Returning expatriate needs advice for VT250F (If you have the time, cheers!)

[Jonathan]

Hello chaps! (and ladies!)

I am just about to return from the UK after a couple of years and I am keen to get back on the road. So keen in fact, that I placed a bid on a 1988 VT250F which looks like it will probably win as there aren't so many buyers out there right now.

Needless to say I haven't checked out the bike in person yet (being several thousand km's away) and I bid before I did any research whatsoever. When I get back the first thing I intend to do is ride said bike up to Wellington.

Long story short, I have read up and understand these engines on these bikes may or may not have a tendency to blow up. What precautions should I make before I set off to make sure I make it to Picton? All advice welcome and appreciated!

Last bike I had was a KR 150, so I know 2-strokes okay, went from Christchurch to Wellington and Wellington to Auckland no problem on it (I have a habit of taking small bikes long distances)

Thanks! Jonathan. Sorry if this post is in the wrong place.

[neels]

Probably not as bad as you think, a guy I work with has just done christchurch-takaka-christchurch on his vt250. He couldn't walk at either end of the trip but the bike was fine.

[quickbuck]

Hi Jonathon,
VT250's are great little bikes.
No real tendency to "Blow Up" unless maintenance was lacking....

The one you have bid on looks great. The owner has definitely spent a bit of money in the right areas to show they cared about it.

The trip from Christchurch to Picton will be a breeze on it. These little things will do 170 no worries, and have enough torque to power through the Nor-wester across the planes before you hit the coast....

Enjoy....
$1900, you got a bargain!

[Jonathan]

Thanks for the feedback and reassurance. $1900 would be nice but I anticipate some last minute bidding will no doubt take place.

[quickbuck]

Yeah, could do... BUT many people are skint after Christmas, and New year.... You could get lucky.

[sleemanj]

I think any of the VT's of the late 80s are fairly OK, all based around the same engine, main differences are the frames (and fairing). If it were me though, I wouldn't pay more than $1900.

$1700-2000 tops for anything other than the VT250 SPADA (the one with the fancy "Castec" frame) is my opinion, they are worth a fair amount more.

NB: I have a VTZ, and I'm thinking that it's time I took it on a round NZ, even though it's a 250 I have no qualms in doing so, it's very happy cruising at 120k with plenty of oomph for passing (I tend to chicken out at 140, bike could do more if you really wanted), pretty comfortable, and just generally does what it's told (although I have a bad habit of telling it to do the wrong thing).

[bogan]

can't resist pluggin my own sale here, got an 84 vt250 +parts bike for $1500 linky (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/116187-84-VT250-spares-bike?p=1129594822#post1129594822), great bikes they are!

[quickbuck]

can't resist pluggin my own sale here, got an 84 vt250 +parts bike for $1500 linky (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/116187-84-VT250-spares-bike?p=1129594822#post1129594822), great bikes they are!

Nice shameless advert....

The OP has WON the auction at $1900.
Has new brake rotors.... so i reckon he got a great deal.

[Jonathan]

Yep, quickbuck was right the auction did not go over $1900 in the end. New front discs and pads and new front tyre, sprockets and chain - also rego'd until the end of October. I am pleased with the result. Interesting that this bike has twin front discs though, everywhere I have seen mention of this model says it comes with a single inboard front disc. Well, can't wait to get back and take it for a ride!

[quickbuck]

Interesting that this bike has twin front discs though, everywhere I have seen mention of this model says it comes with a single inboard front disc.

You are right.... Could be a CBR250 front end?

[neels]

Guy at work has one, it has twin discs, apparently some of the F models came with them instead of the inboard disc.

[MSTRS]

VT250's are great little bikes.
No real tendency to "Blow Up" unless maintenance was lacking....

Correct. The earliest model/s had a rep for 'blowing up'...the oil feed/s were too small, and they'd run bearings at sustained high speed.



These little things will do 170 no worries, The Spada model can do that on a good day. Lighter, with an alloy frame, better engine internals and a 6 speed box. The other variations of the VT, including the 'modern' VTR, top out at 160 or under. Still quick enough for a 250, and very capable little engines.

[Jonathan]

Looks like the 1988 late model VT250F I have purchased http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-262260098.htm is more akin to an early model VTR250 http://www.airtech-streamlining.com/images/89VTR250.JPG than it is to, say, a VT250F from1985 (The blowey uppy variety - probably unfair to label it such though). In fact the late VT250F/early VTR250 seem to be indistinguishable (except for the weird dangley front indicators on the VTR250 - perhaps same bike, different name for different markets (Japan/USA)?

So, oh well, I am no longer concerned I may have engine problems.

[sleemanj]

The VTR250 was sold as an "Interceptor" in the states, that's what you've linked to there I think.

I THINK that this may be the same thing (more or less) as what is/was called a "Xelvis" here and other places, they look similar anyway I think.

In all, the whole VT 250 series lineage is a bit confusing, with shortish production runs before Honda got bored and morphed the bike again and again, and a fair bit of select market bikes (some Japan only, some US only that kind of thing) which over the 20 years or so have been grey imported.

End of the day, they are all good, you'll enjoy it.

[sleemanj]

NB: The Spada is also called a VTR250 I think, as well as the current VTR250.

[bogan]

Interesting that this bike has twin front discs though, everywhere I have seen mention of this model says it comes with a single inboard front disc. Well, can't wait to get back and take it for a ride!

lucky you, the inboard ones are a bastard to work with!

[MSTRS]

NB: The Spada is also called a VTR250 I think, as well as the current VTR250.

Nope. Just VT250. Model designation is K. Made 1988 + 89 only.

[quickbuck]

(The blowey uppy variety - probably unfair to label it such though).

Well, considering the sister bike with the same frame but a very different engine went CLACK all the time, I think the heat was taken off the original VT somewhat.....

[puddytat]

As MSTRS said above, they can give some problems with the crank if the bikes been poorly maintained (oil)....I was told that you should always run your oil level at the upper end of the scale, (check after warming it up)running too little, they dont like.
They can handle a good thrashing,I know of a F2 that had 13 owners & before I lost track of it , it had done over 100,0ook & the last 40 odd thou was in hands of 2 very capable young riders who thrashed it .