Are 250 hornets worth the extra $$

[GOONR]

I've been looking at the usual suspects for a forgiving learner bike and have noticed that Hornets are way more expensive than most.

Why is a 1996 bandit with around 10,000k worth around $4500 whilst a 1996 Horrnet same 10,000k is more in the line of $6600.

Are they really worth the extra, I guess if I bought one and managed not to bin it I should get a fair amount of my hard earned back but even still, it seems like a big difference..... But I do like the look of the Hornet.

[AllanB]

Heh - must say I like my Hornets....:niceone:

For a 'learner' bike, in the example you give above - NO.

Both are excellent IL4's.

Check here for dealer pries.
http://www.motorcycletrader.co.nz/

You are right - the Hornets do appear to get a grand or more premium.
Just quietly I think the Honda finish is better, but $1000 +$1500 worth............

[PirateJafa]

Get the Bandit. They're the exact same - power, handling, position. They just have different badges.

Plus the Bandits have do one thing the Hornets don't - a centre stand. :niceone:

[GOONR]

......Plus the Bandits have do one thing the Hornets don't - a centre stand. :niceone:

I didn't think that people really used the centre stand, prop it on it's side stand and away you go.

[Dean]

Get a zeal 250, its inline4, 40hp, same engine as fzr 3ln. Its naked just like the hornet and bandit, but the best thing about them is they are for only around $3500!!! on trademe. If you save up mega $ to buy a hornet or new bandit, will you have enough money to service them, new tyres etc. At first i thought of buying hornets and dont get me wrong they are amazing bikes but if i had to of save every penny to buy one, leaving my pockets empty for maintenance, petrol is drag. I have a zeal and it has 16 rpm redline and at 9 rpm i can cruise at 140kph- I know youre a learner and all but yano

[NOMIS]

not for a 96 model my bling bike only went for $6400 but there a nicer bike than the bandit (rode both before making up my mind) just feel more quality , my 2cents. bandit nice in its own right.
oh and my hornet was 2001 with alllllloooooottt of mods

[GOONR]

Get a zeal 250, its inline4, 40hp, same engine as fzr 3ln. Its naked just like the hornet and bandit, but the best thing about them is they are for only around $3500!!! on trademe. If you save up mega $ to buy a hornet or new bandit, will you have enough money to service them, new tyres etc. At first i thought of buying hornets and dont get me wrong they are amazing bikes but if i had to of save every penny to buy one, leaving my pockets empty for maintenance, petrol is drag. I have a zeal and it has 16 rpm redline and at 9 rpm i can cruise at 140kph- I know youre a learner and all but yano

Yeah, been thinking about these as well, I guess my original post should really have said "why are hornets so godam expensive". Didn't mean to exclude the rest of the bunch.

So you get on with the Zeal, how do they compare size wise to a Hornet?

[GOONR]

not for a 96 model my bling bike only went for $6400 but there a nicer bike than the bandit (rode both before making up my mind) just feel more quality , my 2cents. bandit nice in its own right.
oh and my hornet was 2001 with alllllloooooottt of mods

I know it's a dealer and you pay more but I guess this is overpriced then..

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports//auction-173843638.htm

[NOMIS]

I know it's a dealer and you pay more but I guess this is overpriced then..

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports//auction-173843638.htm

stay away .. way to much money. could find one same nick privatly for $4500 and keep the money saved "incase somethn goes wrong" for the 3 months they offer warantee.

[Dean]

Yeah, been thinking about these as well, I guess my original post should really have said "why are hornets so godam expensive". Didn't mean to exclude the rest of the bunch.

So you get on with the Zeal, how do they compare size wise to a Hornet?

Hornets have higher seat heights, but zeals are more sexy and bulky. I have been told my zeal looks totally similar to a hornet. I am 6ft and am 90kg and fit on my bike well, just trust me on this beleive me i was once in your position where i was looking for a bike. If i saved up every bit of my money to buy a hornet, 6-7 grand i wouldnt be able to ride it because i cant afford petrol, what if the bike needs new tyres, new chain, new wof, new rego, tune up all these factors are realistic. The zeal can be only 3000$ at sometimes (mostly 3500) and they are so similar to the bandit and hornet in all ways, its not worth spending 5-6 grand on a hornet or bandit you can go half the price for identical zeal. They come out in 1996 models to.

[GOONR]

stay away .. way to much money. could find one same nick privatly for $4500 and keep the money saved "incase somethn goes wrong" for the 3 months they offer warantee.


Wow, that much difference, that is massive! So I could get one privately and pay for a biker dude (or ask for a favor on here) to check it out and save a bundle, minus beer tokens for favor etc..

