FRS/BRZ vs. motorcycle?

[sho220]

Originally Posted by Dark_Angle

U mad

You 12 years old?

[86fanatic]

Hey guys just a quick update. So I went ahead and got a Honda CBR250R off craigslist last month. Pre-dropped but I also dropped it again parking because I misjudged the kick stand stability. Very happy I didn't buy a bigger more expensive bike.

Anyway it's amazing the fun factor packed into this little package - all in a machine which only costs a couple grand and will have basically zero depreciation. I think I have been officially spoiled away from performance cars forever. It's true what they say, you drive a car, but you really ride a motorcycle - it's all you. Jumping back in a car just feels so isolated and boring, and I've driven some pretty fast cars in my time. The excitement factor is off the scales and this thing is one of the slowest motorcycles you can buy (still beats nearly anything off the line). The regular fuel powered 70 MPG is nice too!

Maybe the novelty will wear off eventually, especially because a motorcycle is no where near as practical (or as safe) as a car, but for a recreational performance exciting vehicle in my opinion it can't be beat. Fully recommend people to take the MSF course even if you have no plans to buy, you will have fun and at the very least you will learn a new skill.

Here's a few pictures, scratches and all.

[Dark_Angle]

Congrats. Looks good

[RRnold]

Originally Posted by 86fanatic

Hey guys just a quick update. So I went ahead and got a Honda CBR250R off craigslist last month. Pre-dropped but I also dropped it again parking because I misjudged the kick stand stability. Very happy I didn't buy a bigger more expensive bike.

Anyway it's amazing the fun factor packed into this little package - all in a machine which only costs a couple grand and will have basically zero depreciation. I think I have been officially spoiled away from performance cars forever. It's true what they say, you drive a car, but you really ride a motorcycle - it's all you. Jumping back in a car just feels so isolated and boring, and I've driven some pretty fast cars in my time. The excitement factor is off the scales and this thing is one of the slowest motorcycles you can buy (still beats nearly anything off the line). The regular fuel powered 70 MPG is nice too!

Maybe the novelty will wear off eventually, especially because a motorcycle is no where near as practical (or as safe) as a car, but for a recreational performance exciting vehicle in my opinion it can't be beat. Fully recommend people to take the MSF course even if you have no plans to buy, you will have fun and at the very least you will learn a new skill.

Here's a few pictures, scratches and all.

Congrats! Where is the damage? Normally the mirrors, front turn signals, foot pegs and bar ends usually take the hit but they look ok.

This is why I'll always have a passion for motorcycles regardless of how dangerous it can be. I have a 500K just in case so I won't leave the loved ones in disarray. When I see the cars at the track and SCCA, it looks fun in all but it's a walk in the park compared to riding a moto.

Only those who ride will understand what I'm talking about and the rest are on the outside looking in.

Just wait till you get more seat time. There are track days and demo days that are even more fun than just riding alone.

There is a track about 3hrs from my area called Grange and KTM used to have demo days on their SuperMotos! Bring your gear and for $125 and you get to ride any of their motos for the whole day. It has been years since I've gone but it was so much fun!!

Not my vid but a sweet vid of the track.

SuperMoto Grange Race Track GoPro HD 2 28 2010 - YouTube

[Razz]

Be safe and don't speed too much on the streets

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by 86fanatic

Hey guys just a quick update. So I went ahead and got a Honda CBR250R off craigslist last month. Pre-dropped but I also dropped it again parking because I misjudged the kick stand stability. Very happy I didn't buy a bigger more expensive bike.....

Great bike! I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Sold my Honda 919 to help pay for the FR-S, so I'm bikeless this summer. I've actually thought about getting a 250R to "tied me over" until I buy a Goldwing next year.

[NYNOMAD]

Nice bike! I have three right now - 1987 gsxr 750, dyna wide glide and a r1100rt.

I know the BRZ is a new toy. But havent been on the bikes since I bought the BRZ 3 weeks ago.

Need to get back out on a bike!

[86fanatic]

Originally Posted by RRnold

Congrats! Where is the damage? Normally the mirrors, front turn signals, foot pegs and bar ends usually take the hit but they look ok.

