How long before a 250 gets boring? | Page 2 | GTAMotorcycle.com

How long before a 250 gets boring?

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iFly55 said:
the moment you get on a 400-series hwy
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I consciencely avoid the 400 series highways unless I need to get somewhere. Part of motorcycling is looking for roads less travelled. If regular use of the 400 series highways are a reality, I say stick with a cage.


I don't even like my 1200 sportster on the 400 series.

A 250 is great to learn on and will provide plenty of pep for anyone. I think about those folks that look to upgrade to something bigger so they can keep up. The fact is, you know you've got enough seat time to upgrade to something bigger when you are keeping up or exceeding the pace of others on larger machines.
 
My buddy bought one mid april this year. Rode it as a daily commuter and went riding with it a few times... he bought an old 94 katana mid june... he got bored pretty fast.
He still suggested that i get a 250 before going bigger
 
Before you move to something bigger learn to ride the 250 to it's potential. Most people cannot ride thier bike to it's potential (And I am not talking about full throttle in a straight line) learn how to ride it beyond the basic skills to start stop and avoid collisions. There is so much more potential in all are bikes..
 
Most 250 cc bike crashes are due to the rider falling asleep.
 
Orangepeel said:
Why not keep it until after you complete your full M?

It's got enough kick to get you on the highway, but not into any trouble :). It depends on the person, I guess. Fun ripping up and down thru the gears, and it's nimble and flickable in the curves :D.

If/when it comes time for me to change bikes, I think I would miss my cibbie :(.
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Same -- After putting a little over 1000km on mine I do have the desire for more power, but it accelerates up to 120 fine (not super fast but fine). I'll likely be keeping mine 1-2 years until I get my full M then upgrade to a SS (likely a CBR600RRA -- Hoping Honda comes out with a new one by then).

Btw, as others have said too in other threads "It's more fun to drive a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow." -- To me this is true to an extent, as my old 100hp Sunfire was more fun than my 280hp Accord in some ways (both manual). I could push that Sunfire to it's limits (and had to) 99% of the time, whereas in the Accord if I want to run it up to red, I'm at over 100km/h in second...so 99% of the time I never get to really push the car, except for on ramps/passing on the 401.
 
250 is a good starter, if you feel you may want more power consider the 400 and 500 class bikes.

I started on a GS500, and 5 years later just looking at it puts a smile on my face.
(I started old, turning 42 this year)

IMHO the problem with the 600 SS type bikes is not about keeping a level head, but they can get you into a bad situation very fast. The bike may be able to handle a sharp high speed turn, but if you are not ready to lean in hard then you have a problem...

Regarding New vs. Used: Buy used!

No question, unless it is a present from Mom and Dad (you said is was not)
If your parents want to be sure the bike is safe, find a local Motorcycle mechanic (all over GTAM), and agree to have the bike properly inspected by a pro. You should also learn to take care of your bike your self but at this point just pay the $100 to a pro, and save the $1000's buy supporting the used bike market.

Remember to put some cash aside for proper gear.
I also personally recommend buying and reading "Proficient Motorcycling" by David Hough.
Lastly remember that you will need to ride the 400 for your M test, and sometimes you will need to take a highway as part of a trip. That being said a 125 flew past my wife last week on the QEW.
The 250/400/500 bikes may not pull at 125km the way the 600/800/1000 do but will still get you around most cars just fine even on the 400's.
Safe riding is not about power between your legs but between your ears.
And IMHO 400's are to get you to the fun roads, fun riding is the hills and curves. They can be fun on any bike, and the challenge is to improve your skill. Also how often do you think you will be driving your bike full out and need to keep up to someone doing 175km. Not too often.

Last - don't feel pressured to buy big just to keep up with someone else, buy what you and your family is comfortable with, and keep learning.
Remember your M2 exit does not mean you know how to ride, it means that you know enough to go out and learn to ride.

Be safe...
 
