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

[DarkLord]

How long were you on the Whoflung for tide? How did you find the jump to the ER-6N?

[MaxB]

Since you are a noob I'd say wait a few years before stepping up. Get as much riding in as you can on your 250. Experience is everything. Even with its modest power you can still get a 28 day walk on your bike.

If you step up too soon you may use the extra power to compensate for the lack of skills and never develop as a rider.

Maybe you might want to look at Hyosung sites for tuning and set up data and think about better tyres, improved shocks and fork set up. A well trained rider on a well set up 250 is going to hard to catch especially on roads like the Scenic Drive or the Hunuas.

[klyong82]

I jumped from a 250 to a CBR900. Main thing was to be discipline with the throttle. Other than that it was pretty much learning to turn on a 180 size tyre compared to a 140.

When I owned the 900 I bought a 600 half a year later. Did not like as it did not have the torque of a 900 sold it a few months later. The other reason was also that the 600 had a higher seat height than the 900.

As many people have suggested get a 600cc first to learn and also appreciate what fun you can have with with a 600 especially on twisties.

[DarkLord]

That's why I ride a GSX1400. Significantly more torque than a Bandit 1200 (or even the new 1250), and extraordinary levels of comfort for all-day touring at mildly illegal speeds.

Such bikes are great, but their main drawback is the fact that they're big and heavy and it takes a little bit of practice and skill to maneuver them around. Riding them also requires a fair degree of both commitment and restraint; you can't quickly correct for misjudgements like you can on a nimble sportbike.

There are plenty of bikes that you could look at that have better low-down pull than the new 600s. The current R6 is an extreme example; it's a bike that's really just designed for the track, with a very peaky engine, to all accounts.

Just try everything out there and see what you like, really. Don't get blinkered into thinking that your options are limited to folding your knees around your ears on a something-600 or a something-thou.

Thanks dude. That is one thing my flatmate complains about from time to time, is the weight of his bike. I can see myself on something a little lighter, we've got a fairly steep driveway and parking can be awkward sometimes... I find the Whoflung a bit of a pain to maneuver around our place at times so I can't imagine trying to do the same on a big lumbering beast of a bike!

I think the test ride idea is a good one too as I might find something that really suits me, yet I didn't expect would!

[tide]

How long were you on the Whoflung for tide? How did you find the jump to the ER-6N?

got the Hyobag 18Nov 06 I had the GT250R... and have had the ER-6N for just over a week... so mmm just under 18months, in most case the step up has been easy... weight wise the bikes are similar... power wise mmm double... and it is noticeable...

I am still learning the ER, and don't feel I needed to get anything bigger...

[jrandom]

Thanks dude. That is one thing my flatmate complains about from time to time, is the weight of his bike. I can see myself on something a little lighter, we've got a fairly steep driveway and parking can be awkward sometimes...

I'm with you on that one.

To be honest, I often just park Betty on the footpath because turning her and backing her down the driveway and into the carport is such a 30-second pain in the arse.

[jrandom]

I am still learning the ER, and don't feel I needed to get anything bigger...

You won't ever need to get anything bigger, man. If you do, it'll just be because you want some form of different feel to the bike.

I followed Crazy Steve along SH22 the other weekend. I was on Betty, he was on his girlfriend's ER6. Put it this way, I sure as hell wasn't feeling the need to try and pass him...

[DarkLord]

So basically you can get next to the same performance out of a 1000 as you can to a 600, without that much difference, the only real difference is the weight of the bike and a different riding style?

I guess it all comes down to the rider too....

[tide]

You won't ever need to get anything bigger, man. If you do, it'll just be because you want some form of different feel to the bike.

I followed Crazy Steve along SH22 the other weekend. I was on Betty, he was on his girlfriend's ER6. Put it this way, I sure as hell wasn't feeling the need to try and pass him...

Yeah that is what I have been told... very capable bikes... must definitely do that swapsy ride soon... lol...

[avgas]

Just do it.
If your too much of a squid you wont get the chance to learn it and will die anywho.

[jrandom]

So basically you can get next to the same performance out of a 1000 as you can to a 600, without that much difference...

You'll notice the difference in:

1. Quarter-mile times at the drag strip.

2. Lap times at the track, maybe. If you could, f'rinstance, go out on a 1000 and do better lap times on any track than the guys racing 600s in F2 at the Nationals and winter series, I'll take my hat off to you. Off the bat, though, if you want to go play on a racetrack, you'll do quicker times on a 600 than a 1000. Guaranteed.

3. How easy it is to ride fast open roads with good surfaces at a pace of twice the legal limit or more. (Why would you ever want do that, anyway?)

[Jimmy B]

So basically you can get next to the same performance out of a 1000 as you can to a 600, without that much difference, the only real difference is the weight of the bike and a different riding style?

I guess it all comes down to the rider too....

Basically right, in fact the 600s are probably quicker in the tight stuff than the 1000's an advantage they hold till they hit the first straight thats longer than 100ms.

Back to the weight thing...this will sort itself out over time. The way I see it, if my 60 year old mate with bung knees can swing his Blackbird around on an off camber very steep driveway then the rest of us should have very little problem. Just takes practice.

[onearmedbandit]

So basically you can get next to the same performance out of a 1000 as you can to a 600, without that much difference, the only real difference is the weight of the bike and a different riding style?

I guess it all comes down to the rider too....

Oh don't forget the power wheelies at 150km/h in 2nd gear , and the satisfying feeling that you are riding a beast . I'll admit it, there (to me at least) is a satisfaction in knowing I'm riding a litre bike (must be my small cock), and I do love the effortless wheelies. Another reason for my choice in riding a thou is the spread of power and torque, passing, etc all happens in the slightest twist of the wrist. Of course there are other bikes out there capable of this, like for instance Mr Random's GSX1400.

[xwhatsit]

You say you've only had your learners for two months. Wait! You'll spend probably another year on your 250 just yet. In that time you'll learn wonderful things such as

• Cornering properly
• Dodging down little back streets
• Having your bike completely tapped out at it's limits
• The simple joy of riding a motorcycle fully
• Pushing some fatty on an 1100 hard through some tight twisties

After doing this you'll forget about your desire for an R1. In fact, instead of seeing 300kph and knee-down as your end goal, you'll understand the fun of the journey of learning to ride a bike. And then you'll want to take it slowly -- buy a 450cc, perhaps, or a 650 twin. Try something interesting like a big single. Maybe after that an 800cc V4.

Going straight to a 1000cc you'll be cutting so much fun out of learning to ride. It's like women. Maybe you like blondes with big tits. Should you only bang blondes with big tits? No! Try a little spicy curvy Spanish bint. Maybe a sleek and tiny Japanese girl. That dark-haired jogger you see running most mornings. Try them all, then re-evaluate what it is that you enjoy about sex/motorcycling.

I'll lay off the good shit now.

[CookMySock]

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

Everyone does though.. I think you will be ok on an R1 provided you keep those revvs well down, and don't drop it while doing a u-turn. But change down one gear too many in a corner and enter the danger zone, son..

The real problem is more like you will so busy trying to keep the shiney side up, that you will never expand your skillset - and that means it's not fun any more.

disclaimer: never ridden an R1

DB