Changing my learners bike?

[squirrel]

Hi, I have a Hyosung GT250 Comet which I have been struggling to learn on, I find it very heavy and a bit big (I am 5'6" and under 70kg), I rode a friends street legal dirt bike the other day and realised just how much easier it could be!

I am looking at selling the Hyosung and buying a 250cc dual purpose bike. Have been looking on trademe and there is a good condition 2006 Honda XR250 Tornado - does anyone know if this is the kind of bike I can ride on the open road at a reasonable speed? (I am not a speedster, just want to be able to ride it at 100kph and keep up with traffic)

Thanks!

[Jase H]

Consider a Yamaha Scorpio (and I'm not saying it just because I have one) :)

I'm only 5'7 myself and find it easy to keep both feet on the ground (seat height 770mm), and at only 124kg dry weight, you'll have no problems with weight. When I was learning I also found it more reactive to the Honda CB-250 I did my BHS in when looking/ leaning towards where I wanted to go.

Cheap as chips to buy and run, and will easily get up to 100 km/h (hello, officer :Police: ). Also, there was some bloke in a recent issue of Kiwi Rider, who's also a bit short, using his Scorpio to go up and down the country.

[dogsnbikes]

Hi, I have a Hyosung GT250 Comet which I have been struggling to learn on, I find it very heavy and a bit big (I am 5'6" and under 70kg), I rode a friends street legal dirt bike the other day and realised just how much easier it could be!

I am looking at selling the Hyosung and buying a 250cc dual purpose bike. Have been looking on trademe and there is a good condition 2006 Honda XR250 Tornado - does anyone know if this is the kind of bike I can ride on the open road at a reasonable speed? (I am not a speedster, just want to be able to ride it at 100kph and keep up with traffic)

Thanks!


Yes its ok on the open road,a work mate and myself use to ride from palmy to wgtn too work and he had no trouble doing the 100kph speed limit even the 120 kph zone and he would of been about your weight ....and yes its much more fun learning on a dirt bike

[vifferman]

....and yes its much more fun learning on a dirt bike
Also more effective, if you bother going off road with it. It's a really good way to learn handling skills, especially in slippery situations (gravel roads, snad, mud, grass, etc.) And you're less likely to get injured while doing so.

[Pwalo]

Yep, I'm the same size as you, and I can imagine the GT would be a bit unwieldy when you're starting off. The Scorpio would be a good choice. probably better than an off road bike as the seat height will be lower.

[motor_mayhem]

Don't touch scorpios, they look hideous. Go for an FXR, They are pretty light, fast up to 100, very manoeuvrable and they look the part. They are also rather plentiful. :niceone:

[Lucy]

Hi, I have a Hyosung GT250 Comet which I have been struggling to learn on, I find it very heavy and a bit big (I am 5'6" and under 70kg), I rode a friends street legal dirt bike the other day and realised just how much easier it could be!

I am looking at selling the Hyosung and buying a 250cc dual purpose bike. Have been looking on trademe and there is a good condition 2006 Honda XR250 Tornado - does anyone know if this is the kind of bike I can ride on the open road at a reasonable speed? (I am not a speedster, just want to be able to ride it at 100kph and keep up with traffic)

Thanks!

I looked at dual purpose for ages for just about the same reason. Unfortunately most of them have really high seats, the exception being the Yamaha XT 250. Dunno how comfy they'd be for long distance, but they go 100k easily.

Someone on here is selling a Yamaha SRV which is a great bike.

[squirrel]

Lucy - just discovered the same thing - the Yamaha XT 250 looks like the one I need, the XR250 is too high for me.
The guy in the shop also mentioned an AX-1 (Honda) - looks like a good possibility but need to check out the seat height.
I am average height for a woman - and now I know why so many girls ride cruisers!!!!

[Lucy]

Lucy - just discovered the same thing - the Yamaha XT 250 looks like the one I need, the XR250 is too high for me.
The guy in the shop also mentioned an AX-1 (Honda) - looks like a good possibility but need to check out the seat height.
I am average height for a woman - and now I know why so many girls ride cruisers!!!!

