Newbie qxn: When will the learning curve slow down?

5826 Views 45 Replies 24 Participants Last post by MotoMike, Sep 30, 2012

API-CBR250R

Discussion Starter · Sep 28, 2012

I have had my CBR250r for around 2 months and I feel like I learn something VERY important everytime I read this board and especially every time I go for a ride!

All I heard from the Honda salesman (and friends) was that I would "outgrow the 250" in six weeks. Well, six weeks and 500 miles on 2 lane road and parking lots later...I still feel like I have not even scratched the surface yet.

I am currently learning to ride with proper foot position and keeping my grip loose. (Great Hints from this board!!!)

I can't see moving up to a bigger bike anytime in the next year or two. (If at all)

I enjoy all the redlining and shifting and I even like the sound of the stock exhaust. (Hope that is not offensive)

When I took my motorcycle safety course, they told me I would ride 1-2 times a month. That was so wrong! I ride at least 6 days a week. I had work issues that prevented me from riding for 3 days and my mood got irritable around the house and job. My wife finally told me (at 10pm) - please go for a ride on your bike tomorrow, so you can get back to normal." She even noticed it! My son loves riding it with me as well. He is still elementary school aged, so to him we are riding on a rocket.

All in all, I think this is the perfect bike for me. Not just for 6 months but possibly for years and years. I just wonder if I can expect to keep learning volumes of stuff for the next 6 months or does this curve ever slow down?

Do you guys who have ridden for decades still feel like you are perfecting some subtle detail each time out?

Thanks!

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Redeye

· #15 · Sep 28, 2012

Although I can't claim decades of riding, I added up the miles on four bikes since starting to ride several years ago, which came to 55,000 miles. Not quite a novice any more, I still enjoy those a-ha! moments learning something new and still find myself correcting mistakes. Maybe that's why riding never gets old or routine.

Every once in a while I think about buying a larger displacement bike. One of the four bikes mentioned previously was a 600, traded for my CBR. I'm fascinated by the mid-2000s Honda 919. They're not very common in the US, which helps make it interesting to me.

But right now, 250s provide all the utility I need and all the enjoyment I want. If you want a larger bike, go for it. Motorcycling is a great pleasure; get what suits your needs and wants best. I don't believe the learning curve ever ends. But once you master basic controls and have confidence each time you ride, the more advanced skills will come to you.

For off-road riding, my "big" bike is a 150. Sure, I get some ribbing from time to time about riding a "kid's" bike. That's fine. I ride for myself and for my family of young riders, not for anyone else.

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Redeye

· #29 · Sep 29, 2012

Steve_47 said:
About the first service, your bikes engine needs to be cool in order to preform the valve check. So if you ride it to your dealer, they will keep it over night in order for the engine to cool. However, if you can haul it to your dealer already cool, you can wait for them to preform the first service, and bring it back home the same day.

For my CBR's first service, the service manager asked me to arrive 45 minutes early for a 9:30 appointment, allowing the bike to cool down. He had the service complete and ready for me to ride before noon. Fortunately, the dealership is in a business and retail area so there was plenty of things to occupy my waiting time. That may not always be the case.

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