VTR250 or CBR250 Hornet??

[MaPeXi]

Hey all.
I've just done my basic riding test last week and passed it
anyways i've done my learners test and looking at getting a naked framed bike e.g a VTR250 or a CBR250 Hornet. Is this a good idea say in a drop or crash to repair? (i know i will eventually lol)


What would you recommend? I like the v-twin on the VTR as its got a bit more torque low down so you dont have to revv the shit outta it to get some pull and it sounds nicer IMO. Are these any good?

I can expect u all to be telling me to get a CBR250rr or a ZXR ninja but dont know how good these are for long journey's? look pretty uncomfortable?

I have lots of experience on 125 and 250 dirtbikes but little on the roads
Bottom line is i dont wanna pay a shitload for an overinflated 250 only to sell it in 18 months, but then i want something thats got a bit of go and most importantly FUN to ride without being a high maintenence pocketrocket...

[Kendog]

Hey all.
I've just done my basic riding test last week and passed it
anyways i've done my learners test and looking at getting a naked framed bike e.g a VTR250 or a CBR250 Hornet. Is this a good idea say in a drop or crash to repair? (i know i will eventually lol)


What would you recommend? I like the v-twin on the VTR as its got a bit more torque low down so you dont have to revv the shit outta it to get some pull and it sounds nicer IMO. Are these any good?

I can expect u all to be telling me to get a CBR250rr or a ZXR ninja but dont know how good these are for long journey's? look pretty uncomfortable?

I have lots of experience on 125 and 250 dirtbikes but little on the roads
Bottom line is i dont wanna pay a shitload for an overinflated 250 only to sell it in 18 months, but then i want something thats got a bit of go and most importantly FUN to ride without being a high maintenence pocketrocket...

Welcome.

Both the VTR and CBR are good bikes I am sure.
The best way to decide is to take each one of them for a ride and see which one you like the best.

Then pick the hornet :innocent:

[Blairos]

I have really enjoyed my VTR, its been a good 1st nike that has got better the longer I have had it.
Its fairly forgiving, got the torque (like you mentioned), and can haul a bigger chap like myself about fairly nicely. :ride:

[limbimtimwim]

I owner a 1998 onwards VTR250 once. I regret selling it, it was a good bike.

There is somebody in an ajacent workplace to mine who has a really nice VTR250 (Cherry red/black colour) and she says she drops it often. You wouldn't know it from 3 feet away, it still looks fine. I never dropped mine, but the previous owner(s) had, on both sides. It had a few scars, but no fairing to damage.

So yes, I guess they are not very bad to drop :)

I rode my VTR all over the country, Cape Reinga to.. Well, Alexandra, and it was fine comfort wise. But then I did the same on my RVF400 which would have a similar riding position to a CBR/ZXR250 and I lived. Or I am a little crazy.

[fozz rock]

I have really enjoyed my VTR,:

me too :Punk: :Punk: :Punk: (my vtr that is)

ride all the bikes you can, know its hard when your just starting out but it is the only real way.

[MaPeXi]

And is it just me or do you guys think naked bikes are just downright sexier??? :cool:

[Roj]

Hey all.
I've just done my basic riding test last week and passed it
anyways i've done my learners test and looking at getting a naked framed bike e.g a VTR250 or a CBR250 Hornet. Is this a good idea say in a drop or crash to repair? (i know i will eventually lol)


What would you recommend? I like the v-twin on the VTR as its got a bit more torque low down so you dont have to revv the shit outta it to get some pull and it sounds nicer IMO. Are these any good?

I can expect u all to be telling me to get a CBR250rr or a ZXR ninja but dont know how good these are for long journey's? look pretty uncomfortable?

I have lots of experience on 125 and 250 dirtbikes but little on the roads
Bottom line is i dont wanna pay a shitload for an overinflated 250 only to sell it in 18 months, but then i want something thats got a bit of go and most importantly FUN to ride without being a high maintenence pocketrocket...

Depends on how much you are going to use it and how well you look after the bike, I bought a 1989 VT250 for my son as a learner bike, paid $700 plus rego and warrant, goes well, fast enough with me on it for instant loss of licence and good low down torque for a 250 and the nice V twin sound, hasn't needed anything major, just some tyres and a new battery...:scooter:

[McJim]

Get an ol' Spada '89 or '90 - faster than the VTR - Ask gijoe1313 - he has a 250 hornet and then tried my VTR - took a while to get the smile off his face!

I've been on a few runs with gijoe1313 - the funny thing is that although the Hornet has more hp the extra torque gives the VTR an edge in the twisties and uphill - more forgiving if you select the wrong gear. The Hornet has more straight line speed but if that was your bag you wouldn't be getting into bikes would you?

Best thing is to try them both (hornets are more expensive though).

[hXc]

Get an ol' Spada '89 or '90
Good points apart from this, McJim. The Spada is a great bike (I'm very bias), but was manufactured in '88 and '89 only. Don't know why, because they're a wicked bike.

If you can find one, then get a Spada mate. Much better than a VTR, although some people may argue. They're a little hard to find as only produced for 2 years, and were never available NZ new. ANY Spada in NZ, WILL be a Jap import.