Ha ha you are probably right about that! Most 250 road bikes are ok though, although I've never tried the Hyosung.

[Rosie]

I looked at dual purpose for ages for just about the same reason. Unfortunately most of them have really high seats, the exception being the Yamaha XT 250. Dunno how comfy they'd be for long distance, but they go 100k easily.

Someone on here is selling a Yamaha SRV which is a great bike.

The XT 250 looks like a really good bike. I think it's a pretty similar bike to my super sherpa, which is fine for longer distances (now I've added a bit of extra foam to the seat).

[squirrel]

Yep I think the Sherpa and the XT 250 are very similar, also the XT 225. There are no used ones on trademe but there are a couple of Honda AX-1's - The seat height is about the same as the XT 250 so it could be a goer! Not a trail bike as such but ok on dirt roads etc...and very light!

[Lucy]

The XT 250 looks like a really good bike. I think it's a pretty similar bike to my super sherpa, which is fine for longer distances (now I've added a bit of extra foam to the seat).

Oh yeah totally forgot about the Sherpa, was keen on one of those too. I've never seen the AX-1, and didn't hear of it while I was looking. Bummer.

[CookMySock]

I watched my short-ass scaredy-cat wife learn on a GT250R, and then my 15 y/o shorty daughter on her comet 250, and they did well.

Strongly suggest you get some quality support before you make changes. Unless of course, if you have had a few bad frights then maybe you will be unable to reconcile it.

I assure you, the comet is much easier to ride than the GT250R.

Steve

[squirrel]

cheers dangerous - no bad frights - have only dropped it whilst pretty much stopped - as soon as I lose momentum and I am on any kind of slope / uneven ground, over she goes. I can't pick it up myself and basically feel uncomfortable taking it out for a ride. It is probably more the weight than the height - I can touch the ground easily enough, but I am not very strong at all.

I have ridden a yamaha xt225 and feltl like I could go anywhere on it, which is how I want it to be.

I don't see it as a major change, the dual purpose is likely to cost me less than the comet and it will mean I actually get some riding in! (which is the whole point!!!)

S

[CookMySock]

have only dropped it whilst pretty much stopped - as soon as I lose momentum and I am on any kind of slope / uneven ground, over she goes. I can't pick it up myself and basically feel uncomfortable taking it out for a ride. It is probably more the weight than the height - I can touch the ground easily enough, but I am not very strong at all. Ok. Yeah bikes are heavy ay.. My girls couldn't possibly pick up their bikes.. well, they do not think they can anyway, so they cannot. I think I can pick up my 650, but I nearly buggered my back doing it. oops.


I have ridden a yamaha xt225 and feltl like I could go anywhere on it, which is how I want it to be.Well there you go then. :niceone:

Be patient with yourself though. It's going to take time. Bikes are heavy. See if there is someone experienced nearby who will just hang out with you and go at your speed. You will learn lots of little things, and feel much better fast.

Also, if you feel nervous then don't ride. Just go when you are ready, and have a little putter and put the bike away. It might take a few years, but soon you be the master of a huge and heavy powerful beast, and be quite the expert on it. ;)

Steve

[bittertwistedcute]

I am a bit of a hobbit, am now on my fourth bike in quick succession LOL but have had it since last April because it FITS yay!
I have a 250 Zeal, and it seems to be how the weight is distributed rather than how heavy the bike is?
The little FXR150's made me feel super confident about riding but I felt like I would be blown away in a gust of wind, the cruiser was alright but simply didn't suit me for a riding position
The bandit was too tall and I felt like I was going to drop it eventually, so I would have
I suppose what I am trying to say is sit yourself on as many as you can and you will FEEL the diference and know what you have to have.
Unfortunately I innocently plonked my butt on a Ducati the other day while chatting at the bike shop and swooned.... Not ready for it yet but at least I know there is a bigger bike that fits me, for my next step
Good luck : )


Hi, I have a Hyosung GT250 Comet which I have been struggling to learn on, I find it very heavy and a bit big (I am 5'6" and under 70kg), I rode a friends street legal dirt bike the other day and realised just how much easier it could be!

