Ninja 250 to GSX-R 600

[SpeeDemoN]

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Haven't read every post in this thread but I will say this. In C mode the bike is an absolute dog. The throttle isn't very sensitive and you'll be absolutely fine if you have a good head on your shoulders and can respect what the bike is capable of.

After a couple days in C mode you'll forget about it and just leave it in A.

Go for it.

 

[cors]

Haven't read every post in this thread but I will say this. In C mode the bike is an absolute dog. The throttle isn't very sensitive and you'll be absolutely fine if you have a good head on your shoulders and can respect what the bike is capable of.

After a couple days in C mode you'll forget about it and just leave it in A.

Go for it.

^^ That. Never heard of anyone using the lower modes for more than a ride or two, be it a 600 or a 1000.

 

[SpeeDemoN]

I've only actually used it when I was caught in a down pour and my rear tire was already needing replacement lol

 

[mikbusa]

If you have good control of throttle, brake, and make good decisions regarding speed in straight lines and corners, you can go from the smallest bike to the biggest.
With the above the mentioned skills, it's the difference in weight at low speed that will cause the most problems at first.

 

[jc100]

I had a 250 for 2 months, I hated the lack of power and I could throw that thing in corners like a toy. Also the lack of power required a constant rpm jump to make U-Turns and slow maneuvers, personally a 250 was a pain in the ***. However, it was very very easy to ride. I upgraded to a zx6r and I found it to be a perfect bike for myself. Simple speaking, it has enough power to take you around turns without twisting youe wrist all the time in a rubber band effect. I found the turning radius to be very good as well. The height of the bike makes it fun to mount on it and go for a long drive. It feels like it's a lot more grounded as compared to a 250. I love the power the bike has, it gives me the rush when I need it for a split second around a crazy driver on the highway. Highways are fun! City is okay. Trust me when I say this, if you have a 5-6+ years of car driving experience then you are more than ready after putting 8-9k on the 250.

The reason being that you are fimiliar with the traffic, laws and street smart. Your only learning curve was the 250, upgrade and focus on the following things.


Five things:
1) Learn to stop using both brakes on the 250, you'll need it on a 600.
2) Learn to lean the shinitzle out on the 250, as the 600 will be a heavier bike so you need to have the confidence to lean it.
3) Master the clutch control, clutch is life. Regardless of the situation a proper clutch control can save your life.
4) Learn to keep your wrist in constant position as to hold one speed, this will teach you how to feather a 600 cc throttle.
5) Push the limits of a 250 (not yours) and you will know that it's time to upgrade.

You pushed the limits of your 250 in 2 months?

Fetch this man a sponsor!!!

 

[Macs]

You pushed the limits of your 250 in 2 months?

Fetch this man a sponsor!!!

Within 3 months and 18,000km I could drag hard parts and knee/elbow on the 250...being over 200lbs helped.

 

[nfq]

I know people that dragged parts too. Then knees, then arms, then on their ***...all the way down the ramp lol

Everyone's different. If OP is comfortable and has the right mindset, no reason he can't jump on a ZX14.

 

[Legend]

I would not base my 600cc bike choice on the mode selector option of the GSXR. I did think about it too but in the end I bought the bike I wanted. As others have said the mode selector is your right hand. If you are not ready for the responsibility of a 100HP+ SS then likely you are not ready for 70% (Mode C) of it either. Plus once you get experienced on the the bigger bike you won't even use Mode C or B for that matter. Again, I know it's temping to think the drive mode selector is the best thing for 600 noobs but as a very recent upgrader I noticed the brakes/stopping to be the biggest difference, then the weight/handling, then seating position and lastly the throttle. Yes the power of the 600SS is amazing compared to the 250 but that only comes depending on how much you twist your wrist, all the other stuff is always there.

Mode Selector is a great option but don't think for a second it's gonna help you learn to ride a SS. Power is only part of the equation.