[NOMIS]

Wow, that much difference, that is massive! So I could get one privately and pay for a biker dude (or ask for a favor on here) to check it out and save a bundle, minus beer tokens for favor etc..

sure pm gijoe he a hornet guru but he probally riding his hornet on a daily ride to cape rianga or something, and yeh mate keep a eye out a few been going lately for 6kish but you can find a good horney as ive seen in low 5's high 4'k

[gijoe1313]

Hornets have always been on the high end of the market price, they have gotten even more sillier at the moment since the dealers have cottoned onto how good they are. Back a couple of years ago, they were around $5K, in that time they have gone up $1K :no:

If you are intending to ride one, they will always pay you back royally for the care and dedication you give to them ... my lil'ol'hornet is at 99400km at the moment and I have ridden it long and hard for most of them. They will last and take on your demands with good cheer.

PM sent about them.

[Dean]

Goonr you can have it perfect again, i can show you zeals on trademe, i can even let you take my bike for a spin!!!!, and no late fees!!

[wbks]

lol how is a zeal factory rated at 40hp while the zxr/cbr 250 is only rated 5hp more and when you ride both back to back the zeal will make you feel like the zxr/cbr is a desmosedici?

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=208015561
Half the price of a hornet, fast bikes, bigger geometry than the cbr's... Just saying

[Dean]

Well wbks i dont think goonr would want to be lying on the tank while he is riding, the zxr are terrible for touring they have been making sore backs since ages ago. And with a zxr/cbr all they want to do is shoot of, in my zeal however i have a smoothness under 6rpm and when i go past 8 i hit its main powerband. In my zeal i can cruise 110kph at 6 rpm that is less than half revs and it hits the power at 8. The only reason why zxr/cbrs feel faster is because of the way the power is distributed througout the gears, and because they are fully faired. The zeal has smooth torque all the way with a punch past 130kph, and i guarentee you my zeal costs less for maintenance and tune up costs than any zxr/cbr.

[PirateJafa]

Are 250 hornets worth the extra $$

Long story short, no.

They're good bikes, but just as good as the other IL4 naked 250s out there.

There may be differences in handling etc, due to servicing histories, whether they've just different weight fork oils, and all sorts of minor changes. But at the end of the day, they're damn near the same bikes, they put out the same power, and in a similar fashion.

Testride, then buy whatever you like the look and feel of, and that you can get for a good price. Not much point paying for an overpriced 250 - there is never a guarantee you'll get it back.

[Sidewinder]

ok if you realy want to do some real riding get a VTR250! the inline4 250's have no tourque so you have to waste half a day revving them out to get anywhere and then if you want to do a real ride on windies and hills your fooked on a 250 4. even my 600 needs more tourque because ive got to rev the shit out of it aswell, supose i dont need to tho snice ill already be doing more than 200kmph.
But straight up dude ride these bikes and dont be affraid of trying something differnt you may like it, i didnt want a sports bike but i took it for a ride and got it.......
just dont get a gay cruizer

[PirateJafa]

ok if you realy want to do some real riding get a VTR250!

I'm surprised to find myself agreeing with Sidewinder, but yes, have a look/ride of the VTRs too. They are DAMN good learner bikes, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

[Sidewinder]

I'm surprised to find myself agreeing with Sidewinder, but yes, have a look/ride of the VTRs too. They are DAMN good learner bikes, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

and they crash real well too because its a v tiwn and ya dont have the engine hanging out both sides of the frame. get a late model one tho, i got a brand spanker 2007 and crashed it like 8 times and it still went hard. they handel nice aswel. way easyer to chuck around than a hornet 250

[GOONR]

.......just dont get a gay cruizer

no way man!

[GOONR]

ok if you realy want to do some real riding get a VTR250!

I hadn't really thought about these, don't know why. I'll add it to the list to check out.

Cheers everyone!

[greminn]

I hadn't really thought about these, don't know why. I'll add it to the list to check out.

Cheers everyone!

Hi GOONR,

The VTR250 is a great bike for a learner... I have a 07 (before 04 they didnt have a rev counter?) I have had it since Dec 08 and looking at moving on to a bigger bike faily shortly.

I used it everywhere from 10min rides round town to Tga>Wel>Naiper>Gis>Tga and manage to mostly keep up with my mates on bigger bikes with a good amount of revs (they ride slow for me i think - passing is a little harder... :laugh: ) - But they are one of the best 250's. They look cool and with a good can on them, the Vtwin sounds good too. I constantly get people aksing me what they hell is that, is that a 400 or something?

Im just over 100kgs, and i have had the bike to 160 (off the clock).

Blatant Plug (sorry): PM me if you would be interested in it. Im realistic about the $$.

