Opinions wanted please.

[phaedrus01]

Hi I have been getting around on a scooter for the last year and have decided to get my license and get a bike, I already have all the gear and have a budget of around $3k. I am not after anything too flash or new. Not after speed either just a simple reliable bike which is easy to maintain and get parts for.

I am currently thinking about a;

GB250-My top choice so far, Like the simplicity and styling.(have considered buying a GB400 and just riding it in the hope I don't get pinged, but decided it's not worth it for me.)
GPZ250-Like the price.
TU250 tracker-Simple single, sweet styles

Would consider an IL4 but to be honest for the price I am looking at I think they would be well thrashed, so yeah.
And possibly a Ginny, but I'd rather not if I have a choice.

Most of my riding is strictly commuting, 30 mins each way through 50-70 kph zones, I would just feel safer on a 250 with bigger wheels,brakes and power than I do on my scooter.

Any info would be appreciated
Cheers

[hospitalfood]

i think you are brave asking for opinions here, and that indicates that the GB400 is the right mount for you at present.

move on up from scooterland. bloody good !

[MSTRS]

this (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-238830214.htm) would be brilliant
or this (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-238550810.htm)
or even (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-229729325.htm)
spoiled (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-237366736.htm) for choice

[cheesemethod]

The TU250 is pretty much a GN250 with a different tank. My opinion is that if you're doing the commuting you're doing every day, then the GN or TU would be your best bet. Super cheap on gas, super cheap on parts, and overall a great bike for their price. Sure, they're not the best on the open road, but unless you're out doing long distance touring on it every weekend it will do just fine.

[motorbyclist]

GB250-My top choice so far, Like the simplicity and styling.(have considered buying a GB400 and just riding it in the hope I don't get pinged, but decided it's not worth it for me.)
GPZ250-Like the price.
TU250 tracker-Simple single, sweet styles


you're on the right track - just remember to have someone who actually knows what it is you're looking at to have a test ride and thorough inspection or you may well end up with a lemon.

remember the GB is older and will ultimately require more work/effort to keep it on the road, compared to, say, the GPX250 (and there's a guy at uni selling his one for around 3k - asfaik tidy bike in good nick but needs a new rego).

same goes the GPZ - we don't see many of those around any more so might pay to find someone who owns one and see what they're like to run

clearly I don't need to get into why a GN is a horrible machine, which saves a long post, but remember the TU is the GN motor, and the Volty is essentially the same pile of rusting steel chassis. the Tracker IIRC is a cool little beastie though hard to find in NZ, it is made in japan to japanese spec. no, must be mistaken with another bike of similar name we had at a uni learner ride. TU is just a GN, so steer clear if it's made in china. maybe look at the gsx250 invader? personally i'd just dodge any suzuki that isn't an fxr150.

imho the honda vtr250 is one of the best learner/commuter bikes out there but might be juuust out of your budget range. The older model vt250 spada, however, might be more affordable and aren't half bad either

[sunhuntin]

ginnys are good little bikes if you can get an 80s/90s one. the new ones are rusty right out of the crate. i had an 86 one, and it still started first pop after it got hit by a car, whereas my 06 one wouldnt start even on a sunny day.

[motorbyclist]

ginnys are good little bikes if you can get an 80s/90s one. the new ones are rusty right out of the crate. i had an 86 one, and it still started first pop after it got hit by a car, whereas my 06 one wouldnt start even on a sunny day.

+1, but i have a serious gripe with the handling and overall performance of the bloody things (compared with other machines in the learner range)

[MSTRS]

Give this (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Cruiser/auction-239458075.htm) one a serious look at. Much better than the singles.

[McWild]

Don't get a 400 if you want insurance to take you seriously.

[mowgli]

Give this (http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Cruiser/auction-239458075.htm) one a serious look at. Much better than the singles.
I know the owner of this one. Can even help out getting it to Auckland.

[phaedrus01]

Hey cheers everyone for all the helpful thoughts.
I ended up getting a GB250 and I love it!!!
Sounds so sweet..
So now I have the cool job of keeping an early 80's honda in sweet running order, should be fun!
Stay tuned for all the noob "how do I fix this" questions<_<

[MSTRS]

You will get a great deal of pleasure from such a bike. Bonez is the resident expert on old 'ondas...

[Oli]

Have you tryed a FXR150?

[motorbyclist]

damn fine learner bikes - but he already bought the GB250

[cheesemethod]

+1, but i have a serious gripe with the handling and overall performance of the bloody things (compared with other machines in the learner range)

So what is wrong with the handling and overall performance?

[MSTRS]

They are fine (usually) for what they are designed to do. It is impossible not to draw comparisons between them and other 250s...in which case the GN is found lacking.