This is why I'll always have a passion for motorcycles regardless of how dangerous it can be. I have a 500K just in case so I won't leave the loved ones in disarray. When I see the cars at the track and SCCA, it looks fun in all but it's a walk in the park compared to riding a moto.

Only those who ride will understand what I'm talking about and the rest are on the outside looking in.

Just wait till you get more seat time. There are track days and demo days that are even more fun than just riding alone.

There is a track about 3hrs from my area called Grange and KTM used to have demo days on their SuperMotos! Bring your gear and for $125 and you get to ride any of their motos for the whole day. It has been years since I've gone but it was so much fun!!

Not my vid but a sweet vid of the track.

SuperMoto Grange Race Track GoPro HD 2 28 2010 - YouTube

The muffler heat shield is all dented/scratched up - I actually uploaded 4 pictures but somehow one of the pictures was lost where it was really obvious. The great thing about the CBR250R is each fairing piece is only like 10$ online so it's not a huge deal if it does get scratched up. Perfect learner bike and actually might work pretty well as a full time commuter down the line too.

I would love to hit a track day in this thing. Just picked up twist of the wrist 2 and when he talks about double apex turns and perfecting your line it just makes me want to get it to a track.

I'll keep my eye out for demo rides. I know Ducati was doing one for the 848 streetfighter but it was street test drives and I was a little intimated about taking that out for a spin, a little higher tax bracket then the 250

[delsol97]

Originally Posted by old greg

It's apples and oranges, but if you like oranges go for it. Don't bother with a brand new 250, buy used. And with the Kawasakis there's nothing about the newer version that makes it any better than the old ones. And with the old ones, they've been unchanged since forever ago. Pick up an early/mid 2000's ex250 for ~$2K, ride it for a year and sell it for exactly as much as you paid for it. By then you'll know if motorcycling is right for you, and you won't be flushing away any money on depreciation either way.

I beg to differ, the current 250s at least look modern. The ex250s are out of the late 80s.

Night and day difference for a little more money

[delsol97]

To the original poster, even a slow bike is more fun than the fastest of cars for a lot less money...

You'll understand once you start to ride.

[vividracing]

Originally Posted by powertrip

Bikes are fun. But you WILL go down. Buy used and wear gear. I ended up giving up riding after a friend was critically injured and wont go back. But they are really fun while I rode for ~3 years.

I just had my 1st actual accident a few weeks ago. I've also dropped 2 bikes. One when I was like 11, and another when I was like 16. I haven't dropped either of mine though lol.

-Don't get a 600cc supersport for your 1st bike. Start with a 250 Ninja or CBR if you want supersport looks. The resale value on those bikes is great. The SV650 is an awesome bike too. Or if you're into older bikes, you can get a bigger engine. My '79 XS650 is plenty fast for me, but not nearly as fast as my friends 09 CBR600RR.

-Always wear your gear. I was wearing a t-shirt when I went down and got really lucky that I didn't get tore up. I just lost a thumb-size chunk of tissue from my elbow (about as deep as the thumb, too)

I would NOT recommend a bike as your only transportation. I literally did not buy a full gallon of milk, water, tea, etc for about a year because I couldn't carry that much on my bike. I had to go grocery shopping every day. I had to pretty much give up photography as a hobby. In the summer, I sweat everywhere I went. In the winter, I froze. But, my commutes were fun. Every day. Even when people in cars almost killed me and I was sweating in 115* weather, I had fun.

[mechaghost]

Always buy your first bike used so you don't cry over the scratches when you lay your bike down. Plus you really don't know what you want in a bike until you start riding it for at least 1 season.

Oh and always wear proper gear!

[RRnold]

A.T.G.A.T.T!

[vividracing]

Originally Posted by mechaghost

Always buy your first bike used so you don't cry over the scratches when you lay your bike down. Plus you really don't know what you want in a bike until you start riding it for at least 1 season.

Oh and always wear proper gear!

After my accident, I put my bike in the garage and haven't been in there since. My poor baby... Between a friend and I, we probably had 150 hours into that thing. He did a lot of the work, but it's still heart breaking.

