Which 250 to choose?

[JJNZ]

Hi guys,

You're probably sick of answering these sort of questions, but i'm a complete newbie, having just decided yesterday that a bike is a good option for going to and from work (first week in new job, travelling 600kms a week, cost me $100 petrol so far this week!)

I've spent the morning looking on trademe getting ideas of what is around, and figure i can probably afford to spend up to $4k if i sell my car. Obviously the first step is getting my license which i will be onto next week but once thats out of the way i will need to be able to put it to use!

I'm leaning more towards a sports style bike rather than a tourer/cruiser but thats where my troubles start - the only difference i can see is the styling, what other differences are there?

I want something economical, not really too fussed about brands although would rather stick to 'big-name' ones, not these bloody chinese things.

I've always had Honda cars so these are my main interest at the moment, but also like the look of the kawasaki's, but again am open to anything.

The next problem is i'm a lanky bugger at 6'3" so i want something i'm going to be nice and comfortable on for 45mins at a time twice a day.

How much is insurance likely to be a year for a 250cc learner license, 23yr old with clean insurance record? i will head down to the insurance company next week to find out for sure but good to get a general idea so i can do some budgetting over the weekend!

Thanks in advance for any help!

Josh

[Deviant]

I started out on a GN250, still on it, and I have to say, it's an absolutely awesome learner's bike.

Ask anyone, look on trademe, it's the "Classic Kiwi Learner's Bike", and is hands down probably the most forgiving and easy to learn on bike out there.

It's not sporty, but start safe, learn the ropes, then go for fashion and speed when you know what you're doing.

[koba]

You will never know for sure unless you buy one!

If I could do it all again I would start on an rg150. (2stroke)
That way it can be raced in streetstock and they are actually quite reliable (more so than my old 250 4cyl 4stroke!)

GSX250 or GPX250 can be a great starting point for a taller rider, and reliable tough and easy to fix, aswell as doing comfortable motorway speed.

Have a look around, keep asking but dont take too long because summer is just about here and you will want to be out there as much as possible once you have a bike to play on :)

[sprag]

Hi guys,


The next problem is i'm a lanky bugger at 6'3" so i want something i'm going to be nice and comfortable on for 45mins at a time twice a day.


Josh

Well at Hyosung GT250R are good for the taller bikers for a 250cc, and 2nd hand ones can be cheap on trademe, and its a sports bike as well.

mine does about 400k's plus on a tank of gas (16 or 17 liters )

[Maverick]

a single cylinder 250 like a Suzuki GN 250 will be the most economical, it might struggle over 100kph though,
a V twin like the Honda VTR will be economical and have a lot more go, but prices are much higher,
an inline twin like a GPX may be an option, but the V's are better. Stay away from GSX's, they are very heavy for their engine power so are supposed to be gutless.
an inline 4 like a bandit/zxr/etc will have a lot more top end performance but will drink petrol like mad, (my bandit got 180km off a tank about 14L)
2 strokes tend to drink a lot of petrol too and maintenance on that high a millage could be a killer.
Its up to you, I agree with your sentiments on the main brands, I wouldnt trust a chinese bike yet either. maybe in another 5 -10 years

insurance go to www.kiwibike.co.nz, bloody good. AMI was ripping me blind and I had no idea.

[Rosie]

Hi Josh,

Different styles of bike are designed to do different things, so each will feel different to ride, and be better at different things. Some of the differences in styling and handling will be more noticeable than others as you are learning to ride.

An obvious difference between different styles of bikes is the seating position. Since you are tall, you may find a lot of 250cc bikes quite cramped. Since you'll be using the bike to commute, being hunched over a too-small bike for 1.5 hours wouldn't be a pleasant addition to your working day.

Another obvious difference is the nice shiny plastic panels (fairings) that some bikes have on them. They help to keep you out of the wind when you're going quick, and they make the bike look nice (if you are into that sort of thing). They also scratch very easily if the bike decides to have a little lie down :( and they can be a pain to get fixed.

