Author Topic: From 1200 to 250, fun times  (Read 6691 times)

clearcan

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From 1200 to 250, fun times
« on: June 08, 2015, 08:12:58 PM »
My sister and brother in law just took the motorcycle safety course and have purchased a couple of 250 Hondas. So I went down to them to give my sister some parking lot drills and to check out their bikes.

Let me tell you, I rode my sister's CBR 250R to get a feel for the throttle and where it could actually power through an early shift etc, and it was awesome. Going from a larger bike like my Norge down to that thing was great. I had a smile on my face the whole time as it was so nimble. All I could think of it was so small yet a blast to ride.

Just one of those days where I am so happy that I got into riding. And the bonus for today was the Norge passed inspection for another year!

Keep it rubber side down, Rob

oldbike54

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #1 on: June 08, 2015, 08:20:23 PM »
 Kewl . Yeah , modern 250s are amazing .

  Dusty

Penderic

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #2 on: June 08, 2015, 08:37:36 PM »
Sounds like a fun experience! I'd like to try a tiddler race sometime.

 :bike-037:

Offline Yukonica

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #3 on: June 08, 2015, 09:09:36 PM »
Penderic, is there one rider in that photo who is wearing safety gear that would pass inspection?
Deck shoes, no gloves, open face,... maybe plate holder #1. And his gear possibly weighs more than the bike!
Tiddler racing would be so much fun. 50cc in the 60's and early 70's was a serious class.
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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #3 on: June 08, 2015, 09:09:36 PM »

Penderic

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #4 on: June 09, 2015, 01:50:04 AM »
You could be right! The guy in front in white sneakers?

Hmm, he is the only one pedaling a moped though. It is much easier to pedal in those light weight shoes than stiff boots.

<50cc? Any hills would make it a big challenge! 250cc is more than plenty for fun racing.


Offline Sheepdog

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #5 on: June 09, 2015, 07:34:11 AM »
We've four running bikes in the stable, including a CBR250R. My friend, Jim is going to take it to a wedding in Central Texas next month. He just loves the thing (so do I...). It gets a little frenetic on the interstate, but is perfectly in it's element on state roads and U.S. highways. Hepco-Becker even makes detachable luggage for them!
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Offline Lannis

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #6 on: June 09, 2015, 07:42:48 AM »
You could be right! The guy in front in white sneakers?

Hmm, he is the only one pedaling a moped though. It is much easier to pedal in those light weight shoes than stiff boots.

<50cc? Any hills would make it a big challenge! 250cc is more than plenty for fun racing.

250cc is way more than plenty - I definitely would not put a 250cc race bike anywhere near the "tiddler" class.   Even the 125cc class on the Isle of Man is pushing far more speed than you or I could handle on a race course ....

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Offline Buckturgidson

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #7 on: June 09, 2015, 07:56:24 AM »
I enjoy my 30 hp SRX as much or more than any bike I have owned.
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Offline steven c

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #8 on: June 09, 2015, 08:07:19 AM »
 Yup spent some time yesterday stinking up the roads on my 72 kawasaki F7 175. All the bike you need on a twisty undulating narrow back road.
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Offline Dharma Bum

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #9 on: June 09, 2015, 01:03:14 PM »
I helped my daughter pick out a CBR250 last month.  Her first bike in 10 years.  It is an amazing little scoot and she's planning on riding to Datil with me later this summer! :grin:

Offline Guzzistajohn

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #10 on: June 09, 2015, 03:48:52 PM »
I'd really like to have a little butt bullet like that, but I'm afraid of the wrath of :thewife: she already gives me the what for about taking over our two car garage.
« Last Edit: June 09, 2015, 04:07:25 PM by Guzzistajohn »
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Offline Triple Jim

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #11 on: June 09, 2015, 03:55:45 PM »
As you probably know, I learned about little bikes a couple years ago, and am a huge fan.  I'm going to Virginia International Raceway later this month for a track day, riding my DT100 on the 5/8 mile go-kart track.  It's hard to imagine getting more fun and excitement for your money with a motor vehicle.

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oldbike54

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #12 on: June 09, 2015, 04:06:16 PM »
As you probably know, I learned about little bikes a couple years ago, and am a huge fan.  I'm going to Virginia International Raceway later this month for a track day, riding my DT100 on the 5/8 mile go-kart track.  It's hard to imagine getting more fun and excitement for your money with a motor vehicle.



