YSR50!!!! Just sold mine a few weeks ago.

A 250 you could knee drag and have a hell of a good time on some twisty roads. I don't think I have ever heard an experienced rider have any bad things to say about 250's.

Excellent point. Non-riders don't understand just how fast most bikes are relative to most cars. Plenty of thrills to be had on a 250 Ninja.

Even the most pedestrian bikes are frequently the fastest thing (acceleration-wise, not necessarily top speed) on the road in any given area.

Of course the type of engine matters too, not just the displacement. I had a 500cc inline-4 (1985 Honda Magna) that was kind of a pig until it really started revving. When I was in SE Asia I hopped on some weird 350 or 400cc Honda semi-sport bike that I expected to behave the same way, and I practically wheelied the thing by accident. Totally different (more aggressive) bike, despite the smaller displacement.

I second Twist of the Wrist. Super lame production, but great content.

Also, strongly consider a professionally instructed riding course if it's not already a requirement of getting your license.

NS400r ?



Fast for it's displacement because it's a two stroke.

Could have been, although it didn't have a fairing and I suspect I would have noticed if it were a two-stroke (those motors sound wildly different, don't they?)

Yeah, mostly they are louder. A lot of small engines are two strokes: old vespas, old dirt bikes, scooters and motorcycles in the third world (most two strokes aren't allowed in the first world because they pollute too much), chainsaws, leaf blowers, etc.

Has anyone been following GP this year? Is it any better than last year or same snoozefest? I noticed it's Dani JLo and Stoner in the top 3 every race but one so far ... =\

Yeah, I've been following it pretty closely.

Yeah, the big three are dominating, but I don't find that particularly boring. Dovi is still there, but kinda hindered by not being on a factory bike. Although rumor has it, he has been paying for bits out of his own pocket now and seems to be improving.

The fringe riders are still on the fringe... And while they seem to be better, they still can't match it with the top of the pack. Crutchlow, Spies, Hayden, etc always fill in around their usual places. Bautista is a bit stronger this year now that he's on a honda (he got simoncelli's ride) and not his busto suzuki.

Rossi is so far off the (his traditional) pace it's sad. He's hanging on by a thread. Rumors are still flying that he is going to get a spot with honda or yamaha next year... Stoner's retirement is actually creating lots of rumor around who is going where.

Dovi desperately wants back on a factory bike. It could be a the expense of Spies imo. Rossi desperately wants to change teams because the ducati just isn't working for him.

So, I guess it's a bit WWE atm. The racing itself might not be super close at the front, but the subplots are interesting.

i.e. Last round Spies and Dovi fighting for 3rd the whole way is probably also a fight to see who gets a factory ride with yamaha next year.

Oh, the CRT bikes are a joke.

CRT bikes?

Anyways, Moto2 last year was insane, the last few races, omfg, very intense. The riding itself is a lot more fun to watch, too. Way better than GP was.

Yeah, I watch a little bit of the moto2, it looks f*cking nuts. They've got a field of like 35 bikes or something.

Claiming Rule Teams. In practice it doesn't seem to be doing anything except leaving a lot of sub-standard bikes and riders getting lapped every race...

I happened to come across the MN Scooter Club "Heck's Angles" yesterday. I waved.



(not my pic)


Some may hate, but they've got 2 wheels, they're good in my book. Must of been 20 of them cruising together.

I rode a Superhawk this weekend. Fun bike and pretty comfortable for a sport bike.

I just watched TWOTW2 last weekend. Acting/production is lolbad but yeah, content in the DVD and accompanying book is good stuff.

I've been known to wave at scooters and Spyders .


Had a very nice ~1500 mile 3 day ride in NY and VT this weekend including a trip up Mount Equinox Skyline Drive. Pretty cool road!



It was ridic hot and I think we were the only three riders in the state wearing gear, but there are some really great sport-touring roads in VT.

Scooters are fun. A good friend of mine in college was into the Vespa/Mod scene (don't even know if that scene still exists) and I rode them a bunch. He raced them.

The old Vespas and Lambrettas are more fun than a new automatic transmission scooter, but anything with a motor and two wheels is good in my book.

(admission: I don't ride now. Thinking of getting another bike although my 12yo daughter would absolutely freak and scream that I'm going to die - but she'd get used to it.)

I definitely would also recommend not getting a super sport for a first bike. Riding is not about going straight but about twisties. I just got my license a month and a half ago and got a low powered 93' 600 on par with a Ninja 500 or Suzuki 500 and it definitely has some power that could get me in trouble but probably would have wrecked already if I had a super sport 600+. Watched TOTW2 and am currently reading through the book as well.

another vote to not get an inline 4 600 as a first bike. id never ever put a noob on a i4 600. vtwin 650 is a better choice. even better would be something like drz400 or ninja250 .