As well as the sports and cruiser style bikes, dual purpose, or road legal trail bikes are worth a look. They have a more upright seating position, and tend to have fairly high seats, so may be more comfortable for a tall person. And despite outward appearances, they can be quite nice to ride on the open road. Mine is actually nicer on the road than my road bike :blink:

As a starting point, go around several bike shops and have a look at the 250s they've got, and see if you can have a sit on them to see how they feel. And while you are there, you can start buying all the gear you'll need, so once you buy a bike, you'll be set to go. :scooter:

[mogiman]

test ride a few 250s to see what you like ,ended up with a 92 cbr but for comfort my gb250 was great and a lot of fun would run on the smell of an oily rag but im only 5'10 and a bit
ITs a shame they dont use the hp laws like in some states in aussie because an rf 400 would be ideal for someone like you and comfortable

[Drum]

...You're probably sick of answering these sort of questions

Doubt it mate. It's a popular argument point round these parts.
Myself, I learned to ride on a Kawasaki EL250 and would do so again. A bullet proof bike and perfect for learners who want more than a GN250.

[JJNZ]

cheers for the replys guys, i had a look at a coupe of the bike sites last night and 6k for a new bike is really quite affordable so may even look at that as a option if i can get the right price for my car - the problem with going and taking a couple for a test ride is i don't even know how to ride yet, but will get there soon enough all going to plan - i'm keen on the idea of the v-twin style motors, how am i able to tell which models have which type of engine? cheers

[JimO]

i bought a nz 250 for my boys which is a ideal size for them as its narrow,nimble and a good fit but a 250 Katana is a better size for the larger gentileman its pretty much the same size as my cagiva 1000

[sweetp]

My partner was the same 6' and broad. He ended up on a Hyosung GT250R, being a lover of sports bikes. He said it was the best fit for him and it certainly was a trouble free bike. He ended up trading it in with 18 000Km on the clock and never had a single issue with it. The son still has his (he is just about as big as dad) and loves it.

Key thing is you don't want to spend to much on bike one as it will have a few tumbles. Also the most important thing is fit, sports bikes you lean forward and crusiers like the GN you sit more upright. It comes down to what feels best for you.

Also I would suggest you go to a professional riding school to learn to ride. They are great and you can come out at the end of the day with your basic handling cert and with enough skill to get you going.

I second the point on kiwibike insurance, they gave me a price 4 times below that of state.

All the best mate, I hope you find something you like.

[HTFU]

for someone your height I would not recommend the GPX. Its a good bike but I am 1.75m tall and you wouldnt want to be much taller. I think you should have a look at a Hyosung GT 250 naked. They are 6000 new and would suit a taller person. They are more upright than the Faired version. Worth a look. I found them too tall for me.

[MidnightMike]

Stay away from GSX's, they are very heavy for their engine power so are supposed to be gutless.


Yes they are heavy, 169kg dry, they are'nt the most powerful (about 35-40hp, 160kph top speed) but they are just as quick as the gpx, but a lot more comfortable, especially for taller riders (like me- 6'4")

They are great bikes and the prices on them have dropped a bit in the past year or two, though they might still only just fall into your budget of $4,000

You also might want to look at:

Hyosung GT / GTR250's, Not VTR 250's (great bikes, but are ridiculously small), I think the zxr250a model are a bit higher in seat height than the other zxr models, also the ZZR's are good too.

[Mr. Peanut]

Get the newest 250 you can afford, and pass it on quickly. If you want speed, buy a 400 and risk the fine, you'll still be saving yourself some cash.

If you want to keep it for a while, wait for the new GPX250, it'll be above and beyond any current 250 on the market. :mellow:

[Renegade]

i love my hyo, its been the best, but if you only got $4000 to spend expect to take $800 of that and spend it on gear, at the end of the day its cool riding a bike but its cooler when you come off and you still have all your skin cos the gear you invested in did its job and then some. (first hand experience).

Dont let that deter you, get shopping! biking is the way to go!

[gtr boy]

Dont let that deter you, get shopping! biking is the way to go![/QUOTE]



hell yeh,been lovin my cbr 250 and havin heaps off fun,im 6ft and fit it not to bad,and a great starter bike

[Cache Wraith]

Tall? Hyosung GT250.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=54411

Good luck on the hunt and second that post on the gear. More important than the bike.

[hXc]

*Cough* Mine! *Cough*

[Bigsexy]

Sup mate I have some advice on how best to go about the process of getting your first bike, grab a cup of coffee first and read this....

