Moving from 250cc

[wezo]

So i know the jump is going to be huge. I rode a 1200 Zaki ZRX yesterday and couldn't believe the difference in power & potential to kill myslef very easily. My VTR 250 is good for a 250 but completely gutless in comparrison. For the many who have perhaps recently 'moved up' to a bigger bike, is it recommended to take it in stages (i.e, 650 then 1000) or does it really matter? I'm looking at a SV650s but also would one day love a 900cc Buell. Quite happy to get used to a 650cc bike first however. How was it for you?

[skelstar]

250 Hyosung (27hp) -> CB900 Hornet (105hp). No problems at all.

Lots of threads about this already (just a warning) ;)

[James Deuce]

An SV650 and a Buell XB9 would be pretty much in the same ball park, except the Buell has more direct handling, better suspension, and better brakes.

If you have the money I'd buy the Buell over the SV. It would be a more satisfying ownership experience.

I went 4-stroke 250 single, 2 stroke 250 parallel twin, 4 stroke 250 inline 4, 2 stroke 400 square 4, 4 stroke 400 V-four, 4 stroke 750 V-four... blah blah blah.

If it has two wheels and an engine, it's fun.

[Tank]

Im guessing you can kill yourself on a 250 as easily as a 1000 bike if you try hard enough.

In the end it comes down to how you ride the bike. Take it easy, learn the bike and improve your skills and it will grow with you.

I went from GN250 to 800 (v-twin cruiser - I know its not fast like a sports bike), but the difference for me was huge. And I found the transition easy.

Good luck. and BTW - the Buells are horney!

[Hitcher]

I transitioned from a Yamaha FZX250 Zeal to a Kawasaki ZRX1200R. As well as getting better fuel economy, better handling and better brakes, I found the engine performance of the Zrex magnificent and not in the least frightening. Compared with a lot of other bikes, big torquey engines have no spikes in their powerband and roll on smoothly in the gear of your choosing. Of course if you wish to avail yourself of all of the ponies available, they will oblige. Willingly.

The ZRX is a great choice. If I had a garage I'd probably have one parked in there.

[007XX]

Wezo, just take it one ride at the time I reckon...a couple of very experienced riders I spoke to (Craig Shirrifs being one of them) told me that a 1000cc bike would be wasted on NZ roads and they would much rather have a 600 for sheer fun.

Trial lots of bikes, take them for rides of a couple of hundred Ks at the time...Keep your options open at this stage.

Your capacity as a rider is yours only...No one can tell you how you feel on this or that bike.

So don't sweat it, read lots about the bikes that float your boat, then take them for a ride.

I don't think there are hard fast rules about which one will be suitable for you. Only you knows what feels good.

[Coyote]

N4CR went from a ZXR250 to a ZX10R. He's a munter, yet he's still alive :p

I rode a litre bike once. I thought it was good but I could wait untill I could afford that power. That's untill I got back to the showroom and the salesman offered it for cheaper than a 600

[jim.cox]

So i know the jump is going to be huge. I rode a 1200 Zaki ZRX yesterday and couldn't believe the difference in power & potential to kill myslef very easily. My VTR 250 is good for a 250 but completely gutless in comparrison. For the many who have perhaps recently 'moved up' to a bigger bike, is it recommended to take it in stages (i.e, 650 then 1000) or does it really matter? I'm looking at a SV650s but also would one day love a 900cc Buell. Quite happy to get used to a 650cc bike first however. How was it for you?

You may be surprised by how easy the bigger bikes are to ride

Try the Buell as well as the SV650 and see what you think - you'll probably find both quite a bit more 'user-friendly" than the ZRX

Just my $0.02

=mjc=
.

[Stirts]

You may be surprised by how easy the bigger bikes are to ride

I concur...in my vast experience....pfffft

I have gone from a 250 Hornet to the ER6.....and it is far easier to ride, and having waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more fun too!! :banana:

[Mikkel]

Get a turboed naked hayabusa streetfighter and make a video... :niceone:

Oh, that has been done already, bugger. :rolleyes:

[wildpudding]

The 600's are nice, would definitly recommend as an intermediate step if ya can, will learn a lot on a bike this size.

