What 250 would be best?

[vindy500]

Ok I have narrowed it down to 5 bikes, Out of these what would you recommend?

The ideal bike will be cheap as chips to commute on, never break down and still be fun for a Saturday ride.

Cheers

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=252412129

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=261900771

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=261730851

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=259851865

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=260547953

[kave]

I would go for the VTR. Low kilometers, ideal for commuting. The Hornet would be my second choice but it is not as nimble (though it would have a higher top speed). The kms on the Balius are too high, the GPX is faired and the Hyosung is a Hyosung.

[Phreak]

and the Hyosung is a Hyosung

Hahahaha! Get a CBR-250RR mate, you'll never regret it!

[McJim]

I had a VTR 250 for a year - never regretted it once - reliable as clockwork - fun at the weekends and cheap as cheap can be to comute on.

[breakaway]

If you have 4000 to spend, none of those. Get a cbr or zxr 250.

[kave]

If you have 4000 to spend, none of those. Get a cbr or zxr 250.
Get a CBR250rr or a ZXR250 if you want a cheap track bike. If you want a bike to learn on that has a comfortable riding position, is better suited to commuting and touring, is less than 20 years old and hasn't been thrashed then get the VTR. If you want a fast bike get a 250cc 2-smoker.

Personally if I was recommending a bike to one of my mates to learn on I would recommend something like this:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-258256559.htm

If I was going to buy myself a 250 I would buy this:
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Other//auction-258775637.htm

Out of the bikes that you have listed, the VTR is the best for reliability, cheap to run and good for weekend blasts on the open road.

[davebullet]

The Mrs. commutes on our VTR250 every day and does 28km/litre. Just to confuse you, you could add a Ninja 250 to the list. I'd probably still pick the VTR of the 2 (I can't get over the goofy headlights of the ninja).

[The Everlasting]

I would go for the VTR. Low kilometers, ideal for commuting. The Hornet would be my second choice but it is not as nimble (though it would have a higher top speed). The kms on the Balius are too high, the GPX is faired and the Hyosung is a Hyosung.


I agree,the VTR is the pick of the bunch,low kms,2002,all the other ones bar the hyosung are up there in the Kms....

[P38]

Both the VTR and the Hornet are really good bikes to learn on IMO.

Both are reliable and economical to run.

I chose the Hornet in your poll as I like the styling a little more although the VTR looks great in red.

Either way you wont be dissapointed.

As for the suggestion of a CBR250RR or the ZXR250 .... While they are great bikes, they are definately not suitable for a learner IMO.
Both develop about 45hp and both are capable of speeds that will quickly exceed any learners ability to safely control these machines which can only lead to tears through injury, demerits or death. Although they will be a great choice for a more experienced rider looking for a quick nimble smaller bike.

End of the day it's your choice though.

Remember to ride like everyone is out to get you.... because they are!

Have fun on what ever you choose and ride safe.........You'll live longer that way.

[FROSTY]

they are all second hand bikes so Id suggest that checking the condition of the bike out is important in the decision process

[crazyhorse]

they are all second hand bikes so Id suggest that checking the condition of the bike out is important in the decision process

I'd agree with that :)

[The Everlasting]

they are all second hand bikes so Id suggest that checking the condition of the bike out is important in the decision process



Surely that's a given? :p

[FROSTY]

Surely that's a given? :p
Nope--the OP is asking us to reccomend a choice between 5 bikes. Point being that they are all reasonably capable bikes so rather than a generic answer i'd suggest that a more important concideration is the condition of the bikes rather thaqn make/model

[The Everlasting]

Nope--the OP is asking us to reccomend a choice between 5 bikes. Point being that they are all reasonably capable bikes so rather than a generic answer i'd suggest that a more important concideration is the condition of the bikes rather thaqn make/model

Ah yup fair call,I just assumed anyone buying a used bike would automatically check out it's condition/roadworthiness...

[Slyer]

I'd take the VTR or the GPX, the Hyosung third.
Twin for the win.

[gijoe1313]

And here is the ubiquitous plug by gijoe1313 for lil'ol'hornets! :msn-wink: PM sent!

[BoristheBiter]

i started out with the ninja 250, a great all round bike even if it was a little small for me. very forgiving if you made a mistake (i made a few).
very easy to ride and i got about 450km to the tank.
but like what has been said before if you are buying 2nd hand check it out first.
just go to a shop and take one for a spin and take it from there.

[vtec]

CBR250RR is the best 250 ever. Hornet would be the next best, and VTR 3rd best. If you want to race in the twin racing get the GPX.

2 strokes are for looking at and race teams.

[vindy500]

Ive been riding for a year and a half now, just got a car over summer, I had a gpx and then a bandit, 87 and 92, the bandit was crap, too many issues to count. I dont want something which is extremely high strung which keeps dying on me, so cbr's zxr's etc are out for me, I'm even quite wary of the hornet. The pros for the gpx and hyosung are there local, but I do like the vtr look. I quite like the idea of buying from a shop as well (GPX) but k's and price are at the top of my limit. (both the hyosung and vtr are willing to negotiate)

[Jerry74]

I had a 91 Balius and if you can find one with less kms than the one you show they are great wee bikes to play on.

[ducatilover]

Ive been riding for a year and a half now, just got a car over summer, I had a gpx and then a bandit, 87 and 92, the bandit was crap, too many issues to count. I dont want something which is extremely high strung which keeps dying on me, so cbr's zxr's etc are out for me, I'm even quite wary of the hornet. The pros for the gpx and hyosung are there local, but I do like the vtr look. I quite like the idea of buying from a shop as well (GPX) but k's and price are at the top of my limit. (both the hyosung and vtr are willing to negotiate)

Hornets don't tend to break, nor do the cbr's...or the vtr's. But honda says to replace the cam chains on the vtr every 50,000km. Hornet/cbr don't run a chain or belt. Very well engineered and also very proven bikes.

[CastorPollux]

Hi, I started out on a Hornet - having no road riding experience & I loved it. It was great for my commute over the Bridge every morning & never let me down. Heaps of fun on the weekends too, I took it for plenty of back road blats.

[SMOKEU]

That's untill the fuel pump fucks out (which it WILL do) on the MC19. Other than that, they're a great bike.

[ducatilover]

Yeah, that's true....

[250rr]

Hahahaha! Get a CBR-250RR mate, you'll never regret it!

couldn't agree more

[Leseid]

Had a look at the brand new 250 VTR at Motormart the other day, very nice! Now with fuel injection, so it should be even more economical than before.