Is it too much to move from a 250 to 1000 right after getting fulls?

**quickbuck** · 15th January 2012, 22:03

Originally Posted by YellowDog

It's all down to the individual. I have friends whom have been riding bikes for years and years, yet the still don't understand countersteering and are not able to identify a reasonably good line when taking bends. They ride their bikes just the same as they drive their cars: But they get by safely. They ride carefully enough for their lack of ability not to matter. I find it hilarous watching them slow down and lean over to make the bike go where they want it to. I have tried helping them, but they are just not interested in improving their riding abilities. That's fine (for them). They're old enough and ugly enough to know better.

An advanced riding course is a great way to get your riding abilities assessed and also to improve enough to be safe on a more powerful bike. A qualified instractor is thre best person to judge whether you already have the skills or can teach you what you will need to know

Send your mates on a corse... Check out my Sig. Tell Karel I sent you

They will be better mates to ride with for it.

Now the advert is over, my story.
Basically started out at 6 crashing dads farm bikes until I got my own at 17.
'Twas a 250 (traded it for a cage for a bit), then got a 400... Crashed that, got another 400. Then got hit on that, so had a few years off..... Then got a600. Sold that (finally got to sell another bike), then got the 600 I have today. Riding for 34+ years! Ridden everything up to 1400's, and 1000cc track bikes with confidence.... But you know what? I get the biggest kicks of my life on a 250 at the track. 600 is fun to head onto the back roads, and has been clocled at 250 km/hr on the runway, but really it is a 100HP toy that will beat my Clubsport into the weeds, and enable me to loose my licence if I don't concerntrate on the speedo for most of the ride. No real fun in that.
Yes, I know exactly what it sounds like at 5000RPM, but it sounds better at 6000.... Shame that = 120k....

My advice superman, is get a bike you fit on the small side of 600.... Or really, and I mean REALLY learn to ride your GT250R. They are quite fast, and very capable in the right hands.
If you doubt me bring it to a course, and give me a go.

**avgas** · 15th January 2012, 22:23

If the op wants to work thing out for themselves......but no one will lend him a ride, he can come ride my crap 400 round the block for a perspective.
Its got no rego or wof..........but he will be riding illegally anyways.

But will give him a perspective of what difference 1.5 the horsepower feels like..........rather than learning the hard way on bike with 5 times the HP.........

It certainly did me a lot of good borrowing a mates ZXR10 before I bought my first 1000........concluded I didn't need that much poke and got an FZ1 instead. Front is heavier too. I was moving up from a ZXR4 so needed the hands on experience before jumping into the big bores.

As for the 250 - 1000 leap. To put it blankly mate, your 250 is not really a "250" but the PC version of one. While having a 1000 cc won't kill you, a lack of control will. If your unsure if you have that control, the answer is simple - Its a bad idea.
Test ride a range of bikes, slowly working up to 600. Take out a 250/4, 400 single or twin, 400/4, 600 twin............then try a 600/4.
Stop with the first bike that scares the shit out of you, the next level up will kill you or take away your license.

I have downgraded many times, sometimes to save my license, sometimes to save my life. You can always go back up again later. Unless your dead.

**Oblivion** · 15th January 2012, 22:40

I would never move onto a bike that is past 800cc. (Cruisers are excluded of course) I won't be able to handle it no matter how long I've spent on bikes. A 1000cc is just that. A racebike. Do you have an ego you need to compensate for? What about an addiction to speed?

A 250 is more to get the basic skills of motorcycling down. You can rev it and it won't go to 140kmh in 1st. Its forgiving, often better handling, and is sometimes more that you need. If you don't need a Thou, besides for the shits and giggles, why get one.

Go for something way more practical. If you want a sportsbike, go for a CBR600RR, GSXR-600, R6, or maybe even a 750. If you want something more touring oriented, A BMW 650 single, or a 650 Twin will do you well.

The main purpose that I bought a bike was to use it to travel from point A-B, while visiting points C-Z in the meantime. So yeah pretty much a tourer, Something like a BMW F650, SV650 or maybe even a VFR800.

If you going to go in a straight line then what the hell do you need 180HP for?

GSXR-1000 Alive->Dead in 2.6s

**Berries** · 15th January 2012, 23:35

Originally Posted by avgas

While having a 1000 cc won't kill you, a lack of control will. If your unsure if you have that control, the answer is simple - Its a bad idea.

There's your answer right there. Ignore all the rest.

