250 Magazine, my new fave?

[beatr911]

What a relief to find this site. I though I was the only one that was so tired of 2300cc bikes and "Big Twins" and 200mph rocket bikes. Sure there is a place for those, just not in my life.

Excerpt:

"With the many problems motorcycling has–our crappy public image, mediocre fuel efficiency, noise issues, high prices, old demographic, and general lack of social value–small motorcycles offer a lot of solutions. Call them “starter bikes,” if that makes you feel good about yourself, but many serious riders spend their whole riding lives on 400cc or smaller bikes. Getting great mileage, light enough for the smallest riders, versatile as a Swiss Army knife, easily maintained, and more fun to ride than practically anything else on the planet, small motorcycles are a solution to a collection of problems that haven’t even been asked yet.

My current road bike is a 650 and it’s bigger than I need for one-up touring. Most modern dirt bikes are too damn tall for me, as much as I love them. Many of the 250 street bikes that have been imported to the US aren’t just starter bikes, they’re kids’ bikes. My 250 Kawasaki Sherpa is too wimpy for anything other than local commuting. My new best friend, a 2008 Yamaha WR250X is the closest thing to a perfect all-around motorcycle engine ever built. A few weeks ago, Andy Goldfine (Editor’s note: founder of Aerostich) introduced me to a formula that explains it all: L + S = MF. (Light plus Simple equals More Fun.)"

L + S = MF now my new motto.

Keep discussion here for modding, that is what it's for. But the mag focuses on the small bikes and it's culture: twofiftymag.com

[ohioeric]

...bought a 250 myself. really sweet around town/ suburbs bike. Ya just dont need to rassle all that weight around... i've had 8 bikes, the next smallest was a 750. i ride the two-fiddy WOT most of the time, don't know about the mileage, but sure is fun...

thanks for the link...

[alvaro84]

Originally Posted by beatr911

My new best friend, a 2008 Yamaha WR250X is the closest thing to a perfect all-around motorcycle engine ever built.

May be good. Far too tall for me, though
I'd need it to be lowered by at least 5cm (2"). Or, better, more.

edit. of course it wouldn't stop me buying a 250. I like them, to be honest. Our other bike is a Hyosung GV250. It just happened that I bought a 650 single as a first bike. I don't regret my decision, though, because Teresa proved to be a good bike. And she has a 250-like appetite, too. There are 250s with better FE, though, I know.

[user removed]

I like 250 size bikes. Started riding after decades away from bikes. First bike ever at age 23 was a Kawasaki 900.
Got back into riding just before age 60. Started on a Kawasaki 125 Eliminator, then bought a couple of Rebels that needed some care, fixed them up and sold them after a few thousand miles each an made a little money even after covering all costs of riding.
Then I took some of that profit and bought a 2011 Honda CBR250R. Very nice bike, rode it almost 4500 miles and sold it after buying a Kawasaki Vulcan 500.
Also bought a 1971 Honda CB350 from a friends estate. He bought the bike new and it sat in the same garage for 40 years. He stopped riding it in 1983.
Got it running and cleaned up. The CB 350 will stay with me until I am gone from this world.
Another neat 250 I picked up last year is a 1987 Yamaha SRX 250. Originally intended as competition for the Ninja 250. It was in rough shape but eventually I will get it roadworthy.

regards
Mech

[beatr911]

Nice SRX! It looks like a DOHC air cooled engine, I forgot they used a different engine than the XT200/250 series. That should be a really fun and super nimble ride.

[sendler]

Check out the new Honda CBR250R. It's a great blend of highway capable aerodynamics, ergonomics, speed, and fuel economy. Finally a motorcycle that can whip the fuel economy of any car at 70 mph. And is a steal at $4100.
.
2011 CBR250R Overview - Honda Powersports
.

[TX_Dj]

+1 sendler's comments.

I just picked up my CBR250R this morning. I've been riding 32 years (24 on the road) and have ridden just about everything under the sun. I tend to have the most fun on a 250 because you can ride them to the limit day in day out without much risk of a ticket (though any of them will get you a ticket on any road in the US!).

My last 250 was a Rebel 250 (great bike!) and I rode the snot outta that bike for 15,000 miles and averaged 68 mpg lifetime. And it's not even fuel injected!

I picked my CBR250R up this morning, in the middle of a torrential downpour, and proceeded with 25 miles of MotoMan's break-in procedure. It'll get the first oil/filter change this evening when I get home, with about 40 miles on it (double what MotoMan prescribes, but shouldn't be much of a problem). After that, I'm setting a baseline for 3-4 tank fulls of just riding it like I stole it. After that, I'll see where I'm at, and work towards better FE.

I'm not looking to break 100+ mpg, per se... but if I can do that and still have great fun, then I'm all for it.

[sendler]

Originally Posted by TX_Dj

+1 sendler's comments.

I just picked up my CBR250R this morning.

Congratulations. It is a great bike.

[renault_megane_dci]

250's rules !

My GN is only 125 kgs.
When I ride it, I feel anything is possible !

On the other hand, the GW250 Inazuma from Suzuki due sometimes this autumn is like 170 Kgs !
What happened ? it's crazy heavy !

[TX_Dj]

Well, coming from a 525 that weighs only 254 lbs vs. this CBR250R that weighs about 370 lbs, I really can't say that the CBR feels heavy, which surprises me. Then again, the last sports bike I rode was 110 lbs heavier than this CBR, and the last cruiser I rode was more than 200 lbs heavier than this CBR. The CBR is also very well balanced, it feels like, so this probably has a lot to do with why it seems lighter.

But yes, we do not need heavier!!! Lighter and more aerodynamic, please!

I've heard there are some exhaust kits that can save 10-15 lbs, but the extra flow (and fuel) scares me a bit to try them.

But, part of what brought me to the CBR is that it is fairly aero, and it also has the "newest" technology. I will never jet or adjust the carburetor on this bike because it has none. If only they'd put a self-adjusting/lubricating chain, yes?