My first "long" ride on the 250

Goom · April 24th, 2012, 08:20 AM

My buddy Mike's birthday was Saturday, so I headed up to Lafayette ( about a 90 mile ride) to hang out and hit up the bars. I made myself a deal that I would take the bike if I passed my riding test even though I could have done it legally with my permit since all my riding was done during the day. Anyway, I left Terre Haute shortly after 1pm. The sky had been overcast all morning, but the sun was finally starting to peek out. Even with the sun out though, it didn't get much higher than low to mid 60s. The temperature wasn't really great for a highway ride, but I wasn't about to let that stop me.

The ride up was mostly rural highways, so it was pleasant with little traffic and varying speed limits passing through several nice little towns. The riding itself wasn't exactly exciting though. Mostly straight roads with a few curves here and there; certainly nothing to write home about. Overall, it wasn't a terrible ride that I wouldn't consider doing again, but the ride home was much better.

On Sunday morning, after a minor hangover recovery breakfast at Denny's with some friends, we headed back to Mike's apartment and I gathered my things and started gearing up for the trip home. While we were discussing my route, Mike said "you should go through Turkey Run, I drive up that way sometimes, and it seems like it would be fun on a bike". I'm glad I recently talked him into getting a bike. He looks out for things like this more often now. ha

Taking 47 over through Turkey Run turned out to be a great idea! It's probably the only route I'll take to Lafayette on my bike from now on. For a while, the ride was just pleasant rural Indiana scenery, but nothing too different. Once I got near Turkey Run State Park, it got a lot more exciting. The scenery turned to mostly forest with campsites, canoe rentals, and small shops here and there. Just past this came some nice twisties. That was my first taste of the Ninja in such a scenario. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the little bike stuck in corners, despite being so lightweight. Beyond the more intense curves, the road mellowed out a bit in some very high ground, allowing you to see for miles.

I am definitely looking forward to more rides like this one. I just wish I had been riding with other people and taken the time to stop and take in the scenery/take some pics.

Mocha Man · April 24th, 2012, 08:46 AM

Nice write up

Jiggles · April 24th, 2012, 08:51 AM

If you want to make your bike a lot more rideable in cold weather get some heated grips. With heated grips on my bike I can ride in the rain at night time for an hour easily and not get too cold. I've found that as long as my hands are warm, I'm warm, and if I'm warm, I can ride anytime I want regardless of weather. Also just wait till you get some new tires, you will be so stuck to the ground in corners its ridiculous.

vman1313 · April 24th, 2012, 08:56 AM

nice

Goom · April 24th, 2012, 09:42 AM

My hands don't bother me much, but I have considered it. It was mostly my lower body, but my feet are always cold and I didn't layer up on my lower body aside from an extra pair of socks. Before fall comes, I'll be getting some cold weather under armor or something similar. Hopefully this cold weather won't last much longer. The weather has been strange this year.

Jiggles · April 24th, 2012, 09:45 AM

Indeed it has, even here in Cali

When I had to go to training for my job I had to ride to oakland at 6am which is about a little over an hour ride. I didn't have heated grips and by the time I'd get to my destination my fingers would be numb, which would be detrimental to riding. Heated grips solved everything, I'll never own another bike without installing them

gfloyd2002 · April 24th, 2012, 05:00 PM

So fresh off of getting your license, you rode to the bars, got drunk (you said you were hung over next morning), then rode back? Something very wrong with this story.

Not to be a jerk, but lots of motorcyclists die this way. In fact, probably the most important thing you can do - even more than wearing a helmet - is to avoid drinking and riding.

Ninja1 · April 24th, 2012, 05:07 PM

Floyd, I think he spent the night there and drove home sober

Goom · April 24th, 2012, 05:15 PM

Easy there, Floyd. Let's not be so quick to judge. I rode the bike to my buddy's apartment and it didn't move for almost an entire day. I rode with him to the bar where his vehicle stayed until the next day, and we had a designated driver that night. I thought you might have gathered that from reading what I posted...

gfloyd2002 · April 24th, 2012, 06:23 PM

In that case, awesome. My bad totally. Wasn't clear to me on reading.

Just get a bit twitchy about drinking and riding.

Jiggles · April 24th, 2012, 06:27 PM

I often go to chipotle after work, get a fat burrito and a beer then ride home

Goom · April 24th, 2012, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gfloyd2002

In that case, awesome. My bad totally. Wasn't clear to me on reading.

Just get a bit twitchy about drinking and riding.