[Hiflyer]

If ever a solely "commuter" bike was made, it would be a GN. **They have plastic brakes, slow unresponsive handling, but the position makes you sit like you would in a car hahaha



**Much like a hyosung

[motorbyclist]

So what is wrong with the handling and overall performance?

ok, let me begin by saying that the GN is still a capable bike, and many learners do learn on these. But, in my experience with learners and the current range of learner bikes, the GN is one of the worst introductions to riding. I'm not saying it's a bad way to start, just that newbies can get bikes so much better than a GN that i try to steer newbies away from them. THEN we have the quality of the last few years - which i feel exploited the learner market, undercutting the other makes and even the 2nd hand market with their sub-par machines that really do give a poor introduction to motorcycling.

as for the handling...

assuming it's not one of the chinese ones with incorrect jetting and appalling build quality (to be fair it's not too bad for china:laugh:), it's the ridiculous travel in the front forks combined with the rake angle that coupled with teh 250 single has the bike lurching backwards and forwards by the throttle, the whole, 'BAM the front just slipped and now you're horizontal' factor, the brakes are appalling (compounded with that front end) the stock tyres are plastic and if they fit a counterbalance to the motor they did it wrong.

it's an all round package that is more fail than the sum of it's failing parts.

For learning, I feel it's a horrible machine - especially with the recent shocker with chinese models and dealers not re-jetting appropriately - and Learners simply don't know any better.

I've ridden better 250 cruisers than that - cruisers do their job well

I've ridden better 125 & 250 sprotsbikes than that - well obviously, but they were more forgiving.

I've ridden better 125, 150 & 250 commuters than that - even bikes using 1970's technology.

Heck, the only thing the GN250 has over a scooter is power and larger diameter wheels.

Learners deserve better than that. Learners at least deserve something that gives a wiggle before falling horizontal.


If you've ever ridden a chinese scooter that flexes so much it wobbles through corners, then hopped on a chinese/italian one that can actually bear it's own weight, you'll know what I mean.


Final point:
They don't race the GN125 in buckets for a reason ;)


My conclusion: want a bike with parts going back well into the 80's? buy a GPX250

[Squiggles]

I do hope you're not basing those statements on my or Banzais GN :nono: fwiw, you've not really justified any of them, nor compared it to anything in a similar price range :lol:

[motorbyclist]

I do hope you're not basing those statements on my or Banzais GN :nono:

lol your one is an extra special case but yes i've had a few more testrides



fwiw, you've not really justified any of them, nor compared it to anything in a similar price range :lol:

G P X

said it like three times!

same parts abundance, cost a bit more new, but they do come in the same price bracket for given condition

[cheesemethod]

You're definately right about the tyres, the stock tyres are absolutely shit. A mere $350 solves that problem tho.

I really don't get any of the gripes about handling or the brakes. I just took mine for a ride today, up SH16, West Coast Road to Warkworth, then back down West Coast Road back to SH16, up to Wellsford, then all the way back down SH16 to Auckland. I do this ride quite often, and can keep up with some much flasher bikes through the twisty bits. Not once have I had the GN try and spit me off. Sure, the hills get a bit tiresome due to the lack of power but I can live with that. The brakes are adaquite for the entire ride.

In terms of the suspention travel and being lurchy with on/off throttle and brakes, I thought the same thing thing when I started riding, however as soon as you learn to be smooth on the throttle and brakes, you're fine.

When I was buying, I tried a number of bikes
Tried the Scorpio but wasn't a big fan, didn't like the already rusty spokes on the wheels (almost new demonstrator) and the plastic brake and clutch levers.
Tried a CBR250, was great fun to ride, but didn't want to shell out the asking price for broken fairings that were superglued back together, oil leaks, and something was wrong with the carbs or ignition - stalled it many times trying to take off, even with plenty of revs on.
Tried a Hyo, not bad but had been dropped on both sides which made me a little suspicious.
Tried a GSX250, was fantastic but couldn't really afford it at the time.

So I settled on a GN250. Not my first choice, but for what it cost me for the fun it has given, I would recommend them to noobs, with the condition that they ditch the plastic tyres.

[Squiggles]

G P X

said it like three times!

same parts abundance, cost a bit more new, but they do come in the same price bracket for given condition

For given condition :lol: You mean like Sams? That was an expensive exercise... :eek: We all know their suspenders are just as lolzy

[motorbyclist]

For given condition :lol: You mean like Sams? That was an expensive exercise... :eek: We all know their suspenders are just as lolzy

no, not like sam's; he was ripped off buying it and continues to rip himself off every time he spends money on it or so much as looks at it with a screwdriver in his hand