[Coyote]

I rode hXc's Spada last holidays. It was an excellent bike. I used to own a CBR250RR, which shares it's engine with the Hornet. And that's the best bike I've ridden. I reckon a Spada would be the smartest choice as hXc's one was only about 3000 bucks, and it's a great bike for the money. And it's only your learners bike, you won't own it long and it's likely you will crash it. I regret getting the CBR cause I did crash it, and it cost me a fair bit to get it back into nice condition. Now I've got the RG, which is dirt cheap :p (though fortunatly for me they're going up in value. Just in time cause now I have 2 of them :D)

So I reckon go for a Spada, or an RG/KR150. Spada is cheapish and powerful, the 150 is cheap and just as quick as the 250s

[hXc]

And is it just me or do you guys think naked bikes are just downright sexier??? :cool:
Oh yes. Hit the nail on the head there. Get naked, and have fun. Fairings are silly.

[Coyote]

Oh yes. Hit the nail on the head there. Get naked, and have fun. Fairings are silly.
Fuck you

Bikini fairings ftw

[hXc]

Fuck you

Bikini fairings ftwHmmm, bikini's are ok, but I prefer them naked. So much more to see, and it's pure sex too.

[McJim]

I can relate to this thread - we have a VTR and a RG in the garage.

The missus RG is farken mint - are they really going up in value? Noice!

[fozz rock]

And is it just me or do you guys think naked bikes are just downright sexier??? :cool:


No its not just you

[Coyote]

The missus RG is farken mint - are they really going up in value? Noice!
Sorta. A lot of people have been trying it on since they're getting rare and also people saw it as being unfair to spend 1000 on the engine and still only sell it for 1500. So whenever one turns up on trademe they're starting to fetch more than 2000, for the nicer ones

I plan to restore both of my RGs to top nick and sell them. Probably won't make anymore money than i put into them. But I'll enjoy doing them up and a learner will get an awesome bike :D

[spada]

Good points apart from this, McJim. The Spada is a great bike (I'm very bias), but was manufactured in '88 and '89 only. Don't know why, because they're a wicked bike.

The reason for this is because when new they had so much new tech on them that they cosdt almost as much as the 600 bros. This made them a low seller so they stopped making them.:zzzz:


If you can find one, then get a Spada mate. Much better than a VTR, although some people may argue. They're a little hard to find as only produced for 2 years, and were never available NZ new. ANY Spada in NZ, WILL be a Jap import.

I'm bias as well but hXc's right. Buy a spada they are better bikes then vtr. They have have an extra gear to start with. They are also faster then vtr's I know that for a fact for any one who whats to disupt that. I own a 600 hornet now and I don't think the 250 hornet would be worth it. They have full sized tyres which cost a shitload compared to what the spada's tyres would cost. This also makes it slower to turn which is a bitch when your learning. Also it just wouldn't be as fun. (Thats just my thoughts):whocares:

[MaPeXi]

I used to own a CBR250RR, which shares it's engine with the Hornet.

Really?:gob:

[Hellraiser]

Get none of the above .........

Get a Motard, way more fun to ride.

[bounce]

Can only comment on the VTR. Real happy with mine, torque'y engine makes it pretty relaxed to ride.
They don't seem to drop in price much though. Hard to find one second hand under $5k and new they are only a couple of grand more.

[Coyote]

Get none of the above .........

Get a Motard, way more fun to ride.
Why have you got an '06 ZX6R if they're so great?

If I manage to earn enough money and sell my RGs for a decent price I'd be going for a Husky SMR450 or a Gas Gas FSR450 motard with any luck. I used to race a KX80 motard, they are real fun to ride

[The_Dover]

screw that, get an SMR510.

[Coyote]

Really?:gob:
They sure do. Although the Hornets got the slightly detuned version that the CBRs had in 1994 and onwards. In Japan in 1994, learners bikes had to have 40hp at the crank, not the original 45hp that the CBRs before 94 had. I had a 92 CBR250RR, that was capable of just under 200kph. I'm not sure what the detuned bikes are capable of. I don't think you'll be going speeds like that often on a naked bike anyway so it probably doesn't matter

Still reckon a Spada is the way to go. But those Hornets do have the 18500rpm banshee howl that the CBR had. I still miss it just for that, let alone how nice everything else was. Sigh...

[Coyote]

screw that, get an SMR510.
Awkward sized motor. Doesn't fit in a race class. The 450 would suit S2 Supermoto. The 510 would have to be in open S1 class, and it'll be pretty slow compared to like likes of the TM650 and the KTM LC4s

[Alice]

I will be in 5 days, and seems like I have been waiting forever, the proud owner of a VTR.I had decided on 3 bikes as my choice to learn on, a Hornet, a Bandit or a VTR.I waiting for 4 weeks awhile back to check out a second hand VTR that came in from Japan ( as well as keeping my eyes open for something else in between times )Once I got to check it out I decided $5995 was to much for a second hand 8 year old bike, they would not budge an inch on price.I decided to go new cause of the way they are holding there price nowdays and forgo any unforseen maintance costs.Also managed to get some discount on the new bike as well as all the other stuff needed.They have a nice neutral ride position for a learner and I really like the naked bike look.

It seems most of the VTR owners think they are good little bikes and they have enough grunt to be able to skip around the country without feeling like you are riding to much of a donkey.

[Drum]

.......... I decided $5995 was to much for a second hand 8 year old bike...........

You're not wrong. Of course they'll get $5995 for it no worries though.

How much was the new VTR, if you don't mind me asking?