Ninja 250 vs. the big bikes at Laguna Seca

[Aslan]

As found on gixxer.com

Especially fun if you know the track from the Gran Turismo series

Link for 720p

[Brian P]

Awesome find!

[mxs]

Who was it on the 250? Looked like a Ben Spies in disguise ... LOL

I loved the way he was charging the top of the corkscrew. Absolutely awesome. The other guys were taking some bad lines, compared to him.

It must feel pretty depressing being on 600cc+ sportbike and being passed by a Ninja 250.

[NP6000]

Who was it on the 250? Looked like a Ben Spies in disguise ... LOL

I loved the way he was charging the top of the corkscrew. Absolutely awesome. The other guys were taking some bad lines, compared to him.

It must feel pretty depressing being on 600cc+ sportbike and being passed by a Ninja 250.

Did you forget about the 125 that was running down the red Gixxer at TMP last year?

This video has caused me to shed a tear for my old 250R... I had so much fun riding a slow bike fast.

[Nofear]

I'm surprised the guy riding the R1 didn't just go to the pits to repair his ego once the ninja passed him 3 times...

[mxs]

Did you forget about the 125 that was running down the red Gixxer at TMP last year?

This video has caused me to shed a tear for my old 250R... I had so much fun riding a slow bike fast.

Of course I do. It's great mixing it up with the larger bikes at TMP, I certainly don't mind doing that ...... but TMP and Laguna, that to me is like apples and oranges. I mean, whatever I make up in the slow section of TMP I of course loose on the two straights, but there's now way I could make up anything at a track like Laguna in my opinion. This is a large piece of road (long and wide) for crying out loud, the R1 guys must have been seriously slow to not make up enough time to stay ahead.

Or little Ben on the 250 was just that good ....

[YellowDuck]

I have a different take on all of this. The real fast guys on small bikes can actually be a menace running around in novice or even intermediate. They pass all of us slow guys in the corners, then putt putt down the straights so we have to re-pass, but then of course they pass us again in the next corner...and so on. Obviously, there is more opportunity for a mishap during a pass, so all of this swapping positions hardly enhances anyone's safety. The fast guy would do everyone a favour by getting on a bike that would keep him out front down the straights.

Of course, the fast guys tend to be experienced and usually know how to pass safely, and even leave some room to accommodate other riders' mistakes. But that Laguna video kinda gave me the creeps. On a few of those passes he didn't seem that far away from coming together with another rider who turned in on him. A bit aggressive for a track day if you ask me. I really don't feel like anyone should be out there with the beginners, trying to prove some kind of point.

If I'd been in that group, I would have pulled off for 30 s to get that guy on the opposite side of the track from me.

[Hi RPM]

It must feel pretty depressing being on 600cc+ sportbike and being passed by a Ninja 250.

600cc? there was a 2001 R1 in there and a 2005 R1... lol saaaaaaad for those riders
250 doood knows whats businesssss :P

[TomC]

you guys are way too harsh...that being said, i've fond memories of being a backmarker myself lol...this type of stuff happens much more than most people thing - at that level of trackday riding, its more about experience than talent/balls, which the 250 rider clearly has, and the other guys clearly don't...

[SunnY S]

Reminds me of this dude on a Versys 650 opening up a can of *** whoop. It appears in this video, the guys who are on the SS know how to ride unlike the OPs video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYz5fMST508 Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nDcOz7oOVM Part 2

[09SV650S]

Shameful! The skills of all those other riders! This video will make the 250 riders pretty happy. But I feel like smacking some track knowledge into the other riders lol

But the final straight away they always seemed to Finnish in front weird to see. Lol

[W8INLINE]

Shameful! The skills of all those other riders! This video will make the 250 riders pretty happy. But I feel like smacking some track knowledge into the other riders lol

But the final straight away they always seemed to Finnish in front weird to see. Lol

Hey J. don't be hatin the 250's

[09SV650S]

Hey J. don't be hatin the 250's

Lol you're in a new class of bike now aren't you?

[W8INLINE]

yeah...but for now, I feel like those "big bike" riders on the video...lol

[09SV650S]

You'll get there buddy. Nothing but time even I can push harder and be better

[N3WMAN]

Now I know how Brian P feels riding his 125.

[DollyMix]

Yaay! Go cute little Ninja!!

[invictus43]

Having been on the track with a 250..I can tell you..that either ain't a 250, those other riders suck ***, or that's Ben Spies on some kind of race-prepped, aftermarket suspension-equipped, slick-shod 250!!!

[vrus]

talk about an ego crusher!
scumbag 250, pass him once, passes you 5 times more!

[Brian P]

... those other riders suck ***, or that's Ben Spies on some kind of race-prepped, aftermarket suspension-equipped, slick-shod 250!!!

I think it is a combination of those two.

It's readily apparent that the other riders aren't using all of the track, have crappy cornering lines, are braking too early, are getting on the gas too late, and don't have good cornering speed. In other words, typical beginner-group track day. (And you know what? Everyone has to start somewhere.)