[wbks]

Well wbks i dont think goonr would want to be lying on the tank while he is riding, the zxr are terrible for touring they have been making sore backs since ages ago. And with a zxr/cbr all they want to do is shoot of, in my zeal however i have a smoothness under 6rpm and when i go past 8 i hit its main powerband. In my zeal i can cruise 110kph at 6 rpm that is less than half revs and it hits the power at 8. The only reason why zxr/cbrs feel faster is because of the way the power is distributed througout the gears, and because they are fully faired. The zeal has smooth torque all the way with a punch past 130kph, and i guarentee you my zeal costs less for maintenance and tune up costs than any zxr/cbr.It's not the distribution, its the fact that there is more power with the zxr. fairings dont really make your bike feel faster mate, but with low torque, low hp bikes like all 250s are, it'll make the difference from tapping out at 170 to getting somewhere near 200 depending on gearing... This is with me on board, and I'm a lot of weight on a 250

[Dean]

It's not the distribution, its the fact that there is more power with the zxr. fairings dont really make your bike feel faster mate, but with low torque, low hp bikes like all 250s are, it'll make the difference from tapping out at 170 to getting somewhere near 200 depending on gearing... This is with me on board, and I'm a lot of weight on a 250

I think there is not much of a difference between the zeal and cbr/zxr in performance wise, at the end of the day its the rider not the bike. Depending on whether (when you test rode a zeal) actually ringed it out to its full potential. But top speed, the zxr would whip but you must remember goonr is not looking for a bike that can go 200 or ,atleast i hope he isnt ( we shouldnt be encouraging him) he is on his learners licence as stated. The zeal is good for a learner, plenty of power, super cheaper than vtr or hornet or bandit.

[Reido]

If i saved up every bit of my money to buy a hornet, 6-7 grand i wouldnt be able to ride it because i cant afford petrol,

i call bullshit! "saved up" my arse..
your parents payed for it, and you still cant afford petrol! :bleh: :lol:

*amused*

[Sidewinder]

It's not the distribution, its the fact that there is more power with the zxr. fairings dont really make your bike feel faster mate, but with low torque, low hp bikes like all 250s are, it'll make the difference from tapping out at 170 to getting somewhere near 200 depending on gearing... This is with me on board, and I'm a lot of weight on a 250
yea but im sure it must take you a couple of days to get to 200 and whats the point on a 250? might aswell get a 2stroke if he wants to go that fast????? anyway the zxr is going to blow up quick fast!

I think there is not much of a difference between the zeal and cbr/zxr in performance wise, at the end of the day its the rider not the bike. Depending on whether (when you test rode a zeal) actually ringed it out to its full potential. But top speed, the zxr would whip but you must remember goonr is not looking for a bike that can go 200 or ,atleast i hope he isnt ( we shouldnt be encouraging him) he is on his learners licence as stated. The zeal is good for a learner, plenty of power, super cheaper than vtr or hornet or bandit.
yea there is! kawaskis always have heaps of power and blow up, hondas are for homos but are good alround bikes and yamaha,,, im not sure if yamaha or yamaha owners wank them selfs the most.............:niceone:

[wbks]

yea but im sure it must take you a couple of days to get to 200 and whats the point on a 250? might aswell get a 2stroke if he wants to go that fast????? anyway the zxr is going to blow up quick fast!

yea there is! kawaskis always have heaps of power and blow up, hondas are for homos but are good alround bikes and yamaha,,, im not sure if yamaha or yamaha owners wank them selfs the most.............:niceone:my zxr is still going strong and I've edged on the low side of 200. If you want a fast (ish) bike that will deal to a 250 tstroker with the right rider (done this a few times) and won't need regular rebuilds than a cbr or zxr is the one I'd choose. But yea it does take a while to get there, I was lucky to get 170 down the taupo straight. I just think they're good bikes... And I'm feeling sad because my zxr looks to be sold by the end of the week:baby:

[Dean]

i call bullshit! "saved up" my arse..
your parents payed for it, and you still cant afford petrol! :bleh: :lol:

*amused*

Ok i will give you that one i should of rephrased that if i " got my parents to save up"
But this is coming from Mr fills up his locker so i cant get my gear in and then i have to ride back home to leave my gear in the garage and come back to school late getting a detention and riding as a squid:bleh: lol

[Sidewinder]

my zxr is still going strong and I've edged on the low side of 200. If you want a fast (ish) bike that will deal to a 250 tstroker with the right rider (done this a few times) and won't need regular rebuilds than a cbr or zxr is the one I'd choose. But yea it does take a while to get there, I was lucky to get 170 down the taupo straight. I just think they're good bikes... And I'm feeling sad because my zxr looks to be sold by the end of the week:baby:

if your sad why sell it then?
yea and if you have the right rider on a 250 2stroke you should distroy a 600, so yea you wernt up against a good rider on that 2smoker you were talking about

