Hornet 250, Zeal or VTR250

[Krayy]

Hi Guys (and the occaisional Gal),

I'm about to get back on a proper bike for the first time in 12 years (I've been on a Bug Bandit scooter for last 1) and I've test driven these bikes but need a third/fourth opinion. I'm a fairly big unit @ 110kgs, but hope to lose it soonish, so power to weight will increase a bit over time. The question that I have is since I will be coimmuting with the occasional rip, will I get bored with the VTR even though its easier to ride in traffic, or do I just spring for the Hornet and suck the clutch riding on the way to work, but still have enough juice to put a smile on th dial at the weekends?

Anyone have experience with longer trips on a VTR or Hornet to give me an idea of what to expect, like vibration numbness while cruising at 100kph (+ a little bit) at 10k rpm?

Ta.

[FROSTY]

all good calls . I would think that the v twins low down power will be better for a person of um larger stature.I think the fours might be less zippy off the line

[Devil]

all good calls . I would think that the v twins low down power will be better for a person of um larger stature.I think the fours might be less zippy off the line
Yep. Being close to 90kg's myself I do notice it. I have to wait a bit till she picks up, its either that or give the clutch a hiding which im not keen on doing. (Oh and this is for a Kawasaki ZR250)

[Hitcher]

Get the Zeal.

[Ms Piggy]

I can't give you bike advice as I've been riding less that a nyear myself byt, welcome along to KBs, you've come to the right place for advice, there are are some onto it guys & gals here. :spudwave:

[Blakamin]

Get the Zeal.
What Hitcher said :cool2:

Welcome

[bungbung]

I weight more than you, and had a ZXR250 (read wring its neck to get moving).

Having ridden a variety of 250's, singles twins and fours I would plump for the VTR myself.

Especially if your commute is a stop/start affair.

[Mr Skid]

Go for the v-twin. Most 250cc In line 4's are pretty highly tuned beasts, and I find the clutch slipping required for stop start stuff tends to cook the engine.

Unless you get a 2 stroke 250 (rgv 250,nsr250, rs250) you will probably get bored with a 250 anyway, but something like the rgv 250 will be even worse to ride in traffic, so you can't win.

Maybe consider a bicycle for commuting also if you want to loose weight. I went from 110kg to 85kg over a year and a half or so of cycling.

[marty]

i'd be picking the VTR. the only thing that would put me off is the physical size - the engine is sweet enough though.

if you can stretch it - get an Aprilia RS250

[Krayy]

Thanks for the feedback you guys. I am definitely falling on the side of the VTR (sorry Hitcher, BTW do you have an import license for Zeals?), but I have one more question.....during the test ride I felt like I was being buffeted around quite a bit down the motorway, more so than the Hornet. It may have had something to do with the 30kph crosswinds we've got today in Auckland, but is this normal for a VTR or any naked bike for that matter?

Otherwise, it was v.good. I thought the 5 speed box would have been a big disadvantage, but it pulls real well and a fairly lazy ride compared to the Hornet. Anyone done long distance on a VTR and how does it stack up?

On that "C'mon, you know you want to answer the mans 20 questions" thought, thanks again.

[Hitcher]

sorry Hitcher, BTW do you have an import license for Zeals
Not an import licence, rather a strong fondness. I did 16,500km on one during the nine months I was on my learners and restricted licence. It never missed a beat and was absolutely shit hot fun to ride (although it did have some limitations, to be expected with a 250).

[Marknz]

I'd recommend the VTR. I did the trip from Canberra to Phillip Island and back in 2001 for the GP and it was no problem at all. I was packing 100kgs then and also had a full tankbag, full Ventura pack, tent and sleeping bag hooked on, it never missed a beat. Relaxed riding position too so you shouldn't have any problems.

Good luck!

[erik]

I haven't tried the two other bikes, I've got a zeal and am pretty happy with it. Only problem is parts usually have to be genuine yamaha ones and take three weeks to get here from Japan. And on my particular one the suspension is a bit soft (I'm about 95kg). Oh and the pegs scrape a bit easily on corners, but that might be because of my weight and the soft suspension.

I still like it though :)

[riffer]

Check this one out Krayy:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Road-bikes/Sports-tourer/auction-16012697.htm
http://202.21.128.4/photoserver/89/5536889_full.jpg (javascript:history.back())

[2_SL0]

Krayy, your in the same position as me. I to am swinging towards the VTR 250, I looked at the FZR and ZXR CBR options, but none of them captivated me. The CBR is the nicest but has the most unfriendy price tag for a tidy one. I feel the Hornet is a great bike, BUT to find a tidy one at a reasonable price is hard. I am working more to the plan that what ever I buy I will be moving on from in the next 12-18 months. So is there much point in paying out for a more expensive 250 that really isnt going to serve me any better than a cheaper bike. I get the impression from people here that the VTR is a really fun bike to ride. I do worry a little about the lack of top end that I have read about, but then you have to think what are people that say this comparing with? The wind buffeting is also a question I had, but again I dont plan on doing 200kmh. As someone poiinted out to me pretty much all the 250s will likely suffer with some form of this. I had settled on either a Bandit or VTR. I was put off the Bandit slightly by the fact that some one told me they are gutless. (Not sure on this, if someone could explain). But I plan to test ride both in the weekend. To me it sound like the VTR has a reasonable suspension and is a forgiving, torquey bike to ride. The pricing of them seems not to bad, Im hoping to buy one for approx 4000-5000.

