Sunday, June 2, 2013

Sport touring: The CBR250R… the ideal imperfect moto?



A few years ago I was part of a rowing team, we were a bunch of rag tag athletes.  Early one morning during one of our land drills, the coach said to me “hey what’s wrong with you (as I was steadily climbing a hill) are you hurt or something?” To which I answered, no nothing is wrong this is my pace; steady and consistent (I can go on for miles at this rate). This is what I do best.

This year is my third season on the 250 and it has been for the most part a fun adventure full of excitement, thrills and reality checks. I have ridden this moto around my neighborhood and afar, distances it was probably never intended to cover.  When I first purchased this moto I intended to make it my all around moto and that’s exactly what I have done.  Except at times I have wondered, what if (fill in the blank)?  This past week I considered letting go of my 250 and starting a new moto adventure on a different steed, I did the usual and posted a for sale ad on the net and waited and then I reconsidered and decided that the 250 must stay a while longer.

Maybe I am a sentimentalist, or simply human after all. But after looking at my moto and reminiscing all the cool roads and places I’ve visited it became clear that there are many more adventures in our future.  Many will gladly offer their opinions about the 250, what it is good for, what it can and can’t do and where you should ride it, etc. The arguments and opinions are endless. Anyone can fault anyone and anything for the sheer joy of hearing their own voice. I will refrain from making any claims that the 250 is the perfect moto, but what I do know is that there is nothing wrong with it. It is simply a matter of asking it to do what it does best, tarmac surf at variable rates of speed.

The open road is calling and is enticing one to follow its seductive, undulating curves… it is time  to answer it and Enjoy the Ride.