Yeah, I'm more responsible than that. Besides, my fiancée would kill me if I wasn't. She lost a close friend last year from drinking and riding, so the deal isn't just don't drink too much, it's don't drink at all on the bike. I can respect that.

Sigma.40 · April 24th, 2012, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goom

...it didn't get much higher than low to mid 60s. The temperature wasn't really great for a highway ride...

Sounds like a great ride, BUT...how is low to mid 60's not good for a highway ride? I would kill to have low to mid 60's

. I had to ride 60 miles round trip Sunday morning and it was 25 F out. I stopped being able to feel my hands 10 miles in and that was with 2 pairs of thick insulated gloves.

Goom · April 25th, 2012, 05:59 AM

25 degrees?! Screw that! FWIW, my ride was pretty windy. lol

Jiggles · April 25th, 2012, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sigma.40

Sounds like a great ride, BUT...how is low to mid 60's not good for a highway ride? I would kill to have low to mid 60's

. I had to ride 60 miles round trip Sunday morning and it was 25 F out. I stopped being able to feel my hands 10 miles in and that was with 2 pairs of thick insulated gloves.

Symtec heated grips man, super helpful. Also hippo hands help out

Sigma.40 · April 25th, 2012, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goom

25 degrees?! Screw that! FWIW, my ride was pretty windy. lol

Wind sucks. 25F is the lowest I've ridden in. It usually seems to be around 34-38F

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Symtec heated grips man, super helpful. Also hippo hands help out

I'd be worried about battery power. I have the Scorpio i900 2 way alarm installed, which supposedly eats batteries.

Jiggles · April 25th, 2012, 02:20 PM

Meh, I'm not concerned, youve got an extra 80watts to play with

Sigma.40 · April 25th, 2012, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Meh, I'm not concerned, youve got an extra 80watts to play with

How many watts do the heated grips take?

Jiggles · April 25th, 2012, 04:22 PM

36w

sarapacman99 · April 27th, 2012, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiggles

I often go to chipotle after work, get a fat burrito and a beer then ride home

Hey Jiggles, I might drive down to San Jose from Vegas to visit family. Because flying there for $400 is insane. Darn it's an almost 9 hour drive. Wonder if I can pull it off and how many stops I need to take.

Jiggles · April 27th, 2012, 06:29 PM

Stop every hour or so and stretch.

You can come check out my broken leg! And the video that everyone wants to see but can't cuz I won't put it on the net!

April 24th, 2012, 08:20 AM	#1
Goom ninjette.org guru Name: Eric Location: Concord, NC Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 1976 CB550 Cafe, 2011 Ninja 250, 1999 Honda CR125 Posts: 264	My first "long" ride on the 250 My buddy Mike's birthday was Saturday, so I headed up to Lafayette ( about a 90 mile ride) to hang out and hit up the bars. I made myself a deal that I would take the bike if I passed my riding test even though I could have done it legally with my permit since all my riding was done during the day. Anyway, I left Terre Haute shortly after 1pm. The sky had been overcast all morning, but the sun was finally starting to peek out. Even with the sun out though, it didn't get much higher than low to mid 60s. The temperature wasn't really great for a highway ride, but I wasn't about to let that stop me. The ride up was mostly rural highways, so it was pleasant with little traffic and varying speed limits passing through several nice little towns. The riding itself wasn't exactly exciting though. Mostly straight roads with a few curves here and there; certainly nothing to write home about. Overall, it wasn't a terrible ride that I wouldn't consider doing again, but the ride home was much better. On Sunday morning, after a minor hangover recovery breakfast at Denny's with some friends, we headed back to Mike's apartment and I gathered my things and started gearing up for the trip home. While we were discussing my route, Mike said "you should go through Turkey Run, I drive up that way sometimes, and it seems like it would be fun on a bike". I'm glad I recently talked him into getting a bike. He looks out for things like this more often now. ha Taking 47 over through Turkey Run turned out to be a great idea! It's probably the only route I'll take to Lafayette on my bike from now on. For a while, the ride was just pleasant rural Indiana scenery, but nothing too different. Once I got near Turkey Run State Park, it got a lot more exciting. The scenery turned to mostly forest with campsites, canoe rentals, and small shops here and there. Just past this came some nice twisties. That was my first taste of the Ninja in such a scenario. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the little bike stuck in corners, despite being so lightweight. Beyond the more intense curves, the road mellowed out a bit in some very high ground, allowing you to see for miles. I am definitely looking forward to more rides like this one. I just wish I had been riding with other people and taken the time to stop and take in the scenery/take some pics.

