I don't blame him for wanting to step up from the 250, I say if he feels ready then so be it. I wouldn't want to ride a small bike for long myself. I started on dirtbikes at age 11, got hurt often, learned lessons, but none of which really applied to the street other than fundamental operation of a motorcycle. Dirt and asphalt, virtually zero comparison between them at a street riding level. My first streetbike was an '82 KZ550, which was a huge leap from the CR125 that I had prior to it and yeah, I wrecked it my first summer......so I fixed it and sold it off. Just wasnt ready for the change I guess and was man enough to acknowledge that fact, temporarily that is. Then after some years of shit/life I bought a YZF1000R, huge jump from a bike half that size years prior.....but it was never wrecked the years I rode it. All comes down to respect for the machine and the possibilities of what it can do to you. If he sells the 250R and buys a 600, good for him......it is quite a leap, but its also steps like these that teach each of us newfound respect for the bikes we ride, especially every time we'd upgrade our bores and strokes. Let him grow and learn like we've all done. Like he said ( and others here have said too ) there are dangerous elements no matter what we ride, be it a bicycle or a Busa