Outlaws Justice said:
Before you move to something bigger learn to ride the 250 to it's potential. Most people cannot ride thier bike to it's potential (And I am not talking about full throttle in a straight line) learn how to ride it beyond the basic skills to start stop and avoid collisions. There is so much more potential in all are bikes..
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But where can you ride a 250 to it's potential?
DVP? 401? Forks?
 
veno78 said:
But where can you ride a 250 to it's potential?
DVP? 401? Forks?
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Those are the places you might get to 140 KPH but in the curves is where almost all bikes are better than the riders on them.

My First two track days were on 500's and I was running circles around all the 600, 750 and 1,000 ss bikes. Even them I never reached the full potential of the bike as my experiance with the track was not good enough to hit the perfect turn in, perfect apex etc. on every turn every time. Even now with big bikes in the garage when I am out on the 400, or one of my 650 twins they still are more capable than I can ride them and that is why I still do not take anything bigger to the track (For fun)
 
I never once got bored with my 250, but I rode the f*ing wheels off it every time I got on the poor little thing. I rode that bike more reckless and foolishly than any other bike I had every owned...I had to sell it before it killed me.
 
Macs said:
...I thought it was universally accepted this was a terrible idea? What happened? In his other thread he says he doesn't even have a G1 or M1 yet, why would starting on a SS and "taking it easy" ever be a good idea? Especially if it's getting bought brand new.

http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforum/showthread.php?42129-Sportbikes-are-Not-beginner-Bikes
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What tricky said.

short stop said:
Ummmmm.....insurance???

Dude is like 20 years old.
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Didn't know he was 20.
Yeah it'll be expensive, but I don't think his question was about insurance. I think he was asking about 250 getting boring.


Bottom line is, not everyone follows the same fate. Sure some kids get bored of their 250, some don't.
Some who start on 600ss crash but there are those who do just fine. Not trying to get into a debate about starting on a 600ss.

He's decided on getting a bike. His criteria is that it must be a new bike. So might as well get the right bike.
 
Kuro said:
He's decided on getting a bike. His criteria is that it must be a new bike. So might as well get the right bike.
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He also has never had a drivers license. Bottom line - he will probably not even GET insurance for an SS, and even if he did the costs would be astronomical.

One has to factor in real-world costs and practicality when getting their first motorcycle. The "right" bike isn't necessarily their dream bike, at least not in this stage of the game.
 
short stop said:
One has to factor in real-world costs and practicality when getting their first motorcycle. The "right" bike isn't necessarily their dream bike, at least not in this stage of the game.
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This is his "First Bike" hopefully not his last. the Dream will change and so getting the "Dream Bike" for a first bike is just a dumb idea in and of itself.
 
I'd say never, if you ride for the right reasons.
Immediately upon purchase if you are looking for everyone else to approve of your choice.
If you are looking to scare the hell out of yourself every time you go riding, a 250 can do that especially if you possess little actual riding skills.
If you want to be the fastest machine on the road, then a 250 is inappropriate, but a Hayabusa is also inappropriate without the proper skills.

If you ride because you want to feel the rush of the wind, hear a finely tuned engine working with you, want to find the perfect balance between the road surface the tires throttle and centripetal forces. In other words, you are looking for a satisfying EXPERIENCE while riding, then whatever bike suits your experience level, budget and personal preference is the perfect bike for you.

If you riding experience is determined by how others perceive you based upon what you ride, then I'd say your motorcycle choices are limited to what everyone else tells you you should be riding.

Ultimately I don't particularly care what you choose to ride other than I don't want to see your name on the fallen riders page. That page is NOT a badge of honour to aspire to.

Choose appropriately. Use your head. Take the riders course. Get a first bike that suits your experience and ability.

You've probably only got another 50 years of riding ahead of you anyway.
 
