Ok, What bike to learn on?

[Wrestler]

My wife,having been riding on the back of my bike for about 18 months, has decided to get her license. The challenge i have is what bike.
Initially i was looking at the GN250 for her but reckon she would soon grow tired of it. My attention is now drawn to the Honda Hornet 250, she has actually sat on one and she says the riding position and height are really good. At the same time she sat on a CBF 250 but found that a bit highter in the seat (although specs say they are the same height).

My preference is for the Hornet but a friend (or 2) reckon it would be too powerful and she might lose confidence on it

So my second choice would be between the GN and CBF. Both single bangers but from reviews it apears the CBF has a bit more pep (albeit a couple of grand more expensive). At the end of the day i would like her to have a bike she could enjoy for the full learner/restricted period.

So, i guess my questions are

1. Is the Hornet a good learners bike? has anyone found it too powerful for learners?

2. Does the CBF have that much more grunt than the GN?

3. What are your thoughts re learners bike?

[YellowDog]

IMO the bike she feels most comfortable on is the best one to get; otherwise it will all be your fault if anything goes wrong.

There is no such thing as 'too powerful' on a 250cc. All bikes are too powerful if you ride them inappropriately and having that extra bit of power for hill starts and overtaking is a big plus.

Plus she has sat on the back and seen how a big bike rides, so she should have a good idea of how to handle it.

Unless your wife is an imature 15 year old child bride, get the Hornet.

Y.D.

P.S. If your wife is an imature 15 year old child bride..............

[Str8 Jacket]

I wrote my brand new GN250 off just so that I could get a 150 2smoker... Well, I do tell a lie, it really wasnt "on purpose" but I digress, get a 150 2 stroke. Everyone tells me that 4 strokes are much easier to ride but I seriously think that I learnt much more from my KR than I ever did with the GN250. A fews years and a few bikes have passed and I now use an FXR150 as my bucket racer/ commuter bike and reckon that it too would be a perfect learners bike. You need to sit on a few and find one that you feel comfortable on and TBH, the GN is a great learners bike if you do want to go down that path...

Good luck!

[Duke girl]

The Hornet sounds like the bike for your wife as she has already told you how comfortable she feels on it and how the height suits her and that is very important when learning to ride. It will only go as fast as she makes it go, and once she has built up her confidence and has been riding for a few years then she will gradually move up to bigger and more powerful bike.
My first bike was a LTD Kawasaki 250 and I thought that was a great bike to start of on. Any chance she can have a ride on 1 to see if she likes the way it handles on the road?.

[Wrestler]

I hear what you say, i actually learnt on a suzuki RG150 2 stroke and it was great fun. and it could go, i'm not small (about 95kgs) and i often got it to about 120 0n trips. even went out with my mates a few times, gotta say they hated following me as they didn't like the taste of oil lol.

[MSTRS]

If you were asking for alternative opinions, I'd be pointing you towards a VTR250. They are very forgiving for a learner, low seat height, comfortable semi-sporty ride position and being a v-twin with all the torque of a single but extra HP, they are fast/powerful enough that they do not become boring.

[LaytonNZ]

If you were asking for alternative opinions, I'd be pointing you towards a VTR250. They are very forgiving for a learner, low seat height, comfortable semi-sporty ride position and being a v-twin with all the torque of a single but extra HP, they are fast/powerful enough that they do not become boring.



i learnt to ride on a beatn up GN125, i loved it beacuse i didnt care if i crashed it ect. it wasnt expensive it was reliable and i was confordent because i didnt worry about smashing it up then i moved to a 250 ninja, that lasted 6 weeks and it got written off because i lady pulled out infrunt of me now i have a ZX6..

Everything under 250CC gets boreing quite quick but it has to be done:)

[bittertwistedcute]

As someone who has just learnt and changed bikes three times in twelve months - get one that fits, feels comfy and that you can sit on and wheel about on confidently, and push around with confidence too. For me it is lots about being able to reach the ground. I now have a 250 zeal and it is perfect, I had a bandit and although it was the same weight I really struggled.
The more confident you feel before the key is turned on helps!

[Gwinch]

My preference is for the Hornet but a friend (or 2) reckon it would be too powerful and she might lose confidence on it

Absolute codswhallop! Like everyone has been saying, comfort is the most important factor. A mate of mine was having immense trouble with the Bandit 250 he was learning to ride on but once he flicked that off and got himself a CBR125 which he said he felt right at home on... the issues ceased and he began enjoying riding again as he was just about ready to pack it all in.

The Hornet is actually well behaved at anything under half revs (which is what you use for typical road riding) and how fast she goes is fully dependant on her ability to control her right wrist. Plus she won't get bored with it nearly as quickly as other bikes! It's a bike that can be gentle to a learner and exciting to an experienced rider. Highly recommended.