1st off you will go sit your practical side of the learners licence. After following that I had a pretty good idea that riding was for me, it was so much fun!

I waited 4 years after I got my licence till I got my first bike, the mighty (Honda Hornet) 250cc of course, not a bad bike to start off on! But I do regret buying it first.

Anywho 2nd, The first moneys to spend is on a Helmet, price range from 150-800 dollars, they all do the same job!!! my cheaper Helmet is more comfortable than my 300 dollar one. I made the "simple" mistake of not having a helmet to ride a bike and test them out.

I started on a (hornet) and now I ride a (zxr) Im 5,8 and have none of the comfort issuses that people whine about, at first when you get on a bike it wont feel comfortable simply cause you dont normally sit in the "Riding Position". Makes sense!

3rd I would say to think about what your about to do! Chicks dont fit on the back of a bike haha, how you choose to finance your bike is going to matter, a car is allways handy. I didnt have one when I had my first bike, and believe me... "
It sucks having to get all your riding gear on to go out and about, it is a mission in itself!
And becomes very tedious.

Last but not least, have fun! and dont listen to everthing another biker has to say, they can still be mindless dorks!

[Zuki Bandit]

Hey dude, my bandit seems a pretty good size for me. I have sat on a GPX, but being 6'3 I felt as hunched up as a dog rooting a cricket ball.
The Hyosungs look really sweet, pretty big for a 250 ay!

[JJNZ]

hmmm i was leaning towards the GPX just because technically it looks better than the rest, DOHC, 6speed etc, but if its not going to fit its not much good, i'm going to have a look at perhaps the GN250 tomorrow, and getting me license of course! I do have some bike gear available to me (from my brother), would probably look at getting a better jacket though.

[FJRider]

The first step to getting a FIRST bike is getting a license,at least a learners.THEN, hit all the bike shops and test ride ALL those you can ride and be legal.Use their gas and insurance till you find out what type / model / make etc bike you prefer that suits YOU.
Spend what you can AFFORD.Before sprending too much on a bike and gear,make SURE a motorbike is really what you want.You dont appreciate a good bike/gear till you have had shit bikes/gear.Bikes on finance are easy to get butwill pay more in INTEREST than you realise (under 25's get hit the hardest with most insurance companys) and usually tie you to REGULAR (re)payments,no matter what other bills or payments you need to pay for. ie RENT, FOOD, gas for car, socialising etc. ANY bike and riding,is better than tin top everywhere.DOING IT is better than just TALKING about doing it. (Same for ANY subject) SEE YA ON THE ROAD

[Moxy]

Whichever bike you choose, make sure you get something low maintenance and high resale value, then get something awesome once you've got your full license.

I know too many people who bought a ~250cc bike because it was "fast" or "cheap", but ended up spending way too much time and money getting fixing up the faults which developed.

I'm 6'1" (almost as tall as you :P ) and had a FXR150 for a few years before getting my ZX6-R. Sold the FXR for a hundred dollars less than I paid for it. Almost zero maintenance (aside from the obvious oil changes, etc), never broke down.

GN's are incredibly ugly - I can't see why anybody would resort to one of those - unless they're the "at least it's a bike" type (I turn my head in disgust :P )

The Hyosung is probably the best bet in terms of overall niceness, and resale value. Save the speed bit until you've got a full license and can afford a proper sports bike.

For insurance, I recommend AMI. I'm under 25, and they do 3rd party for me for $35/year with about $800 for excess.

[HTFU]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-119380911.htm

This could be worth a look. Or else buy a new one for $6000. Has to be the best value tall persons option at the moment.

[martin987]

Get a two-stroke bike while you still can. You'll be bored with the GN250 before you can say 'why did I buy this Chinese made piece of crap'

If you can afford it buy a second bike to commute with like the GN250, but don't compromise on your first one - two stroke smells so good and takes off like a rocket, plus it puts out as much power as a 400cc 4-stroke so you get more power straight away don't have to wait until you get your full.

Finance tip. If you can pay off bike in 6 months wack the bike on your credit card then transfer the balance to Kiwibank credit card who are offering 2.99%balance transfer for six months - much better than the 25% the rip off finance companies will charge you.

