How long before a 250 gets boring?

[LePhillou]

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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) .

Probably if you had been balling your eyes out like crazy and mascara everywhere he wouldve escorted you or something. Sucks for you

But some of them are heartless *****.

If have 2 tickets that need to drop (dropping next year) and then i should be somewhat alright to get insured (fingers crossed)

But yeah start small for a season to get some experience in your own eyes and eyes of the insurance co and then go big(er)

 

[Quoc]

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.

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 =)

Thanks for everything guys. I never had a doubt that I would start on a 250, I personally don't feel like I would be able to handle a 600 right off the bat. I ran by some insurance companies and they quoted me a $3700/year, too high for me. However, if I get my license and wait it out it will be cut in half. Getting a 600 would have made the price even more. So I'll be getting my license and waiting it out for a year before I do anything. When the year does pass, I guess if I'm forced to buy a new bike I'll stick with it for a few years (thanks to the advice given on this thread).

 

[tricky]

Thanks for everything guys. I never had a doubt that I would start on a 250, I personally don't feel like I would be able to handle a 600 right off the bat. I ran by some insurance companies and they quoted me a $3700/year, too high for me. However, if I get my license and wait it out it will be cut in half. Getting a 600 would have made the price even more. So I'll be getting my license and waiting it out for a year before I do anything. When the year does pass, I guess if I'm forced to buy a new bike I'll stick with it for a few years (thanks to the advice given on this thread).

Good plan... who knows, you may really like the 250. I've grown to really like my 500, and I don't know if I'll be able to part with it when the time comes.

As for the 600cc insurance, I'm 22, GM2, squeaky clean record and over a year of insurance under my belt, and I got quoted over $10,000 for SS insurance. True story

 

[Quoc]

Good plan... who knows, you may really like the 250. I've grown to really like my 500, and I don't know if I'll be able to part with it when the time comes.

As for the 600cc insurance, I'm 22, GM2, squeaky clean record and over a year of insurance under my belt, and I got quoted over $10,000 for SS insurance. True story

Ouch! Looks like I'm staying away from that until I have a good couple years of riding experience.

 

[19891989]

I've been bored of mine since 3000 km

 

[Jonnie]

The nice thing about a 250 is that it's very forgiving, great for new riders.

As for boring, it's what you make of it. I've seen people get bored after one year, and I've seen people riding on a 250 for 5+ years. I personally find the 250 to be a little under-torqued, but damn was I thankful to ride one for my full M license.

To keep things fun, ride twisties with your 250. It'll take a while to learn how to max out your bike on a curvy road.

edit:
If you're resourceful, buying used will save you a grand or more. That's a lot of money you can use for gas and insurance! Plus, CBR250 and 250R have good resell value, as they are popular beginner bikes.

 

[Ugur Dinch]

20k kms in 12months on my first bike and still not bored for sure.

The only issue I have is that when I'm tired, I hate having to change gears 5times by the time I hit 60 and back to 0. Double shifting, and not dropping into 1st helps, but still I wish the revs weren't flying by so quick.

 

[CharleneLizette]

Probably if you had been balling your eyes out like crazy and mascara everywhere he wouldve escorted you or something. Sucks for you
But some of them are heartless *****.

Funny you say that because i actually was in hysterics driving had snot coming down my face and my shirt was soaked from the tears and mascara... he told me to cab it to the hospital ... karma's a ***** he will get his..

 

[Akshun]

<---- 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 ...



THIS.

And this!

Go and watch Racer5's CRB125's racing on the track. I do not know how many can get bored of that

 

[laydee]

The bikes not boring, a bike can never be boring if you enjoy riding in the first place. I don't get bored of mine I just sometimes wish it had more power to pick up quicker.

 

[cbcanada]

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.

whats wrong with the 1200 on the highway?

 

[cbcanada]

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...

well said !

 

[cbcanada]

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 =)

so what are you riding now?

 

[short stop]

whats wrong with the 1200 on the highway?

Speaking for my own experience with the 1200 - vibration. And lots of it. The bike could seriously use a 6th gear.

I also avoid the highway when I can with this bike. It's not that it's not doable, it's just not what the Sportster does best.

 

[CharleneLizette]

so what are you riding now?

I'm looking to purchase a 250r ninja... I got my lancer back so i drive a standard car for now... can't wait to get on the bike though...

 

[evang]

Everyone is different.

I bought a 250 in 09. I rode it for 3 years and was not bored of it in the slightest. I recently upgraded to an 800 only because I wanted something bigger that I could do some longer rides with.

If i could have afforded to keep the 250 and still get the 800, I would have kept both. the 250 was amazing for riding in the city. It was a lot of fun working through the geards. On the 800, i don't really get out of second. I've also noticed that there is a lot of heat that comes off the 800. It's rather uncomfortable in heavy traffic. I never experienced that on the 250. I also use way more gas now as well and my insurance has almost tripled.

 

[Callel]

im 22 and just got a ninja 250, 2 reasons, #1, im going to learn how to ride on it, only other experience i have is the sheridan safety course, which was fun! #2, im only 22, im going to ride the 250 minimum 3 years, ill be taking my M on it, and when i turn 25 and insurance gets cheep ill CONSIDER upgrading. im paying only $60 a month for insurance so its pretty cheap compaired to my car 180/m

dont let others tell you your going to loose interest in the 250, let yourself be the one to decide how you feel about it

 

[D-3vil]

Unlike most people here, I bought a 250 as my THIRD bike. Granted, it's not my only bike but it's the most fun I've had on a motorcycle.

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