How soon is too soon to level up from a 250?

[R1SK]

Hey all,

1st post..! :2thumbsup

I've had my Hornet 250 since about Feb, been riding it *almost every day.

It's a great bike, but my goal is to get something bigger to carry pillion for some tours, and also use it for general thrashing about in the weekends..

- Anyone have any thoughts on 6 months being too soon to get something faster?

Also, how many other Hornet 250 riders are out there??

Cheers!

[jaffaonajappa]

Hey all,

1st post..! :2thumbsup

I've had my Hornet 250 since about Feb, been riding it *almost every day.

It's a great bike, but my goal is to get something bigger to carry pillion for some tours, and also use it for general thrashing about in the weekends..

- Anyone have any thoughts on 6 months being too soon to get something faster?

Also, how many other Hornet 250 riders are out there??

Cheers!

Hiya. Yeah - you sound like you may have enough experience to move up a bit and dabble with something better.
But. Even after 2 or 3 or 5 years....your still considered a learner by many peoples standards.
Have a look at the 400 to 600 range. Stay away from the big or high HP bikes.
Older CBR600 would be an awesome experience - just dont try to experience its limits too early.

And welcome to KB!!!

[tigertim20]

some people should never even upgrade from a GN250. . .
If you are at the point where you feel good on your bike thats great, but also consider other factors.
Youve been riding 6 months, so theres still alot of different weather conditions you havent experienced riding in, and I think its worth getting some experience riding in a full years' diversity of weather before jumping on a 600 or something. It feels alot like youre all in control after youve ridden a fewmonths. If youre that confident, go do a couple trackdays- they dont need to be about being the fastest, you learn a hell of a lot of skills at trackdays, and also go do some advanced rider training. After that, if you still feel like your 6 months on a bike is enough to upgrade, then by all means do so, But in my opinion, while people most certainly do progress very rapidly in their first 6 months on a bike, it is very easy to overestimate your ability and skill level.

Do some other upskilling etc too. just my $0.02

[R1SK]

Cheers both those are all fair points.

Yeah fully agree on stepping up to a 600 max.. Would be an FZ6 or GSR600 or something I guess.

Def keen for a track day! Have already booked an advance drivers course

- How would you guys rate the difficulty of learning to carry a pillion passenger?

[Spuds1234]

Learning to carry a pillion isnt hard.

Its remembering that you need to allow a lot more time for braking that can be difficult sometimes.

[Gremlin]

Depends on the pillion. Some feel like a backpack, others may as well be the ones riding your bike.

[Urano]

when i was 14 i started with a 50 cc, the maximum allowed here below 16.
i kept it for 2 years, and it taught me how to remain alive on the street.

then i switched on a 125, the maximum allowed here below 18.
i kept it for 2 years again, and it taught me how to ride a bike.

when i passed on heavier stuff some years after the sell of my futura every km i've done with those two little bikes remained greatly useful.

now you don't tell us if this is your first bike or you have a little experience, but, considering your question, i'll assume it's the first.

so the thing is:
you are old.
you are probably used to drive a car, you have a formed mind with spaces, speed, reactions, necessity of driving a car, not a bike.

250 cc is a fast bike and you need your time to learn. 600 cc are bikes with a hun of horses and are NOT beginners bikes despite the marketing messages we are directed...

i understand your will to step up, and your desire to enhance the possibility, but especially if you are going to ride in couple PLEASE consider your responsibility.

i strongly recommend you to keep this bike at least a pair of winters, and to attend some one to one course: you'll have to learn again how to LOOK, how to COUNT, how to FEEL other thing on the road...

[schrodingers cat]

The throttle works in two directions.
The brakes are always on the RHS.

Its the brain on the bike not the motor.

You can ride a litre bike like a GN250 if you like.

You decide. Its your life and your choice.
Get out there and enjoy yourself

[gijoe1313]

Morning, good to see another lil'ol'hornet being ridden around! I've done 100 000km+ on my one and even though I had qualified on a Full Licence, I still rode my chewfiddy around for several months after that (before I got a 900 Hornet).

Don't have to be in such a rush to get a bigger bike and just keep on building your skills up on the lil'ol'hornet. It can pillion just fine - I've had large guys on the back of mine (yes, being a Honda rider .. :msn-wink:)

Use the time to build up the funds and do some detailed research about your next upgrade ( oooh, not that I am biased ... but mayhap a CB600 Hornet (either the new or old model)? Or a nice 900? Or the Predator ... or the CB1300 ... or ... :innocent:)

In fact, I ride my lil'ol'hornet to work and then swap over to my other bikes as I feel fit! :woohoo:

Got any piccies of your ride?