Originally Posted by Oblivion

I would never move onto a bike that is past 800cc. (Cruisers are excluded of course) I won't be able to handle it no matter how long I've spent on bikes. A 1000cc is just that. A racebike.

Eh? I can think of many sub 800cc bikes that I am much more likely to get myself in to trouble with than my current 1000c non cruiser non racebike, including some of the ones you mentioned. Each to their own and all that, but engine size does not equate to risk. [Unless of course it is 601cc which is the Devils number].

**dangerous** · 16th January 2012, 05:04

Originally Posted by superman

How much time would you need you reckon? I'm going for my full as soon as I'm allowed to, which will be 2 years of riding on a motorcycle. And if continuing as I have been, will have done about 35,000-38,000k's. How many k's you reckon you need under your belt before daring to get near a litre?

I was planning on getting a 600 when I get my full, but would just be interesting to know.

You people just dont listen do ya... me 400,000km PLUS and still learn every day I ride.
Riding the same road does sfa for experance ya have to ride in snow, wind, rain, up, down, around all on different roads in summer in winter, have close calls with sheep, shingle, cars, list is never ending, SO how many km's?...
Those mentioning 600's shit you can punt one of them through the Akaroa GP faster than a 1000.

**p.dath** · 16th January 2012, 09:56

If its any conciliation, I'll share some of my experience.

I had a Honda CBR250RR for ages. I started with it on my restricted licence. And even when I got my full licence I kept it. It kept it because I loved that bike, and at the point I got my full licence I didn't feel I could ride that bike to anywhere near its abilities. Going to a bigger bike at that time would just have increased the gap between what the bike could offer and my abilities.

Eventually I reached a point where I felt like I was waiting for the bike to respond, and decided it was time to change. I moved to a Honda CBR600F. Man what a huge difference! It so so much heavier, and the acceleration seemed extreme by comparison. Tipping into corners was such a different experience. The difference was so big it knocked my confidence for about 6 months.

I've had the CBR600F for quite a few years now. I don't feel like I can use all of its abilities yet, so rather like the 250 I had, I'll be sticking with the 600 for quite some time. I really love riding this bike as well.

I've done lots of training events AMCC ART days at Pukekohe and events like Ride Right Ride Safe by BRONZ. Each year the bike feels like it is more and more under my control. It does what I want. That's how I want it to be. The bike does not scare me. I do not feel fearful riding it. I feel in control.

I guess what I'm trying to say is making sure you are choosing a bike for the right reasons, rather than ego. Just because you're getting your full licence doesn't mean you have to immediately upgrade to a bigger bike. It's ok if you want to - but don't feel like you have to. If you enjoy your current bike it's ok to stay with it beyond getting your full. And you will enjoy riding a lot more if you feel in control. You wont enjoy riding if the bike keeps giving you scares.

My guess is one day you'll spot a bike, give it a try, and you'll get this incredible sensation inside - kinda like a feeing of "wow", and then you've found the right next bike for you.

**SMOKEU** · 16th January 2012, 10:30

Originally Posted by p.dath

I had a Honda CBR250RR for ages. I started with it on my restricted licence. And even when I got my full licence I kept it. It kept it because I loved that bike, and at the point I got my full licence I didn't feel I could ride that bike to anywhere near its abilities. Going to a bigger bike at that time would just have increased the gap between what the bike could offer and my abilities.

Eventually I reached a point where I felt like I was waiting for the bike to respond, and decided it was time to change. I moved to a Honda CBR600F. Man what a huge difference! It so so much heavier, and the acceleration seemed extreme by comparison. Tipping into corners was such a different experience. The difference was so big it knocked my confidence for about 6 months.

Interesting. I moved from a MC19 CBR250R to a GSXR600 SRAD just a couple of weeks ago, and the 600 has given me a HUGE confidence boost. This is because the 600 handles much better than the 250, and if I hit a bump or rough surface mid way through a corner I no longer feel like I'm going to die. The 600 is a lot more stable, and the steering feels lighter on the 600 as well (probably because it's a more modern bike and doesn't have 24 year old suspension designed for tiny Japanese riders).

By the time I burnt through the first tank of fuel on that thing I was comfortable cornering at speeds much faster than I ever could on the 250.

**baffa** · 16th January 2012, 10:37

I've ridden a few bikes now, including a mates 600 sportsbike. Given enough respect it is easy enough to become comfortable with, and the brilliant brakes and capable chassis inspires confidence.

