Suzuki GSX250 differences?

[dynamite9585]

G/F has found herself a good CBR250, so now the pressure is on for me to find my bike.

I an trying to make up mind between:
1990 GSX 250R ($2000)
and
1991 GSX 250F ($1600-1800)

main questions:
is the 250R the same as a GSXR?
is there any major differences between the 2 i should know about?
will they keep up with the little lady?

[SMOKEU]

Get the R.

[tigertim20]

G/F has found herself a good CBR250, so now the pressure is on for me to find my bike.

I an trying to make up mind between:
1990 GSX 250R ($2000)
and
1991 GSX 250F ($1600-1800)

main questions:
is the 250R the same as a GSXR?
is there any major differences between the 2 i should know about?
will they keep up with the little lady?

Hey. there is a fair bit of difference between the two. The gsxr is a sporty version, the gsx is not so much so. The gsxr and the cbr are essentially the exact same bike, but made by a different manufacturer, if you know what I mean. The gsx is more 'miniature tourer for commuting' and the gsxr a sport version.
Have a look at this thread, it has a little more detail for you.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/126960-Gsxf-gsxr
Id go for the gsxr, assuming they are both a similar year, kms and condition.

[neels]

If you want to keep up with the CBR, buy the GSXR. Great fun little bikes.

I'm assuming you mean one of these
http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/suzuki-history/1988/1988_GSXR250_side_500.jpg

vs one of these.
http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/suzuki-history/1991/1991_ACROSS_450.jpg

[dynamite9585]

thanks for the replies, i'm pretty much sold on the 250R.
but can someone confirm for me that the GSX250R is a GSXR?
i'm already thinking it is, would just like someone to confirm it.

[tigertim20]

thanks for the replies, i'm pretty much sold on the 250R.
but can someone confirm for me that the GSX250R is a GSXR?
i'm already thinking it is, would just like someone to confirm it.

gsx250r = gsxr 250
gsx250f = gsxf 250
you could throw up a link to the bike you are looking at, or just a picture of it.

Also, you seem only to be choosing between the models, yet havent mentioned items on the bike that are worth looking at.
Do you know to check fork seals, headset swingarm and wheel bearings? How many kms has each bke travelled? how much tread do the tyres on each bike have, a set of tyres will run you around $400 for some cheaper ones. are the brake pads getting worn? what about the discs themselves, are they in good nick?

Does the chain appear to have been well oiled, and are the sprockets in good condition? These are all things you should look at, and compare between the two. In all honesty, there isnt a massive performance difference between the two bikes, Im pretty sure they are the same engine, with slightly different tune.

If this is your first road bike, I suggest getting someone familiar with bikes to go along and check it out for you. If you dont know anybody, then Id fork out for an AA check, because if you fail a warrant on those older bikes, these things can really cost you
new chain and sprockets, approx 200 - 250
tyres at least 400 a set fitted
fork seals I have seen some places charge up to 380 to replace
headset wheel and swingarm bearings, between 150 - 600 to have replaced depending on which, and where you go
brake pads, about 60 a set, plus fitting
discs can be 180+ and then fitting.

the list goes on. either of those bikes are getting on a bit now, so it pays to be carefull. the gsxf may well turn out to be a better deal, or both could be pieces of shit! do the homework and cover your arse!

keep us informed and we want pics when you finally buy!
pics of the girl and her bike would be a bonus!!

[dynamite9585]

had a mate how knows heaps about bikes go have a look at the GSXF, he said it looked straight but quite possibly had a major drop as it had been completely repainted.

called the guy with the GSXR and spoke to him for a good 20 mins or so on the phone, he gave me a really good breakdown of it's owner ship and all seemed to check out, he put new fairings on it as the old ones were broken and off the bike when he bought it (not from a drop, just from being kicked and moved around in the shed for a few years)

the F needed some work to get a wof, the R comes with a brand new WOF. i am confident i am making the right choice. the mrs CBR is coming from a dealer in auckland that we havn't heard anything untoward about yet. talked with the guy on the pohone and he seemed quite genuine about the sale.