[NDORFN]

Get her an old GPX250. If she can ride that, she can ride anything.

[DJSin]

As a lady learner I really like my Yamaha Scorpio

[Cheshire Cat]

get a CBR150 :msn-wink:

[DunerzNick]

vtr 250 if you are worried about power.
I got one to learn on, it is definitely not a quick bike but can still do highway speeds comfortably. I find it really confidence inspiring, great around the twisties and very forgiving. They look to be very similar to the hornet (except engine and doesn't have the 180 rear tyre) so she should be comfortable on that too.

[MSTRS]

vtr 250 if you are worried about power.
I got one to learn on, it is definitely not a quick bike but can still do highway speeds comfortably. I find it really confidence inspiring, great around the twisties and very forgiving. They look to be very similar to the hornet (except engine and doesn't have the 180 rear tyre) so she should be comfortable on that too.

Ya what?? A VTR250 will do 160. Isn't that quick enough?

[Indiana_Jones]

FXR150 ftw

-Indy

[The Pastor]

The only bad thing about the hornet 250 is the price, but you get what you pay for. Brilliant bikes, best 250 4 stroke probably

[NighthawkNZ]

If you were asking for alternative opinions, I'd be pointing you towards a VTR250. They are very forgiving for a learner, low seat height, comfortable semi-sporty ride position and being a v-twin with all the torque of a single but extra HP, they are fast/powerful enough that they do not become boring.

+1

great bike to learn on...

[discotex]

Personally I'd avoid the CBF and GN. Under powered, terrible handling, vibrate like hell and most of all hate the motorways.

I'd go with the VTR/Comet or Hornet/Bandit or Ninja 250/GT250R options depending on which feels more comfortable and whether she wants fairings.

[Zuki lover]

Get a hyabusa with a turbo man!!!!!!:clap:

[Bladeslapper109]

As a lady learner I really like my Yamaha Scorpio

I hired one of these for my license. easy easy easy bike to ride but underpowered compared to any other 250 I had ridden previously. Struggles to get to 110km and prob has a max flat line speed of 120...

Its only a 250. whatever is comfortable. no 250 is too much power.

[vindy500]

I hired one of these for my license. easy easy easy bike to ride but underpowered compared to any other 250 I had ridden previously. Struggles to get to 110km and prob has a max flat line speed of 120...

Its only a 250. whatever is comfortable. no 250 is too much power.

130 easily

[Bladeslapper109]

130 easily

Na not the one i rode. was 2008 from red baron and only did about 120 on flat land

[NighthawkNZ]

I hired one of these for my license. easy easy easy bike to ride but underpowered compared to any other 250 I had ridden previously. Struggles to get to 110km and prob has a max flat line speed of 120...

Its only a 250. whatever is comfortable. no 250 is too much power.

I thought the Scorpio was only a 225cc

[vindy500]

Na not the one i rode. was 2008 from red baron and only did about 120 on flat land

strange, the girlfriends 07 easily gets to 130 and felt like it had more in it, maybe you weigh more than 60kg :)

[davebullet]

If you were asking for alternative opinions, I'd be pointing you towards a VTR250. They are very forgiving for a learner, low seat height, comfortable semi-sporty ride position and being a v-twin with all the torque of a single but extra HP, they are fast/powerful enough that they do not become boring.

+2. My partner an I learned to ride on the VTR250. We still have it. Being a twin it is far more forgiving of being in the wrong gear if you need to pull away. The Hornet is a nice bike though with a bit more top end power.

Neither will be dangerous, unless you are hamfisted which men tend to be more than women.

If she likes the Hornet - get her to sit on one more bike as a comparison (easy to like the first bike you sit on without too many comparisons).

As DukeGirl said - the most important thing is she feels comfortable on it. That is the beginning of confidence.

PS: It's great she wants to ride too... I enjoy going out for rides, but nothing compares to riding with your partner on her bike. (maybe a track day though.... :whistle: )

[sleeqe2000]

From what i've seen there's not much advice on this thread being given about the options you are exploring , ie the CBF or GN or Hornet. Just alot of crap saying get this other bike etc etc.....

I have experience of both the GN and CBF

I did my learners on a GN and found it a good little bike to totter around on but didn't like it at speed on the motorway. After getting my learners I decided to get a CBF 250.

Why - well it's a Honda and in terms of reliability and build quality it's streaks ahead of the GN and also the Scorpio and Hyosung. I have had mine for a year and done 13000Km's of absolute trouble free commuting. It sits nicely at 100k/hr on the motorway and is great for pottering around town. You can pick up a year old model for 4K to 4.5K with a year still on the Honda warranty.

I recommend it wholeheartdly from someone who had been using one for a year now.....