CBR250, Ninja 300, CBR500 - help a guy out

[chukzelda]

Hey guys,

After never owning one, I'm thinking seriously about getting one of the smaller displacement sport bikes. I like the idea of riding a smaller displacement bike and pushing myself to get the most out of it.

Major concerns is comfort. I'm 6' and 180lbs, mid-age and my lower back can flare up occasion. Major use will be daily commute round trip of 30 miles but I'd like to take it on an extended trip in June.

What should I be looking at?

CBR250r?
Ninja 300?
CBR500?

Am I barking up the wrong tree? Help??

peace,
Chuk

[Jimmy the Heater]

I don't think you are barking up the wrong tree. I'm 6' 170 and I love this class of bike. I was seriously cross shopping these up until a few weeks ago.

Here are my thoughts on them.

CBR250-For me it is a bike of almosts. Almost enough power, almost big enough, almost comfortable enough, almost right. The only thing I liked without reservation was its light weight. I could mod the hell out of it and still not be at the power level the Ninja 300 is stock. Still if you want a sport bike thumper, this is your best bet.

CBR500-I really REALLY wanted this to be my next bike. The ergos are the exact same as my beloved Ninja 250 and everything looked great on paper. And maybe I had too high an expectation but I sat on it and it did absolutely nothing for me. Didn't even want to test ride it at that point. Very very strange and I still can't explain it.

Ninja 300-I have a 04 Ninja 250 and this felt like it's buff older brother. Slightly more aggressive seating position, light weight, rev happy engine, much more midrange than I was expecting and very very flickable. The only things I didn't like was the fairing panel fit and the seat isn't very good. Other than that it was wonderful and would have been my next bike.

However the Kawi dealer and I could not come to agreement on my trade and I walked. Another dealer was much better to work with and I ended up with a GSX650F. A great bike but still heavier than I was looking for. I will continue to pine for a Ninja 300 until one of those is in the garage.

[Gryphon12]

Add the NC700X, then ride them all and see what works for you.

I have a touchy lower back and actually prefer a slight forward lean (EX300R or CB500R). Others want a fully upright position, which puts way too much vertical load on MY back. Also, peg height governs knee bend. You can always change the seat and bars, but it is nice to get close with the right bike. All of these will do what you want. Others will add better suspension components and more power, but these have the basics covered.

[scooterspirit]

Ninja 300- Who wouldn't want one? Gotta have it, just don't care, looks fast- ticket city.

CBR500- More distance, more money, more gas, more cushy seat.

CBR250- Best mileage for least money, corners good, looks like a scooter

[dankatz]

All slightly different and have different strengths. For city commuting, I suspect the CBR250 would be king being light and making torque down lower. The Ninja is definitely sportier, but still is comfortable enough in its riding position. The CBR to me seems like a winner - a modern Ninja 500. I had a Ninja 500 and was a great bike that was average in everything or below, but had a sense of old school goodness about it. Comfortable, economical, and could still easily outrun most cars.

Consider a slightly used SV650 - I think the motor alone in those is worth it over the other bikes.

[Navin]

The 300 manages to make incredible low and midrange power. Top end suffers compared to the screamers that preceded it, but a $250 tuner fixes that. I doubt the 500 will have the light feel of the 250/300, but the 300 just walks all over the CBR250 while still feeling like a small bore bike.

It isn't near perfect, super cheaply built, but IMO the CBR250 could have been built in the same factory, similarities are everywhere. If you want the light feel that the Ninja 250 made famous, but with far more acceleration and better top cruise speeds that are much higher than any U.S. roads require, there is only one choice.

[larryboy]

Originally Posted by chukzelda

Hey guys,

After never owning one, I'm thinking seriously about getting one of the smaller displacement sport bikes. I like the idea of riding a smaller displacement bike and pushing myself to get the most out of it.

Major concerns is comfort. I'm 6' and 180lbs, mid-age and my lower back can flare up occasion. Major use will be daily commute round trip of 30 miles but I'd like to take it on an extended trip in June.

What should I be looking at?

CBR250r?
Ninja 300?
CBR500?

Am I barking up the wrong tree? Help??

peace,
Chuk

I just tried the CBR250R for 23,000 miles, it sucked, almost every single minute.

I'm 6'1", 220 in gear.

It was an experiement for fuel mileage, Honda says 77 mpg...YMMV of course and vary it did, normal commuting was in the 48-51 mpg range, worst of 46 mpg, best of 68 mpg going very slow.

A full sized human needs about 75 HP on a bike for real world road use which includes an occasional extended trip.

Major concern is comfort? Wrong class of bike. After a Rick Mayer seat, Madstad windshield and some real handlebars I got the 250 into the barely comfortable range.

You need at least a 650 to be comfortable at our size.

[Toto]

I am going out on a limb here...but you might want to consider a VStrom 650.
Not quite a sport bike and a little bigger displacement.
I have a bum back and before I got my CBF1000 I had a 2008 ABS Wee.
Nice plush ride, lots of room, me 6'2".
I regularly rode the twisties with two buds that had VFR800's and had no problem keeping up with them unless they really opened them up on the straights.
Nice ride, great handling and reliable.
The only reason I got rid of it was a steal of a deal Honda had on their new old stock CBFs.
A GREAT all rounder and surprisingly sporty for an "adventure bike".
This is a diversion of your post, but you might be surprized at it's presentation.

[Navin]

Originally Posted by larryboy

I just tried the CBR250R for 23,000 miles, it sucked, almost every single minute.

I'm 6'1", 220 in gear.

It was an experiement for fuel mileage, Honda says 77 mpg...YMMV of course and vary it did, normal commuting was in the 48-51 mpg range, worst of 46 mpg, best of 68 mpg going very slow.

A full sized human needs about 75 HP on a bike for real world road use which includes an occasional extended trip.

Major concern is comfort? Wrong class of bike. After a Rick Mayer seat, Madstad windshield and some real handlebars I got the 250 into the barely comfortable range.

You need at least a 650 to be comfortable at our size.

I disagree, at 6-01 and 210, 39 crank HP is the minimum for everything, and a bit over 40 at the wheel is plenty! I added SV Racing rear sets to my 300 and the Renazco +1" seat arrives this week. I'm getting from 55-63 MPG and that is mostly romping on it on mountain roads. I think the 250s, both Honda and Kawi, are just missing the power mark by too much and suffer in every category, including MPG for regular riders.


I've been up and down the range, from 7 HP to 155. Anything over 50 was a waste IMO. Even my stupid lil EX500 had to be short shifted and ridden with restraint. It needed a wider ratio gear box to pull a passenger AND run lower RPMs on the highway. I ran a -1 CS on it for better grunt. The 300 has a +1 CS and could easily go taller, even for 2 up.

I can't wring the 300s neck at ever gear either, 72 MPH in 3rd, 88 MPH in 4th at redline.

1st=37 MPH
2nd=57
3rd=72
4th=88
5th and 6th will clear 100.

[Grainbelt]

The CB500X (yes, with the stupid beak) may be the most comfortable for you.

I sat on the CB500F, R, and X models at the show and my 5'11" 33" inseam frame preferred the rider triangle on the F. The seat-to-peg distance seemed similar on the X but definitely more upright in the bar positioning.




The F model made the most sense to me - simple, clean, naked, cheap(est) of the three. Just like the GS500 that was my first bike way back when.

[Navin]

That naked 300 might be a choice too, real handlebars!!!

[LuciferMutt]

Originally Posted by larryboy

I just tried the CBR250R for 23,000 miles, it sucked, almost every single minute.

I'm 6'1", 220 in gear.

It was an experiement for fuel mileage, Honda says 77 mpg...YMMV of course and vary it did, normal commuting was in the 48-51 mpg range, worst of 46 mpg, best of 68 mpg going very slow.

A full sized human needs about 75 HP on a bike for real world road use which includes an occasional extended trip.

Major concern is comfort? Wrong class of bike. After a Rick Mayer seat, Madstad windshield and some real handlebars I got the 250 into the barely comfortable range.

You need at least a 650 to be comfortable at our size.

Your definition of comfortable is not somebody else's. Not everyone needs to ride a Goldwing to be comfy.

Funny how the OP makes a thread about liking SMALL displacement motorcycles, and some people are suggesting a fucking V-strom? Those things are fucking huge and heavy, even the 650 variety.

[Toto]

Originally Posted by LuciferMutt

Your definition of comfortable is not somebody else's. Not everyone needs to ride a Goldwing to be comfy.

Funny how the OP makes a thread about liking SMALL displacement motorcycles, and some people are suggesting a fucking V-strom? Those things are fucking huge and heavy, even the 650 variety.

Well, it IS a bit bigger displacement at 650cc.
As far as being huge and heavy, well, the guy is 6 feet tall and 180 lbs.
I am 6'2'' 220 and older, retired.
As long as you are not vertically challenged or a real lightweight, the Wee is a breeze to ride, with lots of room and one of the nicest mid displacement engines available.
If you find the Wee "fucking huge and heavy" maybe you should stick with a Ruckus.

[chukzelda]

Hi all,

I really appreciate all the feedback. I did go and sit on a CBR205r, CBR500r and a Ninja 300. In just sitting on the bikes (which is no substitute for a test ride), I liked the CBR500 best, followed by the Ninja 300. I didn't take it for a test ride as the dealership guy was making not so cool comments about Harley's (not knowing I just rode up on one). Weird place...

Any feedback on the Hyosung line? I see Hyosung has a 250 and 650 line.

peace,
Chuk

[kraven]

Out of these choices, I'd have to pick the CBR500. But, I live in the mountains and have the choice of either a torquey bike or one I have to constantly row the gears back and forth on just to stay at speed.

I haven't ridden the 500's yet though. So, mahna mahna.

I have ridden the 250 and 300. I felt like an ape on them.