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2006 $4000 Newbie Bike Shootout Photo Gallery
What do you get when you throw a half-dozen newbies together with four different styles of beginner bikes which ring in under four grand? An MCUSA Newbie Bike Comparo, that's what. Check out our thoughts on the bikes in our
2006 Newbie Bike Comparo
.
We assembled six newbs to test our beginner bikes and had a blast doing it.
The instrument of the DR is similar to that of the Virago, simple but effective.
The dual-sport machine's 31.9-inch seat height was the loftiest of our group by an inch, a potential impediment for shorter riders but a nice fit for the taller newbies out there.
The street-legal controls on the DR seem like they were just added on, which they were.
Behind the controls it is plain to see that the DR is a dirt-derrived machine.
Our parking lot/stop-and-go test riding skewed a lot of our fuel-efficiency readings, but our final fill-up on the DR tallied a respectable 63-mpg reading from about 80 miles of backroad riding and city commuting.
The rear drum brake on the DR complimented the disc up front.
Keeping with its street-legal credentials, the DR's exhaust doesn't emit an obnoxious sound.
With a 66mm bore and 58.2mm stroke, the DR's four-stroke powerplant adds up to 199cc of displacement and produces an ample low-end power comparable and perhaps even a bit more responsive than the Virago.
The Suzuki is powered by an air-cooled single-cylinder engine.
The dirt-oriented Suzuki was quick to steer in tight corners but felt less stable than its street-only competitors.
While the height of the DR wasn't a colossal difference, it felt slimmer and more top heavy than the others.
At $3949 the DR was the most expensive option in our group, almost a full grand more than the shootout-winning Ninja, but it would be a fine machine for the right kind of rider.
Because of its nimble turning abilities, the DR finished second only to the scooter when it our test riders were asked which bike they would pick to take the DMV test.
As the dual-sport entry in our Newbie Bike Shootout, the DR200 was a familiar favorite for our testers who had some dirt-riding experience.
'I liked the Suzuki DR because I was used to dirtbikes before,' explained Laura, 'so it felt more comfortable.'
Tight for lightest of the group at 254 lbs, it was easy to handle for taller newbs.
The DR sported the highest seat of our four test bikes, forcing the 5'1" Rachel to reach with her toes.
The Piaggio's control panel.
The Piaggio's control panel includes an analog speedo with a digital clock resting beneath a handy fuel gauge, which keeps tabs on the 1.9-gallon tank.
The Fly 150 is a shaft-driven scooter powered by a 150cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine.
The Piaggio Fly 150 was the screwball wild-card entry in our $4000 Newbie Bike Shootout.
Out on the open road, the Fly 150 doesn't run anything down, but you can ring it out to 55 mph after counting up to 13-Mississippis.
See, it would be good for running quick errands.
The Fly 150's underseat storage holds a full-face helmet, but just barely, with the seat bursting at the seams.
The Fly's underseat storage is stressed by the addition of a full-face helmet.
The underseat storage on the Piaggio isn't anything to write home about but is a convenience inherent to scooters.
Our Newbie Shootout test day at the kart track included some instruction from our experienced in-house test riders, like MCUSA President Don Becklin (left) and Editor Kevin Duke (center).
One of our testers, Erick (above), picked the Piaggio as the bike he would purchase out of the four, due to its practicality in everyday use.
The quick-turning Piaggio Fly 150 represented the scooter contingent of our Newbie comparo.
The Piaggio was the most popular choice to take the DMV test.
A 32mm fork and 200mm disc provide the suspension and braking duties up front, with a preload-adjustable shock and drum brake taking care of things out back.
A telescopic fork and preload-adjustable twin rear shocks with a respective 5.5 and 3.9 inches of wheel travel provide more than adequate stability.
The Virago did have a pillion seat, but the newb is not advised to take along extra passengers until they have some serious miles under their belts.
The utilitarian control panel on the Virago is nothing special, but it gets the job done.
Powered by an air-cooled 60-degree V-Twin engine the Virago delivers a manageable amount of power, with a more low-end torquey feel than the high-strung Ninja.
Even with the potential rider outgrowing it, the Virago is a solid option for smaller beginners who want an entry-level cruiser to learn the ropes before making the leap up to the bigger machines.
Aside from the much-complained-about foot controls, there isn't any great weakness on the Virago.
The foot controls on the Virago forced the foot into an awkward position.
The rear brake pedal was so high up that just resting your right foot in a normal position felt like you were actuating the rear binder.
The shifter required a contortion of the left foot to make an upshift.
The Virago's small foot controls were a problem for even the most diminutive of our testers, like the 5'1" Rachel. A rider's right foot must be lifted In order to reach the high brake pedal.
The Yamaha Virago 250 is a solid choice for an entry-level cruiser, with its smaller size a less intimidating beginner bike than its larger cruiser siblings.
Tipping the scales at 317 lbs and with the longest wheelbase of the group at 58.7 inches, the Yamaha offered up a stable ride and low-center of gravity.
The classic air-cooled Twin delivery provides just what the cruiser-oriented newb is looking for, albeit in a smaller package.
An undersquare cruiser bore and stroke of 49mm x 66mm account for the gruntier bottom end and add up to a 249cc displacement.
The Virago's 58.7-inch wheelbase is the longest of the group and, weighing in at 317 lbs, the Yamaha provides a low center of gravity and a stable ride.
Donny B gives Barney some feedback.
Ken takes Shona for a spin on the Virago.
The Virago's small foot controls were a problem for even the most diminutive of our testers, like the 5'1" Rachel. A rider's right foot must be lifted In order to reach the high brake pedal.