Stefan

[jrandom]

I rode a 1200 Zaki ZRX yesterday and couldn't believe the difference in power & potential to kill myslef very easily... Quite happy to get used to a 650cc bike first however. How was it for you?

Heh.

Don't worry.

After a fortnight on the ZRX, you'll be wringing its neck with gay abandon.

When it comes to motorcycles, buy whatever gives you a stiffy, and thrice damned be he who first cries 'enough power'!

:niceone:

[Renegade]

Heh.

Don't worry.

After a fortnight on the ZRX, you'll be wringing its neck with gay abandon.

When it comes to motorcycles, buy whatever gives you a stiffy, and thrice damned be he who first cries 'enough power'!

:niceone:

lots of bikes give me a stiffy, but alas i only have one stiffy to go around.

[JimO]

Wezo, just take it one ride at the time I reckon...a couple of very experienced riders I spoke to (Craig Shirrifs being one of them) told me that a 1000cc bike would be wasted on NZ roads and they would much rather have a 600 for sheer fun.
.

ummm...............

[Ocean1]

thrice damned be he who first cries 'enough power'!

:niceone:

Yup, it's a rush, one with a half-life of about a month. Then, like any other addiction you'll want to up the dose.

Seriously, it's a zero-sum game, the buzz you get from launching out of curves quicker lasts only until your brain gets used to it. Given that, (even if you can use more power safely) there's a limit to the dose you can buy you'll soon find that particular addiction unsatisfying.

Get one thing clear: more power beyond a certain point doesn't make you quicker through corners, (ya'know, the reason most of us ride?) and in the long term makes riding no more enjoyable. A better substitute is the kick you can get from continually improving the skills that allow you to make the most of whatever bike you're on. Note that a rider on a modern, reasonably well set-up 250 who's even slightly better than you will clean you up no matter what you're on. He likes that fact. Learn why.

The SV650 is as good a platform on which to get yer jollies as any any other modern bike, and better than most. The Buell's a "better" bike in almost every respect, (for it's design purpose) but that doesn't mean much in terms of riding enjoyment, most competent riders could out-ride me on an SV, (one did last night in fact, and I know he enjoyed that). That's fine, I didn't buy it to be able to beat anyone else, just myself, I bought it purely because it's ideally suited to fun in the tight stuff.

That OK guys? Are we convinced?

[James Deuce]

That OK guys? Are we convinced?

No. Buy a B-King.

[skelstar]

Lessons I've learned recently:

1. 100HP is more than enough power to have more than enough fun, unless you are very quick
2. A bike that 'handles' does more for your riding than a bike that 'goes'
3. Don't buy new... its mental what you can get for $8-10k these days
4. don't eat, it means you can afford more gas for your bike

[Ocean1]

No. Buy a B-King.

So I can have more horsepower than the rest of my mates?
HP numbers are a sales gimmick, an artificially derived, almost meaningless one at that.

If I wanted more power I'd be looking for torque, and I'd want it everywhere. I'd also want a platform that allows me to use it as often as possible.

If I wanted ugly I'd buy a Buell 1125R, and that doesn't have the torque my XB does.

[Morcs]

400s are so underrated.

Ive learnt so much on both of mine in just a year.

Fun factor is 10/10 too.

[vifferman]

It's all kinda epidemic.

If you're sane and sensible like The Hitcher, then goig from a 250 to a 1200 to a 1300 and then another one is no biggie. If you're a slow learner or have an addictive personality, then you may need to get there in stages. (PLus you get to try a wider range of bikes).
I went 175-250-500-500-750-1000-800 but so what? :spudwhat:
I had no problem with riding anything after the first one, but still managed to crash bikes 1, 5, 6 and 7. Nothing to do with size/power, just "stuff" (where "stuff" = All Kinds of Bad Mojo + Some Bad MoFos).

[Hitcher]

If you're sane and sensible like The Hitcher

I think that such claims may be subjected to vociferous appeal. Suffice it to say that sprots 600s scare the screaming shits out of me.