I had a friend who skipped on a 250cc and went for the 750cc and he crashed it like a retard. I personally never had issues with a 500 going long distant, but that is also driver preference, and neither has another one of my friends who has a 250 and went to Laconia, NH for bike week (which is 3 hours away from me). They aren't speed killers either that I agree, but for my weight and height a 250 is sufficient. Unless your looking to go higher than 110mph and looking for that adrenaline rush the 250 is fine and cheap. Yet again I've driven a Hayabusa, so that alone has got me spoiled as much as adrenaline and speed are concerned. I'm all about safe biking cause there is some bikers who think they don't need to follow anyyyythiiiiiiing. Those are the ones (like my friend) who kiss some major pavement. That fool deserved it.