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cknowles said:
I'd say never, if you ride for the right reasons.
Immediately upon purchase if you are looking for everyone else to approve of your choice.
If you are looking to scare the hell out of yourself every time you go riding, a 250 can do that especially if you possess little actual riding skills.
If you want to be the fastest machine on the road, then a 250 is inappropriate, but a Hayabusa is also inappropriate without the proper skills.

If you ride because you want to feel the rush of the wind, hear a finely tuned engine working with you, want to find the perfect balance between the road surface the tires throttle and centripetal forces. In other words, you are looking for a satisfying EXPERIENCE while riding, then whatever bike suits your experience level, budget and personal preference is the perfect bike for you.

If you riding experience is determined by how others perceive you based upon what you ride, then I'd say your motorcycle choices are limited to what everyone else tells you you should be riding.

Ultimately I don't particularly care what you choose to ride other than I don't want to see your name on the fallen riders page. That page is NOT a badge of honour to aspire to.

Choose appropriately. Use your head. Take the riders course. Get a first bike that suits your experience and ability.

You've probably only got another 50 years of riding ahead of you anyway.
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Very well said CK...ride for the reasons you want to ride. Unfortunately for many people the statement in bold is their reason for owning a bike.

OP - only you can know when YOU are ready to move up and when you've 'outgrown' your bike...I started on a 125 and yes it was too small for some of my purposes so I sold it after about 2500km or so. Now I'm on the CBR250R and I just cleared the 3k mark on it...there's times when I wish it was a bit faster, a bit heavier, and a bit more of everything...but it suits my daily purposes so well that I can't justify (or afford) a bigger bike at the moment. Have fun and ride safe and g'luck with whatever bike you choose in the future.
 
I think we need to clarify the question a little bit more - 250cc 4-stroke or 250 2-stroke .. if it was a 2-stroke, then most likely never ;)
 
markopas said:
I think we need to clarify the question a little bit more - 250cc 4-stroke or 250 2-stroke .. if it was a 2-stroke, then most likely never ;)
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Amen... I wish I could get an RS250 here....Any bike can be boring, just as any bike can be fun. To me it depends on the road. As others have said learn to ride it to the limits, then upgrade. I kinda want a 250 for a track bike.
 
<---- got his motorcycle license in 1988.

<---- has a number of toys in the garage to play with.

<---- puts more annual mileage on a cbr125 than on the others put together ...

nakkers said:
I consciencely avoid the 400 series highways unless I need to get somewhere. Part of motorcycling is looking for roads less travelled. If regular use of the 400 series highways are a reality, I say stick with a cage.
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THIS.
 
short stop said:
He also has never had a drivers license. Bottom line - he will probably not even GET insurance for an SS, and even if he did the costs would be astronomical.

One has to factor in real-world costs and practicality when getting their first motorcycle. The "right" bike isn't necessarily their dream bike, at least not in this stage of the game.
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just so you guys can get an idea of how ridiclous insurance can be here's my story.


I'm 27 with a spotlesss driving record. Last year I was hanging out in Milton for the May 2-4 long weekend and my grandmother passed away in Brampton. I was speeding to get to the hospital so i could say goodbye and i got pulled over. the DICK cop had the nerve to ask me "why are you speeding are you a doctor how do you know your grandmother is dead" he never bothered to run my license to see how clean it was he was just on a power trip and charged me with stunt (on a side note another opp came by shortly after and asked me why i never tried to speak with the officer because he ran my license and saw how good of a record i had) .

I had my license taken away for a week and got a lawyer to fight my charge it got dropped to 40 over. Because i have the license suspension im considered high risk. Thanks to this my ninja 250r will cost me 2900 a year on insurance.

I guess the moral of the story is.. insurance is a b1tch.. he's a guy i'm a female, he's far younger then me, less driving experience then me..and wants a crazier bike then me... he's going to be paying $$$$$$$$$$ big time.

I'd go small get the experience learn the way of riding and then gradually through the years get a faster bike.

my two cents =)
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