Starting to think about moving up...

[magicmonkey]

So, I've had the GN for a few months and I'm pretty much used to it, I keep seeing shiney bikes that I like though and so I'm starting to look at what I want for a next bike. Bearing in mind that unless I find something great for piss cheap it isn't going to happen for a while yet, what are you guys experiences of ZXR's and ZZR's for learners? I quite like the look of them and they seem to gt decent press but some insider knowledge from people who have ridden them as learners would be really useful :)

[White trash]

You'd be better of with a Gixxer 1K for wheelie practice in reality.

[magicmonkey]

You'd be better of with a Gixxer 1K for wheelie practice in reality.

yeah, still on a learner license though, apparently the front is capable of pulling a stoppie on the ZZR's though so that could be a goer!

[ZK-Awesome]

How long til you can get your full? Stick with the GN til you get your full, then get the bike you really want.

[Laxi]

love my ZZR, she's getting old and high on the ks but we've done over 25,000 ks together in the last year and shes never let me down, I bought the ZZR because it just had the right feel out of the bikes I looked at, it's done everything you could ask from a 250!

[magicmonkey]

How long til you can get your full? Stick with the GN til you get your full, then get the bike you really want.

meh, it's going to be another 9 months until I can get my full, I'd like to progress up through bikes as well rather than going from a GN to something that I have no idea how to control, I just think I'll survive a bit longer that way!

[magicmonkey]

love my ZZR, she's getting old and high on the ks but we've done over 25,000 ks together in the last year and shes never let me down, I bought the ZZR because it just had the right feel out of the bikes I looked at, it's done everything you could ask from a 250!

Did you have it on your learners? And I suppose the big question is 'how forgiving is it?' Pretty important for me at the moment as I'm still making mistakes...

[Rosie]

How long til you can get your full? Stick with the GN til you get your full, then get the bike you really want.

:yes:

And in the mean time, make the most of the GN, learn to ride it well to get the best performance out of it, ride lots of different kinds of roads, go for a bit of a tour. Air cooled singles are surprisingly capable bikes :scooter:

Then when it's time to upgrade, you'll have a better idea of what you do and don't like about the current bike, what sort of riding you are going to be doing etc.

[Laxi]

Did you have it on your learners? And I suppose the big question is 'how forgiving is it?' Pretty important for me at the moment as I'm still making mistakes...

picked it up the day after my BHS, like most 250s it dosn't have enough power to get yourself in too much trouble, can accelerate, brake or shift leand over without getting loose
but I'd agree, unless you've got money to burn and ages till your full, save the money for somthing bigger, I'm seriously over the lack of accerleation on hills or when riding with bigger bikes, and it does 110 at 9,000rpm so annoying at long trips

[javawocky]

So, I've had the GN for a few months and I'm pretty much used to it, I keep seeing shiney bikes that I like though and so I'm starting to look at what I want for a next bike. Bearing in mind that unless I find something great for piss cheap it isn't going to happen for a while yet, what are you guys experiences of ZXR's and ZZR's for learners? I quite like the look of them and they seem to gt decent press but some insider knowledge from people who have ridden them as learners would be really useful :)

Yeah, tested a zzr once pulled like a crazy thing :Punk: ... oh sorry, I ment the 1100 :wari:

[george formby]

:yes:

And in the mean time, make the most of the GN, learn to ride it well to get the best performance out of it, ride lots of different kinds of roads, go for a bit of a tour. Air cooled singles are surprisingly capable bikes :scooter:

Then when it's time to upgrade, you'll have a better idea of what you do and don't like about the current bike, what sort of riding you are going to be doing etc.

Like she said. Your posting a lot of questions here to help you along:yes: so keep the bike you have, ride it to within an inch of it's life & save your pennys. When you get your licence a whole new world awaits. I see zero 0 nada point in getting another 2fiddy unless it's an RGV or a 2 smoke motard & they are scary but my preferred flavour.:scooter:

[varminter]

I moved from the GN to my Katana (which i love) but that was because the GN gave me terminal back ache, glad I did though, a whole new riding experience. Now I have to sell the Katana for something bigger.

[BASS-TREBLE]

I went from a GN to a FZR1000. Very big step up, but not in a shocking kind of way.

I had the GN from 6L to my 6F, covering about 25K in those 18 months.
I have to say on the GN I felt like I was the one that could do more, not the bike. I could scrape the pegs whenever I wanted to and I knew EXACTLY how it reacted to anything.

Now with the FZR, it is very obvious that I have to respect her. It has been about 5 months and around 5k, and I am still being very carefull with my right hand.
From the start of owning her, I have always taken it easy, not over doing myself. I really think this is key.

