[SafetyFirst]

Sounds like you got nickled and dimed on the same stuff I did, minus the too slow in to the corner one (I blasted through it like a road-runner.)

Time for a bike? Just wait till you get on the first bike of your own. Compared to the bikes in BRC, you’re going to love it.

[SafetyFirst]

Take a look at ’em in person.

What the owner says to you will tell you more than the advert.

You might try saving a few more bills so you can have more 250s to choose from, if price was the thing. Keep in mind, a lot of guys with 250’s are looking to move up to a bigger bike, and will try to get as much if not more than they paid for it from the listing.

[SafetyFirst]

I thought the big deal with the SV650 is how some years you can drop in GSX-R suspensions? Best of both worlds… sort of.

[SafetyFirst]

That’s like the first thing I did after I got the bike back up, see if anyone saw.

That baby Ninja is pretty light, but when it starts to drop, it gets exponentially heavier by the nano-second. You guys probably know what I mean.

[SafetyFirst]

Everyone has such a hard time with finding neutral in BRC. Don’t sweat it. Second tme around in BRC, I just would stop, use the engine kill switch and leave it in gear, when lining up. You can actually find neutral easier with the engine killed. Better to have the engine off so the RiderCoach can talk, and fumble with finding neutral while being quiet. Or you could just leave it in gear, but expect the RiderCoach to give you a mean look when they start your bike for the demo.

I know what you mean about the slow pokes. That’s kinda the bad thing with BRC. I think some folks haven’t quite gotten as far ahead as others, but too bad, time to move on in the lessons.

[SafetyFirst]

Also, I hear what you say about riding when you’re not at 100%. Last night I didn’t ride to work, because I knew my mind was going to be spent from work because of the tasks at hand. I drove home. I honestly was so tired (doing overnight) and stressed out still, I made a mistake that could have been a complete failure on a bike.

I was zipping along on my way home, and notice there’s cars stopped in the two lanes around the lane I was in. I slow down a little, mainly because I was worried one of them might try and change lanes without looking. Then it hits the mind when the mind clicks… oh, that’s a red light, and oh, that’s why those cars were stopped. Brake like mad.

It scared me shitless. I’m usually so careful riding my bike or my car, I couldn’t believe I made such a stupid mistake. It’s all about your state of mind. Keep it fresh when you’re riding.

[SafetyFirst]

Damn, bro.

It could have been me in that situation on the road. Coulda been me so many different times when stuff started getting sketchy.

Who knows, it could happen tomorrow to me for all I know.

I think of riding kinda like playing football. You might think that you’re not going to get tackled in the locker room, gearing up, but when it happens, you’re going to want the gear on. It’s not a matter of if or when over a period of time. Every football player is going to get tackled at least once, every biker is going to go down at least once. It’s just part of the game. Wear the gear.

A week or so ago, I printed out “LOOK DOWN, GO DOWN.” with the electronic labeler and put it on my handlebar under the ignition switch. That was every time I start that bike, I have to see it, so I can’t forget.

[SafetyFirst]

I’m saying, let’s say I’m making a turn from a stop at a light. Doing the friction zone stuff, easing into the turn, then all of a sudden my hand slips while I’m letting out and I go from some clutch to no clutch, full power to the wheel. Oops.

[SafetyFirst]

Quoth the Mighty Book of the Ninja 250 FAQ:

“
It is the general feeling of most members of this club that if you’re looking for more power, you’re on the wrong bike. That said, here’s what you can do: How much HP do you want?

* 1-5 : Exhaust pipe, intake and jet kit
* 3-8 : Porting, compression increase, cams
* 20+ : trade the Ninja 250 for a bigger bike.
“
Ooh, 1 more HP?!? (looks at Dynojet PDF) Almost worth the trouble.

[SafetyFirst]

I worry that it will change my speed. I already had the 250 up to borderline wreckless op speed on the highway for a brief period of time. Luckily, good sense, and the sluggish response even in the powerband told me to stop. What happens if curiosity kills the cat on a I4? Or at best, leaves the cat walking to work everyday because there’s only an state ID card in the wallet after a meeting with a LEO?

I figure I’d wait before moving to a 600 I4 so I have the skills engrained enough by then that trackdays could be a possibility to answer the age old question of “gee, I wonder how fast my new bike can go?”

[SafetyFirst]

When you know exactly how many groceries will fit in your backpack or tailbag, and that a bag of chips will fit just fine under your jacket on the ride home from the store.

[SafetyFirst]

I’ll start with what the Ninja 250 FAQ guys said about the stock tires:

“Dunlop K630

Sizes: 130/80-16 rear; 100/80-16 front

Loudboys: I don’t know what kind of situation the OE tires are designed for, but it sure isn’t regular street riding. They don’t handle predictably, they don’t stick very well, and they don’t last very long. The stock tires are fairly unforgiving compared to most of the good replacement options. Once they’re unstuck they tend to stay that way.

Ian: Dunlop K630’s are pieces of crap, and you’re doing yourself a huge dis-service by riding on them. “

Once I had the Sport Daemons mounted at the bike shop, it inevitably rained while I was waiting in the showroom. Even with new slick tires and rain-covered roads, I still felt like I had more traction than those Dunlaps had dry.

[SafetyFirst]

Sayeth the Kawasaki EX250F17 MOM, page 101-2:
“The maximum recommended load in addition to vehicle weight is 155 kg (342 lb), including rider, passenger, baggage, and accessories.”

page 19:
“Maximum Load
Weight of rider, passenger, baggage, and accessories must not exceed 155 kg (342 lb).”

[SafetyFirst]

45-50ish for a Ninja 250 on highway with me riding in the powerband the whole way.

[SafetyFirst]

Could you add the CBR125R for those in Canada and Europe.

Also, why aren’t you showing any love for the Aprillia RS125? I’d take it the same would go for the RS-50?

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