Soberpete's YBR 250

[ZMC888]

Really cool that you are going to get yourself a legal YBR250, a great bike, perfect for these roads. In fact anything bigger in China could really be argued too much, this being because in the countryside there are so many uneven dirty corners that having a bigger bike might end up putting too much power through the rear tire and making rear end slide type low-sides too likely. There is nothing really wrong with the stock tires and brakes, but I'd be pretty interested to compare upgrading the front with a Brembo system and putting Bridgestone or Pirelli tires on it.

I call it the beast because it is bulkier than I expected: I learned on a 250, but it was a Kawa SuperSherpa, lighter, higher and narrower. So the YBR seemed and felt fatter and heavier. But I was happy to find out that the seating position and seat height are quite comfortable. I was a little worried about being cramped because I'm 5"11 with long legs, and the YBR sits a whole 8cm lower that the Super Sherpa.

It's cool that you don't find that YBR250 too cramped. Recently there have been a whole load of folks on these boards who usually ride dual-sport bikes like the super-sherpa complaining that street bikes they've tried are 'too small'. Surely it is obvious that a bike with extra clearance, more suspension travel and bigger wheels is gonna be higher than a purely street bike?

[soberpete]

I call it the beast because it is bulkier than I expected: I learned on a 250, but it was a Kawa SuperSherpa, lighter, higher and narrower. So the YBR seemed and felt fatter and heavier.(that's DipStick, not Dipsh*t)

Kawa SuperSherpa:
14.5 hp (10.8 kW)
128.0 kg Wet

YBR 250:
21.05 hp (15.4 kW)
138.0kg Wet

At least, despite the small amount of extra bulk, it will be more beastly.
It would feel much heavier, being lower to the ground... I image.

But I was happy to find out that the seating position and seat height are quite comfortable. I was a little worried about being cramped because I'm 5"11 with long legs, and the YBR sits a whole 8cm lower that the Super Sherpa.(that's DipStick, not Dipsh*t)

I'm also 5"11 with (relatively) long legs and I've never had any complaints with it .
On rare occasions, I'm on a giant open road with the opportunity to open her up fully: at this time I slide my backside as far back as the groove (halfway down the seat) allowing me to comfortably get my chest down to the tank and my lower my head down for the optimum aerodynamic posture. Still pretty comfortable like that but it would look silly if you were doing anything less than 110kph.

[Graham]

Kawa SuperSherpa:
at this time I slide my backside as far back as the groove (halfway down the seat my asse,) allowing me to comfortably get my chest down to the tank and my lower my head down for the optimum aerodynamic posture. Still pretty comfortable like that but it would look silly if you were doing anything less than 110kph.

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Fixed that for you Pete.

Gra.

[soberpete]

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Fixed that for you Pete.

Gra.

Gra... I don't think you explained that in enough detail. Slide my backside halfway down my own ass/ arse/ asse?
When I first saw a message from 'Graham' I thought you were someone else. My best mate's name is also Graham and I was surprised to think that he'd found his way onto this site without telling me.
Anyway, your correction was appreciated.

I've seen a little bit of Weifang but not enough. It looks really nice and clean (compared to Zibo). With any luck, Fred will pass through on his way by.

[DipStick]

Kawa SuperSherpa:
14.5 hp (10.8 kW)
128.0 kg Wet

YBR 250:
21.05 hp (15.4 kW)
138.0kg Wet

Only 10kg difference!?! I could have sworn it was more, and I sat on it dry! Maybe it's true that a lower centre of gravity makes it feel heavier. There's also those watchamacallit fairing-type extensions on the sides of the already fat tank which make it look even bulkier. Maybe it's true what they say about how vertical stripes make one look thinner and horizontal ones fatter. It's all in the lines. Tricks the mind, it does. And I thought I had delusions of grandeur, it's more like illusions of grosseur now.

[soberpete]

Only 10kg difference!?! I could have sworn it was more, and I sat on it dry! Maybe it's true that a lower centre of gravity makes it feel heavier. There's also those watchamacallit fairing-type extensions on the sides of the already fat tank which make it look even bulkier. Maybe it's true what they say about how vertical stripes make one look thinner and horizontal ones fatter. It's all in the lines. Tricks the mind, it does. And I thought I had delusions of grandeur, it's more like illusions of grosseur now.

All true if you ask me.
Viewing it from the front makes it look really skinny. Not stripes to disguise it's size there.

[Graham]

Hey Pete, thanks a lot for the heads-up !

I came back yesterday after spending 10 days in Vietnam, man they're crazier than us over there, everyone powering through the streets of Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi with their cubs...


Fred

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Hi Fred,

I know just what you mean about Hanoi and HCMC (Saigon)

Fay and me hired a pair of Honda's in Hanoi, and started off in Hanoi.
Hanoi to Cat Ba Island, back to the mainland, and then headed all the way south over Hai Van pass to Siagon.
We each clocked up 2250 km.
We know all to well how crazy they are in Hanoi and HCMC, it was great though.

Gra.

[Graham]

Gra... I don't think you explained that in enough detail. Slide my backside halfway down my own ass/ arse/ asse?
When I first saw a message from 'Graham' I thought you were someone else. My best mate's name is also Graham and I was surprised to think that he'd found his way onto this site without telling me.
Anyway, your correction was appreciated.

I've seen a little bit of Weifang but not enough. It looks really nice and clean (compared to Zibo). With any luck, Fred will pass through on his way by.

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Hi Pete,
Damn, I should have read it right :)

Any way, mei wenti.

Gra.

[DipStick]

I'm just back from a short 5-day beach vacation in Rayong, Thailand with my wife and kids (only had one half-day or heavy rain, but they conspired to blow up a chemical factory in town - it's in the news!). Got back to the office today, all excited to get an update on the plates situation from our vehicle person. She's away on sick leave! I wish her well, but man, it's eating me up inside: go or no-go??? I can somewhat relate to what Pete was feeling earlier in the thread when he had a bike and no plates! It must have been worse for him since he physically had his bike and could ride it around a bit, while I am in a situation of having a bike lined up and awaiting a confirmation that I will get plates before I can go pay for the darn bike!

Question for Pete: did you also have to have the Chinese characters for Yamaha stenciled on your tank like Fred, or is that a stupid rule applicable to Shanghai only? My natural reaction to someone attempting to spray paint my property is "eat the can first, and then try spraying". But I am way too polite to express it in those terms of course.

To all: did anybody identify in the end after-market hand guards that are suitable for the YBR 250? (I saw that "hand job" thread).

Here's hoping I get my bike before the end of this month. Better yet, in time for my birthday in a couple of weeks. But again, TIC...

[soberpete]

Question for Pete: did you also have to have the Chinese characters for Yamaha stenciled on your tank like Fred, or is that a stupid rule applicable to Shanghai only?

No. Nothing like that here in Zibo... not yet at least.

My natural reaction to someone attempting to spray paint my property is "eat the can first, and then try spraying". But I am way too polite to express it in those terms of course

I can relate! I often have aggressive things to say to the people who do (or wish to do) such things but I never say it if I know it'll have a negative outcome.

To all: did anybody identify in the end after-market hand guards that are suitable for the YBR 250? (I saw that "hand job" thread).

I'd like to know too. I saw that thread a while back but I can't find it anymore. Does anyone have a link for me?