Does anyone give you a hard time for riding a 250?

[Plavanchy]

I've had several situations where someone makes a crappy comment about me riding a 250cc motorcycle. One guy asks if it's a rebel-I said no and told him it's a Suzuki gz 250 and he says "oh my sister has one" as he drives off in a total piece of shit vehicle. Just wondering if anyone else has this problem. Not real worried about it as the GZ is a great commuter,but I'd like a quick comeback for these jerks.

[JWR]

Ask "and your bike is where?"

I have never had the first bad word from anyone.

[Water Warrior 2]

At the present time it is all I need or want. And it is paid for too.

Forget the folks who pull your chain. They are just looking to justify their bike and are likely just posers. They "need" to feel superior.
I got quite a chuckle when some poser commented to Lynda about her little learner bike. His jaw dropped when she mentioned it taught her a lot on a 5,000 km trip a month earlier.

[alantf]

I've had mine for over six years now. I've been riding for nearly fifty years, but I still don't feel the need for a "poser" bike. On this small island, with mostly 50 km/hr (30 mph) speed limits, and a traffic congestion problem, it's the ideal bike. There are more bikes than cars, and the majority of bikes are 50cc scooters, so mine is, actually, one of the bigger bikes.

[jonathan180iq]

People who don't ride bikes have these preconceived ideas about motorcycles. I used to get asked "Is that a Harley?" And when I would respond, they would just say "oh..." as if Harley's were the only motorcycles that existed. People who ride bikes fall into two catergories I think, those who know that all two-wheeled transportation is part of this greater community of "bikers" and it's all cool, from the 50cc Chinese scooters to the 2000cc cruisers. There is also a class of biker however that is just a notch above the generic Harley-lovin' populace. They see anything less than super sport bikes or super cruisers as infantile. Their 750 GSXR isn't good enough in their eyes because they aren't cracking 200mph on the Hayabusa. But whatever, really. A motorcycle is a motorcycle. Not 50 years ago the 250cc class was considered a large and powerful machine. They are faster than most cars off the line and keep up with traffic on the highway. They aren't toys. People are dumb.

[Goose51683]

I get crap from my coworkers all the time, which is funny cause I bought my bike form one of them. I tell them the same thing I tell my wife when she gives me crap about riding period (another story for another time). I tell them "I ride for me and right now a 250 makes me happy. It's simple enough I can do whatever I want (except make it run at this point) and I can afford to change, customize, and do whatever I feel like"

The comments are usually..."why did you wrap the pipes on a 250?" or some other question about why I'm putting money into such a small bike. I give the same answer, " It makes me happy and I enjoy it"

If they don't get that answer then they don't get why you'd have a bike in the first place.

[jonathan180iq]

The people who asked why you wrapped your pipes don't even know why pipes get wrapped in the first place. It's an aesthetic thing for 95% of the people who own them.

I started rollerblading to work. I'm looking forward to the comments :)

[Water Warrior 2]

What I find really silly and stupid is a Harley rider commenting on an 883 being a baby bike and only good for learning on or for girls. It still boils down to the fact that you ride, not what you ride.
Some bikes may be faster, some may be more comfy, many are more expensive, some are prettier but they all get you there.
My Vstrom was just ugly enough that no one would steal it if they found it running in a parking lot at 2 in the morning. It always got me there with no drama and didn't break the bank.

[jonathan180iq]

V'Stroms are wicked cool. People who give V'Stroms a hard time don't know anything about riding.

[Goose51683]

John,

please include a picture of you rollerblading to work. I could use a reason to smile everyday.

I used to be a roller blader so I can only laugh so much.

[jonathan180iq]

What kind of Rollerblader? I actually quit Baseball and soccer in highschool so I could focus on going pro.... I'm super lame.

[Goose51683]

I never got that into it, I dabbled in college (is it sad that rollerblading is what I dabbled in during college). I also quit soccer after I went to school but I quit because I wasn't good enough to play college...actually I failed an advanced physics class my junior year and therefore couldn't play my senior year, hence no real opportunity to play in college.

anyways....

[jonathan180iq]

I had just started really getting good at baseball too. To be fair, I only played one year of High School soccer and I lettered that year. But for baseball, I was going to Clemson training camps in the summer and everything. If I have one regret of growing up, it's that. I was very good.

[Goose51683]

Yeah my one regret would be soccer related. I was having a break away performance prior to the season. I got a week into the actual season when I found out. After playing 12 yrs straight, not being able to play my senior year was devastating.

[mole2]

John,

please include a picture of you rollerblading to work. I could use a reason to smile everyday.

I used to be a roller blader so I can only laugh so much.

