, suzuki 650, etc. But, stay away from the inline 600s (CBR, FZ6, etc).
Otherwise, totally agree with the comments related to gear and a safety course. I'd also suggest riding by yourself to start. Riding with a group of faster riders that will push you out of comfort zone is not a good thing.
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