Going from a 250 to a thou....too much of a jump?

**DarkLord** · 9th April 2008, 10:31

Hey all,

This isn't something I'm planning on any time soon as I've only had my learners for 2 months and only been riding my Whoflung 250 for 3 months, so I'm still very much in the learning curve...

but sometime in the future I'd love to get myself an R1, or a CBR-1000 or something. A litre bike with some serious fugging balls. I can see it being a very steep learning curve, going from a little 250 to a monster like an R1 or something....

So what I really wanted to know is, how many of you out there have done this sort of thing, and would you recommend making a jump that big? One of my flatmates has done it (although it was a very old thou he went to, an '87 Kawasaki GTR-1000) and he hasn't had any bins or anything, but I'd like to get a bit more feedback.

Still a long way off, like I said but it'd just be nice to hear some thoughts from those of you who have made a jump this size and what your experience of it was like, and if you'd recommend it to others.

Cheers all,

Graham.

**Jimmy B** · 9th April 2008, 10:42

Hey Graham, plenty on this topic already but my 2c

Nothing is impossible and plenty have done it but I think the jump to a litre bike from a 250 is not the smartest idea.

If the numbers 0-100 in 2.8 secs sound daunting then also consider 80-90 meters per second near the top end. If you have the skill and discipline to control a machine with these characteristics then no problem. If you have a doubt then maybe aim la bit lower.

Luck

JB

**MSTRS:Me** · 9th April 2008, 10:42

Listen to all the advice first. Get all the pros and cons. Then go get yourself a 600 sprot as a step-up. They will have more than enough go for you.
Edit: - have a read of Mikkel's journey from ZXR250 to a (old) ZXR750

**HornetBoy** · 9th April 2008, 10:48

I jumpt from a 250 hornet to a 900 hornet ,was really great choice in my mind .

Only hassles were :

the bike weighd alot more so i had to get used to wrestleing it a bit more.
the fuel injection was very touchy compared to carbies so i had to get used to that.
The power

wow ,instead of basically redlineing or winding the throttle full lock to get going i only had to flick and i was off.
Basically the power change was the major thing to get used to as it was so nerve racking and made me have an almost fear in the bike ,this wore off after a few days of rideing but yea.

I personally now ride a 600cc as its just a whole lot more fun and i think its much more exciting to make a slower bike go fast then a big bike and its just a whole lot more tempting to open it up on the straights with a 1000cc bike whereas a 600 youve got that high revs and fun of flicking through the gears while not having to be at warp speeds.

id reccommend the 250-1000 jump ,but personally wouldnt think of a R1 or cbr1000rr just too much going from a 250cc .why not go with a R6 if you have to choose a supersport styled bike ?

**Mikkel** · 9th April 2008, 10:50

Well, having made the jump from a zxr250 to a zx7rr (which has about the same power as a modern IL4 600 ccm sportsbike but more weight) just yesterday I think I would put it this way:

If you possess a healthy amount of discipline and a strong sense of self-preservation you MAY be ok.

Without at least those two you're likely to get into trouble very very quickly

As MSTRS said, a modern 600 ccms would most likely have all the go you could possibly want coming from a 250. It's a completely different ballgames.

**DarkLord** · 9th April 2008, 11:01

Thanks for the replies everyone.

I do consider myself a pretty disciplined rider and I think I have the discipline and mental stability to be able to handle a bigger bike, but at the same time I still have a lot to learn so perhaps an R1 would be a bit too much.

I can see the weight issue being a problem as I'm not exactly a heavyweight (I weigh about 60 kgs) and I can imagine wrestling something like an R1 as one helluva battle. However, my flatmate can do it and he's currently riding a Bandit 1200, so it is possible.

I do like the idea of an R6 though, Hornetboy.

**MSTRS:Me** · 9th April 2008, 11:05

Hyobag - 28hp
R1 - 180hp
60kg (relatively) inexperienced rider
Working that one out is a no brainer

**DarkLord** · 9th April 2008, 11:11

True that, but like I said it's not something I'd look at doing for a few years or so. I was just curious to hear about others who have made a jump that size and what their thoughts were.

**Jimmy B** · 9th April 2008, 11:16

Originally Posted by JediGazza84

I can see the weight issue being a problem .

Strangely most new riders concern themselves with a perceived weight issue when in fact weight can be a valuable ally and is something that you get used too very quickly.

The real issue is power and the amount of ground you can cover before you realise that you have made a mistake.

**DarkLord** · 9th April 2008, 11:19

True, that's good to hear. I guess it just concerned me a little because every now and then I find myself wrestling with the Hyosung, to keep it up while riding slow, which was why I thought having a bigger bike would present a problem.

Hopefully that's just because I'm still a n00b and that problem will be resolved by experience by the time I look at something bigger.

**Jimmy B** · 9th April 2008, 11:38

As your skills improve you will work out how to manage your bike and weight will no longer be an issue, especially at low speed. Once thats worked out then the step up in terms of weight will not be a problem.

Given your current bike size a 600 sprots will not feel much different but it will be considerably quicker. I am more into naked bikes but rate the R6, it has some "serious fugging balls" and would be my weapon of choice for 90% of the riding that we do.

**onearmedbandit** · 9th April 2008, 11:58

Seriously, I've been riding sportsbikes for 15yrs and my thou can still scare the shit out of me and if I wasn't careful and experienced, could easily put me into a very bad situation, such is the power, torque and sheer acceleration of these things.

My suggestion? You're young (I assume), relatively new to the sport, and in no rush to die. Take your time getting the most out of your current bike, use it as experience, then when the time is right update to a 600, even a CBR600F4 will blow your mind compared to your current ride. Repeat the previous step, get the most out of that bike you can, use it as experience. Then maybe a new 600 or 750, or maybe even then you will be ready for the thou. The thing is, when you step up to one of these bikes you will need as much experience and confidence you can muster to even begin to enjoy a thou, otherwise it will scare the shit out of you every time you ride it (ie you will never use it to it's ability, and will probably be faster and more confident on a smaller bike).

**DarkLord** · 9th April 2008, 12:05

You have a good point, onearmedbandit.

I certainly want to be riding the bike to its full potential and don't want to be terrified every time I get on! My plan is to stick with the Whoflung at least until I get my full licence which is probably 18 months away or more anyway.

I've heard stories about people touching the throttle on a thou or something and having the thing take off like a ballistic missile. No doubt it would take a lot of getting used to especially seeing as I have to open the throttle right up on the Whoflung just to pass someone.

The idea of an R6 first or a Ninja or something seems to make more and more sense.

**Morcs** · 9th April 2008, 12:30

Little steps are good. You still get awed by them.

I went:
50cc
180cc
250cc
400cc
600cc
1000cc

You couldnt get any more perfect steps really, and you get to know the different size engines and what they are capable of, for example, I loved 400's, and will quite happily own another one.