I know you are wanting to get another 250, but believe me when I say that the wait is worth it to save up and get a bigger bike.
I went on 250 rides with CBRs etc and the only time they left me standing still was on the straights.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the step from a GN to a I4 250 is a boost in power, but in the end it is only you that limits the bikes potential.
I'm guessing it's been around 9 months for you. Lets say you get a bigger bike, you will start from scratch with your knowledge of that bike, and by the time your 6F comes, you will start the whole procedure again.

I recommend to hold yourself back, gain experience, save money and wait for your full to start looking for a bike that you will want to keep for good.

[sil3nt]

The ZZR is pretty much the same as the GPX 250 and they are perfect learners bikes. They are not powerful and scary. A ZXR might be a different story though (never tried one!).

If it's only 9 months to go then i would just save the money for a bigger bike. 9 Months will fly by!

[Grasshopperus]

I'm only commenting because I too am a nub rider and chose between a GN250 and a ZXR250 when finding my first bike. I talked to heaps of people and read up on KB hardout and discovered that there's ups and downs.

The cons of the sportsbike vs GN250 are

* the IL4 250s are usually faired and they say you always drop your first bike. Fairings are expensive to fix/replace
* higher running and maintenance costs
* higher purchase price

The pros of the sportsbike vs GN250 are

* you get used to a bike that is closer to what you'll get if you move up to a mid/big bike.
* way cooler
* more fun
* you don't get sick of them as quick as the GN (which you obviously are :yes:)
* you can take it on a racetrack if you want

For me what sealed the deal is that biking is supposed to be something you like doing. If having that CBR/ZXR/ZSXGSXNSRGT is what will make you want to ride everyday then just do it.
They say that 250's (esp GN250's) keep their value, well prove it. Sell it for the same as you bought it for, then get the bike you want. In your situation you might be without a bike for weeks though, unless you got the cash to buy the bike you want now and sell the GN250 afterwards.

I'm not good at this motorbiking thing, I just thought I'd share is all.

[magicmonkey]

I'm not really thinking about getting a new bike just yet, I've still got a way to go on the GN as it is. I do intend to get myself something different in a few months though, for 2 main reasons; firstly comfort, I can only ride the GN for about an hour at a time which is quite a restriction, that time gets lower after every rest stop as well. Secondly looks, frankly, I think the GN is just plain ugly! don't get me wrong, I really enjoy riding it but there's a superficial part of me which wants a bike which I think is cool ;)

So, in a few months I'll be moving up, and hopefully doing some longer rides and getting out to see this beautiful country of yours on 2 wheels, the only question now is what I'll be doing it on :p

[Rosie]

I do intend to get myself something different in a few months though, for 2 main reasons; firstly comfort, I can only ride the GN for about an hour at a time which is quite a restriction, that time gets lower after every rest stop as well. Secondly looks, frankly, I think the GN is just plain ugly! don't get me wrong, I really enjoy riding it but there's a superficial part of me which wants a bike which I think is cool ;)

Is it the seat you're having problems with comfort-wise? Riding position? Wind? A lot of long distance comfort issues can be remedied, to an extent.

My bike is no super model, so I can't comment too much on looking cool, except that the more riding you do, you'll have a better idea of what you need in a new bike, so will be in a better position to get something that looks good, and does the business. No point having something pretty and shiny if it's just as uncomfortable as the GN.

[magicmonkey]

Is it the seat you're having problems with comfort-wise? Riding position? Wind? A lot of long distance comfort issues can be remedied, to an extent.

My bike is no super model, so I can't comment too much on looking cool, except that the more riding you do, you'll have a better idea of what you need in a new bike, so will be in a better position to get something that looks good, and does the business. No point having something pretty and shiny if it's just as uncomfortable as the GN.

The seat is fine, it's just playing havoc with my lower back. I"m quite a sloucher and the riding position is very upright so it puts stress on muscles which don't tend to get used. I'm hoping that a more leaned forward riding position will help a bit as I'm pretty much leaning over the bars on the GN after I've been on it for a while. That said, I'll have to do some long test rides on any bike I want to buy before I take that as gospel, I may well end up being more comfortable on a chopper :gob:

The looks thing was a bit tongue in cheek really, it's s consideration but not a major one. I'm quite used to looking all gangly and uncool so it's not much of a change from the norm for me ;)

I would like to ride a bike with different handling on it as well though (something I did try and write in my first reply but my browser crashed and I didn't get around to writing it again, doh) I understand that the different rake angles will create a very different ride and it's be good to have an idea of how the bikes I want top progress onto are likely to handle.