 

[conundrum]

My only experience thus far on a 600 SS was at the Honda demo day at Clarington (CBR600RR). Definitely had a lot more power than my 250, but I didn't find it unmanageable at all. Also as other have said, if you go easy on the throttle and keep it below 5k, it really isn't twitchy at all (imo).

Also for reference, I have just over 6,000km on my CBR250RA thus far, and am thinking about a SS for either late this year or early next year.

 

[jc100]

Maybe I'm a bit odd then...I'm in my 5th season in Canada but rode a dirt bike in the UK for a few years before that..I'm on my 4th bike and I can honestly say straight up that I haven't pushed any of them to their limits and mastered any of the bikes I have had...I'm still learning new things every season. I have a litre bike now but can also honestly say that the little 50cc 2 stroke bike I had years and years ago was one of the most fun bikes I've owned.

 

[Roomie]

Maybe I'm a bit odd then...I'm in my 5th season in Canada but rode a dirt bike in the UK for a few years before that..I'm on my 4th bike and I can honestly say straight up that I haven't pushed any of them to their limits and mastered any of the bikes I have had...I'm still learning new things every season. I have a litre bike now but can also honestly say that the little 50cc 2 stroke bike I had years and years ago was one of the most fun bikes I've owned.

99% says you'll never ever use a 1000 to anywhere near it's potential, even on a track. That's not an insult, most wouldn't either. As many have said it's a wrist control thing but there's more to a ss bike than just power.

 

[jc100]

99% says you'll never ever use a 1000 to anywhere near it's potential, even on a track. That's not an insult, most wouldn't either. As many have said it's a wrist control thing but there's more to a ss bike than just power.

I don't take it as an insult, my bike is a tall adventure bike so I still have a ton to learn about making a heavy beast like this work well off road. My point was that those people (especially newbies) that say they mastered their bike or pushed it to limits in a few months and now they are bored with it are one of two things:

1. the Rainman of the powered two wheeled world
2. badly mistaken

 

[Roomie]

I don't take it as an insult, my bike is a tall adventure bike so I still have a ton to learn about making a heavy beast like this work well off road. My point was that those people (especially newbies) that say they mastered their bike or pushed it to limits in a few months and now they are bored with it are one of two things:

1. the Rainman of the powered two wheeled world
2. badly mistaken

Touche. There are some exceptions though. I have a friend with a 750 ss. He learned on it, has tracked and can out ride a lot of people with it. Rare but it does happen.

 

[Ugur Dinch]

sigh....its ALL about control of your right hand.....in the end, you can go too fast into a corner with a 250 just as easily as with a 600...the diff is that the 600 will get to that speed faster. This whole..."you need more km...." is such a dumb statement....what if he got on his 250 and did hundreds of km's on a slab highway with just stops for fuel and food....would 20K km of that experience be helpful? What about 5K of twisties, stop and go traffic, tons of exposure to everyday idiots, emergency maneuvers etc? Who has more experience? is a better rider?

I'm riding an FZ6, but I rode my Ninja 250 for 35k before, and "600 will just get to that speed faster" is the last difference I'd think.

Seasoned riders, who've never ridden/learnt on a 250, seem to think that the power must the only difference there, but it's not. It's a beginner bike for a lot of reasons.

250 vs 600 from my experience:

- Lean angle: Compared to the 250, 600 feels to have a non-linear "lean angle vs corner speed". Not sure if it's bec of the deeper tires, but as you increase the speed for the same corner, the difference in change in lean is much greater vs the change in 250. Add the non-flickability feel of the 600 in the equation, transitions are much slower, and you have to apply some proper force to counter-steer the bike off a lean compared to the two finger push on the 250.

- Centre of mass: The effects of the higher COG of the 600, added to the weight difference - the 250 is a much lighter bike in result. On the 600, it feels like if you pass a certain point of lean, there is not really turning back vs the bicycle-like feel of the 250, where you can play anyway with it.

