T'was my second bike after my Ninja was totaled by a semi and my 3rd after the second was totaled by me... One of the new Honda 500s will likely replace my current 250 when they become available.
It's my first bike. I wanted a bike that would get me started on two wheels in the safest way possible, and decided I wanted a smaller bike with ABS. It came down to the CBR250 or the Ninja 300. I'd be curious how many other newbies were debating the same thing, and what their ultimate decisions were. For me, it came down to price and fit (the CBR just 'felt better' when I sat on it, but that's personal preference.)
@Michael: I may be in the same boat as you where it's just most practical to get around on. When I first got into motorcyling, I got a decent size cruiser to do a bunch of 2-up leisure riding on. I found out over the 1st 2 seasons that just wasn't my style. I spent most of my miles trying to save gas, navigate commuter traffic, and figuring out how to make my bike more practical. When I sold the cruiser, I had decided my next bike would be a versatile, efficient, street ergo sport bike. The CBR250R fills all of those needs and eats up urban streets for breakfast, but is still an aerodynamic enough posture to blast down the interstate to get to another part of town.
@Phatch: My lady rides a Genuine Buddy 125 when we ride together. Sometimes when we get back, I take that scooter out for a spin. It's so much fun it's stupid. Twist and go CVT with Dr Pulley slider variator weights FTW! Perfectly legitimate vehicle. I've gotten a GPS 61mph on it. Comfortable as all get-out, too.
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Last edited by Rusty Shackleford; 12-08-2012 at 11:13 AM.
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I think the CBR is my twenty-something-th bike, lost count over the years. I'm on the downhill side of the displacement/scare-the-********************-out-of-yourself hill and am totally pleased with the little beast.
Some interesting comments from well experienced motorcyclists. When motorcycling is / has become a practical form of transport, less tends to be more desirable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wynne G Oldman
I've owned bigger bikes as well, but came to the conclusion, that for what I want a motorcycle for (commuting, mainly) they're just a waste of money. I love the CBR 250R. I think it's a fantastic little bike, that's cheap to run, and goes as fast as you need to, in comfort, and it's fun.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kfsrq
I have owned about seven motorcycles with engine sizes near 250 cc.
Some were satisfactory; some were great; the CBR250R is fabulous!
Clear second best was my 1964 CB77 Super Hawk. I wish I still had it,
so I am restoring a similar machine. I am taking my time with this.
Next month I will take my first overnight trip on the CBR250R, from Southwest
Florida to northern Alabama, then back home. I look forward to this ride.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TrueFaith
This is my 5th bike.
First was a Yamaha 250 Exciter.
Followed by a Yamaha 400 Seca (loved that bike)
Then a Ninja250R, (which I totalled in my first accident in 30 years.)
Followed by a replacement Ninja250R (which I eventually traded in for my CBR.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by tgitchel
Here are my bikes in order. I have about 50,000 miles between them.
cg, vt, cbf, phantom, cbr = makes it my 5th and the most fun of all of them
Quote:
Originally Posted by pooder7
LAST!
Well, maybe. I can imagine becoming an olde farte who has trouble holding up the Goldwing that now shares stable space with my CBR. Would I convert the 'Wing to a trike? Maybe, but I think before doing that, I'd keep riding the CBR as long as I could and then when I can't manage that, just get out of motorcycling entirely . . . .
With luck, I'll be able to ride any motorcycle I want until I'm dead.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JapanRob
250cc to 1000cc and now back to 250cc.
Couldn't be happier!
Quote:
Originally Posted by TrueFaith
I'm the latter.
I've always loved small displacement motorcycles. I just think they're a hell of a lot more fun than a heavier bike that has more power than you'll ever be able to tap into.
After 10 years or more of having no options under 500cc except the Ninja 250, it's so gratifying to finally have a choice in small bikes again. Now that it looks like Suzuki is getting on board too, I only hope Yamaha feels the need to outdo everything currently on the market soon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty Shackleford
@Michael: I may be in the same boat as you where it's just most practical to get around on. When I first got into motorcyling, I got a decent size cruiser to do a bunch of 2-up leisure riding on. I found out over the 1st 2 seasons that just wasn't my style. I spent most of my miles trying to save gas, navigate commuter traffic, and figuring out how to make my bike more practical. When I sold the cruiser, I had decided my next bike would be a versatile, efficient, street ergo sport bike. The CBR250R fills all of those needs and eats up urban streets for breakfast, but is still an aerodynamic enough posture to blast down the interstate to get to another part of town.
@Phatch: My lady rides a Genuine Buddy 125 when we ride together. Sometimes when we get back, I take that scooter out for a spin. It's so much fun it's stupid. Twist and go CVT with Dr Pulley slider variator weights FTW! Perfectly legitimate vehicle. I've gotten a GPS 61mph on it. Comfortable as all get-out, too.
Quote:
Originally Posted by realbtl
I think the CBR is my twenty-something-th bike, lost count over the years. I'm on the downhill side of the displacement/scare-the-********************-out-of-yourself hill and am totally pleased with the little beast.
__________________ there are old motorcyclists and bold motorcyclists,
but you seldom meet an old bold motorcyclist
@Michael: I think that's because when many people 1st get into motorcycling, it's based off an idealized version of it they have in their head. Once you get out there and ride for a couple of seasons, you start to realize what type of rider you really are. The most important thing I learned with the CBR250R is that, for me, there's more important attributes to a motorcycle than horsepower.
__________________
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My CBR250R is my first bike. I hope to keep riding whether it's with this bike or another.
A lot of people told me to go with a larger bike such as a 650. I'm glad I didn't because I had a few close calls in the parking lot where I almost dropped the 250. With a 650 I would have been picking it up off the ground.