Here's some crappy cell phone pics of my scoots. The 1st shot is a photo of the one day when both were running AND ride-able @ the same time... We did have to stop for a road-side repair though. Rotor cover came off lol.



And in the White Spars here in AZ. Mines the one with the gallon of oil strapped to it... My bike had way less power than any of the other guys', but I was the 1st one up (and down) the mountain. Sounds like a certain car we all know...



-Matt C

[hyper4mance]

sweet rides vivid, sorry to hear about the accident.

OP: Good choice in taking MSF. I know so many people who haven't taken it nor tool around with insurance... mind boggling why they cant spend $500 and just be smart about it. Me personally, I started on the same bike I have currently '07 600RR and I stayed within my means when learning. It is so true what they say when you graduate from MSF... "You only have a license to learn how to ride." Just be smart and safe - stay within what you can handle. Always assume people don't see you, because I've gotten cut off sooooooo many times before. If you want to go stupid fast and have tons of fun, take it to the track! I'm still painting my race fairings and hopefully I'll get a cooler day in the fall.

[vividracing]

Originally Posted by hyper4mance

sweet rides vivid, sorry to hear about the accident.

OP: Good choice in taking MSF. I know so many people who haven't taken it nor tool around with insurance... mind boggling why they cant spend $500 and just be smart about it. Me personally, I started on the same bike I have currently '07 600RR and I stayed within my means when learning. It is so true what they say when you graduate from MSF... "You only have a license to learn how to ride." Just be smart and safe - stay within what you can handle. Always assume people don't see you, because I've gotten cut off sooooooo many times before. If you want to go stupid fast and have tons of fun, take it to the track! I'm still painting my race fairings and hopefully I'll get a cooler day in the fall.

Thanks! I never did the MSF courses, but I've been on 2 wheels since I was 11 yrs old and my recent accident was my 1st one. Not bad imo. For new riders, the MSF is great. +1 on assuming every can't see you. I go one step further and ride like everyone on the road is actively trying to murder me.

On the subject of drivers trying to kill you... Don't get angry when someone almost hits you and get aggressive with them. People WILL use their car as a weapon. I haven't had this happen to me personally, and I attribute it to the fact that I know when to pick my battles and the fact that I usually open-carry a handgun but I've had friends tell me about how they confronted a driver that cut them off/pulled in front of them/flicked a cigarette in their face/whatever and that person tried to hit them with their car. I've only confronted 1 person for almost hitting me, and it was because he was already trying to use the size of his Durango to push me into the median so he could get into my lane. I was in right next to his open drivers window, and I know he saw me. I confronted him at a red light once we were both stopped and he tried to fight me, so I rode off. I don't need to get an assault charge because some moron thinks he's a tough guy. The best part was that most cars around us were yelling at him to get back in his car, calling him names, and a bunch of cars even blocked him from making his turn once the light went green. I rode away laughing.

[GenkiElite]

I want to see the pic about 4 seconds after this of them sliding off into oblivion. Look that front wheel!

Originally Posted by RRnold

[ultramarinefrs]

Originally Posted by GenkiElite

I want to see the pic about 4 seconds after this of them sliding off into oblivion. Look that front wheel!

My guess on this one is that he eased up on the throttle, regained traction and ended up as a high-side. Bikes are a blast! I have a 05 CBR 600RR and a 99 CBR 600 F4, both my wife and I ride. In my opinion track days should be a mandatory requirement to maintain your licence. The amount of experience you gain in one day is HUGE! I made my wife go on the track 2 weeks after getting on the bike for the first time, as a result she can keep up with the best street riders. To anyone who has a bike and hasn't taken it on the track yet; please do yourself a favor, you will thank me for it.

I already scheduled my FRS to go on the track July 30 for the same reason.

[Dadhawk]

Originally Posted by GenkiElite

I want to see the pic about 4 seconds after this of them sliding off into oblivion. Look that front wheel!

Yea, also neither of them are dressed properly for regular riding, never mind doing aggressive riding like is pictured here. Guy in front, nobody to blame but himself. I feel sorry for his passenger, who probably didn't know better.