Buy honda vt250?

[jeremysprite]

Mmm been thinking about getting another bike recently, a heavier, larger, more bike kinda bike (instead of, as someone called my fxr, an overpowered scooter). Boss suggested getting a gn250, something like that, to improve riding skills, and so when I gets a 600ish (next year) it wont be death to me. So was looking at this honda vt250, real cheap and in christchurch (yay no $400 freight from aucks).
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=53978410&key=378722,
pretty cheap, (i know it'll top a grand, but still good price)
so whaddya think?

[SuperDave]

GN250 versus and FXR?! :laugh:

What the hell, thats a downgrade man - slap on a set of BT39ss on that FXR and give it hell. I'm glad I had an FXR before my ZXR because I reckon it really taught me how to ride, teaches you much about maintaining speed into and through corners because you can't just make up for it in horsepower.

[Wasp]

well from my experience with my old vtz, you wont learn much from the vt as it is a perfecetly balanced bike that is really eay to ride and really easy to get down into the corners on.

i agree with superdave, stick with teh fxr and save your cash!

[Bonez]

well from my experience with my old vtz, you wont learn much from the vt as it is a perfecetly balanced bike that is really eay to ride and really easy to get down into the corners on.
Sounds like a perfect learners motorcycle if you ask me.

[jeremysprite]

Yeah, fxr are better than gn. But ever noticed how light your fxr was? i find it a little dodgy going round corners low, any shift of weight causes wobbles (now someone will tell me my riding style sucks, and thats the problem(prolly true). AND big bonus of buying vt, could probably sell fxr for around $1800, so i'll have some extra cash for my next bike I'm saving for, plus tax rebate money yahaa!! Anyone rode a vt and fxr? I'd say vt would be a bit more powerful right? (also reason for up/side/downgrade, whatever)

[Bonez]

Yeah, fxr are better than gn. But ever noticed how light your fxr was? i find it a little dodgy going round corners low, any shift of weight causes wobbles (now someone will tell me my riding style sucks, and thats the problem(prolly true). AND big bonus of buying vt, could probably sell fxr for around $1800, so i'll have some extra cash for my next bike I'm saving for, plus tax rebate money yahaa!! Anyone rode a vt and fxr? I'd say vt would be a bit more powerful right? (also reason for up/side/downgrade, whatever)Nephew had a Spada saved up a for few years then bought a new 1200 Triumph cash. He obvoiusly learnt a lot on the wee bike...................Wasn't a small lad either btw.

[jeremysprite]

or i could buy the vt and keep the fxr as well. And get my friends a125 as well, just to fill up the garage even more.(Mum reversed over my bike twice in a month, $200+ for repairs thanks mum!!)
I also want a different bike for trips i do, balclutha, dunedin, invercargill, about 3hours, I'll go to one of these places or cromwell (40 mins) once a month or more. The fxr revs quite high doing 100 (or over), recently did 5hour round trip to balclutha, down clyde river and back up gore way (beautiful.) and was keeping the revs at around 10500-11500 the whole way, probably not good for the fxr.
Also, imagine the vt in gloss black. Anybody got a quote for that paint job?

[jeremysprite]

paid for a new triumph 1200 in cash? I'd agree, good lad. Beat those damn credit card companies grrr... i hate you.

[babyface]

Mmm been thinking about getting another bike recently, a heavier, larger, more bike kinda bike (instead of, as someone called my fxr, an overpowered scooter). Boss suggested getting a gn250, something like that, to improve riding skills, and so when I gets a 600ish (next year) it wont be death to me. So was looking at this honda vt250, real cheap and in christchurch (yay no $400 freight from aucks).
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=53978410&key=378722,
pretty cheap, (i know it'll top a grand, but still good price)
so whaddya think?

gn 250 are crap wont learn nothing on it but to hate the bike
vt 250 they the same just make you hate the bike more
your best to save your cash and stick with what you got. if you not a good rider then go trail bike for a couple a months and you will learn quicker there then on a crappy gn 250 susuki

