Ideas for a first bike

[numbersixteen16]

I am currently looking for my first road bike, I have experience off road so Im not worried about how hard a bike is to ride, If a bike is slightly too high I can get off and push it.
What I do care about is reliability and performance (handling, power, ergos).

The three bikes I have my eye on are a Hyosung gt250 comet, a suzuki 250 bandit or a Honda vtr250, these are all naked bikes and the Hyosung Ive found from a dealer costs about $1000 more than the others (its 2009 compared to 1995-7ish suzuki/honda).

The Hyosung would also have about 20000 less k's than the other two.

Thanks in advance for any help with my decision

[nodrog]

get a GSXR1000

[Nzpure]

Get a busa or a zx14.....*jumps on the band wagon.

[Krayy]

Honda VTR250, Hysong GT 250 or any other 250 without a full fairing, as it'll cost you a grand when you drop it. The Hyo is good but is quite a large bike, so make sure you're comfortable on it. The Honda will go forever.

Look at v-twins or parallel twins rather than inline 4's as the power delivery is more linear instead of being peaky at the top end. Winding it on and a sudden rush of power can scare the willies out of you and possibly make you lose control.

As always, don't spend so much on a bike that you cannot afford good gear.

[quickbuck]

I am currently looking for my first road bike, I have experience off road so Im not worried about how hard a bike is to ride, If a bike is slightly too high I can get off and push it.
What I do care about is reliability and performance (handling, power, ergos).

The three bikes I have my eye on are a Hyosung gt250 comet, a suzuki 250 bandit or a Honda vtr250, these are all naked bikes and the Hyosung Ive found from a dealer costs about $1000 more than the others (its 2009 compared to 1995-7ish suzuki/honda).

The Hyosung would also have about 20000 less k's than the other two.

Thanks in advance for any help with my decision
If you have off road experience,as you say, then I would look at the Ninja 250R as well.
Yes, covered in plastic, but to be honest, if you know how to ride a bike, and keep yourself up-skilled, then you will get a lot out of it.

Invest in a ProRider course, or similer and you will get the most out of it.
Check out my race reports on this site, and see what a standard Ninja 250R can do.....
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/forumdisplay.php/83-Race-track-day-reports

[kiwifruit]

Of the three you've mentioned the VTR would be the best bike imo.




when you drop it.

Dropping it isn't a compulsory part of motorcycling or learning to ride.

[nathanwhite]

Dropping it isn't a compulsory part of motorcycling or learning to ride.

No, but if at any time of your riding career you are most likely to drop your bike, it would be when you are learning.
Assuming of course that your not riding like a twat.

[quickbuck]

No, but if at any time of your riding career you are most likely to drop your bike, it would be when you are learning.
Assuming of course that your not riding like a twat.
Ummm,
this man has an RMZ450.... Wouldn't exactly think he is a total noob.

[nathanwhite]

Ummm,
this man has an RMZ450.... Wouldn't exactly think he is a total noob.

I know. It was more of a general statement

[quickbuck]

I know. It was more of a general statement
Fair enough then, in that context you are right.... Chances are higher, but there are many things one can do to mitigate that risk ;)

[nodrog]

Dropping it isn't a compulsory part of motorcycling or learning to ride.

Fuck you talk some shit, of course it is, if you are an epileptic with an inner ear problem and 1 leg.

[SMOKEU]

Buy a MC19 or MC22.

[5150]

Here you are http://www.adulttrikes.net/Kids-Trikes-and-Tricycles.html :whistle:

[ducatilover]

Buy a MC19 or MC22.

^ This.
Either an MC19/22 CBR250 or a ZXR250a/c
Unless you have a set, then buy a two stroke.

[SMOKEU]

If you've got a fair bit of mechanical knowledge, or know someone who will give you cheap/free labour then buy a 2 stroke. Come on, you know you want to.

[5150]

If you've got a fair bit of mechanical knowledge, or know someone who will give you cheap/free labour then buy a 2 stroke. Come on, you know you want to.

Yup, makes every ACC cent well spent ;)

[SMOKEU]

Yup, makes every ACC cent well spent ;)

If the OP respects the bike and doesn't ride like a muppet/wannabe Rossi then there shouldn't be a problem.

[5150]

If the OP respects the bike and doesn't ride like a muppet/wannabe Rossi then there shouldn't be a problem.