I am looking at selling the Hyosung and buying a 250cc dual purpose bike. Have been looking on trademe and there is a good condition 2006 Honda XR250 Tornado - does anyone know if this is the kind of bike I can ride on the open road at a reasonable speed? (I am not a speedster, just want to be able to ride it at 100kph and keep up with traffic)

Thanks!

[R-Soul]

I think I can pick up my 650, but I nearly buggered my back doing it. oops.



Not to sound like an OSH inspector or anything, but the technique you use when picking it up makes all the difference. Keep your back and arms straight, and lift with your legs and shoulders.

I managed to pick up my VTR 1000F no problems when my wife dropped it (thankfully it was standing still).

The weight of teh bike is abou180kgs. The weight is distributed about one third to 2fifths on each wheel, and one third moving to one fifth on you, so you should be able to push 60kgs (initially) decreasing to 36kg directly upward with leg power.

[Cayman911]

I just have to recommend you going down to your honda dealer and testing out the NXR 125. its as light as a feather, but it definitely has no problem getting the going on. its good. check it out. not to mention it looks better than most 400cc+ dual purpose bikes

[Lurch]

Even a pimpsqueak can pick up nearly any bike if they do it right:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPjYweKeiLk

[squirrel]

A quick update - I bought a Yamaha Serow (XT225), it's 1990 but in great shape. I have had her for two weeks and have already done more kms on her than I did on my old bike in six months. I love it - so much easier and the serious anxiety is gone. (there is still enough there to keep me safe!) I spent a few hours today on the back roads around whitemans valley, mangaroa, upper hutt - can happily ride at 80-90kph on the straight bits.

I sold the old bike - lost some money but there was no point having it sitting in the garage.

happy happy happy

[Okey Dokey]

happy happy happy

GREAT- that is super news! have lots of fun rides together, you and your bike! :)

[Scorp]

:shit: Post deleted, missed the fact Squirel had sold her bike!

[CookMySock]

Yay! On yer bike then! :niceone:

Steve

[crazyshuz]

Ok. Yeah bikes are heavy ay.. My girls couldn't possibly pick up their bikes.. well, they do not think they can anyway, so they cannot. I think I can pick up my 650, but I nearly buggered my back doing it. oops

Steve

I have ridden for altogether too long on my learner bike, being a Suzuki Volty (TU250), and after having tried only a couple of others, I can say how comfortable I find it. The seat is super comfortable and low enough to have both feet flat on the ground even given some slope. But it is still a bit of dead weight if trying to move.

[R-Soul]

cheers dangerous - no bad frights - have only dropped it whilst pretty much stopped - as soon as I lose momentum and I am on any kind of slope / uneven ground, over she goes. I can't pick it up myself and basically feel uncomfortable taking it out for a ride. It is probably more the weight than the height - I can touch the ground easily enough, but I am not very strong at all.

I have ridden a yamaha xt225 and feltl like I could go anywhere on it, which is how I want it to be.

I don't see it as a major change, the dual purpose is likely to cost me less than the comet and it will mean I actually get some riding in! (which is the whole point!!!)

S

Bikes (like most things) are all about technique. there are specific techniques to picking up bikes. Check them out on youtube. search for "picking up bikes' on this site and you will get a link somewhere.

Also, when you are riding a bike that is a little high for you, you need to just plan ahead a bit and keep an eye on the surface inclination. You always put your foot down on the upper side of a sloped surface. So you make sure the balance is over to that side when you stop. And plan so that you can always pull out of parking spaces under the bikes power (instead of having to reverse it out yourself with musclepower). If you get into this mindset, you'll be fine. I found this out the hard way when I borrowed a mates XT600 Tenere that was WAY too high for me. But after a little while- no problem. Just give it a little time and thought. Its more satisfying when you do get it right though.