[one fast tl1ooo]

Dont get a gsxr 250... get a zxr250... way better than a gsxr... I had 2 gsxr's .. the zxr will leave it for dead

[mikemike104]

gsx250r = gsxr 250
gsx250f = gsxf 250
you could throw up a link to the bike you are looking at, or just a picture of it.

Also, you seem only to be choosing between the models, yet havent mentioned items on the bike that are worth looking at.
Do you know to check fork seals, headset swingarm and wheel bearings? How many kms has each bke travelled? how much tread do the tyres on each bike have, a set of tyres will run you around $400 for some cheaper ones. are the brake pads getting worn? what about the discs themselves, are they in good nick?

Does the chain appear to have been well oiled, and are the sprockets in good condition? These are all things you should look at, and compare between the two. In all honesty, there isnt a massive performance difference between the two bikes, Im pretty sure they are the same engine, with slightly different tune.

If this is your first road bike, I suggest getting someone familiar with bikes to go along and check it out for you. If you dont know anybody, then Id fork out for an AA check, because if you fail a warrant on those older bikes, these things can really cost you
new chain and sprockets, approx 200 - 250
tyres at least 400 a set fitted
fork seals I have seen some places charge up to 380 to replace
headset wheel and swingarm bearings, between 150 - 600 to have replaced depending on which, and where you go
brake pads, about 60 a set, plus fitting
discs can be 180+ and then fitting.

the list goes on. either of those bikes are getting on a bit now, so it pays to be carefull. the gsxf may well turn out to be a better deal, or both could be pieces of shit! do the homework and cover your arse!

keep us informed and we want pics when you finally buy!
pics of the girl and her bike would be a bonus!!

GREAT ADVICE - I wish I had heeded this type of warning before I spent 3k on my GPX and a further 2k in repairs !

[tigertim20]

had a mate how knows heaps about bikes go have a look at the GSXF, he said it looked straight but quite possibly had a major drop as it had been completely repainted.

called the guy with the GSXR and spoke to him for a good 20 mins or so on the phone, he gave me a really good breakdown of it's owner ship and all seemed to check out, he put new fairings on it as the old ones were broken and off the bike when he bought it (not from a drop, just from being kicked and moved around in the shed for a few years)

the F needed some work to get a wof, the R comes with a brand new WOF. i am confident i am making the right choice. the mrs CBR is coming from a dealer in auckland that we havn't heard anything untoward about yet. talked with the guy on the pohone and he seemed quite genuine about the sale.

sweet, good job!! o0nly thing I recommend, is the day you get it, do an oil change. oil change will take you 30min with basic tools, and its just worth it. You never know how long its REALLY been since it was changed.

good onya for getting others to look at it, however you say you havent seen the gsxr in the flesh yourself? either get an aa check done on it, or appeal on KB, ask someone in the area to go look at it for you. dont buy sight unseen when it comes to an older bike

[dynamite9585]

keep us informed and we want pics when you finally buy!
pics of the girl and her bike would be a bonus!!

as requested, she won't let me put any of the pics i have of her up on here. :spanking:
but here are the bikes.
here (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/127543-We-got-our-bikes!!!!!?p=1129839769#post1129839769)

[tigertim20]

Nice! nothing beats the day you get your first bike. except maybe getting a new bike. or having a threesome on a bike.

[Insanity_rules]

Bit of pressure there keeping up with a cbr. Don't have much experience with Suzi's but from the guys I ride with and having ridden a gsx, I gather the GSXR is much quicker. Now the zxr is a little monster of a bike, if you want something really quick thats not a cbr then I'd say go for that.

My learners bike was a VTZ250 twin. Off the line that was really quick but didn't have the top end of the small 4. I have however owned an RG250 and that was REALLY quick. If you have some riding experience and aren't commuting everyday then the RG or RGV would be the quickest thing this side of an Aprilia RS250.