Call to all 250 riders

[dieziege]

All I'm saying is with equal riders, the better bike wins every time.

That really wasn't important to the topic at hand.

I don't know of anyone who honestly thinks a 250 is going to beat better power:weight ratio bikes in a pure HP race. The question is, can it do what it needs to, and is it fun.

The problem is that a lot people seem to invent problems with smaller bikes. E.g. saying they can't be ridden on interstates without sounding like they'll explode, or that they are unsafe because of truck turbulance or winds. Or people who say you won't be able to accelerate with traffic on an interstate, or keep up from stop lights. And people who ride 250s on major interstates going 100+ miles a day with a bunch of truck traffic and frankly live in very high wind areas (the corridor I drive through regularly sees big-rig trucks blown over...yep, wind catches the trailers and puts them on their sides... the average wind speed near my house is 15-18MPH... that's average 24hrs/day 365 days/yr... gusts of 100+MPH are common) say it is BS. I climb 4000' of mountain pass every day at 85+MPH in the wind passing trucks, cars, and even quite a few other bikes (not everyone wants to go fast) on a 250 and I flat don't see the problems people invent. Why not? Because the people who come up with the problems don't know what they are talking about...they've never tried it, or if they have tried it they are incompetent.

Is it ideal? Shrug. I don't think there is an ideal bike... bikes are like airplanes in that respect... everything is a trade-off... if you go further in one direction, physics dictates that you'll lose in another. There are no free lunches.

I have no problem with getting what you want BTW. Not everyone enjoys the same thing and if your goal is kick-in-the-pants acceleration you're just dumb to buy a 250. If your goal is touring ... it's a bit of a gray area (can be done) but I'd say, "no, unless you really mean 'tour on a 250' which is different than 'tour'". If your goal is twisties and fun riding and building skills bikes like the ninja250 are great, but so are a lot of other bikes. Off roading? It's an OK trail bike but if your goal is dirt tracks get something else. Showing off and making a statement to your golf buddies? Don't even consider it. Cheap transportation that can do a lot of things fairly well? Bingo!

I can understand salespeople making up stuff... after all, they want the bigger sale of the higher-priced bike.

[black mariah]

NONE OF THIS is important to the topic at hand...

[Sev]

But it was brought up and is valid. Too often arguments like those that were just dispelled by a 250 rider are used as an excuse to get a 600cc bike which doesn't do much more then the 250 can do legally.

[BigChickenStrips]

if you want to do 500+ mile a day strictly interstate- get a damn goldwing trike. if you just need to ride a dozen or so miles each wat to and from work, the 250 is fine.

no you wont be wining drag races to 600cc bikes, but if your tryign to drag race them your a stupid squid and thats what you deserve.

/end of my part of this discussion

[DivideOverflow]

I was just commenting on the comments made that made it sound like the ninja 250 is the same as getting a bloody 600cc bike.

Like I said, I know it is FINE for all that crap you mentioned. I haven't invented a damned thing. Being that I have owned a few bikes (and driven many others), which includes a 250cc in that list, I felt qualified to voice my opinion on the statement at hand.

Most of the people arguing with me seem to be on bike #1 (or two if you count dieziege's old Yamaha or whatever it was).

The guy asked if he should get the ninja 250 or the 500... All I'm saying is that it is more ideal to have the bigger bike (the 500 cc in this case) if you primarily spend time on the highway, or with a passenger... having spent highway time on bikes of various sizes (with and without passengers), I feel very comfortable with my statement.

Both bikes are fun, they will both keep up with traffic, they will get you where you need to go. All the talk before about the 600's was just brought up because of the guy who said he is able to keep up with his buddies on 600's in a straight line, to which I call BS and that they aren't trying. It is a moot issue, unrelated, and I should have let it go. Sorry.

Anyways, you guys basically just repeated what I said in the past few posts.

[bobtasco]

I own a virago 250 and I was delighted to find out that it was really easy to keep up traffic. You can even smoke alot of cars riding out there, but it definitely doesn't have alot of pickup. Its great for commuting, but it doens't give you the rush like other bikes would.

I always thought of it as the v4 camry of motorcycles. I am a fat bastrd (220 pounds) thoguh so my bike can't do over 65. Even if it could, the engine response is too sluggish for it to viably go on highways. I use it as a city bike. Maybe some lighter people might be able to use it more versatily.

[Shorts]

My 250 bike keeps up with traffic. Of course, here were all in low KMs

DH has ridden it more than I, and he's expressed desire to make it his fun daily commuter bike with its easy handling and perky control. His ride is a Vulcan 400.

[Lord Rocksavage]

My 250 Rebel beats all cars out of the intersection (without really trying) and I can keep up with all four wheeled vehicles unless they are trying to out run the police. I'm getting on in years now but even when I was young speed never impressed or thrilled me.

With cars I would look past the Corvett and pay attention to the Rolls or Bentley. I did always admire the look of the V twin engine so the H.D.s would catch my eye. I also like the fact they are true Americana.

I just bought my Rebel after not riding for a couple of decades. I figured a ground up re-education was in order. Done a lot of reading and practicing in parking lots. Things I never did in my twenties when I got my first motorcycle rating.

Maybe, in time I will trade up to a larger bike. But for now my hands are full with the 250. And I'm loving it.

Happy motoring all,

L.R.

[bobtasco]

best part of riding on a 250 is having to tell a girl that she is too fat to ride on the back.

[dieziege]

You can tell them that no matter what you ride.

Just... be gentle... don't start right out with the "u r 2 fat" thing... instead say something like "Please don't take this the wrong way or sit on me or anything, but...."

Kindness makes the world a better place.