Nothing wrong with wannabe Rossis, given right time and right place. It's the muppets i cant stand. :pinch:

[numbersixteen16]

^ This.
Either an MC19/22 CBR250 or a ZXR250a/c
Unless you have a set, then buy a two stroke.

I didnt even think about that, two stroke would be awesome. Question is though how often would one need a rebuild, I can pull down a single 2 banger and replace the piston and reed valve, but never had to do more cylinders. What 2 stroke is reccomended too, apart from the Aprilla, theyre expensive.

How would the these old 1990s bikes handle compared to the hyosung?

Also, when I rode a 1990s cr250, it rattled like crap, 10 minutes of riding and your hand was numb from the vibrations, is the old cbr the same?

And i read that a 1992 rgv250 would have 62hp if it wasnt the japanese restricted model, anyone able to verify?

Thanks again.

[SMOKEU]

I didnt even think about that, two stroke would be awesome. Question is though how often would one need a rebuild, I can pull down a single 2 banger and replace the piston and reed valve, but never had to do more cylinders. What 2 stroke is reccomended too, apart from the Aprilla, theyre expensive.

How would the these old 1990s bikes handle compared to the hyosung?

Also, when I rode a 1990s cr250, it rattled like crap, 10 minutes of riding and your hand was numb from the vibrations, is the old cbr the same?

Thanks again.

I had a riding buddy who had a Hyosung GT250R, and I had a 1988 CBR250R. He wasn't afraid to ride that thing hard and I had to frequently slow down to 30kmh in a 100kmh zone to wait for him to catch up. The MC19/22 is a MUCH better bike than any other learner bike. I bought mine at around 17,000kms and sold it at 31,500kms. The only thing that went wrong with it was the fuel pump (which is a common problem on the MC19, and the fuel pump is made by Mitsubishi). I thrashed the fuck out of it as well.

The old CBR250s are much, much faster than the new Ninja 250s or Hyosung 250s.

[superman]

The old CBR250s are much, much faster than the new Ninja 250s or Hyosung 250s.

True, you get a few extra horsepower don't ya. Very important when buying a 250. :yes:

[ital916]

I think you should not rule out bikes like fxr150s. They are also great to learn riding on bikes. Whether you are an ace off road rider or not, learning to ride on the road is a whole new ball game (same with going road to dirt). 80% road awareness and attitude, 20% bike (IMO). You don't get drunk drivers, logging trucks, people on cellphones, children crossing the street, etc on an offroad course. An fxr is easy to maintain, cheap to run and fix, when ridden by a good rider can be hellishly quick in corners and perfect for insurance and levies due to low purchase cost and engine size. Remember most of the time you spend a (relatively) short period of time on your first learning bike, making the resale ability of an fxr good.

My 2c.

In the end you will get what you want.

[Spearfish]

No, but if at any time of your riding career you are most likely to drop your bike, it would be when you are learning.
Assuming of course that your not riding like a twat.

You don't have to be riding it to drop it;)

[ducatilover]

I didnt even think about that, two stroke would be awesome. Question is though how often would one need a rebuild, I can pull down a single 2 banger and replace the piston and reed valve, but never had to do more cylinders. What 2 stroke is reccomended too, apart from the Aprilla, theyre expensive. An RGV or NSR would do the job, treat them well and they can be quite reliable. The RS250 is recommended for 18,000km between rebuilds, I've seen them do much more though.


How would the these old 1990s bikes handle compared to the hyosung?
The Hyosung is a fat boat. My work boots handle better.
A CBR/ZXR/FZR will out handle one happily.
The suspension on the older ones is leagues ahead as are the brakes.


Also, when I rode a 1990s cr250, it rattled like crap, 10 minutes of riding and your hand was numb from the vibrations, is the old cbr the same?
The CBR tend to be very, very smooth in the engine and reliable with gear driven cams.

And i read that a 1992 rgv250 would have 62hp if it wasnt the japanese restricted model, anyone able to verify?

Thanks again.
I wouldn't be surprised at all. They are apparently fairly easy to de-restrict anyway.


The Hyosung an EX250 Ninja are good bikes, no doubt. But, they don't go or handle like the older 4cyl 250s, and have absolutely nothing on a 2 stroke.
Personally, I'd buy the better built bike (The MC22 CBR) over the newer ones, every time.

Except, they're all as slow as fuck except the 2 strokes :bleh: