How (and why) to Ramble on your goat sideways
07-05-2010, 03:51 PM
#841
Boost Pope
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You don't want the 250R.
Now, don't get me wrong. My favorite motorcycle of all time is still my first bike, the humble CB250 Nighthawk. It was the VW Beetle of motorcycles- simple, cheap, reliable, unpretentious. So I've got nothing against 250s in general. There's just something terribly unsettling to me about the noise that the 250R makes with that anemic little powerplant spinning at eleventy-billion RPM.
Now, don't get me wrong. My favorite motorcycle of all time is still my first bike, the humble CB250 Nighthawk. It was the VW Beetle of motorcycles- simple, cheap, reliable, unpretentious. So I've got nothing against 250s in general. There's just something terribly unsettling to me about the noise that the 250R makes with that anemic little powerplant spinning at eleventy-billion RPM.
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07-05-2010, 06:07 PM
#843
I went the AT&T store and played around with the Rugby2. I think i'll be very happy with it.
Looks brand new! Next step is going just what you said, take it apart and check it for faults.
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07-05-2010, 06:20 PM
#844
Yesterday I was buying oil for my 6speed swap and an odd guy approached the racks of oil bottles. He shuffled over looking leery of me and bumped into the end of an aisle due to his staring at me.
As I browsed the selection he followed along looking over what I had just viewed and eventually asked "Um.. can I ask you a question......can you mix synthetic and regular oil? My car is leaking oil and I don't want to spend lots of money on oil that will spill out.".
I was greasy from working on the car and in black shorts and a black t-shirt, not even close to the uniform of the store but thought I'd pass some quick advice. I answered, "Yeah that's fine it won't hurt anything. Look they even sell synthetic blend oil right here." He questioned further on the topic and was eventually satisfied that the mix would be fine. All the while he came across like he was on crack, excessively skittish, jerky movements and wouldn't look directly at me.
A minute later he asked "It's 10W-30 this time of year right?". I answered, "Well that depends on your car, most pre-00 cars would be fine with 10W-30 right now. What make and year is your car?"
He looked up from the floor and got an excited look on his face. "It's a '95 Porsche!", he was beaming. "It's the 968 model that's the hybrid of a 928 and a 944. I just got it and the guy said there were a couple little issues but I'm taking it in to get looked at."
"Well that sounds like a good idea, hopefully it's nothing major I hear Porsche parts are pricey.", I commented.
He shrugged and said, "I don't think they would be anymore than any other foreign car."
I didn't choose to respond and since I had my oil I said, "Good luck with it, I gotta get going." and I left.
The above guy appeared to be about 45 and did not appear wealthy, he was basically wearing garage / lawn cutting clothes.
That's all folks.
As I browsed the selection he followed along looking over what I had just viewed and eventually asked "Um.. can I ask you a question......can you mix synthetic and regular oil? My car is leaking oil and I don't want to spend lots of money on oil that will spill out.".
I was greasy from working on the car and in black shorts and a black t-shirt, not even close to the uniform of the store but thought I'd pass some quick advice. I answered, "Yeah that's fine it won't hurt anything. Look they even sell synthetic blend oil right here." He questioned further on the topic and was eventually satisfied that the mix would be fine. All the while he came across like he was on crack, excessively skittish, jerky movements and wouldn't look directly at me.
A minute later he asked "It's 10W-30 this time of year right?". I answered, "Well that depends on your car, most pre-00 cars would be fine with 10W-30 right now. What make and year is your car?"
He looked up from the floor and got an excited look on his face. "It's a '95 Porsche!", he was beaming. "It's the 968 model that's the hybrid of a 928 and a 944. I just got it and the guy said there were a couple little issues but I'm taking it in to get looked at."
"Well that sounds like a good idea, hopefully it's nothing major I hear Porsche parts are pricey.", I commented.
He shrugged and said, "I don't think they would be anymore than any other foreign car."
I didn't choose to respond and since I had my oil I said, "Good luck with it, I gotta get going." and I left.
The above guy appeared to be about 45 and did not appear wealthy, he was basically wearing garage / lawn cutting clothes.
That's all folks.
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07-05-2010, 10:59 PM
#848
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Funds are directly going to getting a nice stock daily driver, but Im not going to sell the miata.
