First bike input please

[Maakz]

Heya
Newb looking to purchase my first bike-over the joy and into the angst.
Been looking up buy guides etc aswell as perusing TM and the like.
Got my eye on 3 i'd like input on from the KB community if poss...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=343915407
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=343109635
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=343585482

I know a dealer would bring peace of mind and i plan on hitting them for perusal too. Just exploring all my options. Wary of dumping a load on a total dud. Budget for bike is round $3500/4K mark. Have to get gear and Insurace aswell...mind boggled already.:blink:

[sil3nt]

They seem overpriced. Well the 2nd and 3rd links do anyway. Over $3500 for a 15 year old v twin 250? Tell him his dreamin!

Didn't realise these cruisers were the same price as a decent sports 250.

[Pascal]

Have a look at the Virago as well if you're looking at cruisers. They are pretty solid and reliable machines and very forgiving to ride. Have a look at this:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Cruiser/auction-328744163.htm

And that comes with saddle bags, etc. as well.

[Phreak]

FWIW, the GV250 is the ONLY hyosung I like! Definitely a better pick than the other two you are looking at, anyways. :apumpin:

[Latte]

FWIW, the GV250 is the ONLY hyosung I like! Definitely a better pick than the other two you are looking at, anyways. :apumpin:

Honda build quality vs Hyosung Build quality? And you'll lose less in the long run on the Honda (the Hyo is still depreciating). Not saying the hyo is bad, just not necessarily any better than the Hondas.

Good thing about these wee cruisers is most of us pimply faced newbs who could beat rossi if we were only given a chance wouldn't be seen dead on em, so they won't be thrashed to within an inch of their lives.

[98tls]

Fwiw if a first bike i would buy a road legal Trail bike,stand up to the inevitable 1st bike whoopsies well (read as cheap to fix) plus theres the ability to get off road where you will learn plenty re bike control etc which is all relevant to riding on the road.

[mattian]

contrary to popular belief, not all learners crash and burn their bikes whilst they learn to ride. I never did. Nobody I know ever did.

Try and find yourself a Kymco Venox 250. Second hand they'll be as cheap as chips. Failing that, the mighty gn

[blackdog]

Fwiw if a first bike i would buy a road legal Trail bike,stand up to the inevitable 1st bike whoopsies well (read as cheap to fix) plus theres the ability to get off road where you will learn plenty re bike control etc which is all relevant to riding on the road.

yup, xt250 all the way, practically ride themselves

if ya want a cruiser though, the hyo's def the way to go (or the yam virago) stay away from the magnas, they are just tooo old now

[98tls]

contrary to popular belief, not all learners crash and burn their bikes whilst they learn to ride. I never did. Nobody I know ever did.

Try and find yourself a Kymco Venox 250. Second hand they'll be as cheap as chips. Failing that, the mighty gn

Have no interest in contrary belief only my own experiences over a lifetime on 2 wheels.I do however believe and always will that anyone embarking down the path of 2 wheels can do no bigger favour to themselves than to spend time on a Trail bike and whats learnt off road with no traffic to worry about is far more valuable than whats to be learnt on a road bike.The fact that theres plenty of good road legal Trail bikes out there these days for bugger all $ makes it even more appealing and for my money a more obvious 1st bike.

[Latte]

Have no interest in contrary belief only my own experiences over a lifetime on 2 wheels.I do however believe and always will that anyone embarking down the path of 2 wheels can do no bigger favour to themselves than to spend time on a Trail bike and whats learnt off road with no traffic to worry about is far more valuable than whats to be learnt on a road bike.The fact that theres plenty of good road legal Trail bikes out there these days for bugger all $ makes it even more appealing and for my money a more obvious 1st bike.

I'd never thought about it that way, but when learning beginner "roadcraft" it definitely helped me not having to learn the technique of actually controlling a 2 wheel vehicle at the same time.

[St_Gabriel]

wait for another 5 months, the arse will drop out of the market with the new laws in regards to engine size. You can get a bigger engine/more power so you wont want to upgrade so quick.

I have owned a Hyosung albeit a efi version and it was great. Was sorely tempted to get another to replace it when it was written off. Went for the VL250 instead.

Have a look at the Suzuki VL250, you get a japanese brand that a lot of people seem to love and you get a v twin less than 5 years old as opposed to the magna at 15 years old.

Or wait till june 25th and buy mine :bleh:

[Pascal]

wait for another 5 months, the arse will drop out of the market with the new laws in regards to engine size. You can get a bigger engine/more power so you wont want to upgrade so quick.

That is a damn good point.

[Gibbo89]

That is a damn good point.

Only certain 250's will drop down a bit, a four cylinder 250 for example won't depreciate much at all compared to a Suzuki GN250.

[sil3nt]

I am hoping the Aprilia RS250 comes down to a sensible price!