[Ghost Lemur]

Check this one out Krayy:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Road-bikes/Sports-tourer/auction-16012697.htm
http://202.21.128.4/photoserver/89/5536889_full.jpg (javascript:history.back())

Doesn't that bike belong in NC30_chick's thread. :D

[riffer]

Doesn't that bike belong in NC30_chick's thread. :D
Tsk tsk GL. Surely you're assured enough in your manhood to not feel insecure around a motorcycle that isn't black?

[Krayy]

She's a goner!

http://bikepoint.co.nz/DesktopDefault.aspx?UsedBikeID=293595&TabID=3553&Alias=bikepointnz

Well thanks one and all. I just rode back from lunch on a gorgeous Yellow VTR. I figure with the type of riding I'm gonna be doing (city stop and go with the occasional 90km rip) it'll suit me better than ringing out the Hornet and changing gear every 5 secs.

So I've got myself booked on the Ride Safe refresher course this Sunday out at Whenuapai to put my new baby through her paces.

Come on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!

[bungbung]

Good work fella, nice in yellow too. :niceone:

[2_SL0]

Do you mind me asking what you paid for that in the end?

[Blakamin]

Very Nice!!!!... glad to see you got something

happy riding! :ride:

[riffer]

Very nice.

That would have to be an almost perfect choice of bike for what you want to do, especially as you are returning to riding.

Congratulations and welcome back. :niceone:

I'm sure even the Chief Domestic Financial Officer will approve of this purchase...

[Krayy]

Hey Judderbar,

It was listed at 5500 with 1k for the trade-in (Bug Bandit scooter - not as much as I'd like, but I can't be arsed fluffing round with Trademe trying to get better) and they threw in 300 worth of extras, so I'm getting a rack and starting off my armour collection.

One thing I will say is that for all the other bikes I looked at, all jap imports, they had all been dropped except for this one, and all looked like they'd spent some time outside in an acidic rain (lots of surface corrosion on chrome and discoloring of plastics and aluminium) except this one!

i dont mind paying a premium for anything if its top notch, and this, I am happy to say, looks the biz.

[2_SL0]

Well, I know Im going to cope some flack for this, especially for all fussing about
like an old women over whether or not to buy this bike or that bike. Well Im the proud owner of the pink bike above. Yes bring on all the pink remarks, Im safe in the knowledge that I at least have a bike. :2guns: . The bike is tidy with need of a little amount of work. LOLOLOL, Im shocking Ive gone from faired to naked and back to faired in about 2 weeks. But at the end of the day I have my first road bike and Im a happy camper. :spudbooge

[Blakamin]

Well, I know Im going to cope some flack for this, especially for all fussing about
like an old women over whether or not to buy this bike or that bike. Well Im the proud owner of the pink bike above. Yes bring on all the pink remarks, Im safe in the knowledge that I at least have a bike. :2guns: . The bike is tidy with need of a little amount of work. LOLOLOL, Im shocking Ive gone from faired to naked and back to faired in about 2 weeks. But at the end of the day I have my first road bike and Im a happy camper. :spudbooge
Good Stuff.... i hope you and the bike have a very happy future with no bins!

ride on :ride:

[Ghost Lemur]

Congrats judderbar and Krayy...

I is sooooo jealous. And you've both worked it just in time to be assured of having a summer ride. :rockon:

[macscot]

Well, I know Im going to cope some flack for this, especially for all fussing about
like an old women over whether or not to buy this bike or that bike. Well Im the proud owner of the pink bike above. Yes bring on all the pink remarks, Im safe in the knowledge that I at least have a bike. :2guns: . The bike is tidy with need of a little amount of work. LOLOLOL, Im shocking Ive gone from faired to naked and back to faired in about 2 weeks. But at the end of the day I have my first road bike and Im a happy camper. :spudbooge
yeah, but more importantly, is Mrs judderbar camping as happily as you? :shit:
Anyway, looking forward to trying it out for you :whistle:

[k14]

Yeah definatly a good buy. I used to have a 87 VT250F and that was a cool bike, rode from chch to new plymouth on it and it was fine. Pretty sure they are mostly the same, very comfortable for long rides. Not even comparable to my cbr, wouldnt mind a ride on one sometime actually.

Good luck riding!!

[2_SL0]

Its ok Mascot, I blamed you. Said you forced me to buy it. :laugh: Mrs Judderbar muttered something about Popping into work to "CATCH UP WITH YOU" :2guns: :soon: . :eek5:

[macscot]

Its ok Mascot, I blamed you. Said you forced me to buy it. :laugh: Mrs Judderbar muttered something about Popping into work to "CATCH UP WITH YOU" :2guns: :soon: . :eek5:
:gob: :sweatdrop Hey I'm not worried :sweatdrop she wont believe I had anything to do with it :innocent: