First 125

On May 13, 2:02 pm, "Who Me?" <hitchhi... DeleteThis @dont.panic> wrote:
> "c" <smalltalkingchic... DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote
>
> > a 250cc bike generally feels like a toy (unless you weigh 90 pounds or
> > close)
>
> The point IS that it's not cool to dis' somebody else's ride.  It just ain't
> nice.
>
> So I won't say what I think about over-weight, over-powered, loud and
> downright ugly examples of wretched excess..........'cause it wouldn't be
> polite!!  

That's O.K., I did it for you. ;^)
 >> Stay informed about: First 125 

On May 13, 9:03 pm, "David White" <wlightn....TakeThisOut@att.net> wrote:
> "Bob Myers" <nospample....TakeThisOut@address.invalid> wrote in message
>
> news:g0asm1$krl$1@usenet01.boi.hp.com...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > "BryanUT" <nestl....TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote in message
> >news:S6KdnXO0RK75SLXVnZ2dnUVZ_uWdnZ2d@comcast.com...
> >> You speak the truth my dear sir.
>
> >> Why doesn't Honda sell the damned CBR125 in the states?  Honda's USA line
> >> up sucks, that's why.
>
> > Honda, et al don't bring a LOT of tasty treats to the U.S.;
> > I had the good fortune, last fall, to be in Tokyo on a
> > biz trip at the time of the Tokyo Motor Show, and
> > braved the rain (there was a freakin' typhoon, or at
> > least the remains of one, crossing over Japan that
> > weekend!) to see the bikes.  Besides the truly bizarre
> > crop of "concept" bikes (anyone see the Suzuki "Biplane"
> > or the Yamaha "Luxair" hybrid?), that show really opened
> > my eyes to the number of very nice standards that don't
> > make it to these shores.  In Honda's case, do you think
> > we're going to see the CB1100F or CB400SS here?  I
> > guess there have been some rumors of the 1100 making
> > it here again, but...
>
> > Of course, I have read somewhere that the Rebel 250
> > outsells the Nighthawk 250 by something like 10:1
> > in the U.S., which I guess tells Honda all they need to
> > know about U.S. tastes (or lack thereof) in bikes.  Sigh.
> > I have no problem with those who truly prefer the cruiser
> > style - hey, it's their choice, not mine - but fer Chrissakes,
> > in a TWO HUNDRED FIFTY CC MOTORCYCLE???
>
> > Bob M.
>
> Being an MSF RiderCoach, I get to ride all these small bikes every weekend
> on the range. Eliminators, GZ250's, Virago's, and Nighthawks. My favorite is
> the Rebal 250. Lots of fun for ridin' the range. Would I take one out on the
> open road??  Not on your/my life.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

I've been riding the roads for 30++ years, and only recently have I
bought an 800cc bike. I still own and ride frequently a 50cc scooter
and a couple of other two wheeled contivances that are under 250cc. In
fact I'm looking to buy a 125cc-250cc bike for daily riding. You can
be safe on a small bike, just not on the freeways.
 >> Stay informed about: First 125 

On May 14, 2:46 pm, "Bob Myers" <nospample... RemoveThis @address.invalid> wrote:
> "BryanUT" <nestl... RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
>
> news:924943f3-93ae-4ed7-9e8e-dcb2451a6249@e39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>
> >> There's a lot to say for the 250s, especially for the beginning rider -
> >> they're light, maneuverable, simple to maintain, get great gas mileage
> >> and, at least with the Hondas, pretty much bullet proof mechanically.
>
> >> They're not very happy at over 60 mph and are definitely not freeway
> >> cruisers - but not everyone wants or needs to cruise the interstates.
>
> > But the Ninja 250 is a vastly superior bike, water cooled, can go damn
> > near 100mph, disk brakes and a proper seating position.  At
> > essentially the same price.
>
> Agreed on all points - although I would have to question
> putting all that nice shiny plastic on what has to be seen,
> in this market, as a beginner's bike.  But then I personally
> would also question a beginner who was buying "new"
> in the first place.
>
> What would be really nice would be to have more choices
> - what do we have now, essentially...uhhh...zero? - in the
> 250-to-600 cc range.  Something that wouldn't be
> an unreasonable choice for the complete newbie, and yet
> could also get out of its own way enough to not be
> ridiculous on the highway.  (Yeah, the Ninja counts, I suppose,
> but name another three...)  

Hyosung 250, Venox Venom, UM 250?
 >> Stay informed about: First 125 

"Bill Shatzer" <bshatzerNO DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote in message
news:JPidnZIIUPya37bVnZ2dnUVZ_tXinZ2d@comcast.com...

