I just bought a 2006 Ninja 500R, it was left over at the dealership so it's still brand new. Sticker price was $3800 and after taxes and fees it came out to $5049. Full coverage insurance for me at 18 is about $1000/year. I rode it for the first time over this past weekend, putting about 128 miles on it, about 100 of which were with a girl on the back. As it's brand new I'm doing the break-in which is 500 miles under 4000 RPM and then another 500 miles under 6000RPM after a service. At 4000RPM in top gear it does about 48-50 mph.

I'm 6 feet tall and the bike is just on the verge of being too small for me- I don't feel cramped and it's not necessarily uncomfortable, but I think a little more room and a little more seat height would feel better to me.
I love just about everything about it so far, only complaints are the placement of the helmet lock, the almost straight-up position of the kickstand when it's down (I won't trust it on a downhill slope at all) and the mirrors being too small and too tucked in. None of these are too big a deal to me.

I'm pretty much making this topic to show off my new bike, give my impression of it and offer newcomers and potential buyers a place to ask a new owner about the bike.

Here it is, you can see my old bike tucked away behind some garbage cans- a 1982 Honda CB650 that crapped out.

 

Congratulations! Nice to see one of Gumby's brothers on the other side of the island. (Gumby's my bike.)


Many safe and happy miles to you!
-Chris in C'bad (envious that you scored a bike at 18; I had to join the Army and move out in order to buy my first bike.)

 

I'm sure you know the break in debate, if not just search engine break in. Either way works, just use common sense and its all good

Check out Chris's mirrors they bolt right up, and are greatfor a relatively cheap/very functional mod

Nice choice on the bike. Looks like you got a good deal. [sm=smiley20.gif]
Gear up and ride safe!

 

nice ride! More pics!!!

 

nice... the Green Machine.

 

Schneiderman, I bought mine at Maximum as well. The Green Goblinis also a 2006 leftover, they must have a few of them. There was a black 2008 sitting next to mine but the $1000 less for the green one was the selling point for me.
I'll keep a look out for another one on the streets.

 

hell yeah congrats mang!!!