First bike options?

[ahmedzakis]

Hi,

I'm a newbie to kiwibiker forums. In fact, a newbie to bikes!
I am looking to buy my first bike. What wd u guyz recommend? Would use it to get 2 uni and back in AKL city. On avg. 20 kms/day.

Things important to me:
1. Easy to ride
2. Low maintenance
3. Low fuel consumption
4. I am not 2 worried abt. power. I wil b happy as long as it can do 110 km/h comfortably!

I used the GN250 to do my basic handling skills test. I know that it is easy to ride but don't know abt. points 2-4.

Budget: <$2500 (Second hand)

Other 250s that I have heard abt. are the Honda CB250 and Yamaha YZR250 or something rather :)

Pls. gimme ur valuable opinion!

Thanx

[hazzy]

I got my GSX-R 250 for 2300 from tm, my first bike, defenitily great to learn on.
U might be able to pick up a VTZ relitivily cheap.

Go for a GN, they're cheap, low mantainance & easy to ride.

steer clear from 2 strokes, they can usually require a fair bit of maintanance.

[Karma]

First bike would be good to go naked, the bandit 250s are supposed to be ok

[Ixion]

GN250 or FXR150. No Yamaha Scorpios on the second hand market yet.

FXR150 is a bit more fuel economical (100mpg to 80mpg). But maintainence cost will be higher, and if you drop it (as you may well whilst learning) damaged fairing can set you back $1000. I reckon the GN250 is probably the best commuter for the money ever made. Go for an older , 1980s model, the design is the same but the quality was better.

Do'nt forget that you will need to budget several hundre dollars for helmet, gloves etc. But don't be frightened off by the stories you will be told that you will die instantly if you don't spend a minimum of $2000 on "magic gear".

[madmal64]

Im another for the GN route. Plenty of them around. Parts are super easy to source. Bloody near bullet proof and without all the expensive plastic they will take a knock or two which its always a good thing on the 1st bike.
Ride a few & see what ya think.
Have fun with the buying process. I always enjoy it

[NighthawkNZ]

I would probably go down the GN route... you have riden one and know how they handle. They are a good comuter bike, that can handle a few trips as well... (I use to take on from Auckland to Napier and back regularly.... they are pretty good on fuel, and easy to maintain. There are heaps of 2nd hand ones about, and parts are available. Though they are pretty solid if you get an older model. (I don't know two much about the new chiness ones...)

Though say all this you need to look about and ride a few others... the CB isn't back bike either...

[Nasty]

Depends alot of your terrain where you live ... I had an FXR150 .. is a sweet bike .. extremly easy on the gas .. and has a full panel including fuel and gear you are in whcih is great for newbie ... they have less overall grunt than 250 but being in Auckland would have more than suffiencent for the terrain there .. and at least your winds are nothing like Wellington on a blowy day. :)

[ahmedzakis]

Thanx 4 da suggestions so far ppl!

NightHawkNZ and Ixion, I read elsewhere abt the thing that u have mentioned. i.e. abt. going for an older GN. Could you pls. tel me which model of the GN 250 was the last japanese made one?? Coz til now I thought the newer the better!

Also, In tm I c GN250s for sale and also the GN250E. Are these the same or is there a difference???


Cheers!

[Fub@r]

2002-2003 I think is where they changed over to Chinese made GN's (might be wrong). Main difference is the chrome is pretty poor on the chinese manufactured one. I washed my new one for the first time and all the chrome came off on the tailight.

I started riding 7 months ago and went for a GN. Cheap as anything to run, could get approximately 30km/ltr. GN was a good solid commuter but was a bit lacking on the hills, and seeing I caught the "bug" and progressed from cheap commuter to something a bit more fun hence why I traded it in and got something a bit quicker in the 250 range.

All 250's give good gas milage and I would say most average at 25km/ltr so there isnt much in it there. V-Twins are nice and have a bit more pep than the GN.

Best thing to do is try a few and get whatever suits your needs and you find comfortable.......not what someone else thinks you should have

Good budget for gear (new) is around $700-800. You can do it cheaper. That should get you a jacket, trousers, gloves, boots, helmet. Whatever you do don't buy a secondhand helmet and make sure it fits snugly

[Lorax]

Fub@r summed it up well.

I'm glad I bought a GN250, great first bike, although it's rusting as it's the Chinese model. So I'll be glad once I upgrade.

Going up a slight hill definitely slows you down a bit. Optimum cruising speed on my bike is about 105.

I guess it depends what style bike you want. Sports or Cruiser?
Good Luck!

[toymachine]

Personally, the best thing I ever did was not getting a GN when advised too... though my requirements were not quite as yours.

Testride a few if you can.

[Patrick]

First bike would be good to go naked, the bandit 250s are supposed to be ok

The Bandit 250's ARE better than o.k. Picked up my first one for $2800 but it was money well spent. No problems, would do 160:innocent: and fuel economy was OK...

Each to their own, but the GN got boring...quickly...

[Karma]

Yeh, I'll give credit to the GNs for being a reasonable little bike, but the serious lack of power, and quality of the later models lets it down I think.

I'd go for a 250 bandit or such like, you'll get all the power you'll need at this time, but still not have to break the bank if you drop it.

[RT527]

my first bike was a 250 kawasaki which looked like a gn but was far more superior and had a lovely belt drive, that lil cruiser could wheelstand lol.

Cant remember the model tho, jim2 might,think it was once his bike too lol.

[TLDV8]

I like the look of the Honda CB250 / CD250U.
They look like great fuss free commuters and seem to have no problem on the open road.
Twin cylinder 4 stroke would be good for power and fuel consumption around town with a nice flat power curve.
If it was only 20 kms a day something low key might be the go.

[ahmedzakis]

Any difference between the 2??

Cheers

[Ixion]

Not nowdays , I think.

Long long ago, before you were born, there was a GN250 that only had a kickstart. So the first electric start ones were designated GN250E. But nowdays you will never see a non electric, so most people don't bother with the E.

[ahmedzakis]

Not nowdays , I think.

Long long ago, before you were born, there was a GN250 that only had a kickstart. So the first electric start ones were designated GN250E. But nowdays you will never see a non electric, so most people don't bother with the E.

I have one concern less now. Thanx!!

[kensuem]

Here I go again,sticking up for the GN.Have had my Chinese assembled one for 8 months now,have done nearly 8000klm,in all weathers.Only real problem was a crack in the lower fork leg,but replaced under warranty.No sign of rust anywhere,handles OK,always starts first time,cheap to run.What more could you ask for $3600,on the road?Cruises ok at 105 to 115,winds up to 125 given time.Yes it is slow on hills,but change down early and rev it hard and it is not so bad.May be small but can be just as much fun on the bends as a bigger bike.The chain has required adjusting several times,but it only takes 5 minutes,and a spray with Castrol chain lubricant keeps it quiet.
Treat it like the old fashioned design it is and maintain it properly and you wont have any problems

[Komuter]

HI mate,

As a newbie, I have had my Gn250-E for about 2 weeks now.

It was new, and a good price for what I could afford, as a first bike for $3300 I am happy with it. I do wish I could have afforded the Suz Intruder 250, but thats life.

I must say here, and will again often - SALESMEN SUCK - and once you have bought THEY WONT WANT TO KNOW YOU - I got mine on tick, which is fine and costs me the same as per the train.

Because of the NZ 250cc rule, I know I will get a good price for it in 12mths time when I go for something with a little more CCs.

Get better than average gloves, same for the helment, and get a WINDSCREEN and TOPBOX as part of the deal if you want those - AS YOU HAVE JACK SHIET consumer power once you have made your purchase. They will IGNORE your emails, wont RETURN YOUR CALLS, and will try every bullshit trick to FOB YOU OFF.

#1 TIP BTW - 7th FEB is tax day, so in the few days leading up to that they will be looking for cash flow.

To sum, its shiney new, and a good bike for me to learn on, and as they say there are plenty of them so unlikely to be stolen for an order - and the parts are available.

You will get good speed for around town, the motorway I struggle a bit - am an XXL guy, so looks a bit funny - but hey I have never had a brand new bike or car before this so thats ok, I also looked at the other brands but the price was just too much for what I am able to pay off at the moment.

IN all as a newbie am having an average to poor newbie biking experience - however this forum is the best site and most useful source of info anywhere!

Cheers & good luck.

[hazzy]

check this one out dude, just like mine, they reliable and cheap and much better than a GN, more power and better looking:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=86223764&key=301905

[gijoe1313]

And of course, making my compulsory shout out for ... Honda Hornet CB250 ...I know, not in your price bracket (gawd, if all things were in our price bracket, tis would be a glorious thing to behold!)

Just keep taking your time and sort out the options ... I looked at the mighty Ginny as my first ride, but stuck it out and tried out all sorts ... one leg over the little ol'Hornet and I was :love: right away!

So, go out and sit on some! :msn-wink:

[McJim]

The GN250 and FXR150 are both good first bikes. Used you should be able to fit either into your budget.

Many people on here have a fixation with speed and power and the old 'mine's faster than yours' mentality.

If 'speed and power' is not your bag then don't listen to them.

One piece of advice though - don't test ride faster or more powerful bikes if you are thinking of either of these 2 suzukis cos they will feel gutless in comparison to a twin or 4 cyl 250 and you'll end up saying "I wish I'd got that [insert model name here] instead of the FXR!"

[Karma]

It's not just about speed and power though really... I think the FXR150 and GN250 are both fantastic commuters, use piss all petrol, easy and light to maneauver, and fairly cheap if you drop / crash them.

Where both of these bikes falls flat on their faces is country riding... don't try and run a gn or fxr on a coro loop or even to some extent doing the thursday night ride up 16, it's not what they were built for and it's not what they enjoy doing.

So what do you use your bike for, if it's a way to get to work and back, sweet, GN or FXR it is, but if you plan to get out into the country, then get something else, ZXR / CBR / VTR / whatever...

[rookie]

Dont forget about comfort guys...riding position plays a huge part in commuting comfort. Im not sure about the FXR, but the GN has a position that is much better for the wrists...than say...a ZXR. Also the ZXR kicks up a stink if ridden below 8,000revs too much which again isnt very commuting friendly.

[kensuem]

It's not just about speed and power though really... I think the FXR150 and GN250 are both fantastic commuters, use piss all petrol, easy and light to maneauver, and fairly cheap if you drop / crash them.

Where both of these bikes falls flat on their faces is country riding... don't try and run a gn or fxr on a coro loop or even to some extent doing the thursday night ride up 16, it's not what they were built for and it's not what they enjoy doing.

So what do you use your bike for, if it's a way to get to work and back, sweet, GN or FXR it is, but if you plan to get out into the country, then get something else, ZXR / CBR / VTR / whatever...
Dont understand the idea that the GN is no good for riding in the country.It easily does the open road speed limit and is comfortable on long rides.
I wonder is this phobia about GN,s rather like the old Guiness add,"I dont like it,so Ive never tried it".

[avgas]

GN 125 (brand new these are dirt cheap and still do good speeds), GN250, TS125, SR250, GB250, Volty etc Naked, less than 20hp and single cylinder is what you want if your a first timer.
Can start as cheap as $500 with reg/wof if you look hard enough.

[ahmedzakis]

Thanx so much 4 all da valuable tips guyz. I am sure it will come in handy when I am deciding on my bike.


Cheers!

[Morcs]

Take a look at the Bandit, a very forgiving learners bike, but you wont get bored of it even after a years riding.

Mine is for sale if you are interested, $4,500. stick $4k under my nose early next week and i will bite your hand off :)

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-87210391.htm

[Waihou Thumper]

If you want a good bike then the Golf November 250 is great!
I have had mine for a few months (three) done over 7000km on it!
Great on the open road if you know its limits, i.e bout 100-105kph......

I have ridden all around the Waikato, Waipa, Bay of Plenty and more....Taken it to Auckland and have done 400km days on it, which is about the limit of the bum!

I stop every two hours or so for a coffee and a respite for the arse....

It will be on the market soon and it has given me no trouble except the once when the chain jumped off near Mangakino, no problem, just popped it back on and then had it replaced. At 100kph, does 6000rpm and can do it all day...

Hard on the hands sometimes, bumps a bit of a bugger but for a few moths of grief I have learnt lots and really gained tons of expereince on the roads...


:whocares: :whocares: :whocares:

[Waihou Thumper]

The model of the 2006 is the Gn250E

[dickytoo]

my first bike was a 250 kawasaki which looked like a gn but was far more superior and had a lovely belt drive, that lil cruiser could wheelstand lol.

Cant remember the model tho, jim2 might,think it was once his bike too lol.

I think that was the CSR250.