Insurance I used swann insurance they gave me the best quote.

[sunhuntin]

gns are ok, but need a fair bit of looking after [the new ones that is, not the oldies!] plus you might find yourself cramped as there aint much leg room. even i got cramped, and im a short ass.

[HTFU]

http://www.hyosung.co.nz/model.php?id=6

Hyosung web site link.

seat height is 795mm which is pretty good for a 250. GN and GPX are 740mm. Of course peg position will determine riding height as well but Hyosung definitely has more room.

[zique]

Hi there guys I am new here too and looking for a bike to learn on.Im 5'6 and only got so much to spend and would rather buy a bike just once.Rather than buy a learner bike than upgrade to another later on.
Ive done some browsing and see that the Honda CBR comes highly recommended.Theres a few CBR 250RR for sale on trademe..any views on that bike?

[HTFU]

Im 5'6 and only got so much to spend and would rather buy a bike just once

Bit more info on what you plan to use the bike for etc will help people give you some relevant advice.

Not sure about a CBR250 but if it is new enough and low kms would be ok. (you did say you want to buy it once)

I purchased a Kawasaki GPX 250 new for $6000 after I got my full. Bike meets all my needs in a bike so thats why I went for that particular model. At 5'6" it would perfect size wise as it has a low 740mm seat height, same as a GN.

If you want to be a city racer it will meet those needs. (0-100 in 6secs so more than quick enough around town.) Good on gas (touring at 110-120 km/hr did 350km on its 15L tank and enough power for safe passing. More of an upright position than a CBR race bike style bike. A few second hand on Trademe at the moment so worth a look.

[unrealone]

Also note that the Hyosung has adjustable foot pegs. My previous couple bikes didn't have the option and I'm not sure how many other 250's out there have adjustable pegs. Would come in handy for you. My brother has sat on my bike with the pegs on the lowest position very comfortably and he's about 6'3"


Hi there guys I am new here too and looking for a bike to learn on.Im 5'6 and only got so much to spend and would rather buy a bike just once.Rather than buy a learner bike than upgrade to another later on.
Ive done some browsing and see that the Honda CBR comes highly recommended.Theres a few CBR 250RR for sale on trademe..any views on that bike?

I've ridden my workmates CBR250RR and it goes like a nutter (much like my previous ZXR250C which was a lot more comfortable) but the suspension on it was horrible, seating position for me is no trouble as im about 5'9" however it just wasn't pleasant to ride (Felt like a roller coaster). I guess I'm just used to the suspension on my Hyosung...

Also beware that a lot of these CBRs, ZXRs etc etc are getting to 17 Years old! I had electrical issues galore with my ZXR. I love their speed and sound but compromise is good. I went for quality and the assurance my battery wasn't going to die or that I wouldn't kill my starter coil on the Terrace! (Surprise Surprise, guess who that happened too :P)

And for the love of god, do not buy those horrible GN250's... you'll be wondering why you ever bought a motorcycle in the first place with one of them. Get something that you'll enjoy.

[RidingHard]

Get something that you'll enjoy.

def. agree!! its a wise idea imho to get a first bike that will remain fun and challenging throughout your license process. Every bike has its limits and a GN250's are well below a ZXR's or CBR's etc. By buying a quicker first bike you'll be able to improve much more on it than if you buy a non-performance bike

[zique]

thanks guys for your replies and advice.Yes I plan to use the CBR for work as it would be cheaper on gas than my car.
I've found two CBRs on trademe and one of them looks good.
I know on a car,high ks would be 200,000kms..what about on a bike?
Here is the auction

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=120379288

I know its always best to take a look at the bike before buying it but in this case I cant.Also looks like the bike has been raced so thats another worry.

Btw I've been reading on a few threads here and in other forums about the batteries on sport bikes dying..why does it happen?

Thanks again guys!

[Virk]

Josh

i had the same question abt 6 months back and the guys here are preety good with their knowledge. i suppose it depends on wot kind of bike u like.. sports where u dont mind scratching ur knees and paying higher price or cruiser style. i myself on everyones advise went to all dealers and rode almost all 250's. i prefered the cruiser kind as sports can be bit tricky with their faster acceleration. I went for a Suzuki Marauder GZ 250. All the best....