Sports 250 that will have me entertained for ages

[Steve 555]

Well I fell it is time to upgrade but my wife doesn't no:shit: . I want something cheap but a sports 250 that will take me to wellington from Tauranga with no struggles on the motorway. Something reliable that will keep me intrigued for age so I don't have to go through the rigmoral with my wife of getting a new bike. Was wanting to spend no more that $4500.00. Looking at a 250 bandit suggestions please guys.

[McJim]

Honda Spada if you can get one.

Failing that there are the bog standard 250 sports bikes as follows:

Suzuki GSXR250
Honda CBR250
Kawasaki ZXR250
Yamaha FZR250

All of these will be about 15 years old and to fit your budget will have to be a bit worse for wear.

Best of luck.

[motoGP]

Can't think past a Hyosung, second hand to meet the budget. Good size for a long haul, it'll keep you entertained too.

Otherwise like McJim said, the inline fours from the big brands will certainly keep you entertained. Spada is a fantastic wee bike, that would fit perfectly into the budget, like it's newer brother (vtr) I believe they're ducati inspired.

[FROSTY]

Any particular reason you want a two fiddy??
If you have $4500.00 itll buy you a shit load of other bikes --and because they aint 250's youre bang for the buck is heaps better

[Steve 555]

Just cause I am on my learner Licence maybe I should wait until I get my full to upgrade.

[Mr. Peanut]

How about a rebuilt NSR 250?

I'll let it go for $4500.

About as entertaining as you can get on a 250.

[motoGP]

How about a rebuilt NSR 250?

I'll let it go for $4500.

About as entertaining as you can get on a 250.

I was going to mention two strokes, they'll sure keep you entertained. :rockon:

[Steve 555]

Aren't 2 stokes quite finiky

[motoGP]

Aren't 2 stokes quite finiky

YeYes and no. If you treat it well, it'll treat you well. Compared to four strokes, chances are a two stroke will let you down first. Thirstier too. Yamaha TZR on trademe for $ 4,750.00


http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-103659982.htm?p=1

[rookie]

I have a mate with a spada who's looking at upgrading very soon.
His bike will be well within your price range...In good condition with low mileage too

[naughty]

Go the Hornet! Reliable, looks good, easy to ride, grunty blah blah blah

[limbimtimwim]

Chances are you won't be entertained for ages. Just work on getting that full, as Mr Frosty says, there is more choice once you get your full.

Having said that, the Spada if you fit on it.

[McJim]

With a 2 Stroke you'll get twice the power (almost) and bags of fun - I have a Ducati and still borrow my wife's RG150 sometimes just coz it is so much fun.

2 strokes need the engine rebuilt more often than 4 strokes BUT a top end rebuild on a 2 stroke is no big deal (no valves, no cam chains/shafts/belts).

You could buy 2 RG150s with your $4,500 and you could have a great time on those.

I'll use horsepower to give you an idea of what we are talking about comparatively.

GN250 - 20hp
GT250R - 29hp
VTR250 - 32hp
RG150 - 37hp
Spada - 43hp
ZXR/CBR/GSXR/FZR250 - 40-45hp (depends what previous owners have done to them)
NSR/RS/RGV250 - 55-60hp

So if you get an NSR it will have roughtly 3 times the power of your current steed.

I would recommend getting something well within budget so you have money for oil changes, filters, tyres, brake pads etc.
If you spend the whole $4,500 on the bike it's a pain in the arse having to look at it in the garage coz you ran out of rubber 2 weeks after buying it!

[McJim]

I have a mate with a spada who's looking at upgrading very soon.
His bike will be well within your price range...In good condition with low mileage too

That sounds good - cam chains are the worry with Spadas but not usually an issue until the kms are high.

Rookie - how come no bike?

[motoGP]

I would recommend getting something well within budget so you have money for oil changes, filters, tyres, brake pads etc.
If you spend the whole $4,500 on the bike it's a pain in the arse having to look at it in the garage coz you ran out of rubber 2 weeks after buying it!

Ah McJim: always the wise one. Two strokes are primarily a toy. That’s what they do best.

The Spada is a very very good option IF you want to get a bike before your full, and something 250+

[Mr. Peanut]

I don't know, it's not overly expensive to run. It should be noted that the NSR doesn't suffer from most of the reliability issues of the other 2 stroke 250s (RGV, KR1, TZR etc)

Never failed on me, starts first kick (even when I left it for 2 weeks) just keep the oil and fuel topped up. Would be wasted as a commuter though.

I'd trust my simple, rebuilt stroker over any thrashed, 16 year old, 16 valve, 4 cylinder four carb 250 :)


I'd say the best 250 out there at the moment is the Honda Hornet.

Detuned CBR250 engine ( so it's under stressed, and will last forever ) which is better than the Bandit, as its liquid cooled and has cam gears (instead of a cam chain, which often has to be replace along with the tensioner)

And you can pick up relatively late models, so things which often trouble the older 250 sports bikes (like carbs and electrics) aren't going to come up during your period of ownership.

No fairings to break when you drop it either.

[gijoe1313]

^^^ What he said! The little ol'Hornet will get you places and in style - bags of fun, reliable and definitely got that "it" factor...

But what do I know! I'm biased! :scooter: :msn-wink: Prob is ... you hardly ever see one for less than 5k! :pinch:

[steved]

I'll use horsepower to give you an idea of what we are talking about comparatively.

GN250 - 20hp
GT250R - 29hp
VTR250 - 32hp
RG150 - 37hp
Spada - 43hp
ZXR/CBR/GSXR/FZR250 - 40-45hp (depends what previous owners have done to them)
NSR/RS/RGV250 - 55-60hp

The Spada is a great bike but I think you meant to say 33hp, not 43hp?