I want to turbo it again, but not the same route, going the BEGi route was never the way I wanted to do it to begin with but I didnt have a choise since its my daily. When/If I do it again itll be with a T3, external WG, 3" DP, and bigger IC.
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07-06-2010, 12:19 AM
#851
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Location: Birmingham Alabama
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You don't want the 250R.
Now, don't get me wrong. My favorite motorcycle of all time is still my first bike, the humble CB250 Nighthawk. It was the VW Beetle of motorcycles- simple, cheap, reliable, unpretentious. So I've got nothing against 250s in general. There's just something terribly unsettling to me about the noise that the 250R makes with that anemic little powerplant spinning at eleventy-billion RPM.
Now, don't get me wrong. My favorite motorcycle of all time is still my first bike, the humble CB250 Nighthawk. It was the VW Beetle of motorcycles- simple, cheap, reliable, unpretentious. So I've got nothing against 250s in general. There's just something terribly unsettling to me about the noise that the 250R makes with that anemic little powerplant spinning at eleventy-billion RPM.
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07-06-2010, 02:11 AM
#853
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Really though, I am kind of leaning towards something a bit on the higher displacement scale.
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07-07-2010, 06:45 PM
#855
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SV650 is both well out of my price range, and for me, a bit too much bike. The 250R is more like a dual sport bike in sport bike clothes, if that makes any sense. I can get a 2008 model 250R from the dealer for $3500. I also like having a new or almost new bike, prefer not to go older than 2 years, or 10k miles.
On second though, I am finding them used for $3500-$4000, for '05 and '06 models. I might could swing that. I have been eyeballing the SV650's, but never looked into the prices. I figured they were going for more. Surprised the bike is bigger in size and displacement, yet the dry weight is still the same as the 250R.
On second though, I am finding them used for $3500-$4000, for '05 and '06 models. I might could swing that. I have been eyeballing the SV650's, but never looked into the prices. I figured they were going for more. Surprised the bike is bigger in size and displacement, yet the dry weight is still the same as the 250R.
SVs are the Miatas of the bike world. Good in stock form, even better with mods, easy to find cheap used ones, cheap used parts, lots of aftermarket stuff available, good for track days as-is and even racing with good tires and some suspension tweaks, comparatively underpowered but still fast in the right hands.
You can still kill yourself on an SV. But it is not a radically fast bike.
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07-07-2010, 07:55 PM
#856
NO...do not buy a 250. I used to suggest this, but after my brother took my advice, I don't do it anymore. He learned to ride very well, but could have done so just as easily on the 500R I was on at the time (talk about an ugly bike). He also got his money back, but was selling inside of 6 months.
It's all about the powerband. The Suzuki and Kawasaki 500s both make decent enough power to keep you entertained for a few seasons, but won't get you into trouble when you make a newb mistake like sneezing inside of your helmet mid turn and blipping the throttle. It's really easy to push the envelope on these bikes, and they can be had cheap.
The 650cc TWINS by the same two brands are also pretty docile, but both make another 30% more power. They however have more modern chassis, brakes and suspension, as well as engine management, while still being just as bulletproof and easy to work on. These will keep you happy for years, possibly your whole career (until you borrow a litermonster), with just a little respect at the beginning. They are also comfortable enough to pay attention to riding posture without being bent over the tank and developing bad habits. Keep your elbows bent, keep your elbows bent....hard to do when you are reaching a full yard out to the clip-ons on a supersport.
It's all about the powerband. The Suzuki and Kawasaki 500s both make decent enough power to keep you entertained for a few seasons, but won't get you into trouble when you make a newb mistake like sneezing inside of your helmet mid turn and blipping the throttle. It's really easy to push the envelope on these bikes, and they can be had cheap.
The 650cc TWINS by the same two brands are also pretty docile, but both make another 30% more power. They however have more modern chassis, brakes and suspension, as well as engine management, while still being just as bulletproof and easy to work on. These will keep you happy for years, possibly your whole career (until you borrow a litermonster), with just a little respect at the beginning. They are also comfortable enough to pay attention to riding posture without being bent over the tank and developing bad habits. Keep your elbows bent, keep your elbows bent....hard to do when you are reaching a full yard out to the clip-ons on a supersport.
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