Total Motorcycle Community Forums

Hey gang I have been reading these forums for about 1 month and I have finally decided to get some posts in.
I am a noob to on-road bikes but I grew up riding quads and off road bikes. I am going to go get my permit and MSF done this summer and hopefully a license and a bike by September.

I am going to be using the bike to commute about 20 miles per day to college and back. About every other weekend I am going to travel 80 miles away and will be on the highway traveling approx at 75-85 mph.

I was thinking about getting a 250R but I really dont want to be travelling at 85 mph on the highway red lining a 250 and breaking my ear drums for 1 hour. So what I am thinking is should I get a 500 or prolly a 600? If I do go for a 500 I would most likley get a ninja. I am not going to go into what type of bike for a noob and what not, but I am really intrested in finding out the engine noise traveling on a 250, 500, and 600 at those speeds.
I am prepared to buy a new or used bike, and I do know I will put it down a few times.

Thanks.
P.

If you are wanting to continually cruise at 85 mph on the freeway, I would advise against a 250. I ride a 250, the speed limits here (GA) are max 70 mph. Most people around here like to go 80 or more. My little 250 here will go 80, but not up a long hill (It likes 75mph then) ;p and the max on the speedometer is 85 mph. I think I only see that on a downhill, maybe a straight but I haven't had any reason to punch it on a straight.

Ninja 250 is a slightly different bag of means then a cruiser 250. The one I ride with can do 140km/h which is just over 87mph without really flinching, though it takes a little while to climb from 130, to 140. Then it's a slow crawl to 150, but it can do it.

Depending upon how you run yourself up the gears you can coax even more speed out of it. It's possible to do on the 250, but if you find you're hesitant, the ex500 is also a pretty good starter bike.

at highway speeds, you will have more noise from the wind on your helmet than from the engine. it is also recommended at highway speed to wear earplugs, and that goes for riding a 250 all the way up to the big big bikes.

on an ex250 i run it up to 65-70mph regularly and i don't know if i even notice the engine noise, and that's without earplugs.

so basically if you wear earplugs, the noise of the engine should be minimal.

How is the 250r as far as going in and out of lanes and needed some exceleration around 75mph if I need to move quickly?

Not a lot of grunt about 75. How much time are you planning on spending on the highway?

at 75 there is still some get up, not as much as other bikes would have, but enough to move you out of harm's way.

I've heard that the EX250 can hit 100mph, but I've never tested it. But from what I've heard, it's got plenty of umph for most riding. Now if you weigh 300 lbs, you might want a bigger bike, but even for a heavier rider it should be fine. If you really want more I'd suggest the Suzuki GS500.

the ex 250 will hit 100 mph. I had my gps on my bike and my friend was riding beside me on his 87 kaw ex250r ninja. speedos lie but gps I can assure does not

oldschoolorange wrote:the ex 250 will hit 100 mph. I had my gps on my bike and my friend was riding beside me on his 87 kaw ex250r ninja. speedos lie but gps I can assure does not

Of course, one thing to remember is that older EX250's put out 5 more horsepower (or so I've heard). I believe they went from 40 to 35 hp in...the late 90's or so.