Buying a 250. Which one? [Archive]

kikazz

31st August 2007, 00:13

The Tazman

31st August 2007, 00:24

Welcome KiKazz Sorry to sound boring but I'd go for something a little more sensible and that you won't be too upset about when you drop it as the chances are you will at some stage. Sorry but it's a high statistic.

In the uK you're only allowed a 125 as a learner. My Dad was a traffic officer and he got me a Suzuki GS125 and looking back I'm glad he did. You can see what I ride nowadays . (Pic is my old one) So am no slowy now :no:

Good luck in deciding at the end of the day it's your choice we can only give advice.

All the best

Taz

jrandom

31st August 2007, 00:32

The question of what makes a good first learner bike has been addressed at great length on these forums. Use the search function and read what's been written already.

Romeo

31st August 2007, 00:59

Jantar

31st August 2007, 01:07

I think you need to take a step back and look at the reason why you're wanting to ride a bike. The riders who come into motorcycling looking for the performance usually end up on government statistics - it's an unforgiving game I'm told. Maybe you need to grow up a bit more, spend a few years in a cage learning the ropes and the rules of the road first.

Cheers,
Romeo - the man who's never riden before...

Romeo has some good advice, except for the part of spending time in a cage first. The best cage drivers are those who learned to ride a bike before they started driving a cage.

Consider that whatever bike you start learning with, you are very likely to drop it at some stage. For that reason alone start with someting naked and upright rather than a sports bike. However your budget just about assures that course of action anyway. :mellow:

Romeo

31st August 2007, 01:51

The best cage drivers are those who learned to ride a bike before they started driving a cage. This is definitely true, but this comes about due to the necessity for more advanced defensive driving. I believe however that the majority of those under 18 don't have the self control, discipline, concentration or decision making capabilities required to drive definsively 100% of the time.

That said, there are contradictions to that belief, but it's best to play on the side of safety. If you mess up in a car around town the worst that's going to happen is you dent some fenders, but on a bike, even the smallest little mistake (or not even your mistake!) could lead to serious injury.

Now! Back to my movie, it's movie night - <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486822/">Disturbia</a>.

Jantar

31st August 2007, 01:58

.... If you mess up in a car around town the worst that's going to happen is you dent some fenders, ..
Or knock over that child chasing a ball. On a bike you are more likely to feel the pain yourself, in a cage it will be someone else who is likely to feel the pain of your mistake.

As you can proably see, I am one of the growing group that believes that ALL cage drivers should spend at least a year on two wheels before getting their cage licence. :yes:

Romeo

31st August 2007, 02:09

In a cage it will be someone else who is likely to feel the pain of your mistake.
At the end of the day it's down to the individual person whether or not they can justify the risks of doing either. All I can say is that you're more likely to be involved in an accident learning the road rules/decision making processes/defensive driving tactics whilst riding a motorcycle than if you were driving a car. Many will disagree of course, they're probably smarter...

McDuck

31st August 2007, 09:04

Im a newb who wants to start riding. I really want a fireblade (but no money and no experience,lol) so.....i want to start from where ever i can.
What sort of 250cc sports, can i buy for around $1000-3000? something which is relatively loud and fast.

CBR??
-thanks

This :
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Tourers/auction-114632601.htm?p=1
It is actualy a sports bike tho not a tourer...

Rosie

31st August 2007, 09:22

Since you are in the process of trying to get your parents on side with the motorbike thing, something loud and/or fast probably wouldn't be the best idea at this stage.

Starting off with something fairly small and sensible that doesn't look too sporty will be more likely to get your mum on side. And, as Jantar said, the bike is likely to have a little lie down during your learning process, and a naked bike is less likely to get damaged.

I know that small-and-sensible isn't really what you are after, but, if it's going to help you get your parents on side it's got to be better than no bike at all eh?

And you'll want to budget about $1000 for gear, on top of the bike.

And to add to the what-to-learn-to-drive/ride-first discussion. I think that the skills I've developed riding a pushbike on the road were far more useful when I got the motorbike than my experience driving a car was. I think everyone should have to ride a pushbike around for a couple of years before they get a licence.

Grub

31st August 2007, 09:24

This It is actualy a sports bike tho not a tourer...