 Jim , you had to be tilted a fair bit to dig in a footpeg . Anyone know where a 50 CC Derbi GP bike is ?

  Dusty

Offline Triple Jim

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #13 on: June 09, 2015, 04:22:47 PM »
Jim , you had to be tilted a fair bit to dig in a footpeg . Anyone know where a 50 CC Derbi GP bike is ?

I was, and the right peg stuck out too far and I knew it from a previous light scrape.  I just got caught up in the moment.  The peg will be 1-1/2" shorter for VIR.  At least I can sneeze now without my ribs making me yell.   

A search turns up a lot of 50cc Derbis, but most seem to be in the UK.  If you can find one locally, pick it up and meet me at VIR on the 21st.
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Offline Triple Jim

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #14 on: June 09, 2015, 04:47:01 PM »
That would be fun . Not sure any Derbies made it to the middle . There was a 125 Yamaha for sale locally , I thought , dang , something like Jim's 100 would be cool . If it had been purchased , I was gonna put 100 emblems on it and tell ya " Dang Jim , keep up" :grin: :grin:

One of my 2-stroke buddies put a YZ85 engine in his G3SS (Kawasaki 90).  I rode it, and that thing would leave both of our Yamahas in the dust.
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oldbike54

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #15 on: June 09, 2015, 04:59:28 PM »
One of my 2-stroke buddies put a YZ85 engine in his G3SS (Kawasaki 90).  I rode it, and that thing would leave both of our Yamahas in the dust.

 A local somehow stuffed a water cooled YZ 80 motor in to a YSR 50 , that thing would run WAY faster than was safe  :grin:

  Dusty

Offline Triple Jim

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #16 on: June 09, 2015, 05:02:23 PM »
A local somehow stuffed a water cooled YZ 80 motor in to a YSR 50 , that thing would run WAY faster than was safe  :grin:

Yes, it didn't take long for me to add a front disk brake to my 100.  After a few engine mods it'll do a solid 65.  More to come, of course.   :laugh:   I bet the "50" was a blast with the new engine.  That's exactly what you need to borrow for VIR.
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Offline Triple Jim

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #17 on: June 09, 2015, 05:44:28 PM »
You're only four years older than I am... go for it!    :wink:
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Offline Yukonica

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #18 on: June 13, 2015, 09:52:27 AM »
250cc is way more than plenty - I definitely would not put a 250cc race bike anywhere near the "tiddler" class.   Even the 125cc class on the Isle of Man is pushing far more speed than you or I could handle on a race course ....

Lannis

I am an unabashed fan of small displacement bikes... wish we could still have 2 strokes on the road. Loved my RZ.
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Offline Lannis

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #19 on: June 13, 2015, 10:42:48 AM »
I am an unabashed fan of small displacement bikes... wish we could still have 2 strokes on the road. Loved my RZ.

The Brits have got it all over us on nice small-displacement bikes.

We were riding together over there on a collection of 650s, 500s, a 750cc Guzzi, and other bikes.   The brother of one of the riders met us at a lay-by, and rode with us for 50 miles or so.   We were on motorways and A- and B-roads.   The way his bike was pulling, passing cars, cruising with us, and accelerating from 60 MPH up, I thought it was a special Euro-model 400 or 650 of some kind.   In fact it was a new 125cc water-cooled two stroke Yamaha dual-sport ....

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Offline Triple Jim

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #20 on: June 13, 2015, 11:09:31 AM »
I am an unabashed fan of small displacement bikes... wish we could still have 2 strokes on the road. Loved my RZ.

I have an H2 and a DT100 on the road, and know lots of guys with RDs and RZs.

Photos from the 2-stroke meet at Deals Gap, NC:





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Offline Shorty

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #21 on: June 13, 2015, 12:48:46 PM »




A couple small bikes on my radar.  I'd love a green frame Serow. I would probably swap my Sporty for a TU 250x.
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Offline Yukonica

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Re: From 1200 to 250, fun times
« Reply #22 on: June 14, 2015, 05:07:22 AM »
Triple Jim, when I was saying 'allowed on the road' I meant new out of the box. If I were going after a 30 year old 2 stroke I'd be saving my pennies for a Gamma. Still see them occasionally on eBay. There is a guy here in Whitehorse I ran across with a very nicely restored Suzuki GT750. Sure sounded nice as he left me and the stoplight in his dust.
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