Kawasaki ZXR250C 1991 as first bike?

[Ryster]

Anyone think that is a good choice as a first bike, I know some of them have been thrashed but i thought that they were made to handle that sort of stuff. But im no expert, any opinions?

[Autech]

Yup, test ride it and see if you like it

[Malcolm]

My ZXR is/was my first bike and I love it, very easy to ride, lots of fun and mine has been very reliable (despite having 80,000km on it now). Worst thing about mine is probably that the fairings are a bit buggered from being dropped a lot in its 19 years of existance.

[EJK]

Many people has started with a ZXR. Nothing wrong witht that.

[Grasshopperus]

I'm on my first bike and it's a ZXR250A. I frickin' love it. I recently got my restricted and I'm still enjoying it. I hear that some people get a bit sick of their GN250's and other lower power 250cc bikes after a while but I think you could still have fun on these after years of ownership.

[Jonno.]

Obviously it's up to you. But you don't need the most powerful to learn on.
A lot of people think their speed makes up for their lack of skills but it doesn't.

[Jonno.]

I'm on my first bike and it's a ZXR250A. I frickin' love it. I recently got my restricted and I'm still enjoying it. I hear that some people get a bit sick of their GN250's and other lower power 250cc bikes after a while but I think you could still have fun on these after years of ownership.

I've owned my 150 four stroke for over a year and I still have fun every day and I ride everyday.

[SMOKEU]

Start off with a slow naked bike and buy a ZXR when you know how to ride fairly well. I've seen too many learners bin fast 250cc bikes. Fairings are not cheap for those bikes.

[R6_kid]

Go for it man. Just take your time learning and keep your ego in check. It's only a 250 but you still need to respect it. Usual advice - get good tyres, good brakes, and if you're going to spend money on it spend it on the suspension.

[quickbuck]

Obviously it's up to you. But you don't need the most powerful to learn on.
A lot of people think their speed makes up for their lack of skills but it doesn't.

Got to agree with this....
The best riders in the world are the ones that can go the slowest.......
Think about that.

You will have the noob mistakes happen too... like parking it in a place you thought would be fine, but turns out it isn't.... and bike sinks, and falls over.
Will have all the weight go the wrong way when maneuvering it around the shed.... Crunch.
Coming to a stop, and some bugger just through a pile of oil/ shingle/ bone/ coke can/ banana skin out in front of you!

There are plenty of other examples too...

Other than that, they are fine.
Only as fast as you twist the wrist....
In saying that, they are much more fun for riders who have ridden bigger bikes, and want a blast on a toy....

If I had my time again, I would get a bit of a rat bike for a 250, and save my money for a nice big bike.. like my CBR400 that I got.
Would have saved plastic on both of them... But that is just me.

Your money though.... Don't let us make the final decision for you.

[Ryster]

Start off with a slow naked bike and buy a ZXR when you know how to ride fairly well. I've seen too many learners bin fast 250cc bikes. Fairings are not cheap for those bikes.

Ive ridden and owned bikes before, so im not a total newbie lol. This is just the one that im gonna buy for the road. Last bike i got for cheap ended up a night mare, so i dont mind spending a little bit more for something i know wont cause too much trouble.

[quickbuck]

Ive ridden and owned bikes before, so im not a total newbie lol. This is just the one that im gonna buy for the road. Last bike i got for cheap ended up a night mare, so i dont mind spending a little bit more for something i know wont cause too much trouble.

BUT, you said "First Bike", so how were we to know you have owned and ridden bikes before?

You may well be spending a little more, BUT it is still 20 years old.
Rubber has a life, and I mean more than the tyres.
Hoses, intakes, needle valves, fuel taps, and dare I say it, brake lines (These are supposed to be replaced, but nobody ever does)...

All these things can lead to an element of unreliablilty.
Not trying to put you off, just a warning.

[Ryster]

BUT, you said "First Bike", so how were we to know you have owned and ridden bikes before?

You may well be spending a little more, BUT it is still 20 years old.
Rubber has a life, and I mean more than the tyres.
Hoses, intakes, needle valves, fuel taps, and dare I say it, brake lines (These are supposed to be replaced, but nobody ever does)...

