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CBR250 (asking for owner's experience)

FYI, at freeway speeds you're not really saving gas with a 250.
 
mean dad said:
the low power of the bike.
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I really to like add to this; the DR 650( under 40 hp) right now fulfills 80% of my ideal perfect bike, is just that on the freeway is no fun when the vibs kick in at a higher rpm.I like it so much Im thinking about getting another one and setting up as a sumo.

OP, im not trying to talk you out of buying the cbr, but at least take the offer by the other barfer to test it out and see if it suites you.....
 
Mean Dad...

Maybe your way is the better way to ask the question instead of how i contrcuted it.

CBR250r owners: have you ever felt endangered or unsafe on the freeway due to the bike's engine size? Furthermore, when a moment of evasive action was needed on the freeway ~ did you ever feel endangered or limited in your ability to evade the freeway hazard AT THAT TIME?

As for my question. How I came up with the numbers were ~ i noticed that when my speedo said 80, i was being passed by the lot. When my speedo says 85 i am in sync with the other cars, maybe SLIGHTLY starting to pass (but moreso b/c they're starting to bunch up and i'm in the HOV).

So CBR250r owners ~ what say you to the newly worded question?

Richiro
 
I have owned and ridden a 250 Ninja for a couple of years now, and have commuted on it as a habit. In addition to the Ninja, I also own, ride, and commute on a DRZ400SM (another bike that supposedly has no business on the freeway). I recently borrowed a CBR250R for a week or so, and rode the snot out of it.
May I answer your question?

No, I have never felt endangered by the (perceived) lack of power. However, I have been riding for almost 30 years, so it may be more due to my riding habits and practices.

Honestly, I cannot think of a situation that would warrant an explosive blast of power to avoid an incident. Plenty of times I've wished for more power, but that's mostly me wanting to get around some douche that's going a bit too fast for the little moto to pass efficiently.
Just about any need for instant power can be mitigated by situational awareness and proper riding/commuting techniques.
I've ridden bikes of all sizes and displacements, from a tired out KZ400 to a stupid fast FZ1000 with nitrous, from a 2fiddy Ninja to a GSXR1100 built as a drag racer. Freeways are dangerous places for a motorcycle, but I have yet to be in a moto accident on one.

It really sounds like you're kinda set against the CBR, and are looking for confirmation. If this is the case, go with your gut. You're the only one that needs to be happy with your decision. If you're interested in getting one, but are concerned about freeway performance, don't be. It does just fine.
 
richiro said:
CBR250r owners: have you ever felt endangered or unsafe on the freeway due to the bike's engine size? Furthermore, when a moment of evasive action was needed on the freeway ~ did you ever feel endangered or limited in your ability to evade the freeway hazard AT THAT TIME?
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Hard question. My answer is - I did not really feel "endangered". I am not really in "accelerate out of danger" strategy on any bike. It's more about having general awareness of the road situation. CBR250R has enough power/brakes for it provided that you have a good judgement.
Having less power provides you less options for both doing good and bad things. If you have a good judgement and experience you will be able to deal with it on any bike.
Because of small power CBR250R will not let you do much stupidity on the freeway that you can do on bigger bike.
 
What's funny is that i want the CBR250r pretty bad and looking for justification to pull the trigger and get it!!!!
 
Mean Dad has some good points. I'd like to add that the bike I feel safest on while riding the freeways happens to be the least powerful of the bikes I own: The Yamaha Tmax. Safety seems more about an upright riding position and a sense of stability. I've heard that the CBR250R has both of these qualities... so go for it.
 
richiro said:
What's funny is that i want the CBR250r pretty bad and looking for justification to pull the trigger and get it!!!!
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Then stop asking us. :p The reasonable thing to do is keep your 650R and kit it out for commuting. If you want a 250R for no good reason, get it, and post pics for the admirers as a fait accompli.
 
Roadstergal said:
Then stop asking us. :p The reasonable thing to do is keep your 650R and kit it out for commuting. If you want a 250R for no good reason, get it, and post pics for the admirers as a fait accompli.
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So I'm new enough to not be so familiar with the "tricking out". Can you explain more the mods you were suggesting to make the 650r? I appreciate it as I'm real green on those kinds of things (beyond frame sliders, exhausts, bar-ends)....

It's true I have a fine bike for my use right now. It was sold to me cheap by a buddy I used to ride with that knew I wanted to get back into riding. I've always wanted a Honda though and in reading the 250 it just has a lot of appeal to me. I just wanted to make sure of that one last thing.

Any additional thoughts of course are definitely welcomed!

Thanks!
Richiro
 
A Givi rack lets you mount locking luggage to the bike, which lets you carry stuff in a slightly more secure fashion than soft luggage.

The 650R comes stock with springs that are way too stiff for a normal person in the forks, so if you switch out the springs to springs that are matched for your weight, the bike will be much more compliant and less jolting on real-world roads, which is both safer and more fun. Catalyst Reaction in Redwood City can hook you up.

Stainless brake lines and a good brake bleed give you better braking feel.

Those, IMO, are the must-dos on any budget bike meant for commuting. The one other thing I'd suggest for the 650 specifically is a different handlebar; I'm pretty small, and the stock bar still felt too cramped for me. A bar that was a little wider and lower made the bike so much more comfortable.

Then you get into optional things like trick adjustable levers and tank grip pads and exhausts and rearsets and the like. But first - if it was sold to you cheap, make sure the maintenance is up to date. The tires have enough tread and are somewhere in the vicinity of the right pressure, the oil's changed, the chain is adjusted and lubed, the sprockets aren't dead...

(They're pretty hardy bikes. I had a track 650R with over 14K miles that never let me down.)

This was my street 650R with Givi rack and aftermarket handlebars.

108.jpg
 
You already own the bike you're looking for.






Oh and please tell me where everyone is passing you while doing 80, apparently I'm working in the wrong spots :laughing
 
Not understanding why you won't just commute on your 650
 
yes.. i realize and have read that the japanese builders probably over-calibrate their speedos so you think you're going faster than you really are ~ granted. But tha'ts all i can go on so i have to use those numbers.

My commute involves 680/24 in contra costa. All I can go on is that my speedo says 80, i get passed by most the cars. 85 i'm pretty even with the cars.

Richiro
 
thansk mean dad.. and thanks for all your thoughts and sharing your experience with the cbr250. i appreciate all your help.

Richiro
 
so what I think I am reading is that you never really wanted a 650r, you just got it cuz it was a good deal from your buddy?

I mean, it's a good bike, and basically does everything you want, but if it's not what you're dreaming about, then I get where you're at.

put it up or sale, and then put the proceeds to what you want.
(what color cbr?)
 
mean dad said:
I don't think you'll regret the purchase.

Keep us updated!
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I think so too. If you know upfront what to expect on a freeway - you will not be disappointed with the rest of CBR250R - very nice little bike.:thumbup
 
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