I've got a little one

[muzzle]

I have been reading a bit about adventure riding lately and thought that it would be good for a laugh but looking through the posts I see most of the guys on here are on bikes a lot bigger than mine. I have a 2004 XR 250 which I bought for a work hack. It will cruise all day at 110 kph and hit 140 at a push on a good day. I just wanted to know if I go on a ride am I going to get left behind and laughed at for having a little one or are you guys ok with that sort of thing.

[Motu]

All motorcyclists know that bigger is better....most expensive comes secondary.It appears the ability to ride comes in at 79th most important thing.

[Crisis management]

I think your perfectly safe.......we nana's riders rarely exceed 50 clicks. :innocent:

Seriously tho, you'll be fine, there are plenty of small bikes out there and they always keep up (if not beat me). If you want a couple of rides localish, have a look at the 42 traverse and Newby ride to Kawhia threads.


You will be made welcome even if you ride a nifty fifty and wear a gimp suit. :gob:

[buggsubique]

Mate, I had a DR 250 (rd legal) before I stepped up to the 400 (still little!). I miss the 250's light and nimble feel but I "needed" something bigger to get me there faster and to be more of a challenge off road - ie more power to get me into and out of the sh*t.

On road I can cruise with bigger bikes (incl road and true adventure bikes) no probs, she squeals a bit above 140 and sucks and wheezes a bit with a big load (pack, fuel). For me though, it is the right balance of how I choose to ride, which is often lightly loaded with an offroad bias.

That said, I couldn't give a f*ck if someone wants to have a giggle and a point, because I love riding it and I find the bike to be the right compromise.

I'd be surprised if you'd find someone in this forum who would do that anyway - they're a bunch of good bastards and we all help each other out.

[deanohit]

I just wanted to know if I go on a ride am I going to get left behind and laughed at for having a little one or are you guys ok with that sort of thing.
Ha, look at my bike then man, only 200cc's of raw power! :bleh:

Seriously though, you won't get left behind or you'll never be far behind at least. I've riddin on a few rides now and kept up fine, stick to your own pace mate.
And if they want to point and laugh, so what, it's your bike and as long as you like your bike, don't worry about it. :niceone:

[offrd]

Adventure riding is good fun and good for a laugh!
All the guys i have met have been great so far, everyone sort of keeps an eye out for each other. A good bunch of bastards that help each other out is right!

Give it a go! I did, No regrets!


Like Crisis said the 42 traverse is on the 2nd March and the Kawhia Ride at the end of march. I will be at both!

Perhaps see you there! :niceone:

[pampa]

In the rides I've been we generally don't go any faster than 100k/h (110k/h). Off road ... well it depends on your skills unlikely the bike is going to be the limitation :weird:
on the contrary if the bike is too heavy it maybe more of a problemm
My 1 cent :blank:

[young1]

No problems with the size of the bike, from my experience speed is not an issue, it is about enjoying the ride, meeting other riders, swapping lies (whoops I mean stories)!!

[Transalper]

....I just wanted to know if I go on a ride am I going to get left behind and laughed at for having a little one or are you guys ok with that sort of thing.lol, you'll be the one who's laughing when the bigger bikes are on their sides in the rough.

[Alpha Solo]

Smaller bikes are great - easier to pick up for the 99th time etc... nimble in the tight stuff etc.

:first:

[JATZ]

Ask Zerax if a 250's big enough for adventure riding, did the DB1k on one

[Transalper]

Ask Zerax if a 250's big enough for adventure riding, did the DB1k on one

Indeed he did, started about 5:30am and stopped 2:30am the next morning on one big 21 hour adventure ride of 1000km (just in case you hadn't worked out what the DB1k was)
Photo... (http://picasaweb.google.com/RideNZ/DustyButt0802/photo#5152891094720757330)
He was in a group of 3 along with a F650GS and R1150GS.

[marks]

your little one is bigger than my little one

[muzzle]

:doh:
Smaller bikes are great - easier to pick up for the 99th time etc... nimble in the tight stuff etc.

:first:
Sounds like me. The last time I rode a bike off road was about 1984. It was my fathers CT185 and I seem to remember spending more time under it than on top of it. I've had a few big road bikes but got in a bit of shit with the law so I gave up riding for a few years. I do a bit of hunting so I got the XR last year as it was good for that and as cheap transport. Now I am getting keen again I am looking at buying an SV650 for the sunday toy and trading the XR on a DR650 for the adventure rides and as a work hack. Now I just need to win lotto and I'll be set.

[Rosie]

Greetings, fellow 250 owner :cool:

[pevs]

It will cruise all day at 110 kph and hit 140 at a push on a good day.

Sounds like your 250 is faster than mine! I've found, on adventure rides, that folk wait at junctions (pointing the way), gates (holding them open) and tricky bits (just in case you come unstuck) so no-one gets left behind.
There always seems to be some good bugger to help you out.. which I for one appreciate.. just watch out for the ones with cameras!

[Sellout]

250 all-purposeseses rule :rockon:

Seriously though, the 250cc range of cruisers made me look silly (I'm no small fella) and the sprotbikes gave me a sore back. This way I can sit up when I ride, can still push it around the corners and learn how to handle the bike, and if (hopefully not when!!) I bin, there's bugger all to break & scratch up! And once I have the 6F, I can go get something pretty that I can spend time polishing, cleaning, protecting, etc but for now, I can thrash while I learn in relative safety!

She ain't pretty, but she's cheap and easy! (Hmmm......:spanking:)

AND chicks love the tinny whine of a single cylinder two-fiddy... don't they??? :shit: but but but the salesman told me!!!

[merv]

Nah mate, 250 is a good size.

Check out some of my stories like this one http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=33831 and this one http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=45786

[zeRax]

wow a mention :D

250 rocks, busajims 1150GS beemer is so gigantic it made me cringe, it was far bigger than i am, if ihad to call it something, id call it a fucking tank.

ive thought about a 650gs thou or a dr650, but i like my xr250l, its perfect really, i just really need to make some good racks up, and id love a bigger tank for like, 500km's or so, that would be godly,

[tri boy]

No body is too slow, or left behind on our rides mate.
Try and make the Kawhia gig. (might be able to find some floor space here Fri night to cut down your Sat morn travel).

[Moki]

Bigger is better...until having to pick the damn thing up!

[Reckless]

Hey all,
Never been on an adventure ride would a Ktm 200 exc be ok. Is it to small in the gas tank or anything. Might be a bit uncomfortable to sit on for a long ride though. If we do a 40k loop we are mostly standing. Not sure if the one I've got coming will come with all the lights etc. I would imagine they'de need to be road legal as well?

TIA for your help.

[kevfromcoro]

NO body is going to laugh at you riding a 250......
everyone helps each other out......my bike will do 140..so what.. not for long.
the wind is just to much.......doesnt come down to ccs..its what you enjoy the most...

[deanohit]

Hey all,
Never been on an adventure ride would a Ktm 200 exc be ok. Is it to small in the gas tank or anything. Might be a bit uncomfortable to sit on for a long ride though. If we do a 40k loop we are mostly standing. Not sure if the one I've got coming will come with all the lights etc. I would imagine they'de need to be road legal as well?

TIA for your help.
Should be alright so long as she's road legal man.
Not sure how the seat would go after the first few hundred kms though.:2thumbsup

[zeRax]

my xr is gonna be one cool machine imo, by next dusty :)

just got fat pro tapers, zeta armour guards w/ xc enduro plastics, will have my hid spotlights, new domino grips, a rack even, skid plate anodized black!, plus the other stuff

[NordieBoy]

my xr is gonna be one cool machine imo, by next dusty :)

just got fat pro tapers, zeta armour guards w/ xc enduro plastics, will have my hid spotlights, new domino grips, a rack even, skid plate anodized black!, plus the other stuff

Big tank?

:devil2:

[zeRax]

HAH, i wish, tank came from states and i ended up forwarding it to aus for them for a refund, so Clarke tanks which ""FIT ALL YEARS" XR250L" dont actually fit probably 03-06 XR250L's :P

anything in the states which is for an xr250L or anything that comes from the states wont fit newer model xr250L's probably,


should see the cool brackets me and old man had to make up just to get my skid plate i got in to fit, would have been better off using the tig !

gonna have to have rack with extra fuel when needed

[FJRider]

lol, you'll be the one who's laughing when the bigger bikes are on their sides in the rough.

And needing help to pick them up. Your ADVANTAGE is you have a bike. And CAN ride (it)

[mstriumph]

nothing wrong with your bike
something wrong with your riding buddies if they don't make you feel part of the ride

- in this case at least, size doesn't matter :msn-wink:

[fridayflash]

I have been reading a bit about adventure riding lately and thought that it would be good for a laugh but looking through the posts I see most of the guys on here are on bikes a lot bigger than mine. I have a 2004 XR 250 which I bought for a work hack. It will cruise all day at 110 kph and hit 140 at a push on a good day. I just wanted to know if I go on a ride am I going to get left behind and laughed at for having a little one or are you guys ok with that sort of thing.
i remember a guy 10 years or so ago doing adventure on a cg125 fitted with
knobblys,hehe.

[NordieBoy]

i remember a guy 10 years or so ago doing adventure on a cg125 fitted with
knobblys,hehe.

I got to the Maungatapu summit once to see 2 guys on scooters playing around there.