Motorcycles

bubbleboys said:

True, but a squid on a 250 is less likely to kill themselves and/or someone else than if they were on a gsxr, cbr, zx6r, r6, etc.
Just off the top of my head, you pretty much eliminate the following accidents by starting a squid or new rider on a 250
- endo
- anything other than a very deliberate clutch wheelie, which even requires you to bounce the front end (without a sprocket kit, don't know how easily 250s with a different sprocket wheelie)
- significantly less likely to die by being ham-fisted
A 250 gives some of those squids a chance to grow out of their squidly ways; not all will make it, but those who don't were going to kill themselves doing something dangerous anyways.
That's a nice classic bike.
For a bike that old with 500cc, I really wouldn't be all that worried.
Talking out of ******, today's Ninja250 is probably about as powerful as that '74 honda cb550 given performance improvements over time, etc.
My only concern is there is a very likely chance you're going to drop the bike at least once in your first year of riding.
I imagine spare parts will be hard to find.

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Steve Smith said:

That is the bad thing about being in front at a light, no place to go when someone is charging up on you from behind. In that situation I stop about 10 feet short of the line so I have a little room to maneuver. With cars ahead of me, I am 10 feet behind the car, pointing toward a gap between cars, bike in first gear, both hands on the bars, right foot on brake, eyes in mirrors waiting for the car coming from behind. You can relax a little once that car approaches and stops.
Not addressing you, gnatty8, but if any of you newbs don't understand why I do all that stuff then you need to take a class and give some serious thought to what is going on out in the street.

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hrb said:

Ebay. Is that 250 on a 6volt system? You should be fine on an older 500.

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A lot of this stuff isn't stuff you could learn in a class anyways though; I can't think of a single class that would teach you all of these little tips.
For you new riders, here's a good link for similar street tips
http://www.kawiforums.com/newbie-corner/170695-advanced-tips-street-riding-minor-things.html

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bubbleboys said:

Nice to see a street rider who actually takes the saying "ride like everyone's out to get you" to heart.
My only difference is that I don't keep 10 feet behind the car, more like half a car length.
A lot of this stuff isn't stuff you could learn in a class anyways though; I can't think of a single class that would teach you all of these little tips.
For you new riders, here's a good link for similar street tips
http://www.kawiforums.com/newbie-corner/170695-advanced-tips-street-riding-minor-things.html
Like I said, I'm a lot more active on motorcycle forums and that's a thread I "moderate".
Nope, it's on a regular 12V system just like every other bike I've come across.

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hrb said:

the 1980 and all prior CB125, 100, 175 etc. run on a 6v system (colossal pain in the pass).

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Steve Smith said:

What do the newer ones offer, a few more horses and a little less weight? Why would anyone care?

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Steve Smith said:

What do the newer ones offer, a few more horses and a little less weight? Why would anyone care?

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akatsuki said:

But if they want $15K or so and the new ones start at like $17.9K, why wouldn't you just spring for the extra and get the new one?

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bubbleboys said:

For most people, they just want the newest Ducati
For the track, however, the new 1199 apparently has a lot of new improvements.
Don't ask me what they are. I only know that the new 1199s apparently don't have a frame as in, everything just hangs off the engine or something like that.
Interesting concept
My buddy is trading in his 1198 for the new 1199 which hasn't come in yet.

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Steve Smith said:

Most people do want the newest, because they allow modern marketing to condition them to want it. Then they buy the newest and rationalize the purchase by talking about the newest whiz-bang technology and the fact that Motorcycle Pimp Monthly Magazine says it is a huge improvement over last years model.
Don't take me wrong, I am not attacking you, but "for the track"....it doesn't matter. Ride the bike you have to the best of your abilities and have fun. NOBODY cares whether you have the new Ducati which in the hands of an expert rider is .5 seconds faster than the old one. There are plenty of guys riding new high-displacement Ducatis and Aprilias on track days getting their asses smoked by 1 cylinder Yamahas.

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Steve Smith said:

If that is the choice then I would buy the new one.
But I don't care about new bikes. As an example, about 1 month ago I saw a couple of Ducati Multistradas available on Craigslist for $4500 and $4900. One in GA and the other in Charlottesville, VA. Both were clean bikes with reasonable miles. MSRP on a new one is about $17,000. A good used bike is a no brainer for me. I have ridden new bikes and I have ridden older ones. IMO the older ones are as much fun.

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akatsuki said:

Having owned a new MTS1200 - it is night and day different from the older one.

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