1982-ish CB250 for $100?

[Hadley]

Hi,
A mate of mine has offered me a 1982 ish (not sure exactly what year) for $100.
The bike isnt going at the mo, needs to be re-registered, battery etc.
He tells me it will go with a wee bit of poking around.
Seems to be in a not too shabby condition considering its been under a tarp in the back yard since 2001.
but yeah anyway, is it worth a hundy?
or will it be more hassle than its worth?
looks the same as the pic attached, but obviously a bit more web-ridden...

Cheers

[Deviant Esq]

If you're handy with a spanner it's definitely worth it - that's a hell of a cheap score especially if it's tidy to begin with! Those things are a doddle to work on if you've got a little knowledge. You've got to be willing to work on it - don't buy it if you're not interested in fettling / fiddling, but if you are, bargain, right there.

Heck, if you don't want it, I'll buy it! :cool:

[dogsnbikes]

depends how much its worth too you and is it all complete
if you want a project bike it could be ideal if you are prepared to get your hands dirty goo for it cheak all forks and rear shocks for pitting and leaky seals you can get parts for the bikes but it can take some seeking too

I paid $250 for a runner which needs re vinning and new rings etc but she will still do 110k no problems

[Hadley]

Its comes with the Hanes manual too, which will make it a bit easier. Not too sure how available parts will be down here tho..

[James Deuce]

If you don't want it, I'll have it!

[nudemetalz]

250RS's are great bikes. Good solid XL/XR engine.

Good deal, go for it !!!
...and if Jim doesn't want it,...I'll have it !!!

[Conquiztador]

The RS came out in 83. The predecessor was the two cylinder N that came out in 79.

Any of them is worth the $'s. And I will put up my hand (no, both actually..) to indicate my interest in the bike if nobody else grabs her.

You will find s/h parts for both models. A good condition N is starting to become a collectors item. Many of them were shipped back to Japan from NZ to collectors.

A working one of either with VIN, WOF and Rego is worth between $1000 - $2000 depending on condition.

So the answer to your question is: Grab it before he sobers up...

[FROSTY]

thats the "delux"model--the only one that was a pain in the ass--its got lekkie start instead of kick -and the lekkie was prone to go boom

[Pwalo]

I had red one with the handlebar fairing, and twin pipes I think. They're ok, but it was a bit of a let down after my RD400.

They did have a reputation for being a great little bike, but prone to cam chain failure, and cam shaft/cylinder head wear. It was the 80's and it was a Honda. It may also check to see if you can still get parts for them, as Honda have recently stopped carrying a whole planet load of spares for older bikes (or so I've heard).

[FROSTY]

I had red one with the handlebar fairing, and twin pipes I think. They're ok, but it was a bit of a let down after my RD400.

They did have a reputation for being a great little bike, but prone to cam chain failure, and cam shaft/cylinder head wear. It was the 80's and it was a Honda. It may also check to see if you can still get parts for them, as Honda have recently stopped carrying a whole planet load of spares for older bikes (or so I've heard).
Sorry bro but hu????
I think you meant the CBX250's or the early VT250's -the RS will just go n go n go n go like an energiser bunny

[James Deuce]

Hey Hadley - did you buy it?

[Pwalo]

Sorry bro but hu????
I think you meant the CBX250's or the early VT250's -the RS will just go n go n go n go like an energiser bunny

No, no they won't. Mind you neither will CBXs (supposedly the successor to the CB RS),or the early VTRs.

Mind you it might be absolutely perfect.

[nudemetalz]

AFAIK most Hondas of the '82-'84 vintage had camchain/tensioner issues (my CBX400 did, that's for sure !!), but CB250RS's were a stone reliable bike. They had a cult following over in the UK.
Just keep the oil changes regular.

[FROSTY]

No, no they won't. Mind you neither will CBXs (supposedly the successor to the CB RS),or the early VTRs.

Mind you it might be absolutely perfect.
Your memory must be getting clouded -The vt250 fd -the first one had cam chain issues and rear cam issues--as did the cbx's -400/550/750 and all the VF hondas had soft cams
The CBX had issues because it had the radial valve head -Yes it replaced the RS but was a new desighn motor based on the XR? 250
The cb250rs is boringly reliable with the only issue being the delux model which had a funny ol starter motor issue
Im prepared to put a fair ol chunk of money down that I'm right

[Bonez]

buy it................................!!!

