Honda 1988 CBR250R as a first bike

[fleebag4@]

Looking at surprising my girlfriend by buying a CBR250R 1988 bike. Now thats a big leap from the pop corn machine she now rides.

Anyway, what should i be looking out for? 27000 and they say it's good(Who doesn't except me) and they're based the other side of the island, so i want to avoid wasting my time if there are serious issues. Was thinking of agreeing a price if it passes a Mechanic (Probably Honda) inspection which i'll pay for though i have no idea of costs. Any ideas? Pro's and Cons of the bike as it's a great price :Punk:

[SMOKEU]

I've got one, but I wouldn't recommend one to anyone unless they're reasonably confident on a bike as they are quick enough to get into serious trouble.

The fuel pumps on these bikes are prone to failing and labour costs can be very expensive even for simple maintenance tasks.

Overall, these are a great bike that I recommend to anyone who is after a quick, reliable 250.

[Gibbo89]

Looking at surprising my girlfriend by buying a CBR250R 1988 bike. Now thats a big leap from the pop corn machine she now rides.

Anyway, what should i be looking out for? 27000 and they say it's good(Who doesn't except me) and they're based the other side of the island, so i want to avoid wasting my time if there are serious issues. Was thinking of agreeing a price if it passes a Mechanic (Probably Honda) inspection which i'll pay for though i have no idea of costs. Any ideas? Pro's and Cons of the bike as it's a great price :Punk:

i reckon inline four 250's are a good 1st bike, i know a lot disagree and recommend a gn or a scorpio etc. you mention she is riding something that sounds pretty basic, so i assume she can ride a manual bike... i would say go for it. i don't think she would get sick of it too soon.

for the right price and it is mechanically sound then i dont see why not. just make sure she is careful at 1st!

[fleebag4@]

She's upgrading from a scooter and i would take her riding in a car park along with some quite roads first before letting her loose. I think it's a bit fast, but she won't be changing it for a few years, so thats why i think it's cool. We stay in island Bay, so there is plenty of quite space for her to learn to ride it along with getting used to the bends with it. It's on Trademe, so lets see

[fleebag4@]

How much would a fuel pump cost to replace?
Not to worried about the maintenance bar the Carbs as i have no ideas about that. Used to the fairing getting in the way as my bikes fully faired and i service it.

Thanks for your input

[DMNTD]

IMO she'd be absolutely fine with the bike. It will only go "fast" if she wants it to.
Good thing about those bikes is that they hold their value VERY well :yes:

[Latte]

IMO she'd be absolutely fine with the bike. It will only go "fast" if she wants it to.
Good thing about those bikes is that they hold their value VERY well :yes:

+1 - bikes only go as fast as you let them. If she understands throttle control and clutch she'll be fine. IMO most newbies have trouble with turning and getting off the line (stall, stall, then a handful of revs and off into the scenery). Any bike will react badly if you balls that up.

[SMOKEU]

How much would a fuel pump cost to replace?
Not to worried about the maintenance bar the Carbs as i have no ideas about that. Used to the fairing getting in the way as my bikes fully faired and i service it.

Thanks for your input

Honda wanted about $300 for a new fuel pump. The fuel pump design is quite strange, both the inlet and the outlets are on the same side of the pump, making it very difficult to track down the right pump for it. I was not prepared to pay what Honda wanted. In the end I went to a place that specializes in parts for old Minis, and they sold me a fuel pump, which was physically a lot smaller than the standard Honda pump, but the guy at the shop assured me that it can supply enough fuel for an 80hp Cooper, so I thought it must be enough for my bike.

A year later it still works fine.

[JR1]

I too would think ur gf would handle the cbr well, i bought a fzr250 as first bike and found it a breeze to ride. altho as mentioned with these older bikes funny things go wrong occasionally as they would after a few years

[hellokitty]

i reckon inline four 250's are a good 1st bike, i know a lot disagree and recommend a gn or a scorpio etc. you mention she is riding something that sounds pretty basic, so i assume she can ride a manual bike... i would say go for it. i don't think she would get sick of it too soon.

for the right price and it is mechanically sound then i dont see why not. just make sure she is careful at 1st!

The CBR sounds like a good idea especially if she will be on it for a while - I got a GN and outgrew it in about 2 weeks!!! (slight exaggeration!)

[Danny-Boy]

Probably a bit late, but my MC17 is registered as 1988. And the MC17 dont hav a fuel pump, just gravity fed.

As to a first bike, i would almost say no, even though mine is my first bike. I did 7000km on a chinese 50cc, then about 1 hour on a dirt bike to learn how to use a clutch. I was really carefull for the first couple of months, (still try to be now) but was caught out a couple of times reving high and going to fast.

All depends on the rider.

[phiretrojan]

She's upgrading from a scooter and i would take her riding in a car park along with some quite roads first before letting her loose. I think it's a bit fast, but she won't be changing it for a few years, so thats why i think it's cool. We stay in island Bay, so there is plenty of quite space for her to learn to ride it along with getting used to the bends with it. It's on Trademe, so lets see

Hi there,

that's what i did - i started from a Scooter 50cc, did my learners on that, when to a FXR150CC to get the feel of a bigger bike, then a CBR250cc 1989 mc19 - i have to say they are really quick! takes off really fast, i was worried at first when i got it if this was to much for me, as long you can handle it and not let the bike handle you, you'll be fine, she'll love it i'm topping up on petrol about 10$ about every 3rd day, riding from tawa to wellington and back, so thats not bad about $30 per week ... maint's wise, i just did all my work it would be alot cheaper and then just get a once a year service check from a shop, just stuff like oil changes, chain lubing, general cleaning, i have a maint's pdf/ site if you want it i can send via PM to you.. if you do get this bike! all i can say is they are really GOOD!! i picked up one at 25k's for 4k about 2 yrs ago.. she'll be happy that she got a CBR!!!

