Commuting: Would a 250 be a wise replacement for an ER5?

[goto10]

Anyone lived with a 250 as a commuter? The sportbike variety, not a cruiser.
With fuel prices being so high I'm looking to get something with better MPG, I commute a total of 80 miles a day (the entire length of the A13 and then into the West end), naturally it would be good in town, but would a 250 cut it at 70~80mph? The ER5 isn't too bad on fuel but I was thinking a Hyosung GT250R would be a lot better (faired, fuel injection, newer, smaller capacity...) and they can be picked up [used] for a decent price.
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'12 NC700S & '12 CB600F Hornet [Stolen by some dickless twat] Suzuki GT500 shed

[neil.]

I do 60 miles a day up and down the A13 on a CBF125, with the tall screen and have little trouble. 120mpg goodness.

[G]

I wouldn't be surprised if the difference in fuel economy would be made up for by a difference in depreciation.

Someone on here commented they were getting 100mpg from their GPZ500s - by riding at 45mph. So they were getting similar fuel economy to a c90 when going at c90 flat-out sorta speeds.

So I'd probably just stick to what you've got, but see if you can change your riding style a bit.

[iooi]

Well lets put it like this.

In the last 6 years, I have had a GN 250, a ZZR 250.
I then changed to a XJ600, now have a Versys. All main use is commuting.

MPG has been better on both D6 and V
Ins was cheaper on the D6 when I changed from the 250.

Personally I found that the 250's while Ok for commuting lacked the stability that a larger bike provides. And when you have low set bars, commutting is a real pain on the wrists.
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[tsmith]

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[Snorty]

Well I know at 40 on my GPZ 500 in top gear the engine would be around 4 thousand revs - borderline where it starts lugging like it's going to fall apart lol.

Wouldn't fancy riding standard gearing @ 40!

[Rogerborg]

I commute on a GPz 305, which should have fairly similar performance characteristics to a modern 250. I'm surprised that the GT250R only has 21kW and 5 gears though, I'd have expected it to be knocking on the 25kW limit.

I find the performance sufficient for my needs. It'll keep up with traffic, hold a real 70, and win the traffic light drag race easily enough.

Fuel, eh, I don't really keep track of it, but I think it's in the ballpark with the Hyosung's claimed 80mpg at 55mph-ish. It does want filling more often though when used for fun. Making Progress or motorway speeds require keeping a lot of throttle on, which possibly negates the benefit of a smaller engine.

Have you tried lengthening the gearing on your ER-5? And I'd expect a screen, even a tall one, to offer more streamlined wind resistance than a clothed body. Or you could ride nekkid and oiled up.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[tsmith]

Standard gearing and tyres on my GPZ500 (2002)
in 6th, 50mph is ~4k rpm and 40mph is ~ 3krpm

I vary the speed depending on the road / weather. On hilly roads, I usually hit the hill at 3.5k rpm and lock the throttle in that position. Just as I hit the brow of the hill, the revs have dropped to 3k rpm. Going down the hill they gradually increase to 3.5 again.

If its a windy day, I aim to stay at 3.5k rpm, going up to 4k if I hit a hill and the wind is against me. As before, the revs will gradually drop when going up the hill resulting in 3k at the brow.

On the flat, my revs are around 3.5k rpm.

I try not to go below 3krpm as it can lug the engine.

I keep track of my MPG online here:

https://mefi.us/images/fuelly/smallsig-uk/25065.png

[pepperami]

If my searches for a 250 are any thing to go by, I say "good luck" for trying to find a decent 250 that`s not at a rip-off price .

I`ve been looking for about two months now, for a 250 and every man and his dog wants stupid money for them?
I`ve even been looking for a tatty but viable "project?" bike and even those are silly money

I could pick up a 400, or a 500 at a better price than the 250`s i`ve been looking at
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Ericck]

Not up on the fuel consumption but swapping an ER5 for a Hyosung is a step backwards IMHO.
Commuted on an ER5 for 5 years until some git ran it over. Funnily
enough commuted from Basildon up the A13 to West End in 2009 and 2010 on a bandit though. Although the bandit was fine, not quite as easy to throw around in the traffic as the ER5.