April 24th, 2012, 08:51 AM	#3
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	If you want to make your bike a lot more rideable in cold weather get some heated grips. With heated grips on my bike I can ride in the rain at night time for an hour easily and not get too cold. I've found that as long as my hands are warm, I'm warm, and if I'm warm, I can ride anytime I want regardless of weather. Also just wait till you get some new tires, you will be so stuck to the ground in corners its ridiculous. __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

April 24th, 2012, 08:56 AM	#4
vman1313 ninjette.org sage Name: Tony Location: Buford, GA Join Date: Mar 2012 Motorcycle(s): '14 Honda NC700X; '14 Honda CRF250L; '07 Lifan 200 Posts: 623	nice __________________________________________________ www.northgariders.com NuBe4Life!!!

April 24th, 2012, 09:45 AM	#6
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	Indeed it has, even here in Cali When I had to go to training for my job I had to ride to oakland at 6am which is about a little over an hour ride. I didn't have heated grips and by the time I'd get to my destination my fingers would be numb, which would be detrimental to riding. Heated grips solved everything, I'll never own another bike without installing them __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

April 24th, 2012, 05:00 PM	#7
gfloyd2002 User Title Free Since '12 Name: Floyd Location: Barbados Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): '10 Ninja 250R Special Edition Green Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 13 MOTM - Feb '12	So fresh off of getting your license, you rode to the bars, got drunk (you said you were hung over next morning), then rode back? Something very wrong with this story. Not to be a jerk, but lots of motorcyclists die this way. In fact, probably the most important thing you can do - even more than wearing a helmet - is to avoid drinking and riding. __________________________________________________ "Improvement makes straight roads, but the crooked roads without improvement, are roads of genius." — William Blake

April 24th, 2012, 08:46 AM	#2
Mocha Man Blue Shell magnet Name: Nolan Location: Northwest Washington Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): 1997 Ninja 250 Posts: 816	Nice write up

April 24th, 2012, 09:42 AM	#5
Goom ninjette.org guru Name: Eric Location: Concord, NC Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 1976 CB550 Cafe, 2011 Ninja 250, 1999 Honda CR125 Posts: 264	My hands don't bother me much, but I have considered it. It was mostly my lower body, but my feet are always cold and I didn't layer up on my lower body aside from an extra pair of socks. Before fall comes, I'll be getting some cold weather under armor or something similar. Hopefully this cold weather won't last much longer. The weather has been strange this year.

April 24th, 2012, 05:07 PM	#8
Ninja1 ninjette.org member Name: Chadi Location: Ottawa Join Date: Jan 2012 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R Posts: 67	Floyd, I think he spent the night there and drove home sober

April 24th, 2012, 05:15 PM	#9
Goom ninjette.org guru Name: Eric Location: Concord, NC Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 1976 CB550 Cafe, 2011 Ninja 250, 1999 Honda CR125 Posts: 264	Easy there, Floyd. Let's not be so quick to judge. I rode the bike to my buddy's apartment and it didn't move for almost an entire day. I rode with him to the bar where his vehicle stayed until the next day, and we had a designated driver that night. I thought you might have gathered that from reading what I posted...

April 24th, 2012, 06:23 PM	#10
gfloyd2002 User Title Free Since '12 Name: Floyd Location: Barbados Join Date: Dec 2010 Motorcycle(s): '10 Ninja 250R Special Edition Green Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 13 MOTM - Feb '12	In that case, awesome. My bad totally. Wasn't clear to me on reading. Just get a bit twitchy about drinking and riding. __________________________________________________ "Improvement makes straight roads, but the crooked roads without improvement, are roads of genius." — William Blake

April 24th, 2012, 06:27 PM	#11
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	I often go to chipotle after work, get a fat burrito and a beer then ride home __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

April 25th, 2012, 05:59 AM	#14
Goom ninjette.org guru Name: Eric Location: Concord, NC Join Date: Apr 2012 Motorcycle(s): 1976 CB550 Cafe, 2011 Ninja 250, 1999 Honda CR125 Posts: 264	25 degrees?! Screw that! FWIW, my ride was pretty windy. lol

April 25th, 2012, 02:20 PM	#17
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	Meh, I'm not concerned, youve got an extra 80watts to play with __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

April 25th, 2012, 04:22 PM	#19
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	36w __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

April 27th, 2012, 06:29 PM	#21
Jiggles Jigglin' your Jiglets Name: Sean Location: San Jose, Ca Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much. Blog Entries: 1 MOTM - Apr '13	Stop every hour or so and stretch. You can come check out my broken leg! And the video that everyone wants to see but can't cuz I won't put it on the net! __________________________________________________ If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 Supersports are for n00bs

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