Choosing a bike - Bandit vs. Hornet?

[headlesschicken]

Hi guys just got my learner licence and looking for some advice :2thumbsup
Took a 95 bandit 250 for a test ride within an hour of getting it - what a rush!
Seemed in reasonable condition, no smoke etc and jeez its quick. Only thing i noticed was a small clunk twice during the ride when upshifting just idling along. Have been told this is just a result of age. The bike is 6k from a dealership in chch and has done 17000k. Not sure if i should post a link?

So i went into casbolts honda who had a brand new cbf250 for 5495...what gives? Can't test ride til next week as they haven't got one sorted out yet. I reckon it looks the part but don't have a clue about it.
Any reservations for either bike?

Im just over 6ft and 55kg :o
I want something thats reasonably fast that would be happy on the open road. Im open to ideas but these are what ive narrowed it down to and to be honest looks are a large factor for me. Oh and my budget is 6k.
Thanks in advance :mobile:

[mowgli]

I've found the Hyosung GT250R to be a good bike on the open road. Just over seven new but 2nd hand bikes around down into the 4s and 5s. The V twin sounds much nicer than a single and vibes a bit less too. The Hyo has a pretty low seat position (I'm 5'7") but you should definitely test ride one if you can. My red one gets mistaken for a Ducati :)

[PirateJafa]

The clunk is just the sound of changing gear. It's just that when idling you hear it. :P

6k is a fair bit though - must be in real mint condition.

The Bandits are great bikes though - they'll happily keep up with any other 250 on the road. :)

[scracha]

So i went into casbolts honda who had a brand new cbf250 for 5495...what gives?

Greedy dealers and stupid people who get shiny bike syndrome and pay too much.



Im just over 6ft and 55kg :o
I want something thats reasonably fast that would be happy on the open road.

Matey's missus just got a brand new hyosung 250 (sans fairing...Comet I think). Think it was a bawhair under 6 grand. Scoot about on it for a year, relax with the warranty and then flog it for 5 grand. You can't go wrong really.

Pretty much any 4 stroke 250's gonna sit comfortably up to about 130kmph so you've no worries on the open road.

[Drew]

The Bandit sounds too pricey to me, and the brand new bike will come with warantee too, it would be my choice for sure. But I'm biased with owning a 900 Hornet.

[HornetBoy]

Go for the hornet mate ,i like em so much i brought the 900 version as soon as i got my license they are awesome.the 250cc hornet does 100kph+ easy mate and they hold their value incredibly good ,as far as im concerned the bandit and hornet are almost identical in power ive ridden both but i reckon the hornet feels more bigger and looks like a bigger cc bike (which is what alot of L-platers want :niceone:)

[98tls]

There will be a demo of each........get both on seperate weekends and ride the wheels off em...thats what demos are for.If you like one then buy it,simple

[MaxCannon]

From what I read the CB250F is a single cylinder with carbs putting out 16kw / 20hp
Sounds an awful lot like a GN250

Obviously the Honda will be a more up to date design and probably better built - but $5.5K would buy you a slighty used GN - a bunch of good quality gear and plenty of change left over
To me the Honda looks like pretty poor value next to a Yamaha Scorpio

However all the above is kinda irrelevant as I'd recommend against all three of them.
Something with a just a bit more poke would be a better choice. For around $5K my pick would be a near new Hyosung or a slighter older VTR250

Don't forget that good quality gear will set you back around $1000

[xwhatsit]

Make sure you know what you are getting -- I'm seeing some confusion on Trademe lately between the CB250F and the CBF250. CBF250 is a gentle little single-cylinder communter; CB250F Hornet is a four-cylinder screamer.

Hornet would be a better alternative to the Bandit, as chicks dig Hondas. Must be that gay confidante thing.

[disenfranchised]

Im just over 6ft and 55kg :o
I want something thats reasonably fast that would be happy on the open road. Im open to ideas but these are what ive narrowed it down to and to be honest looks are a large factor for me. Oh and my budget is 6k.
Thanks in advance :mobile:

Being over 6ft didn't the bandit feel really tiny?
I can recommend the Hyo....you should be able to find a good condition used one for around $5K (not from a dealer tho..greedy buggers)..but make sure it's an '05 or newer...the '03 models had numerous problems
Added bonus with the engine being a v-twin, is that there's plently of torque, and gear selection becoms less of an issue while you learn.