> Well, off the top of my head, there's the Buell Blast, the two Kawasaki
> 500s (Ninja and Vulcan) and the Suzuki GS500 in the 500 cc range. There's
> likely a couple others in the dual sport category though I'm not very
> familiar with those bikes. But that's four, in any case.
>
> What I lament is the total lapse of the Standard motorcycle - there's the
> 250 Nighthawk and the Triumph Bonneville and a few obsolescent (and poorly
> supported) designs like the Ural and Royal Enfield and that's pretty much
> it.

Yeah, that's more what I was thinking of, shoulda been more
specific. The Blast qualifies in terms of displacement, but I
don't fit on one; the Vulcan - well, I already said my piece re
cruisers, not my cup of tea. Am embarrassed to have forgotten
the Ninja and the GS500, esp. the latter since I ride an SV650.

But you're right - what I really want is more choices re nekkid
standards.

Bob M.
 >> Stay informed about: First 125 

"dizzy" <dizzy.DeleteThis@nospam.invalid> wrote in message
news:v15n24l6r2iotue51mrhneshii71ig8nf7@4ax.com...
>>And the Bandit series being another. And the Yamaha XJR1300 another
>>(actually, I don't think you get that in the US).
>
> And the Yamaha FZ6and FZ1, the Honda 919, the Kawasiki Z1000, the
> Triumph Daytona 675, the Ducati Monsters...

Right - but keep in mind my original comments, which started
this all, were about bikes in the 250-600 cc range. As has
already been done elsewhere, I was really lamenting some
manufacturers' decisions not to bring certain ~400-500 cc
standards to the U.S. market.

Bob M.
 >> Stay informed about: First 125 

On May 15, 6:32 am, Bike Guy Joe <jetstarb....DeleteThis@yahoo.com> wrote:

> > a 250cc bike generally feels like a toy (unless you weigh 90 pounds or
> > close)
>
> > motorcycling is not about pretending to go "vroom vroom" but actually
> > doing it - i think most riders would agree to that

> Motorcycling is NOT about buying the biggest bike you can afford to
> impress the masses/neighbors either.
>
> I think 250cc bikes actually do go "vroom vroom"

while i recognize that many people tend to want the biggest and
baddest and that mindset is criticized for many reasons, that doesn't
mean the smallest and worst is without its own flaws

i think for bikes, the happy medium is where it's at ...then again, no
one cares what i think, it's just cute if we happen to agree on
anything, right?

i know some 250cc bikes can perform well enough in certain situations,
but i've actually ridden 2 bikes of that displacement - both of them
could barely move me and i'm of average weight

on the whole, they really don't have that "vroom" that attracts riders
(not merely aficionados) to the sport, in my opinion




then again, if you're riding a 250, you already realize you're on the
wrong bike or you made up your mind that it's for you (due to your
size or other factors) and so you don't need validation ... and by
extension, shouldn't give a rat's ass about being "dissed"

at least, in the land of rational adults*



*i realize saying that leaves me open to the idea that i'm the one
acting like a child, insulting 250cc bikes when i once posted here
asking if some bikes were simply unable to carry a passenger (but
then, was there ever danger you wouldn't take me with a grain of
salt?)
 >> Stay informed about: First 125 

BryanUT wrote:
> On May 14, 11:26 am, Bill Shatzer <bshatze... RemoveThis @comcast.net> wrote:
>> Bob Myers wrote:
....
>>> I have no problem with those who truly prefer the cruiser
>>> style - hey, it's their choice, not mine - but fer Chrissakes,
>>> in a TWO HUNDRED FIFTY CC MOTORCYCLE???
>> There's a lot to say for the 250s, especially for the beginning rider -
>> they're light, maneuverable, simple to maintain, get great gas mileage
>> and, at least with the Hondas, pretty much bullet proof mechanically.
>>
>> They're not very happy at over 60 mph and are definitely not freeway
>> cruisers - but not everyone wants or needs to cruise the interstates.
>>
>> Cheers,
>
> But the Ninja 250 is a vastly superior bike, water cooled, can go damn
> near 100mph, disk brakes and a proper seating position. At
> essentially the same price.
>
> The Hondas just aren't good value for the money.


Here in southern BC, there are some destinations that from a practical
viewpoint can only be reached via 10 or 20 kilometres on 100 or 120 kph
speed limit highways, where the traffic moves at 20 kph faster, unless
one wants to travel twice the distance over unpredictable back roads.


Saw a gal picking up one of those Ninja's (second-hand) at a local Honda
dealer the other day. Very attractive to somebody like me for whom a
long trip is 200 klics. (The girl too.) Looks to be nimble and also
hits the sweet spot here for government monopoly liability insurance
cost (rates based on cc's). Have seen a one or two grey-market Honda's
that were similar, too bad, IMO, they aren't part of the Honda line in
North America.


