[Elgordoboy]

I rode last week from Destin, Fl to northeast Atlanta. What would've been, in a car, a 6 hour trip, took me 7 and a half hours with the bike. Simply due to getting off for 15 minutes every hour and a half to warm up, stretch out, and have a smoke. I was underdressed for the cold starting off which I remedied by getting some Freeze Out items at cycle gear. The guy at the honda dealer nearby told me that everything at cycle gear was worse than nothing as it was made in Pakistan. It seems he ignored the hypocrisy involved as most of his was "made is <insert third world country here>". Anyhow, the freeze out stuff worked spectacularly in the 35 to 40 degrees in which I rode in in atlanta. A t shirt, the FO gillet, a simple cotton thermal, and my icon mesh armored jacket, oh and the FO footliners and A* smx2 boots. The cotton thermal didn't do much for heat, just aesthetics for walking around I believe. As far as hwy speeds and the cbr 250... No problem. I got it up to 90mph on a straight away between Dothan and Eufala just to see. I cruised up I-85 mostly around 75 mph and then bypassed traffic through the center of the city by using 285. My speed around the perimeter held mostly around 60 mph. I passed trucks fine and was passed in turn without incident. There were 14mph winds in atlanta that day and one gust got my heart going, but the bike simply leaned for a quick moment without really deviating off the path. It was kind of fun. This is my first bike so I have nothing more powerful with which to compare but, for me, the cbr250 seems very capable and fun at hwy speeds. And it just seems to be getting better as it gets broken in. Thanks guys and have fun out there!

 

[DamianW]

Your trip sounded like fun, thanks for sharing. Tomorrow I'm heading off on the CBR covering a distance of 900km for the round trip to attend a family wedding (Auckland -> Napier -> Auckland, New Zealand). Will post a few pics of the route when I return in a couple of days.


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[Bullseye]

Yeah ....riding in the cold is really no fun !!!!

My buddy and I rode our CBR125r in -4C. Pretty frosty !!! A person has to wear many layers or have heated gear to have any enjoyment in riding !! I had 5 layers, t-shirt,long sleeve shirt,sweat shirt, "columbia" foil jacket, riding jacket. Had a neck warmer on too.
Riding in weather like that makes you appreciate the "good" days !!! Just remember ...any day riding is better than NOT riding at all !!! LOL

I tour all over on my CBR250r and love it !!! Over 7000 kms in 2012 !!! Can't wait for the 2013 riding season to start !!!

 

[Rrider]

After I’ve been freezing a lot on motorcycles during many years, I bought heated gloves this winter, a fantastic thing, I do not want to miss it again, the next step will be heated soles.

 

[CBRMike]

I rode the other day to the post office. It was 24 deg f. and snow on the ground. Not on the roads too much. I froze my nuts off.

 

[TheRealBaumann]

I still have some Bilt armor that I need to return to cyclegear because the zipper broke after like 3 weeks of use. Also, my Bilt modular helmet is terrible. Cyclegear sells some good stuff (A-stars) but just stay the heck away from Bilt products.

 

[Soulbreeze]

~~
Nice post about how it handles on the freeway.

I held out as long as I could before I put my bike away this past winter. Now I have a few more proper items for cold weather riding. Most important thing is to have a layer that can block the wind chill. I found my thinner, leather gloves to be waaaaayyyy warmer than the bulky, plain winter gloves I tried at first.
~~

 

[Ibex250R]

Nicely done!

 

[kfsrq]

Looking forward to Friday ride

On Friday March 8, I will ride across Florida, from my home in Sarasota to visit a long-time friend in New Smyrna Beach, which is just south of Daytona. We will pay a visit to Bike Week, then Sunday afternoon I will ride home, just in time to watch Glenn Howard win the Brier, I hope.

Yup, I get Canadian TV, and watch curling, here in Sarasota.
Right now Northern Ontario is leading Québec 5 to 4 in the 10th end,
with the hammer. If you understand all that, you know Québec is SOL.

Keith

 

[Insydemahed]

I just went for my first relatively long freeway ride - 35 miles each way. At 75, she might sound like a banshee but she does fine. Anything faster and I had to lean in but I didn't feel like she was going to explode or anything bad. Having started on a 600 about 6 years ago, I'll admit that passing power is lacking but only if you were anticipating being able to do 600 speeds. No fault to the 250, rides like a dream if you know what she's capable of. 65 is honestly what she's most comfortable at.


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[grynchmeister]

I just went for my first relatively long freeway ride - 35 miles each way. At 75, she might sound like a banshee but she does fine. Anything faster and I had to lean in but I didn't feel like she was going to explode or anything bad. Having started on a 600 about 6 years ago, I'll admit that passing power is lacking but only if you were anticipating being able to do 600 speeds. No fault to the 250, rides like a dream if you know what she's capable of. 65 is honestly what she's most comfortable at.