[Urano]

The throttle works in two directions.
The brakes are always on the RHS.

Its the brain on the bike not the motor.

You can ride a litre bike like a GN250 if you like.

You decide.

sorry cat, i disagree.

if on a litre bike you turn the two-direction-throttle of the same amount you do on a 250, you'll prolly find yourself on the right position to live here in italy...

energies are huge: you need time to understand. especially if you are not a kid and you are used to consider yourself something with 4 legs...

and 20 years after i'm still considering the possibility to buy a little 125 aside the 600 to clean up my technique...

[EJK]

Hey all,

1st post..! :2thumbsup

I've had my Hornet 250 since about Feb, been riding it *almost every day.

It's a great bike, but my goal is to get something bigger to carry pillion for some tours, and also use it for general thrashing about in the weekends..

- Anyone have any thoughts on 6 months being too soon to get something faster?

Also, how many other Hornet 250 riders are out there??

Cheers!

I know some people started riding from a ZX6R and doing fine. It's all got to do with how you feel comfortable (and sensible) I guess...

6 months too early? In my opinion, maybe....... It highly depends on the type of people (and I don't know you so). But if you can go for it, then go for it. Who's gonna stop ya?

[ducatilover]

'Tis very hard to say without knowing you, or your riding. It's not the bike that's the problem, it's the loose nut behind the bars.
If you're a sensible rider and not too fussed about going quick, then why not?
As already said, it's your life :beer:

[R1SK]

so the thing is:
you are old.
you are probably used to drive a car, you have a formed mind with spaces, speed, reactions, necessity of driving a car, not a bike....

damn... haven't felt it until now... :( haha

Actually yeah - cornering is a whole new world compared to a car!!

[R1SK]

CB600 Hornet... :drool:

Actually a really good point re saving up cash - I totally hear you on that one.

Currently only doing about ~800kms-ish per month (I live near work), most of this is theweekend rides out of the city like out Miranda or Kumeu/Warkwoth way.

Good point I should actually take some pics of my bike before some wanker ends up *successfully stealing it..


- Cheers for all your advice kids, I'll prob be hanging onto it for another three-six months I guess and see where that goes.


PS can I just say that this website is awesome and I never expected to many responses from experienced riders out there

[schrodingers cat]

[QUOTE=Urano;1130090227]sorry cat, i disagree.

if on a litre bike you turn the two-direction-throttle of the same amount you do on a 250, you'll prolly find yourself on the right position to live here in italy...
QUOTE]

And therein lies the challenge - using finer increments to balance the machine.

I'm certainly not suggesting jumping on a big bike and riding it like a lunatic.

The top 4 inches determine what bike you should own.

[neels]

And therein lies the challenge - using finer increments to balance the machine.

I'm certainly not suggesting jumping on a big bike and riding it like a lunatic.

The top 4 inches determine what bike you should own.
What he said.

If you're comfortable on the 250, and can exercise some restraint on a bigger bike while you learn it, then ride some bikes and see if it feels right. If not, stay where you are.

As for carrying a pillion, a bigger bike will make it easier for you both (the novelty of a 250 will wear off pretty quickly), and you'll need to think ahead more to avoid banging helmets and frantic grabs from the back.

If you know someone that pillions regularly it might help to have your passenger talk to them about being on the back of a bike, and it wouldn't hurt if you 'borrowed' someone elses pillion to get a feel for how it works with someone that's comfortable on the back.

[jaffaonajappa]

[QUOTE=Urano;1130090227]tic.

The top 4 inches determine what bike you should own.

Thats a bit 'high brow' for us aucklanders......
Many jaffas cannot muster 4 inches let alone 4 at the top....
:laugh:

[akkadian]

Get a 600 now but keep the 250 as well. I have both and find the 250 is much more fun in town. Lighter, more fun working the minimal power, fun to flick around. Most importantly for me I get 400km per tank from the 250 and 200km from the 650. The tanks are the same size... At the end of the day it's like what everyone else said. An idiot is an idiot no matter what size bike they ride. The life expectancy of said idiot on a 600 is significantly lower though.

[Ender EnZed]

some people should never even upgrade from a GN250. . .
If you are at the point where you feel good on your bike thats great, but also consider other factors.
....
it is very easy to overestimate your ability and skill level.