[Maakz]

Heya, thanks for all the input-took ut on board.
Made an executive decision and went the dealer route with a second hand Hyo-bag...i know...i know. But since i aint a pimply faced newb but one fast approaching an 'age' that shall not be mentioned, and am also not a small woman, i just NIKEd it!
So...Thurs i get my hands on my machine. Daunted but so excited IT.IS.rediculous. Enjoyed the shop, not so much the first set of dismissive frickaz (sales reps) who wouldn't give me the time of day. Well HUA for them...their loss. :msn-wink:
Beaming...like only a looney newb with their $h*t sorted can...

[St_Gabriel]

Congrats Maakz,

Hope you enjoy your new bike. Details? GV250 I assume. EFI or carby/age.

This will also be the slowest week and Thursday will never get here soon enough.

[slothracer]

I am hoping the Aprilia RS250 comes down to a sensible price!

and dreams are free

[sil3nt]

and dreams are freehaha yes they are :bleh:

And while im dreaming i think a VJ23 should just be gifted to me because im awesome.

[slothracer]

haha yes they are :bleh:

And while im dreaming i think a VJ23 should just be gifted to me because im awesome.

yeah now your really dreaming. vj23 rare as. jst get a vj22 there awsome. only good bastards ride them :woohoo:

[gatch]

only bastards ride them :woohoo:

Fixed..

10 cars.

[Autech]

Welcome to the fold. Enjoy that GV!

[Pretorian]

Congratulations Maakz.

I hate to be a downer, but having owned a 2010 GV250 for six months now, I have mixed feelings about them. Mine has been back to the dealer about nine times for a number of warranty related fixes. When they're running well, they're a wonderful bike and they certainly look damn sexy for a 250. However, the build quality does leave a bit to be desired at times. One of the problems I encountered was one of the factory-sealed electronic parts being half-full of water and badly corroded. Note the words 'factory sealed'. Also the kick-stand switch seems to die on almost all Hyosungs from what I'm told, so if your bike starts losing power here and there or cutting out completely, get that looked at. The dealer didn't even bother fixing mine and just disabled it claiming that Hyosung themselves recommended doing that instead of replacing the part.

So yeah, mixed feelings about it. It's taken me all around the South Island with no dramas, but it's also stranded me in parking buildings by refusing to start.

Just be wary is all I'm saying and if you have no problems, fantastic. Enjoy the bike.

One last thing too if you have the carb version (2009 and earlier) you will probably avoid a few of these problems. If you have the EFI version (2010 and later) you will have better fuel efficiency and more power that most other 250's around, but the fuel-injection technology is pretty new ground for Hyosung and there are definitely teething issues.

Cheers.

[Latte]

Congratulations Maakz.

I hate to be a downer, but having owned a 2010 GV250 for six months now, I have mixed feelings about them. Mine has been back to the dealer about nine times for a number of warranty related fixes. When they're running well, they're a wonderful bike and they certainly look damn sexy for a 250. However, the build quality does leave a bit to be desired at times. One of the problems I encountered was one of the factory-sealed electronic parts being half-full of water and badly corroded. Note the words 'factory sealed'. Also the kick-stand switch seems to die on almost all Hyosungs from what I'm told, so if your bike starts losing power here and there or cutting out completely, get that looked at. The dealer didn't even bother fixing mine and just disabled it claiming that Hyosung themselves recommended doing that instead of replacing the part.

So yeah, mixed feelings about it. It's taken me all around the South Island with no dramas, but it's also stranded me in parking buildings by refusing to start.

Just be wary is all I'm saying and if you have no problems, fantastic. Enjoy the bike.

One last thing too if you have the carb version (2009 and earlier) you will probably avoid a few of these problems. If you have the EFI version (2010 and later) you will have better fuel efficiency and more power that most other 250's around, but the fuel-injection technology is pretty new ground for Hyosung and there are definitely teething issues.

Cheers.

I have heard the build quality isn't the best with Hyo's, but to be fair kickstand switches seem to be a common failing on a lot of bikes - I guess being exposed to the water etc at the bottom of the bike does take it's toll. My Aprilia's kickstand switch decided that up was down , and down was up (even though the light on the dash was correct, it had a 3rd wire for the killing the engine which was behaving the opposite to the light).

As I was late to get home and pick up my Daughter from Daycare I had to do some delicate roadside surgery to get going (spliced wires and a broken kickstand switch). I wasn't too keen on riding with the kickstand down.

[Beren]

wait for another 5 months, the arse will drop out of the market with the new laws in regards to engine size. You can get a bigger engine/more power so you wont want to upgrade so quick.


Is this definitely taking place? A large part of the reason I am looking to pay a decent ammount for a 250cc is that it will retain it's value... if not I might just buy the cheapest thing I can for 5 months then upgrade.

Do you have any links to the legislation changes? My google foo seems a little weak today and couldn't find anything definite. Interested to see if since I already have my learners it will affect me.