Rode my first big bike

[george formby]

Yeah, and looking way ahead allows you to give the brakes 5 minutes notice of your wish to stop

lol. The big squeeze, teeth & sphincter clenched. Ah, thems was the days.
bikes must be like fishing, first you just want to get one, then you want a bigger one, then you want lots of them & finally you just want to be out their doing it.

[Insanity_rules]

Welcome to the world of more power. Its really adictive as you've probably realised. Years ago I went from a 5 year old VF 400 to a spankers new VFR 750 and it was like a revelation! Ever since I've been chasing the dragon so to speak. I'm all about the litre twins at the moment, talk about a smack in the back when you twist it hard.

If you liked the gixer wait till you try your first SV, VTR, Duke, Aprilia or the like.

[Old Steve]

Any 250 that you'll feel a significant power difference with will not be cheap.

Um, Hyosung GT250N, GT250R or GV250, they have 21 kW (28 HP) and lots of low down torque for a 250, and a 3 or 4 year old one can be cheap and reliable. Even a 2009 new one would only be in the region of $7000 or so. I find cruising at 100 to 110 km/hr is easy, I sometimes ride with guys on larger bikes such as Honda Goldwings, Harleys and Suzuki Boulevards and can keep up reasonably well at speeds up to 110.

And they have a great range, 15L tank with a 3L reserve makes it easy to cover well over 400 km, even up to 450 km or more, on a tank fill. I've done 380 km from Tauranga to Taupo and back, OK stopped for lunch at Taupo, but I wasn't crippled because of an uncomfortable seat.

[DarkLord]

Reminds me of my first big bike experience. I'd been riding about a year and was on my restricted and I owned an '07 Hyosung GT250R. Out on a long distance ride with my flatmate he offered me his Bandit 1200 for a bit.

Boy, that was fun. You couldn't take the stupid big ass grin off my face.

Then, in July last year, not long after I got my full I took a K7 GSXR1000 for a ride..... that was a different story altogether...

[Antonio]

http://www.depot4motorcycles.co.nz

[steel001]

Good stuff, it's a pretty step learning curve but also loads of fun when you get to play with bigger bikes plus they sound a load better than 250s.

Just remember that they are not as forgiving as smaller bikes- said by the guy that's not walking for 12 weeks after coming off.

[Mogwa]

Its definaly harder riding the small bikes. I had a GN 125 and was constantly having to look behind me for trucks coming up the inside lanes ( hugely increased my awareness ). It served its purpose though there was no way i was going to fail the licence test by speeding.
Its not cheap geting caught breaking licence conditions so good luck to you.

[Blinkwing]

Its definaly harder riding the small bikes. I had a GN 125 and was constantly having to look behind me for trucks coming up the inside lanes ( hugely increased my awareness ). It served its purpose though there was no way i was going to fail the licence test by speeding.
Its not cheap geting caught breaking licence conditions so good luck to you.

Yeah, my friend's been caught twice for breaching license conditions. Grand total of the fines is somewhere around $650. Worth it? Nah ...

[rastuscat]

Irony is we all break our necks to get onto bigger bikes.

Then years later we realise how much fun a 250 is, and take nostalgia rides on our mates kids learner bikes.

XL250s, VTR250s, ah, them wuz the days.

[tamarillo]

There is nothing forcing you to ride a smaller bike. If you want just get a gsxr750 and go for it if you like it that much. It's only a fine if you get caught. Just ride responsibly and you should be fine!

STUPID! One there are frequent checks and more than a fine. Two there is a damn good reason to stay up to 250 - its called learning skill and having time. Ride safe if you can but I doubt it with this attitude.

[R-Soul]

If you dont mind older bikes with many kms, you could try for an older ZXR250Rr or CRB250RR - although they generally don't come cheap. They have about 45hp, redline at 18000rpm, shriek like a nympho at a gangbang, and will cruise all day at 160kph easily. I took one CBR to an (indicated) 200kph.

[Hortz]

Welcome to the word of big horsepower. Mind you it's amazing how many dudes loose all reason as soon as they get some power between the legs. Good riding.

[bombsquad]

If you dont mind older bikes with many kms, you could try for an older ZXR250Rr or CRB250RR - although they generally don't come cheap. They have about 45hp, redline at 18000rpm, shriek like a nympho at a gangbang, and will cruise all day at 160kph easily. I took one CBR to an (indicated) 200kph.

Im still in love with the inline 4 ZXR/Ninja 250s, without a doubt one of the greatests bikes of all time in my opinion!! They had the looks and style big cc sport bikes, they felt like you were really on something special and race bread rather just another shitty little learner bike.
Id love to find a mint one just to have in the shed to blat round town on.
Also RGV250, possibly the most awesome/crazy learner bike, another golden oldie

[aprilia_RS250]

I learned to ride on an RS250. She can keep up with bigger bikes on straights (up to 100km/h), even lose them on twisty roads as she so light and nimble, the double caliper Brembos and race suspension makes it stick to the road like a fly on shit.