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I have a 15 mile trip on the highway to work every day (30 mile round trip)
& the first time I did it, I thought I had made a poor choice with the 250. But after completing the msf & becoming more comfortable with being on a bike, I find it does the job perfectly well. I actually enjoy the commute now, and I run way less chance of getting a speeding ticket. (My FRS just begs to hit 88 whenever I have a wide strech of highway).
I totally underestimated the cold mornings here in San Diego though! Definitely need some warmer gear.

 

[whipped99]

I wondered this same question a while back. I don't do a whole lot of highway travel. I've put the 250 on the highway a few times and found 65MPH to be a sweet spot between bike/engine noise/vibration/wind. Going over that makes things a little more uncomfortable in several ways. A taller windscreen might help some. If I take a longer highway road-trip it's definitely be in a just cruising mode mindset and in no hurry to get anywhere, and that's okay with me.

 

[Jibbs9]

How much do you weigh if you dont mind me asking? I'd like to be able to ride my bike home to visit relatives on the other side of the state, which is a 3.5 hour trip at highway speeds 95% of the way. I've heard mixed things about the bike at highway speeds so your post gives me some hope, at least

 

[Aufitt]

Whats the average speed of 500km in 3 3/4 hrs?

Now stop twice for a quick smoke and a refuel.
Surely the 250 cant go on the Highway No No Nooo!.

 

[Skyway6]

much of my bikes current 15000km are hwy. The longest day i did last year was 8hrs of solid riding at speeds of 80km to 145kph. Vancouver to Hope (~130km) Hope to Spences Bridge (~130km) Spences Bridge to Merritt (~85km) Merritt to Hope (~110km) this on hwy 5 aka "highway thru hell" or the "coq" which involved a steep climb to 1244 m (4,147 ft) and max hwy speed of 110km/h (68mph)

I had to drop down to 5th gear but i maintained 110kph (tho it was pinned wide open)

After all that hard riding, bike still runs great. no adjustments needed (chain good. valves good.) just regular oil change/chain lube.

looking forward to another year

 

[willfly4food]

I still have some Bilt armor that I need to return to cyclegear because the zipper broke after like 3 weeks of use. Also, my Bilt modular helmet is terrible. Cyclegear sells some good stuff (A-stars) but just stay the heck away from Bilt products.

Sorry to hear you've had bad experiences with Bilt stuff. I think as a general rule I will stick with the reliable brands for my major safety gear, but the Bilt brand came in handy once: they make womens riding jeans. Kevlar reinforced, with removable knee pads. It was literally the only pair of womens riding jeans I could find (San Diego, CA) and they fit great. There are probably better womens riding jeans out there, but most are online ordering (not good when trying to get a good fit.) These are worlds better than riding in normal women's jeans (which are so weak they're probably shred to pieces in a strong wind.)

As for the highway riding discussion: I'm scared to go on the highway, so I salute you, sir! Around here there are two highway speeds: 20 mph stop and go, and 85mph+. I've heard some people say they feel highway is safer than surface roads, due to traffic being more predictable. I'm not sure about that, but I will try to work up the courage and skills to give Murica (my tri-color CBR ) a taste of 6th gear. She's almost out of the break-in period, so maybe soon...

 

[rider7]

I have been commuting all winter in Delaware. The coldest days were 15 degrees when I headed out. I have a one piece First Gear winter suit ($150) and all I need underneath is my regular work pants and a $5 fleece that zips up around my chin. I tucked my ski mask into that and the suit and i have been fine. I swear the BEST thing for cold riding was handlebar mufflers to tuck my gloved hands inside. They look like big socks but man they block that wind (and rain and snow) off your hands and for $20 you cant beat that.

 

[8390]

I got a speeding ticket passing through Dothan a couple years ago, cops set up a speed trap and I had just gotten back on the road after getting some gas and they clocked me at "87" in a 65. it was bull s**t because there was no way in hell I could have gotten the big van I was driving at the time to those speeds in 50 yards.


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[RainbowDashWins]

Thanks for sharing! Before I found this forum I was actually wondering if it would even be possible to take an interstate trip on my CBR250, about 650 miles. I'm feeling a little more encouraged about it now.

 

[Asako]

Thanks for sharing! Before I found this forum I was actually wondering if it would even be possible to take an interstate trip on my CBR250, about 650 miles. I'm feeling a little more encouraged about it now.

2012-09-05 18:55 - Google Maps

Why yes, you CAN take a 250 on the highway. I was passing traffic left and right there too.