My 04 was my first bike and i love it. I think the SV is a great starter bike as long as you respect it. You dont have to rev the pi$$ out of it to make it go. IMO you will out grow a 250 a lot sooner than an SV. Just my .02
I started out on a Ninja 250 last summer and just got my 07 SV last Tuesday.
I can say that the SV is a whole lot faster lol. As far as beginning goes, the sv can be a great beginner bike if you respect it. The only thing the 250 does for you is be a little lighter, and if you accidentally hit the throttle, won't take off on you. I don't think you would be going wrong with either bike, just be careful and you should be alright on either.
Yeah, i think I tried to mimic like I was some type of racer at the time and it just seemed so cool to downshift rather than upshift and it scared the friiggin crap outta me. I definetly wont be doing that again.....unless in a parking lot...lolI agree.. I think the SV is a pretty good beginner bike. I had a 92 cbr f2 for my first bike and now my 3rd bike is an SV and I wish I'd started on this one. It's the kind of bike that you can learn on and not need to upgrade.
And unless you were pressing the rear brake, it sounds like you downshifted too many gears and then popped the clutch, basically the engine braking from that will lock the rear brake - don't do that - haha..
as well as riding in this parking lot not to far from my house. Id probably work on my uturns and low speed maneuvering and push it every now and again to see what she's made off in this controlled environment.