When I was in the US I had a Kawasaki Ninja 250 (basically the ex250 with sportbike plastic and better brakes) which I liked a lot - it handled great, used almost no fuel, and was cheap to service the one they sell now is basically unchanged since Reagan was president.

They don't seem to sell it here, and I'm wondering if somebody can suggest a suitable replacement. I don't want to go up to something like the 600 - the more aggressive riding position kills my back after an hour or two of riding, and I also have very short legs. I'm not wed to the sportbike fairings, just want something cheap and simple that handles well and is up to long-distance/motorway rides as well as city traffic dodging.

Ideas?

I hear scooters have about the same amount of power as your old ninja... plus cheap !!!
It depends on your license as well. best check out the size you can ride legally before you buy.

sv650
Fazer 600 old model

to name a couple of reasonable non-sporty possibles to check your boxes.

How big are you? Will you be taking pillions?

I have an unrestricted license from California, which I've held for long enough that Ticino _should_ convert it to an unrestricted one here as well. We'll see how that goes. I'd definitely convert the license before buying the bike, though.

Most of the reasonably priced scooters don't seem like they'd be motorway-capable, unfortunately.

I'm not tiny - about 173cm and 55kg. It's just that my legs are kind of short in proportion to my body, which makes some bikes a little annoying.

The other bikes I rode somewhat extensively were a Katana 600 and a CBR600. The Katana wasn't bad (a bit on the heavy side for commuting in California, where lane-splitting is quasi-legal, much like Ticino where it seems to be tolerated) but the CBR was set up all wrong for me - I had to lean on one leg at traffic lights, and it made my back hurt in like 20 minutes.

I didn't mean the little brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr scooters.... I mean the BRRRRRRRRRR scooters....
http://www.scooter-shop.ch/motos/kymco/index.html or
http://www.motorama-holenstein.ch/ht....asp~hmContent

In Ticino the BRRRRRRRR scooters are just the little 50cc ones with the mufflers ripped off.

Though you do have to love a company that can sell scooters named the "Grand Dink" and the "Top Boy". That's quite a statement they're making.

I've had the SV650S for long and I think it's a great bike for having fun in the mountains and without being sacrificed with the position. Maybe you want to get the naked version if you think the "sport" has an uncomfortable position for you.


Fabio

Cruisers are also good for those with stumps, sorry, short legs

There is a Harley Sportster "Low" model specifically designed for those with "ducks disease". Would probably be less powerful than a Ninja 250 though

I think most Hardleys are less powerful than most inanimate objects