The Kawasaki is fuel-efficient machine (but not superior to its competitors), with our fuel efficiency registering around 55 mpg and above, depending on the kind of riding we were doing.
The control panel on the Ninja was the most attractive and informative of our four test bikes, and was the only one to sport a tach and engine temperature gauge.
The mini windscreen doesn't provide any significant protection to speak of but offers better protection than the Virago and DR200.
An oversquare 62mm bore and 41.2mm stroke equate to a 248cc displacement and produces a high-revving engine.
When riding the Ninja 250 out on the street, I felt like I was being given just enough rope to not hang myself.
Duke gives Madson some pointers.
The secret to the Kawasaki's success is its dependable liquid-cooled parallel-Twin powerplant, which the little Ninja has sported since its 1986 inception.
The Ninja's 29.3-inch seat and comfortable riding ergonomics won over all of our female test riders.
To no one's surprise, the athletic Ninja was judged to be the most capable out on the kart track, boasting the most power and the best brakes.
The little Ninja did its best to measure up to its older Kawasaki sibling. The Ninja 250 is an able performer and will give the newb a lot of fun before they outgrow it.
Don gives some instruction to Laurel Miller, wife of MCUSA VP of Technology Jason Miller, as they head out onto the kart track.
'The Ninja looked scary,' said Laurel. 'Out of all the bikes it looked the fastest, so it was more intimidating. But when I took it out on the track my opinions changed, it was so easy.'
MCUSA Graphic Designer, Shona Haldane, was one of the Ninja fans in our shootout. She said the small-displacement Kawasaki has enough potential to be a long-term addition to her garage.
Although it is the heaviest bike in our group, the Kawasaki didn't feel unwieldy with its 55.1-inch wheelbase and ample ground clearance.
Jamison sizes up the Ninja.
At 5'10" Erick Barney was able to touch the ground easy.
To evaluate all the different machines, our six newbie tester changed often and discussed the differences.
MCUSA Editorial Director Ken Hutchison leads a flock of newbies around the kart track.
With a Z750 up front the Ninja and Virago follow along.
Rachel, Shona, Laurel, and Jameson were four of our volunteers who donated their burgeoning talent to test our four newbie test bikes through laps around the kart track and our parking lot obstacle course dubbed 'The Gauntlet.'
Donny B plays follow the leader with a trailing newb.
Duke imparted some practical tips for the road during the intro, including how to drag the rear brake for low-speed stability.
Duke, Hutch, and Donny B were showing our newbs the ropes.
'Don't make eye contact. Bow your head maggot!' Not really, Duke and Donny B were encouraging to our newbie test crew.
MCUSA marketing guru, Erick Barney, ended up picking the Piaggio scooter due to its practicality.
MCUSA prez, Don Becklin, was on hand to impart some of his road wisdom.
Laurel Miller, wife of MCUSA VP of Technology Jason Miller was comfortable on the DR but was won over by the Ninja by the end of the day.
Our group of newbies switched machines often to get an idea of the bikes differences.
When it came time to test the four bikes for our $4000 Newbie Shootout, we drafted some of our own aspiring riding talent from around the office..
The little Ninja is a nimble machine, as Rachel here demonstrates on the obstacle course.
A telescopic fork and preload-adjustable rear shock provided 8 inches of wheel travel, and the suspension does an admirable job sucking up bumps on the road for the DR.
Once the DR gets over the 45 mph mark, its power and handling wane, which shouldn't be too big of a surprise since it is derived from a dirtbike platform.
A 32mm fork and 200mm disc provide the suspension and braking duties up front, with a preload-adjustable shock and drum brake taking care of things out back.
Although the clutch and transmission are easy to operate, the five-speed DR could've used a bit more power to make it freeway capable.
Although it didn't have the performance capabilities of its competitors, the 150cc machine was a formidable cross-town commuter and errand runner.
Rachel (above) said, 'The Ninja was the most compatible with my riding style and the ergonomics were more comfortable than the Virago.'
Some of our testers, like the 6'0" Jamison, worried they might quickly outgrow the Virago, but it still makes for an excellent starter bike.
The Ninja 250 claims the newbie crown by presenting the most refined package of the four and is aided by the fact that, at $2999, it is also the least expensive.
The torquey bottom-end make the DR a complimentary fit for in-the-city commuter type situations.
For some testers the scooter was just too different. 'I don't like the scooter because it feels strange to be sitting with my feet in front of me like I am on a chair,' said Laura (above). 'It feels sort of squirrely.'
The classic air-cooled Twin delivery provides just what the cruiser-oriented newb is looking for, albeit in a smaller package.
Because they are such different machines, it was difficult to rank the four newbie bikes, with one notable exception. The Ninja 250 rose above its competitors due to its more refined overall package, in spite of owning the thriftiest pricetag.
The air-cooled 60-degree V-Twin powering the Virago 250 provides a more low-end torquey feel than the Ninja, which makes for easy acceleration and a capable, controllable powerplant for the street.
When it came time to choose a winner for the shootout, Kawasaki's Ninja 250 almost got a clean sweep straight across the board, with only two of our six testers picking another bike above it.
What the DR lacked in power and speed is balanced by its ability to keep on riding when the pavement ends.
Our test day included plenty of laps out on the twisty kart track to get a feel for how these newbie bikes handled.
The Virago surprised us out on the track, with even the greenest riders able to scrape the pegs.
Providing an easy-to-ride package, the Virago is a great fit for the cruiser beginner, although the small machine might have a short shelf-life in the garage of a 5'10" rider like MCUSA's Marketing Manager, Erick Barney.
Duke is by no means a newbie, but number-1 assessment of the Ninja was right in line with what our beginner testers had to say.
