250 vs bigger bike. In case you wondered.

**Ixion** · 6th June 2009, 23:38

Originally Posted by cowboyz

T..

power
while you dont need to pin the throttle on a bigger bike, the advantage comes where you can enter corners way slower and carry fuck all corner speed and still power up to reasonable speeds exiting the corners with very little effort. This helps if you cant ride and the bike will do all the work for you. Apart from that, it is nice to criuse along at 110 and having the bike just ticking over.

handling.
this totally depends on the bike. A well setup big bike will out-handle a shit 250 anyday. In general I think my 9 is way better handling than my old gsx600F. Mainly because it is a way better bike but also cause its newer and not fucked.

Being able to power out of a corner also helps if you're on an unfamiliar road (as a tourer often is ). Not knowing the road means you must take the corner more slowly, to allow for the "WTF is on the other side " factor.

250s are more fun on familiar roads where you can fang them along. But long distances on unfamiliar roads, extra power is nice.

Of course a well set up big sprots bike will handle better than a BSA C10.

But, other things being equal, the smaller, lighter bike, with less crankshaft rotational inertai, will always handle better than a bigger heavier bike . Especially in the 'left, right, left' type corners.

**BMWST?** · 7th June 2009, 00:05

Originally Posted by ducatilover

I ride for the corners, nothing beats bending a bike further than a whore and doing the best job you can, smooth and fast costs you less

and costs you less on a big bike too....

**ducatilover** · 7th June 2009, 00:13

Originally Posted by BMWST?

and costs you less on a big bike too....

Oh the cost on bikes? I forgot about that

Too busy thinking about credit card payments for my whores.

**DarkLord** · 7th June 2009, 00:26

I took my mates Bandit 1200 for a blast and didn't find the weight noticeably different. Got it round corners no trouble at all.

I agree, a 250 certainly has its plus points but after riding one for about a year and a half, and now having my full, I am very much looking forward to upgrading. The lack of power is what frustrates me. I get so fed up with having to work so hard just to pass one fugging car. Everything else about the 250 is fantastic - fuel economy and how forgiving the bike is to name a few points, and I fully agree riders should spend a good deal of time on the 250 before looking to upgrade, but at the same time I can understand why one would want to immediately.

**cowboyz** · 7th June 2009, 00:40

Originally Posted by Ixion

Being able to power out of a corner also helps if you're on an unfamiliar road (as a tourer often is ). Not knowing the road means you must take the corner more slowly, to allow for the "WTF is on the other side " factor.

250s are more fun on familiar roads where you can fang them along. But long distances on unfamiliar roads, extra power is nice.

Of course a well set up big sprots bike will handle better than a BSA C10.

But, other things being equal, the smaller, lighter bike, with less crankshaft rotational inertai, will always handle better than a bigger heavier bike . Especially in the 'left, right, left' type corners.

absoultely. I brought the big bike when I started doing 1000k days. Much much more comfortable and easy to stack ks on because you dont have to work so hard at maintaining an average speed. There is a bit of a falicy that big bikes simply go everywhere faster but inside that falicy is a certain truth. Sure you could pick a 250 vs my bike (for instance) and pick a particular piece of road and I very well may get toasted on it. But for riding any kind of distance I would bank on a bigger bike every time. I am too old and responible to race round on the road or even care if someone gets to point B faster than me, however I do tend to ride a little faster than what is deemed acceptable when I feel like it.

**Kickaha** · 7th June 2009, 00:44

Originally Posted by SixPackBack

Uhhu....Ben Spies would have no problem winning SBK on a gn250?

I just meant faster than you

**xwhatsit** · 7th June 2009, 01:40

I reckon GiJoe1313 (or Ixion for that matter) have got the right idea. A 100cc, a 250cc, a 350cc, should get a 500cc too, a 600cc, a thou...

They all ride differently. There's a road for every bike. I'm having just as much fun punting around on my 50cc Honda Super Cub around the suburbs as I did riding a TRX850 around Queensland.

