Ninja 250

Off Topic
21

[quote]JayPierce wrote:

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:

[quote]Lordcliff wrote:
Not a crotch rocket, but a cruiser, my VTX 1800, is 3x the size you’re talking about. It’s plenty. I understand it’s not geared the same or in the same category so isn’t really a good comparison. That being said, if you already know how to ride, get what you want and don’t be a douche with it.[/quote]

I’ve got a cruiser too, a vstar 1100. It’s a completely different ride than the 500cc-sort-a crotch rocket I learned on.[/quote]
No kidding. I can’t stand riding a cruiser because I can’t use my feet or rotate around the tank. Doesn’t feel right to me, like half of my control is gone.[/quote]

Don’t get me wrong. The cruiser is great for… cruising. It’s also good for a few hundred miles at a time. But I miss the ‘fun’ factor I had with the GS.

22

[quote]Racer377 wrote:

Inkaddict is right. You will never, ever, ever get the full performance out of a 600 on the street. It’s just not going to happen. Most people can’t even fully utilize it on the track, FWIW.
[/quote]

That’s what I was thinking. I’m not looking to go crazy or do anything (extremely?) dangerous.

[quote]
Trackdays are some of the best money you can spend. You’ve got some decent tracks within a reasonable driving distance. Nelson Ledges, beaverrun, Mid-Ohio… maybe a few others depending on where in PA you are. You will learn more doing a single trackday than you will in an entire season of streetriding. sportbiketracktime.com has an amazing beginner program with a lot of very fast, very competent instructors who will take the time to show you the ropes. And it’s included for free with the trackday.

A 250 will be just fine, and there are even a few race classes with WERA specifically for it when you start to thinking you’re getting good.

a 250 will also be cheaper to buy, WAY cheaper to insure, and you’ll probably be able to sell it for darn near what you bought it for when/if you decide to move on to something else. [/quote]

I’ve been to Beaverun (in a car), but I can’t really afford to do trackdays every weekend. I’ll almost certainly do at least one, no matter what bike I pick.

Can you show up to a trackday with a 250? Is that like showing up to an auto trackday in a ford escort? Which track would you go to if you had a 250?

23

3504×2336 1.36 MB

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:

I’ve been to Beaverun (in a car), but I can’t really afford to do trackdays every weekend. I’ll almost certainly do at least one, no matter what bike I pick.

Can you show up to a trackday with a 250? Is that like showing up to an auto trackday in a ford escort? Which track would you go to if you had a 250?[/quote]

Sure can. I know quite a few people that have done so. It’s more about the rider than the machine. I’ve gone to trackdays with a KTM dirtbike w slicks mounted, (supermoto, look it up, most awesome form of riding ever!!!) and lapped many an R1 rider with it. (attached photo)

Nice thing about trackdays is that they’re broken up by skill level. You won’t have AMA guys strafing you on 200+HP 1000’s in the beginner group.

Best track for a 250 is going to be a tighter, more technical track. Road America, for example, would suck on a 250. (3 loooooooooong straight per lap) More turns and shorter straights is what to look for.

24

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:

[quote]JayPierce wrote:

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:

[quote]Lordcliff wrote:
Not a crotch rocket, but a cruiser, my VTX 1800, is 3x the size you’re talking about. It’s plenty. I understand it’s not geared the same or in the same category so isn’t really a good comparison. That being said, if you already know how to ride, get what you want and don’t be a douche with it.[/quote]

I’ve got a cruiser too, a vstar 1100. It’s a completely different ride than the 500cc-sort-a crotch rocket I learned on.[/quote]
No kidding. I can’t stand riding a cruiser because I can’t use my feet or rotate around the tank. Doesn’t feel right to me, like half of my control is gone.[/quote]

Don’t get me wrong. The cruiser is great for… cruising. It’s also good for a few hundred miles at a time. But I miss the ‘fun’ factor I had with the GS.[/quote]

speaking from experience: it’s MUCH more fun to ride a slow bike fast, than to ride a fast bike slow.

25

[quote]Racer377 wrote:

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:

I’ve been to Beaverun (in a car), but I can’t really afford to do trackdays every weekend. I’ll almost certainly do at least one, no matter what bike I pick.