Here ya go.

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQXLTiOb9gfNSkD3KCTJtfxo5nyOMWHN eikhanQO2OVKJOUMaiiOw


:)

[mole2]

This is Jon on the weekends.

http://cdn.sneakhype.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Rollerblade-batman-haters-gonna-hate-1274145723o.jpg


:)

[jonathan180iq]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAA!

At least you guys found a photo of me back from when I was working out...

And waxing my chest?

[Goose51683]

It's been awhile since I've commented, after that last image I had to buy a brail keyboard.

[Water Warrior 2]

It's been awhile since I've commented, after that last image I had to buy a brail keyboard.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Some pictures just can't be forgotten.

[northsidegz]

It's been awhile since I've commented, after that last image I had to buy a brail keyboard.

LOL. Good one.

It seems very wrong that that dude is skating around children like that. :cry:

Relating to the topic: I've been snubbed when folks find out my current bike is an 800cc Vulcan. Surprisingly, I don't remember looks or comments when owning the 250, in fact, I recall very clearly a gal complimenting me on it at the gas station (hmm, that reminds me, never did tell my wife about that).

[Marunui]

Hi yeah some guyz I know think 250 bikes r for girls but they don't ride just all talk and couldn't even handle a 125 any way all good I think 250 iz a great bike

[Water Warrior 2]

A Harley sportster is also called a girls bike.
Armchair critics should be willing to put their money where their mouth is and buy you a bigger bike.
Your choice of bike may not be theirs but it is your bike and likely paid for in full. My Vstrom was fully paid for in 2005 when I bought it new. I was sometimes embarrassed that it was only a 650 but soon discovered it was a great choice. Bigger is not always better. I had considered the Vstrom 1000.
Think about insurance rates, miles per gallon and weight to control and smaller looks gooder and gooder. Can you lift an 800 lb bike that you dropped in a parking lot? I can't.
Ride what makes you happy, not what some of the public says. Any real rider will never bitch about your ride, he or she will just be happy to know you are out there in the wind.

[JohnC]

A Sportster is really not a good choice for a "girl's bike". The center of gravity is quite high. A low rider is a much better choice even though it is a 1200 cc engine. I think there is/was also a low version of the Sportster, which would be a better choice.


From the DC bike show:
http://www.triumphrat.net/attachments/hinckley-classic-triples/128945-2014-wash-dc-intl-bike-show-imageuploadedbymo-free1389487544.757882.jpg?amp;d=1389487537
Photo by member Magbhw of the triumphrat forum.

[Goose51683]

Impressive!

[Water Warrior 2]

Who cares what other people think, ride what you want. Thats the way i think anyway.

Your thinking applies to most things in life. We spend too much time in our lives listening to others and not enough time listening to ourselves. Always reserve the Right to make your own mistakes as they will likely cost less than other's ideas of what you should be doing.

[ImaginativeFig]

I get shit for riding a 250 for sure, but I get a fair amount of condescension from losers anyway.
I guess whenever people ask me what kind of bike I ride, I always play it all humble like "Oh, it's only a 250, it's a baby cruiser." People will either:

agree that it's pretty little, but at least not in a "WHAT? ONLY A 250?! What are you, a baby?" Kind of way,
or they'll be like "Oh, that's cool/good, (especially for beginners.)"
or, if I'm talking to anyone in Japan or Thailand (both of which I've studied abroad in), they're super impressed like, "What? Only a 250? That's a pretty big bike here!"

There's a lot less distinction between motorcycles and scooters over there (in fact, in Thai, I'm pretty sure they're both "motersai")

[alantf]

motorcycles vs scooters is pretty much the same over here. The majority of people ride the 50cc scooters. Then there are a few boy racers on crotch rockets, a few older guys on big cruisers, then people like us on smaller cruisers. so, between us smaller bikes and scooters, we way outnumber the bigger bikes. It's a small island, so people tend to ride what's best suited to the conditions, not what they think will impress folks. :tup:

[5th_bike]

250 cc is a lot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6TXVXi6ipQ

[emory70]

haters gonna hate. before i bought my geezer, my then boss (a Scotsman) did his best to convince me to not get a "poof chariot." never got the exact definition, but i can figure it out. after a mild chop (4" z bars, no front fender, cut rear fender, and other minor mods), i rode it from here in Jacksonville to Marion, NC and back. that's 500 miles one way. as long as it's running, i'd take my bike anywhere.

[Water Warrior 2]

More proof you don't need 1,000CCs to get out of town. :tup:

[grasshopper]

I haven't got any slack from anybody about my gz250. maybe cause I look mean most of the time lol.