250 is just a good size for a bike, though. Enough power to reach 100-110kph, small enough to make any corner a laugh. It's no wonder they've been such a popular size for a bike for the past few decades (NZ learner laws factor little into what the manufacturers choose to make). Most of the 250ccm bikes sold worldwide were bought because the owners wanted them... not because they `had to' because of the dumb government telling me I can't ride a Hayabusa just yet...

I've set myself back quite far in the `upgrade stakes' by refusing to sell my 250 in order to buy a big bike. If I flicked it off I would have enough money to own the big bike I want, but I can't give up my 250. It's far too much fun to ride, especially when I'm reminded $1 of riding expenses gets me far more grin-miles compared to a GSXR600.

**Indiana_Jones** · 7th June 2009, 02:30

For me (I've just got off my old 250 onto a 600) the size on my 600 is much better then my 250.

I'm 6' 4" and the wide tank and comfty length on my Triumph are great.

The power is just waiting there for you at the twitch of your wrist. As Maki said, it feels like your doing 30 when you're really doing 60

Love having the power in reserve to get out of tight spots, where i felt the 250 was lacking, unless you dropped down like 4 gears lol

But there's no rush to jump of the 250 onto the first 600-1000 you find.

Take your time

-Indy

**Maki** · 7th June 2009, 08:31

Originally Posted by DarkLord

I took my mates Bandit 1200 for a blast and didn't find the weight noticeably different. Got it round corners no trouble at all.

The Hyosung is exceptionally heavy for a 250 and therefore a special case. I am sure you would find that a bike that has a dry weight of 150kg or less feels different.

**driftn** · 7th June 2009, 08:51

I think good 250's (RGV's and the like) are great fun on a tight twisty road that you know, they will keep up or even beat the best of the big bikes (rider dependent) but on the other hand I had a pepsi RGV (may the lord have mercy on its soul) had a break from riding for 2 years then straight to my 750 SRAD and will never look back.

At the end of the day its six of one half a dozen of the other.
Corners are great fun but you still have to ride to get to them and around wellington where you have to ride 30k of motor way just to get to a fun bit of road I would definatly rather bee riding a big bike.

I dont belive in the whole start on a 250 then 400 then 600 then blah blah blah as every person is different, some are naturals and alot are not. We should all just let people work out what is best for them self.
Thats my little rant

**driftn** · 7th June 2009, 08:54

Originally Posted by xwhatsit

especially when I'm reminded $1 of riding expenses gets me far more grin-miles compared to a GSXR600.

Thats only because a dollar will take the CB further than it will in a GSXR6.

**smoky** · 7th June 2009, 09:27

Originally Posted by Maki

A 250 has a lightness and flickability that heavier bikes with bigger tyres can not match.

'some heavier bikes' can not match, until you have to stop, a bit extra weight and bigger tyres come in real handy at times
And sure my bandit 1200 is heavier than any 250 I know of - but an R6? probably about the same weight as most 250? Bigger HP bikes are not always heavy

Originally Posted by Maki

I used to ride a Kawaski 250 and now I ride a R6. Let me discuss the relative merits.

Coolness factor would go to the R6

Power would be the R6,

Handling. R6

Originally Posted by Maki

So, ultimate cornering speed may be faster on a 600

Originally Posted by Maki

Turn in and transition between corners is easier and faster on a 250 than a 600.

You're doing something wrong if thats the case - the R6 may require more skill than just chucking your 250 around, but it's one of the quickest bikes in the bends that I know of. If you were comparing your 250 to a bandit or a big harley I would agree with you, but not an R6.

Originally Posted by Maki

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.

Again - once you get use to the difference you will find the extra power and engine braking an advantage in the corner, a lot more fun

Originally Posted by Maki

General riding feeling. The 600 feels like it is rock solid .......the 250 just feels more like it is made of many pieces bolted together

R6 is better

Originally Posted by Maki

Brakes. The brakes on the 600 are way better, and they have to be for obvious reasons.

R6 is better

So really you do think your 600 is better

You can have fun and enjoy any bike you ride in the right circumstances - I once had a race on a scooter, on a BMX track, there 4 of us - we only broke one of the scooters, but man did we have some fun on those bikes, but I wouldn't own one.

Question; would you go back to your 250 now you've had an R6?
Bet you wouldn't