Something like that would suit me about as well as the maxi-scooters I
tend to, especially if the mfr's added ABS for people like me, long-time
riders but not highly skilled and not interested in inviting the riding
mistakes that the bigger sport-bikes encourage. Probably less time
consuming for doing one's own maintenance too. With these modern
engines and suspensions, fifteen cubic inches isn't what it used to be,
it's more!
 >> Stay informed about: First 125 

BryanUT wrote:
> On May 14, 11:26 am, Bill Shatzer <bshatze... DeleteThis @comcast.net> wrote:
>> Bob Myers wrote:
....
>>> I have no problem with those who truly prefer the cruiser
>>> style - hey, it's their choice, not mine - but fer Chrissakes,
>>> in a TWO HUNDRED FIFTY CC MOTORCYCLE???
>> There's a lot to say for the 250s, especially for the beginning rider -
>> they're light, maneuverable, simple to maintain, get great gas mileage
>> and, at least with the Hondas, pretty much bullet proof mechanically.
>>
>> They're not very happy at over 60 mph and are definitely not freeway
>> cruisers - but not everyone wants or needs to cruise the interstates.
>>
>> Cheers,
>
> But the Ninja 250 is a vastly superior bike, water cooled, can go damn
> near 100mph, disk brakes and a proper seating position. At
> essentially the same price.
>
> The Hondas just aren't good value for the money.


Here in southern BC, there are some destinations that from a practical
viewpoint can only be reached via 10 or 20 kilometres on 100 or 120 kph
speed limit highways, where the traffic moves at 20 kph faster, unless
one wants to travel twice the distance over unpredictable back roads.


Saw a gal picking up one of those Ninja's (second-hand) at a local Honda
dealer the other day. Very attractive to somebody like me for whom a
long trip is 200 klics. (The girl too.) Looks to be nimble and also
hits the sweet spot here for government monopoly liability insurance
cost (rates based on cc's). Have seen a one or two grey-market Honda's
that were similar, too bad, IMO, they aren't part of the Honda line in
North America.


Something like that would suit me about as well as the maxi-scooters I
tend to, especially if the mfr's added ABS for people like me, long-time
riders but not highly skilled and not interested in inviting the riding
mistakes that the bigger sport-bikes encourage. Probably less time
consuming for doing one's own maintenance too. With these modern
engines and suspensions, fifteen cubic inches isn't what it used to be,
it's more!
 >> Stay informed about: First 125 

c <smalltalkingchicken DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote:

> i know some 250cc bikes can perform well enough in certain situations,
> but i've actually ridden 2 bikes of that displacement - both of them
> could barely move me and i'm of average weight
>
> on the whole, they really don't have that "vroom" that attracts riders
> (not merely aficionados) to the sport, in my opinion

Depends. There were some rather good ones in bygone days. Yamaha
RD250LC. Suzuki X7. Kawasaki KH250.

Among four-strokes: the Kawasaki Z250 twin, and the Honda CB250RS
single. Both capable of 90.

I dunno if you got any of them in the US, though. Possibly the KH250, as
that dated back to the early/mid-1970s.

These days: yes, they're all a bit flaccid.


--
BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Honda CB400F & SL125
GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60
The bells, the bells.....
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"Turby" <turbosurfer.DeleteThis@beach.comber> wrote

>>I'm not saying I'd cheerfully do it again, but there is a perverse
>>pleasure to be had from nailing a small motorcycle for miles and miles.
>
> You're a masochistic dwarf with a severed spinal cord at L4.
>
> What do I win?

Uh, a masochistic dwarf with back problems.
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BryanUT <nestle12.DeleteThis@comcast.net> wrote in news:924943f3-93ae-4ed7-9e8e-
dcb2451a6249.DeleteThis@e39g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

> But the Ninja 250 is a vastly superior bike, water cooled, can go damn
> near 100mph, disk brakes and a proper seating position. At
> essentially the same price.
>
> The Hondas just aren't good value for the money.
>

Honda has a perfectly good water cooled L-twin 250 that I'd buy in a
second. Maybe two. Just because.

The the d-bags at Honda America just won't sell it here. Feh.

http://www.eskimo.com/~johnsen/bike/vtr250.jpg

--
Brian Johnsen
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BryanUT <nestle12.TakeThisOut@comcast.net> wrote

>> But the Ninja 250 is a vastly superior bike,

>> The Hondas just aren't good value for the money.
>>

Both perfectly valid opinions but only that.....opinions.

"Vastly superior" and "good value" are in the eye of the beholder.
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