Just out of curiosity

[ducatilover]

I am wondering what new riders are looking for in a sporty 250 these days.... I'm curious to see what they say and what the general young person is willing to pay for a first or second bike? This is to do with another thread of mine, but, I want opinions of people who would be buying a 250.
What do you want in a 250? :cool:

[Dean]

Big frame, 80% of 250cc motorcycles are usually being ditched or defamed because the frame isnt big enough and the riding poition can be strenous. Hence the exemptions.

wide body, high (ish) seat height, big tyre, and reasonable power to accompany it.

[ducatilover]

Big frame, 80% of 250cc motorcycles are usually being ditched or defamed because the frame isnt big enough and the riding poition can be strenous. Hence the exemptions.

wide body, high (ish) seat height, big tyre, and reasonable power to accompany it.

I see you have a zeal, one of the few I haven't ridden. How high is the seat?
Mine has a small frame, relaxed position in relative terms [compared to a cbr/zxr/fzr/gsxr] and more torque than any of the 4cyl 250s. Ideal for a short person.

[mowgli]

I am wondering what new riders are looking for in a sporty 250 these days....
As big a thrill as they can breaking one law without breaking the other law :bash:

[ducatilover]

As big a thrill as they can breaking one law without breaking the other law :bash:

Sounds like you are a two smoker type? That's the only way to move at a decent pace on a two fiddy :first:

[Dean]

I see you have a zeal, one of the few I haven't ridden. How high is the seat?
Mine has a small frame, relaxed position in relative terms [compared to a cbr/zxr/fzr/gsxr] and more torque than any of the 4cyl 250s. Ideal for a short person.

My zeal is very small, the seat height is 735mm, chunky but small frame, many riders in my position would want a different bike. I may or may not sell it in the future, pretty much size is always a big factor, the most frequently asked questions are to do with the height of a person asking if they could comfortably ride a certain 250cc.

[ducatilover]

My zeal is very small, the seat height is 735mm, chunky but small frame, many riders in my position would want a different bike. I may or may not sell it in the future, pretty much size is always a big factor, the most frequently asked questions are to do with the height of a person asking if they could comfortably ride a certain 250cc.

That's a vry low seat! Ideal for midgets

[mynameis]

Does a flamingo forget how to fly Doug? Same as years ago, inline 250's.

[Sammy12]

Sporty... i bought a Bandit! Didnt wanna pay anymore than $4000 for my first bike, so i bought it private instead of a dealer.

[ducatilover]

Does a flamingo forget how to fly Doug? Same as years ago, inline 250's. I will not get a perm :Playnice:


Sporty... i bought a Bandit! Didnt wanna pay anymore than $4000 for my first bike, so i bought it private instead of a dealer. I paid $4000 for the spada in April 06, fresh from nipp land with 24km, sweet deal for me. Bandits are a good wee thing:first:

[jim.cox]

What do you want in a 250?

Kwakasaki KLX250 or KLX250R are looking pretty good to me right now

[ducatilover]

Kwakasaki KLX250 or KLX250R are looking pretty good to me right now

For what reasons? :baby:

[jim.cox]

For what reasons? :baby:

Light and nimble, simple, road registerable, pretty green colour

[ducatilover]

Light and nimble, simple, road registerable, pretty green colour

Plenty of great justifiable reasons there, especially the green part. You failed to mention that it is a great alternative to a gn though....

[3L4NS1R]

Light and nimble, simple, road registerable, pretty green colour

aye, the klx is a mighty machine. add to the list: easy to fix, easy to mod, easy to pick up, and can go anywhere! Handles pretty good on road too.

[gijoe1313]

The lil'ol'hornet is a luvverly wee beastie, only prob is the high premium put on it! :pinch: It didn't use to be like this, but times change and the chew fiddy market being slightly ridiculous in its set up :oi-grr:

Mmmm hornets ... :woohoo:

[ducatilover]

The lil'ol'hornet is a luvverly wee beastie, only prob is the high premium put on it! :pinch: It didn't use to be like this, but times change and the chew fiddy market being slightly ridiculous in its set up :oi-grr:

Mmmm hornets ... :woohoo:

Hornets are....horny. I love them:drool:

[Jonno.]

Value is more important than price. I'm thinking about buying a new or relatively new ninja 250 but i couldn't justify paying the same or even less on a 20 year old bike. Also fuel milage, power depreciation and how i long i'll keep it for.

[ducatilover]

Value is more important than price. I'm thinking about buying a new or relatively new ninja 250 but i couldn't justify paying the same or even less on a 20 year old bike. Also fuel milage, power depreciation and how i long i'll keep it for.