[PirateJafa]

Im just over 6ft and 55kg :o
I want something thats reasonably fast that would be happy on the open road. Im open to ideas but these are what ive narrowed it down to and to be honest looks are a large factor for me. Oh and my budget is 6k.
Thanks in advance :mobile:

I'm just a tad under six foot and also 55kg.

The Bandit fits me fine, and is a excellent position for commuting as well as cruising.

It got me happily to license-losing speeds yesterday, and surprisingly quickly too.

You can probably guess what I recommend. :D

[headlesschicken]

Make sure you know what you are getting -- I'm seeing some confusion on Trademe lately between the CB250F and the CBF250. CBF250 is a gentle little single-cylinder communter; CB250F Hornet is a four-cylinder screamer.

Hornet would be a better alternative to the Bandit, as chicks dig Hondas. Must be that gay confidante thing.

I'm confused....
http://www.motorcycletrader.co.nz/UsedItemDetails.aspx?N=4294967264+4294966371+42949 66833+4294967139+183+0&item=6484&sid=

[headlesschicken]

there's fine examples of all the bikes recommended but none in chch:crybaby:
i'll test ride a gt250r but it really is out of my price range for a new one

[oldguy]

most people I know who owned a bandit didn't have them long, most people I know who have a hornet, still have them, and are reluctant to part with them.

go the mighty Honda.

[McJim]

most people I know who owned a bandit didn't have them long, most people I know who have a hornet, still have them, and are reluctant to part with them.

go the mighty Honda.

Mind you - I know someone who prefers their Buell to their Honda! :Pokey:

Shame the Buell Blast isn't allowable as a learner (single cyl Buell - less than 40 ponies I believe).

I think Hornets and Bandits are much the same really as long as we are referring to the old 4 cylinder ones and not a sheep in wolf's clothing (Surely honda have not dubbed their single cyl CB250 a hornet - tell me it's not true!).

Base your decision on overall condition not mileage and they'll all be old coz no-one's made a 4 cyl 250 since about 1995.

Oh, and try a Kawasaki Balius too if you get the chance.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Tourers/auction-134789024.htm

If you bought this it would leave you money in reserve for chains, tyres, leathers, helmet, boots, gloves, filters, oil and pretty much any other consumables.

[Drew]

These prices are mental, buy the new bike!!! A 14 year old 250 is askin $3700, another 1500 clams gets a brand new bike, under warantee, and if the trend is anything to go by, will fetch four grand still when you go to move onto a bigger bike. Win Win as near as I can tell.

[disenfranchised]

Base your decision on overall condition not mileage and they'll all be old coz no-one's made a 4 cyl 250 since about 1995.

Not strictly true
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-135021369.htm?key=328124
I think if you said no one's made an AFFORDABLE 250 4-cyl since 1995 you might be onto something.

Or that no-one has sold a 4-cyl 250 new outside of japan since 1995 maybe?

[McJim]

Not strictly true
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-135021369.htm?key=328124
I think if you said no one's made an AFFORDABLE 250 4-cyl since 1995 you might be onto something.

Or that no-one has sold a 4-cyl 250 new outside of japan since 1995 maybe?

ANd I'll bet it's been detuned to the regulation 32hp limit required by Japanese law for a learner motorcycle! :rofl:

[xwhatsit]

I'm confused....
http://www.motorcycletrader.co.nz/UsedItemDetails.aspx?N=4294967264+4294966371+42949 66833+4294967139+183+0&item=6484&sid=

That's the CBF250 single cylinder -- cheeky mofos -- they've mislabelled it. On purpose? Got nothing on the Hornet, but would be fine for communting.

Go with the Bandit, then, if you're a speed demon.

[gijoe1313]

That's the CBF250 single cylinder -- cheeky mofos -- they've mislabelled it. On purpose? Got nothing on the Hornet, but would be fine for communting.

Go with the Bandit, then, if you're a speed demon.