[James Deuce]

Hadley, if you're not going to buy it man, there's people out there who will.

Me first because I asked first!

[Bonez]

Hadley, if you're not going to buy it man, there's people out there who will.

Me first because I asked first!
And I thought you liked to share ;)

[James Deuce]

You've already GOT heaps of old munt. I want to build my OWN munt pyramid, thank you very much!

[Conquiztador]

(What with their bickering an all...)Then I happily step up and provide a caring home for the girl :)

[Hadley]

Yeah, will buy it. Thanks for the info people. Just got to wrangle getting the work van to go pick it up. cheers

[James Deuce]

Good work. We expect a thread on getting the wee beasty back on the road.

[nudemetalz]

Anyway Jim, you can't buy it as you have to save (HARD) for your new Aprilia Shiver.... :baby:

[Bonez]

Anyway Jim, you can't buy it as you have to save (HARD) for your new Aprilia Shiver.... :baby:Isn't the bathroom a priority at the moment?

[James Deuce]

Yep Bathroom is the priority. Got my eye on another project at the mo.

[xwhatsit]

I'll have it for parts. Frosty, the heads do go boom on these models unfortunately; head cracks between the exhaust valves and spark plug. Happened on my original head, and two spares that I bought. Very common.

The other problem is that they use plain bearings direct in the head for the cam. This means you can't replace them when they wear out; top end noise is very common. Automatic cam-chain tensioner isn't too bad, but still a bit shit. Replace the cam-chain according to the intervals, trust me on that ;) . Engine has no oil filter, just a bit of gauze in the sump, so very important to stick to oil-change intervals or you'll need a new bore and head pretty quickly.

Unfortunately this model is the Deluxe, which has a very flimsy electric start. The kickstart is much better, although the kickstart lever itself has been known to strip and crack. Like hen's teeth to locate, too.

Great bikes. Could apparently crack 150kph when new, although I wouldn't want to inflict that amount of abuse. Engine is not one of Honda's best, but can be fun as it will thump down low if carb is tuned appropriately (jetted/needled lean at stock, as it's a pumper and they try to boost fuel economy), yet will howl up to 10,000 rpm very smoothly and freely. I've got an XR250 camshaft in mine which seems to boost low-down torque, or that might just be my imagination.

Main appeal of the bike is the joyous handling. 125kg dry (electric will be heavier unfortunately), can be made lighter (I threw away battery, heavy stock headlight/indicators/massive steel bracket holding it all together -- more is planned to go), put some 10-weight oil in the front forks and lower them through the triple clamps about 1.5-2cm. Mine's got clip-ons which make it even nicer. Super fun to chuck through tight twisties and roundabouts and all kinds of urban situations -- you just throw it around with your knees. Meanwhile you're getting 28km/litre and never getting close to wearing out the tyres, even if you scrape the pegs as hard as you can (which is difficult as ground clearance is very good).

Get it, it's cheap laughs you won't regret. I won't be selling mine.

EDIT: I'll give you $80 for the exhaust system -- I'll give you a (slightly rusted around the headers but still very good) pair of original silencers -- take your pick out of two sets I have. There, now it only costs you $20. I'm serious about that. I want a two-into-one for a little project.

[nudemetalz]

I sometimes regret selling my NZ-250 (which Dev Esq got ;) ). Great wee bike, sort of like a super-dooper CB250RS...

[xwhatsit]

The RS came out in 83. The predecessor was the two cylinder N that came out in 79.

Not quite right. The CB250N and the CB250RS were contemporaries; the N was pitched as the `Sports Twin' and the RS was the `Super Sports Single' in the brochures of the time. RS beat the socks off the N in any kind of race.

250N came out in 1979 and lasted until 1983. I think. The CB250RS came out in 1980 (CB250RSA) and lasted until 1984 replaced by the RSC somewhere in there, maybe 1982. In 1982 they released the CB250RSD, which is the electric start model and lasted until 1984 too. In Japan they had the RSZ, which was the same as an RSD pretty much, but had fancy paintwork, unblacked engine and twin-pot front discs. Nothing really changed over the entire career of the bike apart from that.

Was replaced by the CBX, with the RFVC head, which also suffered from head-cracking. Not as good; more powerful (30hp!), but much heavier and more expensive. Then came the GB250 which was a classic-clothed CBX. Very nice.

The offer for the exhaust system still stands.