Stick with what you got
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Current Bike: 2004 Suzuki Bandit 600S
Previous Bikes: Yamaha FS1E, Mobylette Moped Thingy, Suzuki GS125, Kawasaki Zephyr 550, Kawasaki Zephyr 750, Kawasaki ER500, Suzuki Bandit 600, Honda CBR600F, Triumph Street Triple 675, Suzuki V Strom 650, Suzuki Bandit 1200, Suzuki SV650N, Honda CB500F.

[Okeydokey]

A slight distraction but... when doing my CBT the instructor had a 250, he dropped what I thought was an interesting comment, 'why would want anything bigger', I didn't ask him to justify that but I think if you get anal about speed limits etc, he may have a point?

I commute 110 miles daily return currently by car - 50 motorway, 50 A road and 10 B road and have been asking myself the same question

My problem though is also related to my tender 20 stone weight

ER5 is what I want when I grow up
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Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruitsalad!
YB100 v. Ford Sierra (1982 I came 2nd place) Honda H100S (Currently 0 - 0) CX500 Cafe project (me 1 - wife 0.... maybe!)

[iooi]

[G]

[UnspeedySam]

[banditjohn]

Must admit I've been reading this post with interest, years ago I used to commute into london on a FS1E then 250X7 and XL185 . All by the way doing the job required , and yes theres a change in riding speeds ext ext but on fuel the little 50cc ran on a damp rag but could only poodle along at 30-40mph . Clearly the others could hussle nearer the max limits and the fuel is not going to be quite the same. I think that being in the position that I don't have to commute and the 1200 is purely for pleasure, I would go for a 4-500 and trickle along so keeping the economy where you need it , I've had the pleasure of riding various bikes over the years and have found that it normaly works better when the motors are not strugling . Compromize is where your at and the one thing I would say is, the Chinese bikes are not really well known for there longevity and not that reliable if they don't fall apart so good luck and hope you get it sorted .

[iooi]

[Marcg868]

Plus they are reliable enough. I don't see any difference in the winter affects of My 56 reg Hyo compared to my Mum's partners Suzuki GSXR 750. Both have the odd rust spec here and there but nothing major.

Starts first time etc.

However a lad at work has some chinese cruiser thing a 09 reg and its a complete rust bucket and struggles to start even on warm days.

Hyosung are not Chinese crap.
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JACK, MISS YOU LOADS YOU LEGEND.

[connornrg]

[GSTEEL32]

[Noxious89123]

When following my gf's 125, I got 80mpg from my 600
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'06 Honda CBR125RW-6 ~ '00 Honda CBR600F-Y ~ '07 Honda CBR600RR-7 ~ Bikeless
'53 Ford Ka 1.3 ~ '03 Vauxhall Astra SRi 1.8 ~ '52 Vauxhall Astra SRi 2.2 ~ '53 Vauxhall Astra GSi

[goto10]

Thanks, some good feedback - sounds like I'll just stick with the ER5, I've already fitted a Puig screen and that made an immediate saving of nearly £1 a day (a lot nicer without so much wind blast too!), I think I'll go with a taller gear, maybe an extra front tooth.
Keeping my speed down is going to be the hard bit, might try for a steady 60 and see what payback that gives.
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'12 NC700S & '12 CB600F Hornet [Stolen by some dickless twat] Suzuki GT500 shed

[Okeydokey]

Quote: I've already fitted a Puig screen and that made an immediate saving of nearly £1 a day,

Brilliant to know this kinda stuff, thanks to everyone contributing!
____________________
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruitsalad!
YB100 v. Ford Sierra (1982 I came 2nd place) Honda H100S (Currently 0 - 0) CX500 Cafe project (me 1 - wife 0.... maybe!)

[BIKEVIDDER]

I know it's all basic stuff but every spring & autumn I oil cables, double check chain & sprockets plus copper grease moving parts on the brakes.
As well as normal plug & air filter checks.
I also check the tyre pressures often.
All helps with MPG as well as MPH.
I'd stick with the ER5 personally.
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GROWING OLD DISGRACFULLY