That's quite an ask isn't it? older 250's from the early 90's don't seem to depreciate much, for example the zxr250c and mc22 cbr

[Ooky]

what about not 1st bike buyers of 250's? :headbang:
yay smokers! :first:

[cheesemethod]

I'm suprised what people will pay for second hand 250 sports bikes of the 80s and 90s, when there are new options like the hyo, ninja or hornet. But I guess I'm not cool enough to pay $5000 for an old beaten up bike with a fairing and some stickers.

[ducatilover]

I'm suprised what people will pay for second hand 250 sports bikes of the 80s and 90s, when there are new options like the hyo, ninja or hornet. But I guess I'm not cool enough to pay $5000 for an old beaten up bike with a fairing and some stickers.

Some people find a proven bike offering more performance is great. The cbr are a bullet proof bike. So are the hornets.

edit: I had alot of trouble with my 04 gn250, I had less with an 86 gpz400r, none with my bros650, I have only had a few with the spada, those were due to it being parked up for extended periods with out fuel additive. Build quality that lasts that long wins with me every time.

[cheesemethod]

Some people find a proven bike offering more performance is great. The cbr are a bullet proof bike. So are the hornets.


No doubt. All I was meaning is that many young people will take looks and performance over something sensible with a warranty. Not that I can blame them, but if you're buying a bike for commuting rather than hooning I think that buying something with 40000km on it vs something new is silly.

[ducatilover]

No doubt. All I was meaning is that many young people will take looks and performance over something sensible with a warranty. Not that I can blame them, but if you're buying a bike for commuting rather than hooning I think that buying something with 40000km on it vs something new is silly.

Looks are a personal thing, personally I think the hyoyoyoyosung is disgusting, the 250r kwaka is very nice looking though. I had a mate buy an mc22 cbr for just under $7k, it had a real 14000km on the clock, now has done more than mine without a single problem. The Gn I had was under warranty, BUT, Suzuki told me electrical components weren't covered. So I had manly electrical problems. Then the swing arm bush stuffed out at 10,000km, they didn't replace that. Rear brake fucked out 3 times in 10,000km. I sold it, it was a temperamental pile of poos. That's why I went for the spada, very very reliable bikes. Good for lots of kms. Better to ride than the new 250's. But yeah, as you say, some like the new shiney look, regardless of the crap quality.

[KelvinAng]

What do you want in a 250? :cool:

Something that doesn't look or sound like a 250 :done:

My vote: lil' ol'hornet. The fact that she handles like a dream, go like the clappers right at the start, invite biker waves and got strangers talking about her are all not important :rofl:

[Jonno.]

How long after you brought did this stuff happen? If you brought it from a dealer and it fucked out consumer guarentees act could have covered it.

[Laxi]

I bought my zzr because the riding position and the seat are a lot more comfortable than a zxr, also I picked it up for stuff all over 2 grand, done 15,000ks on it since without a prob, couldn't justify paying more for a bike that only had to last me 9 months or so:scooter:

[ducatilover]

Something that doesn't look or sound like a 250 :done:

My vote: lil' ol'hornet. The fact that she handles like a dream, go like the clappers right at the start, invite biker waves and got strangers talking about her are all not important :rofl: The hornetto are an awesome little bike, very sexy too. Being a typical honda they are extremely reliable and love a good beating:rockon:


I bought my zzr because the riding position and the seat are a lot more comfortable than a zxr, also I picked it up for stuff all over 2 grand, done 15,000ks on it since without a prob, couldn't justify paying more for a bike that only had to last me 9 months or so:scooter:
The zzr, IMHO, is a great 250 for real world riders, as you say not cramped but not a lounge chair. Cheap too, great value for money. My little baby has lasted me over three years and done many a long ride.

[Zealnz]

Woo yeah go the ZZR!

[Hiflyer]

when I was first looking I wanted looks and big-ness cos i'm quite tall. But now that I have a hyosung, I'm still looking for looks (cos the hyos headlight looks a bit naff) but reliability is the key.

Target bith groups in your ad, the spada looks good with and without the fairing, I reckon way better without the fairing but with dual headlights, and the reliability would be a key factor as well,


once summer comes there'll be much more interest in it though.


FAAAAARRR OUT Frosty's wording made me want to buy it!!! hahaha

[ducatilover]

when I was first looking I wanted looks and big-ness cos i'm quite tall. But now that I have a hyosung, I'm still looking for looks (cos the hyos headlight looks a bit naff) but reliability is the key.

Target bith groups in your ad, the spada looks good with and without the fairing, I reckon way better without the fairing but with dual headlights, and the reliability would be a key factor as well,


once summer comes there'll be much more interest in it though.


FAAAAARRR OUT Frosty's wording made me want to buy it!!! hahaha

Frosty seems to have a way with words :laugh: I want to buy it when I read it, then I remember it's in my garage