Good spotting McDuck! 250cc bikes under $3,000 are VERY rare! I get the impression from Kikazz that a sprots bike is exactly what he wants (in fact that bit of him worries me - a lot).

Kikazz "... loud and fast ..." really is a worry. Tone your excitement just a little bit for a while coz we don't want to read your posts about binning and injuries. Look at the threads around Skidmark to see where you too could end up.

McDuck

31st August 2007, 10:27

Good spotting McDuck! 250cc bikes under $3,000 are VERY rare! I get the impression from Kikazz that a sprots bike is exactly what he wants (in fact that bit of him worries me - a lot).

Kikazz "... loud and fast ..." really is a worry. Tone your excitement just a little bit for a while coz we don't want to read your posts about binning and injuries. Look at the threads around Skidmark to see where you too could end up.

Lol that is the second katana 250 under 2k in the past month.

i got the other one (1380)

daaatomic

31st August 2007, 10:58

i can't believe how cheap 250 katana's are going. do people not realsie they have a gsxr engine with slingshot carbs on it?

Renegade

31st August 2007, 13:32

firstly welcome.

i only took half the advice that was given to me when i asked a similar question.

The advice i took was buy the best riding gear you can afford, i did, i got an armoured jacket and pants (cordura) so water proof, gloves, riding boots and an entry level hjc helmet all for about $850, and when i got knocked off my bike it paid for itself, every where there was armour was gravel rash marks, whilst i was sore, that armour literally saved my skin, FOLLOW THIS ADVICE.

The advice i didnt take was buy a cheap non faired bike to learn on cos youll want to upgrade and if you drop it its cheap to fix. i brought a new GT250R, while i didnt have to repair it cos it was the other guys fault it still broke my heart to see her messed up like that.

so in a nut shell, buy all the gear first and buy a cheaper naked bike to learn on cos they say most newbies come off in the first 3 months one way or another.

Rosie

31st August 2007, 13:56

i brought a new GT250R, while i didnt have to repair it cos it was the other guys fault it still broke my heart to see her messed up like that.

so in a nut shell, buy all the gear first and buy a cheaper naked bike to learn on cos they say most newbies come off in the first 3 months one way or another.

Even if you don't have to pay for repairs, the whole thing is still a pain in the ass eh?

My bike had a little lie down after being given a shunt by a car at a stop sign. Both brake levers were broken and the fairings were scratched up. It took 4 months, a lot of stress with the insurance company and a lot of calls to the bike shop to get it sorted out.

I think shiny plastic is overrated. My next bike is going to be a chook chaser :second:

McDuck

31st August 2007, 16:20

i can't believe how cheap 250 katana's are going. do people not realsie they have a gsxr engine with slingshot carbs on it?

I know. I love mine even to i can not ride it (yet) :sick: but i can see myself keeping it for a while. In fact until it comes time to get a bigger bike or even further. Dose yours have all the pillion foot rests etc?

babyblade250rr

31st August 2007, 16:36

Some good advice from most people here,

i would say follow it!!, I currently have my first road bike which happens to be a cbr however (and this may not be accurate in anyone elses case but my own) i've had alot of experience on motoX bikes. So you might be thinking just because you ride motoX bikes does'nt mean your can safely ride on the road? well perhaps this is true however i have had alot of years of driving cages on road and with the combination of the two experiences i felt when buying my first rode bike it was a safe bet.

And so far fingers crossed it has been!!

but honestly if i were in your position or an entire noob to road travelling i would take these guys advice, Most of them have probably seen it all before!!

Good luck with what ever your decide anyhow and welcome to the wonderful world of two wheelers:Punk:

kikazz

31st August 2007, 17:34

Lol, thanks for all the input :) im a pretty responsible guy so when i say "loud and fast" its not something thats, that "worrying.."

Kikazz "... loud and fast ..." really is a worry. Tone your excitement just a little bit for a while coz we don't want to read your posts about binning and injuries. Look at the threads around Skidmark to see where you too could end up.

Yeah...i actually wouldnt mind a naked bike......i dont have $3000 let alone one BUCK, so yeah probably.

BTW when you get your restricted can you ride a 400cc?