Do some other upskilling etc too. just my $0.02

+1


If you're comfortable on the 250, and can exercise some restraint on a bigger bike while you learn it, then ride some bikes and see if it feels right. If not, stay where you are.

The thing with this is that a more powerful bike is very unlikely to feel "wrong". I don't know of anyone who has ever ridden a bike and thought "Hmm, this could do with a little less power". You're probably not going to realise you've overstepped your ability until it's too late.

OP, you may well be capable of handling a bigger bike sensibly and anything bigger than a 250 will be a better two up tourer. But you're certainly not an experienced rider and I doubt there's any pressing need to go touring with a pillion immediately.

On the the information available here I'd reccommend you stick with the 250. Ask the opinion of whoever is running your advanced riding course when you're there as they'll be a better judge of your skill (and possibly your mindset) than anyone on the internet.

[The Singing Chef]

[QUOTE=schrodingers cat;1130090734]

Many jaffas cannot muster 4 inches...
:laugh:

My heart cries inside for all jaffas, i'll measure mine now...wait where did i put that 2nd ruler? :tugger::2thumbsup

[R1SK]

Get a 600 now but keep the 250 as well. I have both and find the 250 is much more fun in town. Lighter, more fun working the minimal power, fun to flick around. Most importantly for me I get 400km per tank from the 250 and 200km from the 650..

Damn you get 400km from a tank? What sort of bike do you have?? I'm averaging about 180ish to reserve, including open road grrr.

- Hey has anyone had good gains on mileage after getting the carbs cleaned? (that is if any of you have bikes with carbs haha)

Interesting point about have two bikes thou.. It would be ideal but the rego's! (assuming you all are actually paying for them... :msn-wink:

[gijoe1313]

My lil'ol'hornet only gets to 160km before hitting reserve! And as for multiple bikes ... I do have 7 of them (though 3 at the moment are on hold for rego!)

So all relative eh? :msn-wink:

[dblancer]

Regarding upgrading from a 250:

I got my full licence last year on an old 1987 Kawa 250R and it was a brilliant experience. I only found on long journeys and big motorway rides did the parallel twin run out of puff. It was great fun right up until I sold it.

I have the full licence now, but have steered away from bigger bikes until my skills improve ( I want to do a few ride right courses ) so I just went and bought a Honda Jade 250 for commuting and blatting around the place. Its even a bit different comparing even the 250 parallel faired to and inline 4 naked bike.

Eventually I want a bigger bike, but I have something I can a) insure b) afford bits for and c) not overstep my abilities on.

[GrayWolf]

If I may add my two pennorth?
I would agree with much already posted. My thought is although you (like me) are OLD, lmao.. you have road awareness to a degree from car driving. Although no doubt after these 6 months you are now aware just how much more ALERT motorcyclists need to be. The Hornet is a reasonable bike for performance and will do 2 up duties as long as you remember its only a 250 and not expect 110-120kph cruising speeds. Certainly I would say go through at least 1 winter on it before changing.
As for the next step? If the style of bike you like is the standard/upright seating position a GS500 is a nice step up, or a W650? I'd even say a New Bonnie/thunderbird or the older 900cc triples would not be an unreasonable choice, big bike, but not high power, high revving. An SV650, or an FZ6R.... Old CB600 or VF750.
The biggest issue leaping onto 1litre bikes is often
1) the difference in cornering characteristics... I had an FJ1200 and could descend my local hill faster on my partners GN250 if not performing big lane changes.
2) weight... there are just things on a 200kilo machine you will not get away with, a lighter machine may 'allow'.
3) perspective of speed..... Big bikes just so often do not seem to be going fast, then OHHHHH SHIT, you are into a corner way too hot.
The above 3 are what I would consider 'classic' misunderstandings riders changing from 250's to big bikes will make.

[pete-blen]

Hey all,

1st post..! :2thumbsup

I've had my Hornet 250 since about Feb, been riding it *almost every day.

It's a great bike, but my goal is to get something bigger to carry pillion for some tours, and also use it for general thrashing about in the weekends..

- Anyone have any thoughts on 6 months being too soon to get something faster?

Also, how many other Hornet 250 riders are out there??

Cheers!

Really... you are the only one who knows if you are ready for a bigger bike..
but send you had to make this post to ask if you are ready...
I would venture to say you are NOT... If you felt you were and had the
conferdence..you would have bought a bike then showed everyone
pics of yer new pride and joy..

pete