Can you show up to a trackday with a 250? Is that like showing up to an auto trackday in a ford escort? Which track would you go to if you had a 250?[/quote]

Sure can. I know quite a few people that have done so. It’s more about the rider than the machine. I’ve gone to trackdays with a KTM dirtbike w slicks mounted, (supermoto, look it up, most awesome form of riding ever!!!) and lapped many an R1 rider with it. (attached photo)

Nice thing about trackdays is that they’re broken up by skill level. You won’t have AMA guys strafing you on 200+HP 1000’s in the beginner group.

Best track for a 250 is going to be a tighter, more technical track. Road America, for example, would suck on a 250. (3 loooooooooong straight per lap) More turns and shorter straights is what to look for.

[/quote]

Supermoto actually sounds the most interesting, but I don’t know about the dirt portions. A supermoto bike would be perfect, but they’re usually more expensive than the 250 crotch rockets.

26

Racer-That super motard pic is badass!

27

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:

[quote]Racer377 wrote:

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:

I’ve been to Beaverun (in a car), but I can’t really afford to do trackdays every weekend. I’ll almost certainly do at least one, no matter what bike I pick.

Can you show up to a trackday with a 250? Is that like showing up to an auto trackday in a ford escort? Which track would you go to if you had a 250?[/quote]

Sure can. I know quite a few people that have done so. It’s more about the rider than the machine. I’ve gone to trackdays with a KTM dirtbike w slicks mounted, (supermoto, look it up, most awesome form of riding ever!!!) and lapped many an R1 rider with it. (attached photo)

Nice thing about trackdays is that they’re broken up by skill level. You won’t have AMA guys strafing you on 200+HP 1000’s in the beginner group.

Best track for a 250 is going to be a tighter, more technical track. Road America, for example, would suck on a 250. (3 loooooooooong straight per lap) More turns and shorter straights is what to look for.

[/quote]

Supermoto actually sounds the most interesting, but I don’t know about the dirt portions. A supermoto bike would be perfect, but they’re usually more expensive than the 250 crotch rockets.[/quote]

go check out supermotojunkie.com

you can pick up a nice DRZ-400 for about the same as a Ninja 250.

The best part about supermoto is trackdays are usually only 30 bucks or so, crash damage is usually only a $20 lever instead of $100 cases or $150 body panels, tires last more than a weekend

They’re easier to ride too. You can get away with so much more on a supermoto than on a sportbike. Draggin knee or elbow is great, but is nothing compared to pitchin’ that bitch sideways through a corner.

Check out Nicky Hayden and Max Biaggi doin it

28

SV650-good low end tq, lots of reasonably priced used and many
many m/c boards w/ advice to improve handling & performance.

29

Kawasaki has a 400 now. Just released.

30

I started on a GSXR 750 and it wasn’t too much (or too little for that matter). I’ve only been riding about three months now and have only hit triple digits about three times (going fast also isn’t my primary goal, staying alive would be number one, followed by having fun, and then I guess speed. Maybe with more experience speed will move up the ladder). My girlfriend has a Ninja 250 and I took it to get sliders put on… BIG difference. I definitely didn’t move that fast on it. I weigh about 215 lbs so I’m assuming that has a bit to do with it (whereas she only weighs about 125 which is why she went with the smaller bike… I’m glad I didn’t). You may regret getting the 250 after a few weeks since you already know how to ride. Just my 2 cents

32

[quote]Mister T. wrote:
Don’t know if you’ve made your decision yet, but damn dude, a 600cc supersport will do around 160 indicated from the factory floor. You’ll never actually be able to use all of it. If you go with a 250, you’ll probably be bored with the lack of power, BUT you’ll have the potential to learn how to carry corner speed, which is something you won’t be as inclined to do with a much more powerful bike.

I don’t know if that actually helped you any. [/quote]

Yes, I’d much rather learn to perfect the downhill double apex negative camber curve than do 180mph in a straight line or do a 10 sec 1/4 mile.

That’s why I’m actually leaning towards the supermoto bike now. Bikes on go kart tracks? Awesome!

33

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:
[Yes, I’d much rather learn to perfect the downhill double apex negative camber curve than do 180mph in a straight line or do a 10 sec 1/4 mile.

That’s why I’m actually leaning towards the supermoto bike now. Bikes on go kart tracks? Awesome![/quote]
Well, it IS still fun to put your chin on the tank and top that bitch out…not that I’ve done that before, officer!

Hitting the twisties is fun as shit. Plus, your bike looks cooler with no chicken strips on the tires!

