Newbie, needing some advice.

[Dangerous_Dave]

Hi guys, I'm a new one here... as you may have guessed, and I absolutely love the look of the XRs, but I have a small question.

I don't have my motorcycle license yet (A2, at least, I DO have my CBT) and am planing to get it done before the end of september, when it becomes harder... lol... and I would like to know what you think would be a better choice as the first bike, a 250 or 400 XR. I'm really stuck, I have heard from one friend that I shouldn't get the 400 as I would probably kill myself, and I've heard from another, that "I'm sure you'll manage". I will only be doing road riding really, and if I could get some decent power out of the 250, I'd be over the moon because they are cheaper to insure bla bla bla (I'm 18 ). So, what do you think, 250 or 400?

All replies are welcome, I need as much info as I can get hold of and any little pieces of handy info are welcome too.


Thanks, Dave

[Sharribee]

Hi there and welcome, personally I think you'll find the 250 underpowered for road riding and maybe even the 400. Is there any reason you wouldn't look at the 650? if not then definately go for the 400

[Sharribee]

Oh and just a little ps, if your going to kill yourself on the 400 then you are going to kill yourself on the 200. It's about the way you ride, if your safe then your a safe rider if not it doesn't matter what you ride your going to increase your risk

[Dangerous_Dave]

Thanks for the reply, Sharibee.

I don't really want a 650 because they just don't look as nice to me and insurance is even more, as I said before, I am 18 and haven't had any previous bikes on the road.

How much more powerful are the 400s compared to the 250s? Got any torque ratings?

[Sharribee]

Thanks for the reply, Sharibee.

I don't really want a 650 because they just don't look as nice to me and insurance is even more, as I said before, I am 18 and haven't had any previous bikes on the road.

How much more powerful are the 400s compared to the 250s? Got any torque ratings?

Sorry I am a typical blonde so not even sure what torque is , but I guess the boys will torque more about the 400 than they will the 250 as so I am told size does matter

But there will be some fantastically knowledgeable person come along in a minute who will be able to answer you.

Have a look at some of the threads in the section that may help

Here

[JoeH]

You might even find the 400 easier to ride as you can be more lazy. The 250 you have to rag to get it going especially on the road.

Having said that, there are far better bikes for the road than the XR series.

[Dangerous_Dave]

You might even find the 400 easier to ride as you can be more lazy. The 250 you have to rag to get it going especially on the road.

Having said that, there are far better bikes for the road than the XR series.

I'm sure there are much better bikes, but I love the way they look. And my friend has a spare sitting in his garage that he'd sell for £1800.

[DaveS]

My lad (17) has ridden my XR400. He can handle it fine.
You're not going to kill yourself on something with so little power unless you take risks with it.
It's not a road bike so you treat it as such and don't go barrelling in to corners expecting it to carry you round!
As Sharrie has says it's about how you ride more than the power.

And having just said all of that... the XR650 now that's a bike you can get in trouble on. The temptation not to crank that throttle back is too great.

[Dangerous_Dave]

Does the front end lift on the 400 from throttle alone?

[DaveS]

Does the front end lift on the 400 from throttle alone?

It will but it will depend on gearing.
I have used the stock (on an Australian import bike) 15/40 gearing and this will lift the front wheel if you crack the throttle open in first. I've now got 16/40 and this is a little less easy to do this, but if you catch it right the wheelie is much easier to control and lasts longer. And it with this gearing it will also pull 80-85 quite happily.

But don't get me wrong it's not twitchy so you won't be spending all your time po-go'ing down the road.