[tigertim20]

they are a great lttle bike. sure, you could probably get her a GN or a scorpio, but they will be outgrown more quickly.
The cbr will only go as fast as her right wrist will let it, and if she's been riding a scooter, then she already understands the throttle/wrist action, and should know not to panick and snap the throttle anyway.

You can get aa inspections etc, but id be inclined to go to a local honda dealer, and pay them an hours wages to give the bike a proper looking over, would cost about the same as an aa inspection, but theyd know what specifically to look for.

dont listen to the munters who tell you what is or isnt a good first bike for her, if she feels comfy on it, thats all you need.

[Old Steve]

Whatever 250 bike you get her, spend the $300 and get a ScottOiler fitted. No more weekend mornings with newspaper behind the chain to protect the tyres, spraying chain lube. And the chain and sprockets will last longer too.

Get your GF down to a Honda shop and let her just sit on something similar. That'd be a good first step, if she doesn't like the feel of it then look for something else. Don't surprise her, let me say that again, DON'T SURPRISE HER! Talk to her about what she wants, what she feels comfortable on. Let her sit on as many bikes as you can.

[rabidnz]

never surprise a woman unless it is with bad news or a diamond, preferably both.
I think the cbr is a terrible learners bike really, the way it delivers power demands very smooth throttle control and its chuckability actually makes it a little skittish if you need to correct your line. i think a vtwin with more linear power curve would be better for a first bike. Then again some people learn alot quicker than others, and some scare alot easier than others :)

[SMOKEU]

Whatever 250 bike you get her, spend the $300 and get a ScottOiler fitted. No more weekend mornings with newspaper behind the chain to protect the tyres, spraying chain lube. And the chain and sprockets will last longer too.



Way too expensive! There are cheaper chain oiling alternatives to that.


never surprise a woman unless it is with bad news or a diamond, preferably both.
I think the cbr is a terrible learners bike really, the way it delivers power demands very smooth throttle control and its chuckability actually makes it a little skittish if you need to correct your line. i think a vtwin with more linear power curve would be better for a first bike. Then again some people learn alot quicker than others, and some scare alot easier than others :)

Not to mention replacement fairings.

[rabidnz]

Whatever 250 bike you get her, spend the $300 and get a ScottOiler fitted. No more weekend mornings with newspaper behind the chain to protect the tyres, spraying chain lube. And the chain and sprockets will last longer too.


exactly what smokeu said re the oiler. Definitely do not waste your money on one of these gimmicks. Simply by a can of good quality chain wax spray for 20 bucks, and adjust and clean your chain every 2000ks like you should be doing anyway. Nothing will spray off if you apply it to a warm chain and let it cool down on there, and a scottoiler doesnt clean the chain, only applies oil to the dirt, forming a nice grinding paste over time.

[fleebag4@]

I beg to differ as i think ScottOilers are dangerous and expensive when a can of Chain Lube is only $30.

Asked a Honda dealer to look over the bike and they wanted $80 an hour! Damn i need a career change! The bikes sold now, so we're checking out a CB250 this weekend which i think is a better bike to learn on though she'll struggle on weekend rides.

[SMOKEU]

Asked a Honda dealer to look over the bike and they wanted $80 an hour!

It's just about robbery.

[O2R]

exactly what smokeu said re the oiler. Definitely do not waste your money on one of these gimmicks. ... a scottoiler doesnt clean the chain, only applies oil to the dirt, forming a nice grinding paste over time.

Yes agree, after trying one years ago, I found this problem. There is no substitute to a good oil, each time you adjust your chain.

And if you got her the CBR, you did better than a 250 Twin, every one out grows them in a hurry :innocent:

[avgas]

I've got one, but I wouldn't recommend one to anyone unless they're reasonably confident on a bike as they are quick enough to get into serious trouble.
Who are you? AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH SMOKEU?????!!!!!
That sounds far too much like common sense.

[SMOKEU]

Who are you? AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH SMOKEU?????!!!!!
That sounds far too much like common sense.

I kidnapped the real SMOKEU.

[Gibbo89]

Who are you? AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH SMOKEU?????!!!!!
That sounds far too much like common sense.

he is now a reformed member of the KB society.

I think he is the only one.

[Jonno.]

exactly what smokeu said re the oiler. Definitely do not waste your money on one of these gimmicks. Simply by a can of good quality chain wax spray for 20 bucks, and adjust and clean your chain every 2000ks like you should be doing anyway. Nothing will spray off if you apply it to a warm chain and let it cool down on there, and a scottoiler doesnt clean the chain, only applies oil to the dirt, forming a nice grinding paste over time.

A sprayed chain doesn't clean itself either. The point of a chain oiler is to oil the chain faster and more effectively then by using a can.