[Bonez]

gn 250 are crap wont learn nothing on it but to hate the bike
vt 250 they the same just make you hate the bike more
your best to save your cash and stick with what you got. if you not a good rider then go trail bike for a couple a months and you will learn quicker there then on a crappy gn 250 susukiThere are plenty on folk quite happy with their GN250s. Went for ride in the company of one last weekend on my 750 with a pillion, 300kms plus round trip no worries. In fact the owner is planning and looking forward to a 10 day south island excursion on hers. Oh I might add and it's done almost 10,000kms since July last year.

Did you know they've been produced since 1982. So I guess a fair few riders have owned them and probably learnt a few things in the process.

[jeremysprite]

Yeah, agree, don't think they'd be such a good seller if bad.

[Bonez]

Yeah, agree, don't think they'd be such a good seller if bad.They are selling like hotcakes judging by the amount of new ones on the road around Palmerston North. Good secondhand ones don't seem to stay too long on showroom floors either.

[Smokin]

I dont know what the VTR goes like But i had a VT250F when they were had only been out for a couple of years, It went like a shower of shit, even wheelied if ya tried hard enough. I was bloody rapt with it.

[nudemetalz]

Go for the VT BUT get someone to listen to the motor. They can end up costing a bit of $$ if they're about to go bang

[jeremysprite]

Cool. Anyone in Christchurch area available to test ride? stupid computer doesn't seem to be posting stuff.

[Sketchy_Racer]

My mate had a VT250FG when i Had my FXR in stock form.

They weigh soooo much more

Handle like CRAP compared to the FXRs

Use more fuel

0 - 100 is slower

If your gonna get a new bike, get a new one not a crap one IMO

[jeremysprite]

not funny rattles or pops, as auction says. Idea is, if it goes bang, I fix it and learn(the hard way) motovehicle maintenance 101. would parts be backwards compatible from current vt250's?

[Sketchy_Racer]

No the new VTR250s are different,

And I believe the VT250 spadas are different again. Don't trust me on that one

[Bonez]

No the new VTR250s are different,

And I believe the VT250 spadas are different again. Don't trust me on that oneThe model on trademe had camchain issues. It originally had enclosed front disk brakes and a fairing looking (probablyy the F2 variant) at the instrument consol. Front end isn't original and has been replaced -note the front and rear comstars are of a differrent type.

[Smokin]

That bike looks the same as my old one, your right too, that front end is compleatly wrong.

[jeremysprite]

Bonez how is dealing with repairs etc, availability of spares like for an older bike?

[Bonez]

Bonez how is dealing with repairs etc, availability of spares like for an older bike?Well considering all of mine are over 20 years old not many probs really. Seems a few bit and bobs turn up on Trademe. Econohonda here in NZ and David Silver Spares in Pomgolia are good sources as is eBay(not used it yet though). The odd wreckable one turns up at a good price for a few hundy or less. Hell, the rego'd and warrented '78 CX cost me less than some pay for a back tyre. I just take what I need an flick the rest, always someone after spares and the scrap metal merchent or work scrap/fund bin for left over metal. Good to get receipts of from the seller to keep on record, even if it's only on a scrap of paper.

The thing is not to be impatient. Maybe I'm just lucky. Don't know, but there are heaps of perfectly good rides out there totally suitable for NZ riding conditions. The beuty is you don't have a godzillion bucks tied up in the latest and greatest. In saying that, there are some damn good buys new now.

Learn as much as you can about the model you intend to get. Manual as well, preferably the manufacturers one. Haynes and Clymers manuals have wee tips to get around using special tools, wheel axles for pulling alternater rotors for example. Doing as much maintenence yourself, using the bikeshops to do the more complex stuff. Eventually one gets the gumption to a complete engine stip. Some carry it through, others get to the "too hard" stage and chuck it in, leaving the remains sitting in the back of the shed for years-another source a spares ;).

