Touring on a 250?

**koba** · 1st October 2007, 14:16

Originally Posted by uNople

Awesome. For some reason, the people I told about my trip thought I was mad doing it on a 250. dunno why

People think of GN speed when you say 250, the gixxer is a wee bit more capable on open roads...

**Kinje** · 1st October 2007, 15:33

Awesome trip mate. The wee 250's get along just fine on the big trips. I did a few big trips on mine no worries.

Originally Posted by Jim2

Get some decent soft luggage and Bob's your uncle.

I'd recommend some soft luggage too. I've used a tankbag on my 250 and had throw over panniers with my 600. Hardly knew the panniers were there and got off the bike feeling fresh and not sore or tired.

Originally Posted by LLAMA SOLA

I like using a large hiking/backpackers back pack as it has stomach and chest straps that hold it to you well, and they fit heaps and you can strap things to them.

I'm not so sure about the pack now after using panniers. Used to ride with a pack that had stomach and chest straps but have seen the light. Even with the pack fitting close, after a 500km day on the 250 with the pack I was very sore, and stopped two or three times in the last 150km.

Enjoy the rides

**The Lone Rider** · 1st October 2007, 16:15

Originally Posted by Kinje

I'm not so sure about the pack now after using panniers. Used to ride with a pack that had stomach and chest straps but have seen the light. Even with the pack fitting close, after a 500km day on the 250 with the pack I was very sore, and stopped two or three times in the last 150km.

Enjoy the rides

Yea, might be a bit different on a sports bike as the weight is more on your lower back. Mine sits flat to the pillion seat and just rests there nicely. The straps of course keep it from leaning all over the place!

**Zapf** · 2nd October 2007, 00:41

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

ive taken my 250 from wanganui to invercargill and back, and will be going again later this year. aside from a mechanical failure that cant be repaired roadside [tyre blowout, etc] theres nothing stopping you!

when are u doing that?

**scrubs** · 2nd October 2007, 08:33

I circumnavigated Cambodia on an XR250 which was a very wise choice for me,
I would choose the same again at the drop of a hat, that thing was like a tank.
Infact, there is some Chinese woman doing a RTW right now on a 250 - it's more than possible.

When I left Cambodia I headed for Vietnam, where I bought myself a 125cc Minsk (they have a maximum restriction of 150cc) and again, that thing did me absolutley fine.
I'll take simple small and light any day.

**Meekey_Mouse** · 3rd October 2007, 15:18

Small bikes are cool... but I can't wait to get onto something a bit bigger.

In saying that, I did over 7,000 kms on my GSX250 in less then 3 months. About the same on my ZXR 250 and have done over 1,500 road kms on my RG150... which is a race bike that I take on the road.

Originally Posted by Dave-

i plan on doing a tad of touring on an rs250

of course its a racing bike with lights.

good idea?

Up to you whether you want to put the kms onto the bike... which will mean that changing the piston and all that will come sooner. The other slightly frustrating thing about touring on 2strokes is taking the oil with you... it always manages to leak every where lol.
Oh, and if you're touring with a backpack... kickstarting can be a bit difficult with a backpack on

But by all means... go for it

**Cache Wraith** · 3rd October 2007, 19:35

Did Auckland Wellington Auckland on my Hyosung just before xmas last. No problems. Loved the Desert Road.

**uNople** · 3rd October 2007, 20:37

Awesome, thanks for the advice guys

I'll definitely be using the soft pannier bags (if the old man lets me!) when touring. I'll just have to be careful when it comes to fuel. On our long ride, I pretty much stopped whenever we got to a town, as I haven't run the gixxer dry yet, so I don't know how many Ks I can get on reserve.

I've been going on about 150K/tank if I'm thrashing it and 200K/tank if I'm not. So that's not much range, but it is nice around corners.

When I get my full, I reckon a gsxr600 would be nice - it would be good to actually be able to accelerate properly going up hills (and passing people), but let's face it, corners are the reason why we all ride

**sunhuntin** · 3rd October 2007, 22:39

Originally Posted by Zapf

when are u doing that?

end of november... for the burt challenge. 14 days of nothing but my bike and the open road.

uNople, 200k is about what i get from a tank on the vee-go. little trick: re set the tripmeter every time you fill [if you dont already] course, vee-go trip meter has no knob, so ive gotta read the damn signs and hope like hell i get there, lol. sure meant my poor maths got a work out, thats for sure!

**Zapf** · 4th October 2007, 00:17

Originally Posted by sunhuntin

end of november... for the burt challenge. 14 days of nothing but my bike and the open road.

uNople, 200k is about what i get from a tank on the vee-go. little trick: re set the tripmeter every time you fill [if you dont already] course, vee-go trip meter has no knob, so ive gotta read the damn signs and hope like hell i get there, lol. sure meant my poor maths got a work out, thats for sure!

ah ic. I am looking at doing the Chatto creek 1000 miler and also fit a tour of the mainland in as well. I think the Burt is like 24th Nov?

**Taz** · 4th October 2007, 05:18

The only problem I can see is the 10 fuel stops in 1000kms. Have you only got a 100km range?
I rode my first bike from Auck to Dargaville and back 5 times. It was a Honda C50. You can tour on anything.
Andy.

**uNople** · 4th October 2007, 22:39

Originally Posted by Anthrax

The only problem I can see is the 10 fuel stops in 1000kms. Have you only got a 100km range?
I rode my first bike from Auck to Dargaville and back 5 times. It was a Honda C50. You can tour on anything.
Andy.

Nah man, I was just being conservative for filling up. I didn't want to get stuck in the backwaters with only my reserve left, and not knowing how far it was to the next petrol station.

My range is around 200K if I'm being nice, and 160 if I'm not (and 130 round town). I'm not sure how many litres my tank is, on the specs page it says 16L, but I don't think I have that much capacity. I'm thinking it's only a 12L tank, 10 main, 2 reserve.

**Lucy** · 5th October 2007, 03:30

Originally Posted by uNople

Nah man, I was just being conservative for filling up. I didn't want to get stuck in the backwaters with only my reserve left, and not knowing how far it was to the next petrol station.

My range is around 200K if I'm being nice, and 160 if I'm not (and 130 round town). I'm not sure how many litres my tank is, on the specs page it says 16L, but I don't think I have that much capacity. I'm thinking it's only a 12L tank, 10 main, 2 reserve.

I had to push my GN when I figured the reserve should last at least 60k and ran out after 40k...

but yeah, you can tour on anything. I toured on a push bike once. More recently I rode my GN from Auckland to Raetihi overnight, in pouring rain, in winter, with panniers and other stuff on the pillion seat.

Driving from Auckland just the other day, we were in a car, and got overtaken on the hill heading UP to the Bombays, by a a guy on a GN and we were going 110. He was crouched down against the headwind, and had luggage.