Makes my 250 seem a little boring, except on tight twisty roads of course.

Imho a modern 600 or older 750-1000 is fine for someone who has been riding for awhile, but it really comes down to common sense.

**5150** · 16th January 2012, 10:48

I have recently stepped down from a mentally powerfull 05 Z1000 to 07 675 Daytona, and do not regret it one little bit. What the Daytona lacks in power of the 1000cc bike it makes up in handling and faster corner speed. Yes I know the Daytona is more of a sports bike then the Zed, but The Zed was a mentally fast bike in a straight line accelaration, which i got borred off very quickly i might add. I feel that stepping down in size has made me a better rider because I have a bike that handles allot better through corners and it is still as fast as the 1000 was

**trustme** · 16th January 2012, 11:09

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

Interesting. I moved from a MC19 CBR250R to a GSXR600 SRAD just a couple of weeks ago, and the 600 has given me a HUGE confidence boost. This is because the 600 handles much better than the 250, and if I hit a bump or rough surface mid way through a corner I no longer feel like I'm going to die. The 600 is a lot more stable, and the steering feels lighter on the 600 as well (probably because it's a more modern bike and doesn't have 24 year old suspension designed for tiny Japanese riders).

By the time I burnt through the first tank of fuel on that thing I was comfortable cornering at speeds much faster than I ever could on the 250.

That is how the vicious cycle begins. You get a bigger bike , better brakes ,nice handling, goes great, you feel safer so you go faster. You get another faster bike & keep on pushing . All the time your skills are not keeping pace with the increase in speed, when something goes wrong as it almost inevitably does you do not have the skills or road craft to get yourself out of trouble.
A trap for players both young & old. Plenty of born again bikers get back on powerful bikes after an extended break from riding & crash within a few months . One I know of crashed the next day
An SV650 or ER6 would be a more sensible option, they have all the performance you need for average riding, a good rider on either will give many sports bike riders a hurry up in the tight stuff. The power does not get in the way of learning good technique.

Not having a crack at you Smokeu, just seen that overconfidence bite too many people

**ducatilover** · 16th January 2012, 11:24

Originally Posted by p.dath

If its any conciliation, I'll share some of my experience.

You're one of the few who don't have to be Rossi

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

Interesting. I moved from a MC19 CBR250R to a GSXR600 SRAD just a couple of weeks ago, and the 600 has given me a HUGE confidence boost. This is because the 600 handles much better than the 250, and if I hit a bump or rough surface mid way through a corner I no longer feel like I'm going to die. The 600 is a lot more stable, and the steering feels lighter on the 600 as well (probably because it's a more modern bike and doesn't have 24 year old suspension designed for tiny Japanese riders).

By the time I burnt through the first tank of fuel on that thing I was comfortable cornering at speeds much faster than I ever could on the 250.

That's the nice thing about a real bike on real rubber, there's no comparison. The MC19 is a good handling bike, but not the most secure handling bike lol Give us a go on your SRAD?

**SMOKEU** · 16th January 2012, 11:28

Originally Posted by trustme

That is how the vicious cycle begins. You get a bigger bike , better brakes ,nice handling, goes great, you feel safer so you go faster. You get another faster bike & keep on pushing . All the time your skills are not keeping pace with the increase in speed, when something goes wrong as it almost inevitably does you do not have the skills or road craft to get yourself out of trouble.
A trap for players both young & old. Plenty of born again bikers get back on powerful bikes after an extended break from riding & crash within a few months . One I know of crashed the next day
An SV650 or ER6 would be a more sensible option, they have all the performance you need for average riding, a good rider on either will give many sports bike riders a hurry up in the tight stuff. The power does not get in the way of learning good technique.

Not having a crack at you Smokeu, just seen that overconfidence bite too many people

I worked with a dude once whose parents bought him a 50cc scooter. He wrote the scooter off within 3 days of owning it because he took a roundabout too fast. It's not the power that is dangerous, it's how the bike is ridden. I ride the bike sensibly and I don't push my luck. I was simply stating that the 600 is much more stable on the roads and it doesn't spit the dummy every time I hit a little bump like the 250.

Most of the 20 year old 250s have very primitive and worn out suspension compared to more modern sports bikes, and that's why I think the 600 is a safer bike than the 250, provided it's ridden sensibly.

I've seen people fuck themselves up badly on ordinary 250s because they thought they could ride like Rossi.