Xerxes is correct on the money. :angry2: I dunno :oi-grr: The cheek of it! Obviously ripping off newbies who don't know any better. I think it would be better off calling it a Honda CB250F Midge.... :pinch:

But a good little ol'hornet can still be had for around that price.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-135818348.htm This is an absolute steal for a little ol'hornet. Would not take much to do back up to minters minters at all :love:

[chester]

Go the Hornet:headbang:

[obstacle]

I tested both when I was hunting for my 250. Settled on the hornet - it was just more comfortable and just as fast. My suggestion - go and ride them both. If you can't find a hornet you can take mine for a thrash but as everybody else says just get the hornet.

[gijoe1313]

Go the Hornet:headbang:


I tested both when I was hunting for my 250. Settled on the hornet - it was just more comfortable and just as fast. My suggestion - go and ride them both. If you can't find a hornet you can take mine for a thrash but as everybody else says just get the hornet.

And again, another plug for the little ol'hornet, say it brothers! Get the Hornet! :yes:

[xwhatsit]

Yeah, but a real Hornet, not that CBF250 single that is mislabelled.

[headlesschicken]

thanks obstacle but akl-chch :/
thanks for the info xerxes think ill steer clear.
tomorrow might be able to test ride a hyosung and balius. ill let you know how they go

[YellowDog]

If you are 6ft tall and 55Kg, anything will go well. You just need to make sure the bike is high enough fro you. The prices you mention are far too high. Try looking on the KB sales link or TradeMe.

Good luck.

[YellowDog]

These prices are mental, buy the new bike!!! A 14 year old 250 is askin $3700, another 1500 clams gets a brand new bike, under warantee, and if the trend is anything to go by, will fetch four grand still when you go to move onto a bigger bike. Win Win as near as I can tell.
Exactly right. How can they justify such high prices?

If you buy a new bike, you will get a full warrantee and also finance.

Good luck.

[headlesschicken]

well today I headed into town. first went to test ride a balius. was too small for me, went ok. they want 3800 for it and it's obviously been dropped once on the right side and twice or badly on the left. they told me it hadn't been started for a long time and when they did, it blew blue smoke for ages and wouldn't idle with choke on until very warm. after that it was fine.

had a go on a hyosung. it was very different obviously. i really liked the digital display but not much else. it vibrated fairly heavily, brakes were shit, wasn't as fast as the kawasaki with not alot more torque where i expected better from a twin and i found it very hard to turn tightly at speed although it was very stable. not a strength thing but it just felt like it didn't want to. probably just a learner having his first go on a sports bike aye? i think the crowning moment was when he told me he wanted 7800 for any new gt250r. at this dealership was also rather unimpressed that when i'd asked for some loaner gear i was given a large helmet for my small head and nothing else with a she'll be right attitude:no:

next stop was casbolts to try the cbf250 which they now told me correctly. was very impressed with service and bike but it really did lack the power.

so for now the bandit is still my favourite as I haven't found a hornet in chch. have been told that i may get the price down a bit if im serious though. what has surprised me though is that at each dealer i've been to and presented my learners licence i haven't been offered l plates or even asked if i have some to put on!:bleh:

[madandy]

Tried one of them V-twin Hondas? They ok.
But if you're into your I4 sound and RPM, the 'lil Zooki is a nice wee bike ;)

[headlesschicken]

I did it!

I bought the bandit today:done:
Cost me 5800 inc 6 months warrant and rego.
Hopefully can go pick it up on thursday:eek:

[FROSTY]

Honda cbf250 at cyclespot honda -$4999

[Wasp27]

Honda cbf250 at cyclespot honda -$4999

I agree...the Duchess has had her CBF250 for 5 months now, done nearly 4000ks and loves it.....matter of fact so do I. Drags my fat arse at 130 no sweat....and handles superb. Over 400ks per tank. Brand new for $4999...(retail $6990) 2 years warranty, 1st service free:clap: highly recommend it

[PirateJafa]

We expect pictures asap. Can't help but smile at a Bandit. :D

[headlesschicken]

We expect pictures asap. Can't help but smile at a Bandit. :D

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?p=1399882#post1399882
:Punk:

[yoshi]

riden a 97 bandit and 97 hornet. bought the hornet and dnt regret it:first:!

[Iggy]

would recommend the hornet but dont deal with casbolts cos have read some poor reports about them, happy bike hunting:2thumbsup