New female rider

I've done some dirt biking (emphasize some!)  I'm small (about 5' 2").  I am planning on taking the MSF riding course - any suggestions on a good bike for me to start out with?  I read the post about not getting "too much bike" - want to do this right....any advice would be greatly appreciated!  A big concern for me - I've gone into some bike shops - because of my height (or lack therof!) it is hard for me to reach the floor when seated - who has the best small beginner bike?  "brownrabbit"  

Kawasaki has good starter bikes like the ninja 250 and 500 and last i looked the 250 was only like 2300.00 i think it looks best in kawai green. The 250 and 500 ninja are V-twins and behave nicely,and they also have a more upright sitting position. But I think they also come in purple   . Also you might be able to find a nice older fzr 400 which is a smaller sportbike but they dont make them any more as far as i know. Just get something that you feel good on and like and dont worry what your riding because nobody's looking at you bike  

Normally I’d recommend either the Ninja 500 or 250, but they might be a little tall for you…at least in the beginning while you are learning. Once you’ve got some seat time, seat height becomes much less of an issue. So you will want a bike that is easily lowered, if I remember right that knocks out the little Ninja’s because the fork tubes can not be raised, which is how the front of the bike needs to be lowered. So look at the Suzuki GS500, and SV650. I think both can be lowered in the front by at least an inch. The back is also easily lowered. Also take a look at the new for ’06, Ninja 650. I think that may be able to be lowered easily also.

The Ninja 500 and 250 can be lowered in the back, and some people may tell you that is all that you need, but I disagree. If you lower the back without the front, you are changing the geometry of the bike, this effects how the bike handles and can be unsafe. I’d suggest against that.  

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The 250 and 500 ninja are V-twins and behave nicely

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march is usually when the new 2006 bikes hit. You really should go there about that time, and sit on the 250 or 500 ninja.

But seat height only really matters when you start out. The more experience you get, the more comfortable you'll be balancing on one foot at a stop light.  

I was going to recommend the Ninja 250 or 500, but after reading what FastBill had to say, I am not sure.  My suggestion was going to be to buy a small bike and just lower it, but if the Ninja cannot be lowered, then look into another small, USED bike.  Unless money is not an issue and you can afford to buy new plastic on a whim. go used! Do your learning on a used bike and spend small dollars and when you get comfortable then look  for your new bike and by then you might even be ready to upgrade to a 600...just my opinions  

Bill dont you think a sv650 or the new ninja 650 are a bit too much for a brand new rider both are not full on sportbikes per se but still have a quick head angle and alot of motor for a new rider Just my opinion (and opinions are like a certian bodily orifice) an older VTR250 is good and cheap (my lil sister has one) EX250 not a bad choice but lowering it is tough I would say anything that runs, is less than 400cc, fits the phyiscal stature ,and was built before 1989 that way when it gets dropped scratch broken you just write it off as a training expense and if it does survive you can just sell it and make the money back  

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Bill dont you think a sv650 or the new ninja 650 are a bit too much for a brand new rider both are not full on sportbikes per se but still have a quick head angle and alot of motor for a new rider Just my opinion (and opinions are like a certian bodily orifice) an older VTR250 is good and cheap (my lil sister has one) EX250 not a bad choice but lowering it is tough I would say anything that runs, is less than 400cc, fits the phyiscal stature ,and was built before 1989 that way when it gets dropped scratch broken you just write it off as a training expense and if it does survive you can just sell it and make the money back

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RFB, I think I may have to argue your point about a 250 being underpowered to the point of a hinderance. While a 500 would be a slightly more powerful beginner bike, a 250 is just as well suited. While you have to ride it more like a 2-stroke to get the power out of it, it's plenty powerful for most any situation I encountered when I was riding one. Unless you plan on running 75+ it's going to have the extra power you need for most any situation. I wouldn't recommend putting a beginner on the interstate personally so going that fast shouldn't be a factor. The biggest problem with it is you can't be afraid to keep it wound up to keep that usable powerband, like I said, much like a 2-stroke.  

I'm sorry you are 100% correct the kawi's are parallel twins. My mind must have been elsewhere.  

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RFB, I think I may have to argue your point about a 250 being underpowered to the point of a hinderance. While a 500 would be a slightly more powerful beginner bike, a 250 is just as well suited. While you have to ride it more like a 2-stroke to get the power out of it, it's plenty powerful for most any situation I encountered when I was riding one. Unless you plan on running 75+ it's going to have the extra power you need for most any situation. I wouldn't recommend putting a beginner on the interstate personally so going that fast shouldn't be a factor. The biggest problem with it is you can't be afraid to keep it wound up to keep that usable powerband, like I said, much like a 2-stroke.

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See if you can find a Hawk GT(NT 650).  They're easy to ride and will grow with you for quite a while. They're comfortable for my sis-in-law 5'4" and also for me 6'6"  

I always favored the GS500over the EX . It has a lower center of gavity. The riding position is more upright. Gives me more of a dirt bike feel...  

since you have at least "some" dirtbike experience, i would suggest the kawi 500 as well.  they are good starter bikes, and i know a few women in my area who have started on them and liked them.  

If you can fit on a Ninja 250, I'd go with that if I were you. I've got a friend that's 5'6" and he rides one all the time.
But whatever you get, I would DEFINITELY get something used.
I wouldn't recommend buying a new bike as your first bike.