- Braking power: The rear brake of the FZ6 is more powerful than both brakes combined on the 250. As a result, you just know you can't brake in corners as on the 250. There is a huge range of braking on the 250 in a corner. It's much easier to explore the limits on the 250 regarding brakes for this reason.

- Riding position: This has to be the biggest difference... especially for the slow-speed manoeuvres. When my clutch cable broke on the 250, I had to do bunch of u-turns on the 250, and all was fine. On the FZ6 (not even an SS), I'm having much harder time, even with the presence of clutch. There is a TON of more torque, and given the higher weight + COG and more braking power, it's a whole another level of ball game.

- Effects of hanging off: When you hang off on the 250, it makes a day and night difference. The FZ6 doesn't really care if your hanging or not lol This makes you feel less in control, as your inputs are less in effect.

All the points above, don't necessarily make it harder to ride a motorcylce perhaps, but they surely inspire less confidence in you. Since you don't have the confidence, you can't search for the limits and you go back to day 1 of riding, where you're just not sure and don't really want to push it either. I was just ****** the first few days I got on the FZ6, bec I couldn't do **** accept for accel and decel.

I'd be stuck behind a variety of people in Deal's Gap on the 250, and now I am the guy that 250s will be stuck behind =(

 

[cors]

I guess everyone is different. I started on an FZ6, and enjoyed it for a season pushing hard around the corners, going out at night constantly doing loops on certain places in the city (Hamilton) when everyone is sleeping. Scraped a peg a few times, and dragged a knee later and tore my pants, it's a process of learning. I can't agree with few of your points, for example---it is true---FZ6 is probably heavier to flick around, but you also said it---it's not an SS. Get on a SS and it becomes easy to flick again, 600 or 1000, lol. Also the brakes---can't compare to a sportsbike, especially if they are upgraded with good master cylinder and steel lines.

Anyway, after a season of Fz6, I moved to a 1000 and haven't looked back. However much I loved the FZ6 and modded the hell out of it, a true sportsbike is so much different! First impression I had on the 1000 riding it from the dealership to home was "lol, this thing goes wherever I look". But back to the point---I think as long as OP is good with throttle control, he's ready for any bike. Most mistakes come from not being smooth at the right hand, or can't control it in unexpected situations, chopping throttle, etc. Ever been in a different car---noticed how whenever you sit behind the wheel---it feels strange, new, different....couple of miles down the road, you adjust. Same with the bike---be it the power, be it the brakes... good night.

 

[LoneRonin]

Don't you sign something that says you crash you pay? lol

No, its you crash you don't sue...

 

[bboySushi]

If you want to know the power difference, sit on the back of your own 250 and get a friend to ride it. then sit on the back of their 600 and let them ride you around a bit (it's ok, go out at night when no one will see haha). You won't be scared to drop the bike or anything, and you'll get a feel for the power and control differences as long as the rider is decent.

and definitely, if you just like to cruise what's wrong with sticking with the 250? I was gonna say the power will make 2up easier, but not with the seating on a SS hahaha.

 

[andrewff66]

How would a non-SS bike be then, maybe a Ninja 650 or CBR500R in comparison to my 250? I would like something bigger than the 250 because I do go with my gf on the back alot, and it feels pretty sluggish.

 

[nfq]

How would a non-SS bike be then, maybe a Ninja 650 or CBR500R in comparison to my 250? I would like something bigger than the 250 because I do go with my gf on the back alot, and it feels pretty sluggish.

Don't forget the SV650.

Those are much 'better' or tamer options for the type of riding you're describing. The FZ6R wouldn't be a bad bike to look at as well. Looks all SS like, but without the extremely sensitive throttle.

 

[cors]

Don't forget the SV650.

Those are much 'better' or tamer options for the type of riding you're describing. The FZ6R wouldn't be a bad bike to look at as well. Looks all SS like, but without the extremely sensitive throttle.

I second the SV650---seems a great bike all around, people love them. To the OP---keep in mind the FZ6R is a completely different and inferior bike to the FZ6, despite the added "R".

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