[Bonez]

That bike looks the same as my old one, your right too, that front end is compleatly wrong.Should brake a hell of a lot better with that twin disk setup though.

[Mental Trousers]

Shit, didn't think there were any of those things still alive. I had one many, many moons ago. That exact model but in the original black with red and white writing.

Main problem with them is they would eventually chew up a big end from oil starvation. Simple mod to fix it and if that one is still running then it's probably been done.

It was a cool bike. Learnt to ride on it. Good up to about 120kph and after that it vibrated a bit. Make sure it's got the recommended standard size tyres on it cos otherwise they handle like shit.

[Drew]

It's totally up to you weather or not you buy the bike, I have one here that I bought for my lady, and think they are a good bike. It'll even hoist the wheel if you abuse it enough. I can smoke quite a few people down the Wainui hill on it too. Mr 900 SS wasn't too happy after he blitzed past me going up the straight side.( Friggin homo shouldn't have pulled in front of me and showed how tough he was by twisting the throtle.)
If you do decide to buy it I have the fairing and mounting bracket for that model, from a spare bike I picked up for parts, got indicators but I dont think I've got a head light.PM me if you want it.

[nudemetalz]

I don't agree with RG100 saying the FXR is quicker to 100. My wife's one is actually quite fast for what it is and would blow the door's (to use a bad pun) of a FXR-150 !!

Also bear in mind that Honda detuned them when the Spada came out and then further detuned them with the VTR Monster-look-alike model. So, the FE and FG were the quickest (up to 1990).

However, ours does have camchain issues, have to either replace the tensioners or the chains (or both!!). The tensioners are quite expensive, aftermarket ones being about $150 each and chains about $100 ea from memory.
We keep ours oil changed regularily to avoid that common big-end issue and have never had an ounce of trouble with the engine (rattles aside !!).

The other thing that went though was the regulator. Another common Honda problem but Malcolm at Econohonda came to our rescue.

But apart from all that, it's a great bike to ride and as I said before we just did a burn around the South Island last week with the Missus on the open road anywhere between 8 to 12,000rpm continously without any trouble for 1800km.

[Sketchy_Racer]

sounds fair enough.

I think the one i had with me was pretty farked tho... It didnt sound pretty.

[nudemetalz]

When they're starting to need work, the performance drops dramatically off them. Sorry RG-100 didn't mean to sound so much like shoot you down, just thought it was a little strange, thats all. :)

[Wasp]

just adding to what nudemetalz is sahying bout the cam chains..

i'd rip it apart right away and check/fix em... insanity_rules who bought my vtz found one of the oil lines was blocked and the chains needed replacing but the tensioners were fine...

[phoenixgtr]

An FXR wouldn't beat much to 100. Theres advantages with having a light bike. It makes them very agile. An FXR can be alot more fun than you might think. I thrash mine every week alongside others. Sure, I get left behind when we hit the straights, but thats all good. It's the corners that matter anyway. I even had my first semi wheelie last night. They're reliable as anything too. It'l keep going and going.

[cruxis]

HAHHA BUY IT BUY IT!!! !... Naw Thats my bike man, Id be happy to let you thrash it, you dont have to buy it. But if you wanna take it for a spin sure sweet as call me. 03 343-1100. . Its 2:30 pm Sat right now only 4 hours of daylight left. From the heaps of test riders Ive had so far. they seem happy. I personally dont think it will go for much higher.

BTW Im been out in about looking for a replacement.


Small world huh

edit:
Oh srry just relized your not in CHCH, well if anyone else in CHCH wanna come ride it, can call. Im home all day doing nothing but sitting at the computer. :)

[jeremysprite]

lol yeah wouldve come to ride it, but 5 hours travel? pass. Trying not to hinder my upcoming sale of the fxr, phoenix i do thrash mine a bit, good fun i agree. But need something more tourer, and just a change too. cruxis, has the camchain tensioner etc. been fixed, and all that techo stuff? Gots a manual for the bike? ughh came home sick from work, didnt' want to spew up all over the apples at new world... happy times.

