Buying Honda or Suzuki?

[jamsop]

Hi there, looking at two bikes 1992 honda vt250 looks in very good nic and a suzuki gsx 250 2005 just using to and from work 40km there and back can go on motor way or 80kmh zone what are your thoughts thanks

[Edbear]

VT250 is a nice bike! Either should be bulletproof but the Honda is dearer to buy. Still be my choice though, v-twin sounds fab!

[Jantar]

Both are good bikes and suitable for your needs. My choice would be the Suzuki, mainly because it is much newer.

I would suggest you sit on both bikes and see which one you fit the best. Ask your self for each of them:

Can both feet slip easily between ground and foot pegs?
Do I feel cramped?
Are there any pressure points?
Is my neck straining to get good visibility?

You don't really give us much information about the bikes as far as condition etc to really give any advice about the relative merits of each.

[Laava]

Yep, the v twin sounds awesome but tbh you can't go wrong with either esp if you get an insp done.

[Edbear]

I think JimO still has his VTR for sale on here. It's a '98 model for abvout $2500?

[jamsop]

Thanks so far, im viewing them this week, gsx minor fairing repair small dent in tank, new wof and rego," Pirelli sport demon tires with heaps of tread, pads chain etc good condition. " 44000km, the vt, 47000 km " Adjustable levers Bar end mirrors LED indicators Pro grips Blacked screen Good tyres Under seat storage rranted & registered Great learner or commuter bike, very easy to ride Tidy condition, has some small cracks etc on fairings as expected with its year nice looking bike finished in glosss black with a few extras photos show the vt exterior is exceptional, motor could have been cleaned but looks like it did out of the factory, i like the look of the vt and will probably like the sound compared to the gsx but i wonder what second hand engine/parts are like for the vt i would imagine engine/parts for an inline twin ie the gsx are easier to obtain and easier to work on

[awa355]

RE 2nd hand VT parts. try $1800 for a new camshaft back in 1990. ( not likely to break very often admitedly). Honda dealer wont want to know you with a bike that old.

[brp]

What sort of mileage those 250's good for ? Would of thought with young fella's usually owning them most would have had guts revved out of them at k's OP looking to buy.

Spend/Save/Borrow some more money and buy lower k bike - cheaper in the long run :yes: Low K CBR250R

[spanner spinner]

Both should be a good option but just a quick heads up you can't get body work parts for the gsx from Suzuki, second hand only and as these where leaner bikes good bodywork is in short supply. Check the VT for big end noises it's at the right k's for big end issues. My pick would be a cbf250 if you can find one ever one who has them seems to keep hold of them, a sine there a good bike.

[nadroj]

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/155859-250-Bandit

[JimO]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=578254520

[fyrgem]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=578254520

Like my bike, but $2k cheaper and a few thousand Km's lighter. :laugh:
Good bikes tho

[Maha]

OP is talking about a VT, which is a magna? or one of these http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-576593075.htm not a VTR.

[baffa]

Beat me to it Maha. Both are 250 4 cylinders, the VTR250 is a different later model bike.

Ive ridden a similiar gen GSX250 with high mileage, Id normally say go Honda, but the little GSXs seems pretty bulletproof, and it is newer, and you get a gear counter etc with it too.

[jamsop]

Thanks for the replies so far!!, found a 1986 cbr250 4 cyl watercooled 40 odd thousand km what do you think parts would be like or cost of mechanical issues thanks

[Glowerss]

Thanks for the replies so far!!, found a 1986 cbr250 4 cyl watercooled 40 odd thousand km what do you think parts would be like or cost of mechanical issues thanks

If you have to ask those questions, then one of those is definitely not a good idea for you.:lol:

[jamsop]

some more options! a suzuki fxr150 or hyosung gt250

[spanner spinner]

Thanks for the replies so far!!, found a 1986 cbr250 4 cyl watercooled 40 odd thousand km what do you think parts would be like or cost of mechanical issues thanks

NO!!!!! 27 year old 18000rpm red line bike that has never been looked after or serviced properly is not a good idea, and I bet the 40000km is well out as well. I have seen so many dead cbr's fzr's gsxr250's etc in my job that I would not recommend them to anyone. And when they go wrong the bills quickly blow out to more that the price of the bike, and then there's the lack of parts back up because of there age.

some more options! a suzuki fxr150 or hyosung gt250

These are both better options, but the Suzuki is a bit slow for open road work mostly full throttle everywhere it's 100kph. Don't forget you can now buy a bike bigger than 250 as your leaner bike think gs500 drz400 supermoto gt650 etc couple of options below just check the gt650 is on the lams list. http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-575045053.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-555913005.htm

[Glowerss]

NO!!!!! 27 year old 18000rpm red line bike that has never been looked after or serviced properly is not a good idea, and I bet the 40000km is well out as well. I have seen so many dead cbr's fzr's gsxr250's etc in my job that I would not recommend them to anyone. And when they go wrong the bills quickly blow out to more that the price of the bike, and then there's the lack of parts back up because of there age.

some more options! a suzuki fxr150 or hyosung gt250

These are both better options, but the Suzuki is a bit slow for open road work mostly full throttle everywhere it's 100kph. Don't forget you can now buy a bike bigger than 250 as your leaner bike think gs500 drz400 supermoto gt650 etc couple of options below just check the gt650 is on the lams list. http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-575045053.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/motorbikes/motorbikes/sports/auction-555913005.htm

The normal hyobag 650s are not LAMs complaint. The LAMS versions are the restricted ones which are almost certainly out of his price range :niceone:

[Insanity_rules]

Both bikes are going to need a fairly good service soon. As a VTZ250 owner (My commute bike) I hate to say it but probably the Suzuki because its newer and easier to get parts for. The honda would be a winner if it was regularly serviced though. I can hook you up with an awesome parts place if you get the Honda.

[ducatilover]

That era VT250 didn't tend to do bottom ends, they were the ones with the really shit hydraulic cam chain tensioner set up which needed the feed holes taken out a few thou. Cure the rattle forever though (well, 'til the chain stretches, but my Spada chain hadn't snapped and exploded at 154,000km)

I'm going to have to say:
If you're no good at working on bikes, buy the GSX, it's newer, simpler, and cheap to get parts for. It is however a bit porky and a wee bit gutless...