[yungatart]

That sounds good - cam chains are the worry with Spadas but not usually an issue until the kms are high.

Rookie - how come no bike?

Just done hXc's cam chains at about 45000 ks...it cost just over $500, which is actually pretty cheap. They can be up to $800 to do.

[yungatart]

The Spada is a great bike but I think you meant to say 33hp, not 43hp?

No...43 is right. Some of the earlier VT's possibly are in the low 30's but they aren't the same as the Spada.

[steved]

No...43 is right. Some of the earlier VT's possibly are in the low 30's but they aren't the same as the Spada.
43 bhp from a 1989 250cc V2 would be amazing. The modern Honda VTR250 only has 32 bhp. Every link I can find apart from bikez.com indicate a 33 bhp rating for the 1989 Honda Spada VT250.

http://www.wheatland.com.au/spada/info.htm

http://forums.kustompcs.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-33811.html

[Mr. Peanut]

My arse dyno says they're lively enough.

[TKDSKIP]

I want something cheap but a sports 250 that will take me to wellington from Tauranga with no struggles on the motorway.

A Spada will do this easy, took mine aroud Coro loop and it was a blast. Only started to feel tired after the 400km mark but I am almost 6ft and only been riding a couple of months.
As for reliable, a low K Spada would be sweet but how many Ks has a 18 year old bike really done. I have seen them advertised with under 20000km which is hard to believe. There are heaps of referances to timing chains and occasional crank problem on this site but all bikes have there little issuses. They are cheap to buy and service apart from the chain which should be good for 45000km.
My Spada does make sweet power for a 250 twin, I have no power figures but I have had fun with mates on a ZZR and late model VTR and they both got cleaned up. If you want to have a go on a Spada pm me in a week or so and come around for a blast.

[Steve 555]

would be keen let me know thanks

[rookie]

Rookie - how come no bike?

I sold the zxr....i was getting a bit silly on it so i needed to take a break for a while...although i was smoking 600cc bikes which was a great feeling :first:
Also rego and insurance was coming up so it seemed like a good time to have a break and save some money :yes:
I do miss the old girl.

[McJim]

43 bhp from a 1989 250cc V2 would be amazing. The modern Honda VTR250 only has 32 bhp. Every link I can find apart from bikez.com indicate a 33 bhp rating for the 1989 Honda Spada VT250.



My arse dyno says they're lively enough.

The Late model VTR250 has been dumbed down to meet with Japanese hp and emission legislation I think.

The Spada had (and here's a technical term coming up) Fuckloads more hp than the VTR250, 1 more gear and about 2,500 extra rpm before redline.

Cost too much to make s'why they only made them for 2 years - wait until hXc returns from frozen parts and he'll never shut up about his little phoenix Spada.

[gijoe1313]

Yah, I was looking seriously at the Spada for my first bike ... but then a little ol'hornet gave it the spanish archer!

[vamr]

Do yourself a favour and testride a 250 2t (rgv or nsr)... not necessarily buy but a nice 50km+ blat on open roads to know what the world will be missing.

[prvoke]

i just picked up an 89 CBR250R with 32k on it for $2450. Cosmetically it could do with a paint but mechanically it seems very good. Cruises at 100km/9000rpm of an 18000 limit. WAYYY faster and more comfortable to ride than my old KR150. I think there are decent priced 250s that will do the job. you just have to wait to find them

[MSTRS]

43 bhp from a 1989 250cc V2 would be amazing. The modern Honda VTR250 only has 32 bhp. Every link I can find apart from bikez.com indicate a 33 bhp rating for the 1989 Honda Spada VT250.

http://www.wheatland.com.au/spada/info.htm

http://forums.kustompcs.co.uk/archive/index.php/t-33811.html

You didn't look at this one http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/honda_vt_250_spada_obi_1989.php Ooops - just noticed the 'apart from'...
When talking about Honda VTs of any model, the Spada VT250K is the turboed, nos version with the chassis to match. They are not a slow pos. hXc's one was clocked at 172kph. They do not suffer from cam and bottom end failure like some of the other VTs do.
Aside: Why do people keep bagging them? The subject of Spadas has been done to death. In 250 terms, they are the shizz.

[Sidewinder]

Well I fell it is time to upgrade but my wife doesn't no:shit: . I want something cheap but a sports 250 that will take me to wellington from Tauranga with no struggles on the motorway. Something reliable that will keep me intrigued for age so I don't have to go through the rigmoral with my wife of getting a new bike. Was wanting to spend no more that $4500.00. Looking at a 250 bandit suggestions please guys.

how bout a new ish' VTR250? wheelie damb well

[McJim]

Steve555. How many threads have you started along the lines of "Which 250 should I buy?"

It would have been quicker if you had started one thread saying - I'd like to buy a 250 bike - I want to use it for x, y & z and anticipate an annual mileage of n.

My budget is $f.

Go buy a used VTR250 and then upgrade to a Ducati when you get your full - this is the only advice I can give you coz it's what I did.

:)

[Sidewinder]

Steve555. How many threads have you started along the lines of "Which 250 should I buy?"

It would have been quicker if you had started one thread saying - I'd like to buy a 250 bike - I want to use it for x, y & z and anticipate an annual mileage of n.

My budget is $f.

Go buy a used VTR250 and then upgrade to a Ducati when you get your full - this is the only advice I can give you coz it's what I did.

:)

Ducati? can i ask you something? did the VTR need more servicing or parts amd labour than the Ducati?

[MSTRS]

It didn't leak oil....

[TKDSKIP]

would be keen let me know thanks

If your keen you can take the Spada for a ride this weekend, see if you like them.