34

[quote]inkaddict wrote:

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:
[Yes, I’d much rather learn to perfect the downhill double apex negative camber curve than do 180mph in a straight line or do a 10 sec 1/4 mile.

That’s why I’m actually leaning towards the supermoto bike now. Bikes on go kart tracks? Awesome![/quote]
Well, it IS still fun to put your chin on the tank and top that bitch out…not that I’ve done that before, officer!

Hitting the twisties is fun as shit. Plus, your bike looks cooler with no chicken strips on the tires![/quote]

Top speed runs get old pretty quickly. But perfectly trail-braking into a decreasing radius turn, scraping your elbow across the curbing at the apex, and spinning up the rear just enough to finish off the turn… abso-fuckin-lute bliss, every time.

Same thing with a perfectly backed-in corner on a sumo… I could do that all day, every day and never get bored. (or try to do it, more accurately)

35

Racer: What do you think about the Yamaha TTR 225/250? I realize in their stock form, the suspension isn’t set up for road racing, but is it ok for learning on? Do I really need to get new wheels? Or do they make road tires that fit on the stock rims?

I know, I should get a dual sport, but the TTR can be had for < $1000 (as can a Ninja 250).

36

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:
Racer: What do you think about the Yamaha TTR 225/250? I realize in their stock form, the suspension isn’t set up for road racing, but is it ok for learning on? Do I really need to get new wheels? Or do they make road tires that fit on the stock rims?

I know, I should get a dual sport, but the TTR can be had for < $1000 (as can a Ninja 250).[/quote]

EEK. I’m all for riding slow bikes, but the TTR is a turd. Suzuki DRZ-400SM is the best route to go, if you want a cheap, reliable, and street legal sumo. It’ll come with 17’s, no need to buy new wheels. To fit road tires, you’ll want 17" rims. a TTR will have a skinny 21" up front and an 18" in back, if memory serves. You can run some dual-sport tires on those, but it’s far from ideal.

38

[quote]Racer377 wrote:

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:
Racer: What do you think about the Yamaha TTR 225/250? I realize in their stock form, the suspension isn’t set up for road racing, but is it ok for learning on? Do I really need to get new wheels? Or do they make road tires that fit on the stock rims?

I know, I should get a dual sport, but the TTR can be had for < $1000 (as can a Ninja 250).[/quote]

EEK. I’m all for riding slow bikes, but the TTR is a turd. Suzuki DRZ-400SM is the best route to go, if you want a cheap, reliable, and street legal sumo. It’ll come with 17’s, no need to buy new wheels. To fit road tires, you’ll want 17" rims. a TTR will have a skinny 21" up front and an 18" in back, if memory serves. You can run some dual-sport tires on those, but it’s far from ideal. [/quote]

Lol. Ok. I’ll keep a look out for a DRZ. Any other models you recommend?

39

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:

[quote]Racer377 wrote:

[quote]johnnytang24 wrote:
Racer: What do you think about the Yamaha TTR 225/250? I realize in their stock form, the suspension isn’t set up for road racing, but is it ok for learning on? Do I really need to get new wheels? Or do they make road tires that fit on the stock rims?

I know, I should get a dual sport, but the TTR can be had for < $1000 (as can a Ninja 250).[/quote]

EEK. I’m all for riding slow bikes, but the TTR is a turd. Suzuki DRZ-400SM is the best route to go, if you want a cheap, reliable, and street legal sumo. It’ll come with 17’s, no need to buy new wheels. To fit road tires, you’ll want 17" rims. a TTR will have a skinny 21" up front and an 18" in back, if memory serves. You can run some dual-sport tires on those, but it’s far from ideal. [/quote]

Lol. Ok. I’ll keep a look out for a DRZ. Any other models you recommend?[/quote]

If you can save up some more coin, both KTM and Husqvarna have a few street legal sumos that you can find in the 3k-5k range used. I worked at a European bike dealer for a few summers, so I’m very partial to Euro-trash bikes. It’s a buyer’s market, people are selling their toys to pay bills in this shit economy, so you can probably score an amazing deal.

You might be able to find a newish Yammie WRX-250X or a Kawi KLX-250SF for about that price too.

For street use, you’ll want to stay away from converted and tagged MX bikes. Oil changes every two hours on the motor, top end rebuilds at 40 hours, replacing Ti valves…

Honestly though, the DRZs are a dime a dozen and probably going to be the best bang for the buck.