[cruxis]

I havnt done much cept getting it service each time , winter/summer came along, Did get the front forks taken apart and cleaned 2 years back. Furthest ive ridden it is a 160km stint to akaroa n back.

cool cool,I am after anything bigger 400 n up too, on the sporty comfy side. I just got test rode this
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=54136101
on friday. Was average, idle went up and down. ran rough as hell at low rpm and full throttle in top gear starting at a low 3000 rpm caused the engine to flood and bog down and almost stall. Tires 3/4 worn. Same with brakes. Not much life left in the chain either.

But it has 3500$ reserve is still good value.

[jeremysprite]

yeah those rf's are obviously great tourers, see heaps of them with 70,000k+ on the clock, and that ones 90. Might have to recondition her soonish? But even then, not a bad price. haha your description of the engine seems quite different to "Ex-Suzuki mechanic reckons she sounds like a 10,000k engine. I've always kept her under 5,000RPM until well warmed up." Also check out a vfr800, pre 2004 i think, the non vtec ones (vtec=expensive service).

[Bonez]

yeah those rf's are obviously great tourers, see heaps of them with 70,000k+ on the clock, and that ones 90. Might have to recondition her soonish? But even then, not a bad price. haha your description of the engine seems quite different to "Ex-Suzuki mechanic reckons she sounds like a 10,000k engine. I've always kept her under 5,000RPM until well warmed up." Also check out a vfr800, pre 2004 i think, the non vtec ones (vtec=expensive service).Sounds like carbs are gummed up. Been sitting a while. May be just a simple undo the carb drain screw, switch to prime and flush. Worst most likely a carb strip.

[jeremysprite]

mm anyone got any ideas on what it would cost to get the bike (vt250) painted black, not spraypainted but reasonably professionally done. Ex-carpainter friend quoted me a $1000, cos of about 20 hours labour disassembling, sanding, prepping, painting, sanding, prepping, painting, waiting, etc. surely theres a cheaper way? and not spray paint.

[Bonez]

mm anyone got any ideas on what it would cost to get the bike (vt250) painted black, not spraypainted but reasonably professionally done. Ex-carpainter friend quoted me a $1000, cos of about 20 hours labour disassembling, sanding, prepping, painting, sanding, prepping, painting, waiting, etc. surely theres a cheaper way? and not spray paint.Disassemble it yourself for a start. I've seen a pretty professional job done a while back by a person who just used a paint brush, paint emery paper, laquer, and cutting compound. Just took a bit longer and cost less than $200 all up.

Edit-you can buy those small fine craft paint rollers now, which would probably work better than the brushes.

[jord]

Mmm been thinking about getting another bike recently, a heavier, larger, more bike kinda bike (instead of, as someone called my fxr, an overpowered scooter). Boss suggested getting a gn250, something like that, to improve riding skills, and so when I gets a 600ish (next year) it wont be death to me. So was looking at this honda vt250, real cheap and in christchurch (yay no $400 freight from aucks).
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=53978410&key=378722,
pretty cheap, (i know it'll top a grand, but still good price)
so whaddya think?

i ride a vtz250. very similar to the one you are looking at. looked at and rode plenty on fxr 150s 4 to be exact....pieces of shit gutles hunks of crap. got with the vt alltho that one does not look crash hot itl do you well and wipe any fxr. resonably tourqey for a 250 too.

cheers

[Wasp]

jord its an old thread man just let it go and die in peace

and i wouldnt start dissing fxrs, kr and rgs.... (specially not the kr, i found that out the hard way ;)) as you will be riding amongst them if you come out with us - respect them and their riders as they are good bikes and great people.

or if you think you are "da shizzle fo shaw", then come out and ride with us.