250s VS 600+?

[Morcs]

A 250 pinned through corners still feels like walking speed.

A good rider will get so much more out of a larger capacity bike.

[Argyle]

A 600 is probably better on NZ roads then a 250cc.

You should watch your self's from glorifying a 250cc, soon the government decide 250cc is well enough and everything else will be banned from the roads and then it's all over!

[centaurus]

I have very recently upgraded from 250 to 600 and I've been thinking about this subject quite a lot lately.

I've had so many people telling me how nice are the 250's: light, flickable, more fun at lower speed, etc... and never understood it (all of them were experienced riders). The problem is the only people that can appreciate the lightness of a 250 are the ones that have ridden (enough time) a bigger/heavier/more powerfull bike. Only by comparison, the 250 feels light and flickable. If all you've ever riddein is a 250, no matter how good you get at it you will never feel it's a "toy".

Another thing to consider is the type of 250 available nowadays. It's one thing to have a gsx250 or another old school 4cyl "sports bike" (not to mention the brilliantly vicious 2 strokes like the NSRs or RGVs) that have been designed as sport bikes, and a totally different thing to have a "half-ass" bike like a GPX for example which is neither a sports bike as bike design or body position nor it is a small light flickable dual sport.

Don't get me wrong, the gpx was a brilliant bike to learn on - very forgiving and decent power for a 250 but it never felt right and it never felt like a sports bike. It always felt like a compromise between two worlds that got the worst of both. I thoroughtly enjoyed riding it but always felt like it was just an intermediary step in the learning process and not a bike with it's own merits.

You don't usualy have this problem on bigger bikes - they are built for a purpose and they (usually) do it well. My new ZX6R is a sports bike and really feels like a sports bike. Yes, it is less exhilarating at the same speeds than the 250 but it always feels right riding it.

[Maki]

I've had so many people telling me how nice are the 250's: light, flickable, more fun at lower speed, etc... and never understood it (all of them were experienced riders). The problem is the only people that can appreciate the lightness of a 250 are the ones that have ridden (enough time) a bigger/heavier/more powerfull bike. Only by comparison, the 250 feels light and flickable. If all you've ever riddein is a 250, no matter how good you get at it you will never feel it's a "toy".

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...d.php?t=100818

"Handling. Once cornering the 600 feels more stable, planted and it feels like it could corner faster. Turn in and transition between corners is easier and faster on a 250 than a 600. The 600 has a lot more engine braking so you have to watch your downshifts, or the rear will get very twitchy. Same goes for accelarating out of corners, the more powerful bike may bite you if the surface is not perfect. So, ultimate cornering speed may be faster on a 600 but the 250 is nimbler and more forgiving."

[Paddi Irishman]

hard to beat the small bikes for fun on the twisties..
A 250 or 400 riden well on the twisties will put most bigger bikes to shame..

[Gubb]

It's not about speed. It's about the presence of the machine, the extra skills and experience required to handle it.

Didn't you crash not all that long ago?

[centaurus]

The 600 has a lot more engine braking so you have to watch your downshifts, or the rear will get very twitchy. Same goes for accelarating out of corners, the more powerful bike may bite you if the surface is not perfect. So, ultimate cornering speed may be faster on a 600 but the 250 is nimbler and more forgiving."

I've heard this one so many times and it scared me shitless when jumping on the 600 for the first time, but I disagree - it's not always true. The gpx had a compresion ration of 14 to 1 or so. Most times just unwinding the throttle was enough to stop me - I used the brakes very rarely. The ZX6r being heavier and with less compression, releasing the throttle makes little difference. I remember shitting miself at the fist corner when I released the throttle expecting the bike to slow down considerably (like I was used on the GPX) and the bike kept going at almost the same speed for a while.

But I agree with your comments on the above mentioned thread. You nailed it spot on.

[imdying]

Basically, the bottom line is always the same... 2 strokes are where it's at for sports bikes, 4 strokes are, and always have been, wrong.

[R6_kid:Me]

Hmmm... a 2-stroke, 270deg parallel twin 400cc sports bike would be A LOT of fun!

[Maki]

Hmmm... a 2-stroke, 270deg parallel twin 400cc sports bike would be A LOT of fun!

Yes, I would love one, especially if it looks something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5nYA8nNVfA

[R6_kid:Me]

I'd just get an 06+ R6 rolling chassis and put the motor in that. There are pics somewhere of a guy who put an old RD500V into an R6. Looks awesome.

[onearmedbandit]

I get more satisfaction out of my 1000 than any 250 I've owned or ridden. Why? Because it challenges me. Yeah you can screw a 250 out in safety and get home and think you've done well, if that is what spins your wheels. Or you can push yourself that little bit harder and do the same on a larger bike, and feel satisfied when you find the extra speed.

[NordieBoy]

Get a TL mate that will solve all ya problem.

Oh yeah

[ckai]

Basically, the bottom line is always the same... 2 strokes are where it's at for sports bikes, 4 strokes are, and always have been, wrong.

WRONG!!! Nothing like the buzz of a triple between your legs!! Go the Singer.

The upgrade for me was pretty simple...only about 20kg's heavier, 5x more power, better brakes, more nimble through the corners, better tyres, etc, etc ... I'd be mad too go back.

But it's the torque that makes it so much better. Nothing like being lazy and pulling 6th gear out of "35km/h" corners and doing it better than the first bike

No regrets...ever.

[avgas]

I currently ride a 10hp 400 single. So a 250 sounds like i would have to step up again.
Mind due - even the internet seems slow to my old FZ1