Learner bike

[ZK-Awesome]

Righto I've been biking for about a year, done the scooter thing for 6 months and had the a100 for 6 months, it's been good and I'm definitely glad I made small steps instead of getting a 250 straight away (cos I'm pretty small) - which is all well and good, but now it's 250 time :banana:

From test-riding so far I have concluded: Honda CBX250rs and Kawasaki Ninja are the sort of bike for me. :2thumbsup

No for me is the Gn250 :zzzz: or the Suzuki Bandit (don't like inline-4's, yeah I'm a pussy)

So basically I want a bike like the Ninja or the CBX250RS, both brought a smile to my dial and at the same time do the city riding I want. I'm definitely after a 4-stroke this time around. So now the challenge is finding a bike like these, less than $2200, that's reasonably close to Nelson (can do marlborough, canterbury, and probably wellington), and requires little if any work done on it.

So... congratulations if you read all that, is there anything out there??

[Willdat?]

I have a 1988 Honda GL145 if you want to continue with small steps! Otherwise I haven't seen anything in Nelson in your price range, good luck :headbang:

[pyrocam]

my bike is under your budget. it is in auckland but since youve got a spare couple hundy you can have it sent down :)
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1881684

[ZK-Awesome]

Cheers Pyrocam but I've had my share of 2-strokeyness, it's time to go to a 4-stroke I think.

Still looking everyone - any GB250's, GPX250's, even FXR's..?

[samgab]

Cheers Pyrocam but I've had my share of 2-strokeyness, it's time to go to a 4-stroke I think.

Still looking everyone - any GB250's, GPX250's, even FXR's..?

FXR150 is a really good next step, from personal experience :)

[ZK-Awesome]

Yep definitely considering an FXR - yours is looking good actually samgab! A bit far from home though :sweatdrop

[Willdat?]

Got my restricted today, wow it's pretty simple, seeing as I already have my next bike I want to move the GL145 on, you're welcome to come take it for a ride and see if it's to your liking!

[ZK-Awesome]

Got my restricted today, wow it's pretty simple, seeing as I already have my next bike I want to move the GL145 on, you're welcome to come take it for a ride and see if it's to your liking!

Really looking for a decent 250 I think.

What do people think about older liquid-cooled 250's -> reliable or do they go rotten in their old age? Looking at something like:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-197536108.htm

(Honda VT250f)

[Squiggles]

The old VT's had weak bottom ends

[samgab]

Really looking for a decent 250 I think.

What do people think about older liquid-cooled 250's -> reliable or do they go rotten in their old age? Looking at something like:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-197536108.htm

(Honda VT250f)

I'm no expert, but I don't think many people would have anything negative to say about that bike. It's Honda, so that's a good start. The VT is the predecessor to the current VTR, and has almost the same V-twin motor, which I've only heard good stuff about. I don't think you'd go far wrong buying a bike like that one. :)

[ZK-Awesome]

The old VT's had weak bottom ends

After doing some trawling through KB to confirm this, and yep you're probably right.

But speaking generally now, are older liquid-cooled japapese bikes (GPX...)to be avoided, or are they generally okay? I'm thinking air-cooled ones would perhaps be better (more simple, less to go wrong...) from a reliability point of view...?

My other alternative of course is to keep the 100 for the moment and wait til the new learner laws come in and get a cheap 400-500 thats on the list...

[ZK-Awesome]

Bump. I've revisited a Honda CBX250rs it's cheap but needs work doing, it's going with reg & wof though.

Though in the back of my mind is the saying, "only wealthy men can afford cheap bikes". I am considering keeping the 100 for the moment and either getting a 400/500 when the new learner laws come in, or saving for something a bit more modern, like a VTR.

[samgab]

Bump. I've revisited a Honda CBX250rs it's cheap but needs work doing, it's going with reg & wof though.

Though in the back of my mind is the saying, "only wealthy men can afford cheap bikes". I am considering keeping the 100 for the moment and either getting a 400/500 when the new learner laws come in, or saving for something a bit more modern, like a VTR.

I just went from a 150 to a VTR250, and so far I'm loving it. I'd say it's a really good step up. It's forgiving if you don't get everything right, and it has good torque from low revs for a 250. Fun to ride.

[v8s&2wheels]

Sort of out of your range but if you can afford more.. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?&p=1896517

Well looked after bike just unfortunate about previous owners dropping it.

[ZK-Awesome]

Sort of out of your range but if you can afford more.. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?&p=1896517

Well looked after bike just unfortunate about previous owners dropping it.

Cheers, but looking for something a bit more commutey.

Unfortunately there aren't that many bikes for sale that I like and are closeby. If this one were closer I'd be in there.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=198398381

[Monorail]

Cheers, but looking for something a bit more commutey.

Unfortunately there aren't that many bikes for sale that I like and are closeby. If this one were closer I'd be in there.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=198398381

why dont you fly up and ride it back down?

[ZK-Awesome]

Bump for luck. There are some nice 250s on trademe, but most are overpriced :crybaby:

Would be happy with something like this http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=213036881 but it looks too rough for 2100.

[pc220]

Bump for luck. There are some nice 250s on trademe, but most are overpriced :crybaby:

Would be happy with something like this http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=213036881 but it looks too rough for 2100.

Sadly in the 250 market on your kind of budget you may have to settle for something with a bit of cosmetic damage. On the plus side the GPX 250 was produced right up to 2007 with not many changes over the years. So finding replacement parts should be fairly simple.
As long as it is mechanically in good condition it maybe a good buy. Im sure there would be some knowledgable KBers in Dunedian that could give it a once over. Those sothern mainlanders seem a very friendly helpful bunch.

[sil3nt]

I got my GPX same year for cheaper than what they want and mine had no damage. But now its cracked exactly the same as in photo 6 and i can tell you that it will cost $200 for a repaint and resticker :pinch: (although that might have included the $60 for plastic welding) And then you have the other damage on the bike. I wouldn't pay more than $1500 for that unless he got it fixed.

Are you getting these listings emailed to you? Everyday i get the new sports 250 listings emailed to me and thats how i found my bike. Be patient and the right bike will pop up!

[ZK-Awesome]

I got my GPX same year for cheaper than what they want and mine had no damage. But now its cracked exactly the same as in photo 6 and i can tell you that it will cost $200 for a repaint and resticker :pinch: (although that might have included the $60 for plastic welding) And then you have the other damage on the bike. I wouldn't pay more than $1500 for that unless he got it fixed.

Are you getting these listings emailed to you? Everyday i get the new sports 250 listings emailed to me and thats how i found my bike. Be patient and the right bike will pop up!

Yeah I'm hanging out for the right one at the right price still.

What I did is saved a trademe search for 125-250cc bikes, after 1980, below $5k. Then bookmarked it. One click and I'm there.