All these things can lead to an element of unreliablilty.
Not trying to put you off, just a warning.

Yeah thats true, i would have thought if its had good servce history (which i will check before i buy it) then it shouldnt be that bad. I know people that are good with mechanics so ill ask around a few of them. Was just on here looking for opinions and weather people had owned them and liked them or found them reliable etc.

[quickbuck]

Yeah thats true, i would have thought if its had good servce history (which i will check before i buy it) then it shouldnt be that bad. I know people that are good with mechanics so ill ask around a few of them. Was just on here looking for opinions and weather people had owned them and liked them or found them reliable etc.

Well, okay.
They are very reliable (Almost all bikes are these days) providing a few things.
Yes, to regular service history. That will maintain it's inherent reliability.
If there has been a lack of crashes, it will maintain it's reliability.
It will also be as reliable as the manufacturer made it, IF it hasn't been abused....

In almost 20 years, it is quite hard to tell in some cases....
All that said, there are some common things to look for, and your mechanic friends can help point them out.

Things like Brake Rotor Wear, and Fork seals are good places to start....
Look for perished rubber, and any signs of crash repair.
Also look at the Chain and Sprockets.

A good indication of how careful the rider is, is to look at the tyres.
Firstly make sure they match, and secondly look at the wear pattern on the rear.

If there is a mis-match in brands, then the owner doesn't really give a toss.
Also, if the rear has "Cupped" as in squared off, then the owner wasn't a real motorcyclist, so may not have ridden, or maintained it properly....

Hopefully this helps.

[Ryster]

Well, okay.
They are very reliable (Almost all bikes are these days) providing a few things.
Yes, to regular service history. That will maintain it's inherent reliability.
If there has been a lack of crashes, it will maintain it's reliability.
It will also be as reliable as the manufacturer made it, IF it hasn't been abused....

In almost 20 years, it is quite hard to tell in some cases....
All that said, there are some common things to look for, and your mechanic friends can help point them out.

Things like Brake Rotor Wear, and Fork seals are good places to start....
Look for perished rubber, and any signs of crash repair.
Also look at the Chain and Sprockets.

A good indication of how careful the rider is, is to look at the tyres.
Firstly make sure they match, and secondly look at the wear pattern on the rear.

If there is a mis-match in brands, then the owner doesn't really give a toss.
Also, if the rear has "Cupped" as in squared off, then the owner wasn't a real motorcyclist, so may not have ridden, or maintained it properly....

Hopefully this helps.

Thanks for that, helps alot :)

[{.bLanK}G_o_D]

if the rear has "Cupped" as in squared off, then the owner wasn't a real motorcyclist, so may not have ridden, or maintained it properly....

Or has been doing burnouts on it, which also comes under
doesn't really give a toss

[crash harry]

My $0.02 FWIW - ZXRs are arguably the best of the 4cyl 250s (some would say the gull-arm CBR). They're quick for a 4-stroke 250, which is like saying that someone is tall for a dwarf. I understand fully the desire to have the quickest 250 you can get given that even fast 250s are slow and acceleration is one of the things that attract us to bikes. Just be aware that these things are OLD now, and 95% of them have not been taken care of so put a bit in your budget to give it a really big birthday when you buy it. On top of the regular birthday items (oil, plugs, fork oil, air filter, probably chain & sprockets) have a good hard look at the cam chain tensioner - they seem to be a bit of a weak area on ZXRs of the era.

Even though most of them haven't been looked after well, they seem to stand up to it pretty well so I'd say go for it.

[KNCTRD]

Anyone think that is a good choice as a first bike, I know some of them have been thrashed but i thought that they were made to handle that sort of stuff. But im no expert, any opinions?

Hey dude,

If you are still deciding.. I got the 95 ZXR 250 for my first bike, and i LOVE it. the best thing about it is i dont NEED to upgrade once on my full. I ride with guys on 600's (cruisers) and the ZXR smokes them on the twisties!!

I looked at ALOT of bikes before i got mine and had to spend a bit more than i wanted, but definatly get it checked out before you buy it!!