[Reido]

Ok i will give you that one i should of rephrased that if i " got my parents to save up"
But this is coming from Mr fills up his locker so i cant get my gear in and then i have to ride back home to leave my gear in the garage and come back to school late getting a detention and riding as a squid:bleh: lol

you said'd you'd have a locker by last week, so i assumed you had one, lol so your fault :bleh:

hornet = yay :done:

[Dean]

you said'd you'd have a locker by last week, so i assumed you had one, lol so your fault :bleh:

hornet = yay :done:

I wasnt planning on getting a locker anymore because i forget my helmet and keys alot, but i missed the bus today.
Hornets are awesome
But hey if i recall your parents bought the ninja for you to, and you probably havent payed it of yet :bleh: :laugh:.
But you still get a full tank of petrol and get a free period to ride, am jealous, oh well atleast im the better rider than you :bleh::bleh::bleh::doh:

[Reido]

I wasnt planning on getting a locker anymore because i forget my helmet and keys alot, but i missed the bus today.
Hornets are awesome
But hey if i recall your parents bought the ninja for you to, and you probably havent payed it of yet :bleh: :laugh:.
But you still get a full tank of petrol and get a free period to ride, am jealous, oh well atleast im the better rider than you :bleh::bleh::bleh::doh:

hey i only owe ... $1400?? more i think, yeah you're better than me.. riiiiggght.. 22,000 kms under my belt(wheels w/e etc) now =]
at least i own my bike, whiles you have to go "mummy, i want bikey!"

anyway we're off topic so bye

[Sidewinder]

you said'd you'd have a locker by last week, so i assumed you had one, lol so your fault :bleh:

hornet = yay :done:


I wasnt planning on getting a locker anymore because i forget my helmet and keys alot, but i missed the bus today.
Hornets are awesome
But hey if i recall your parents bought the ninja for you to, and you probably havent payed it of yet :bleh: :laugh:.
But you still get a full tank of petrol and get a free period to ride, am jealous, oh well atleast im the better rider than you :bleh::bleh:

omg have we got two school girls having a fight? im a better rider than both of you! there fight is now over:argh::calm::angry2::buggerd:

[GOONR]

.....you must remember goonr is not looking for a bike that can go 200 or ,atleast i hope he isnt ( we shouldnt be encouraging him) he is on his learners licence as stated. The zeal is good for a learner, plenty of power, super cheaper than vtr or hornet or bandit.

Too right, I am not after a rocket ship, what I want is a forgiving ride that I can exploit when I have the confidence / skill. I like the look of the Hornets cause they are slightly larger, therefore more road presence and I'm not a millionaire so will probably have to hang on to what ever I get for a while and the kind of riding I expect to be doing wouldn't (for me) be great on a 2 stroke screamer.

[Reido]

omg have we got two school girls having a fight? im a better rider than both of you! there fight is now over:argh::calm::angry2::buggerd:

*bows to the almighty god that is sidewinder*
no doubt you are, I saw you at Paeroa! and i thought "wow thats sidewinder, i wish could be as awesome as him one day"

[Dean]

Alright then reido, you are the better rider by far, infact i was once your padawan (even though ks doesent mean anything its all about the skill).
Next time i will get a job and buy my own bike without my mums money and it will be a bigger bike than a cbr 600 and better heheehe.
On topic now yes goonr the zeal is what you need by the sounds of it, it has the power to excite you on your restricted licence but tame under 6rpm to get you through the slow speed limits and manouevers.

[Sidewinder]

*bows to the almighty god that is sidewinder*
no doubt you are, I saw you at Paeroa! and i thought "wow thats sidewinder, i wish could be as awesome as him one day"

yea heaps of randoms saw me there it was fooked up. owell i was realy pissed and dont know how i got back with a pillion.
thanks for the "bow"

[Sidewinder]

Alright then reido, you are the better rider by far, infact i was once your padawan (even though ks doesent mean anything its all about the skill).
Next time i will get a job and buy my own bike without my mums money and it will be a bigger bike than a cbr 600 and better heheehe.
On topic now yes goonr the zeal is what you need by the sounds of it, it has the power to excite you on your restricted licence but tame under 6rpm to get you through the slow speed limits and manouevers.

zeal's look extra gay aswell buy the way! hornet has a crap 130 size front which sucks for getting good rubber

[Dean]

zeal's look extra gay aswell buy the way! hornet has a crap 130 size front which sucks for getting good rubber

I dont think zeals look gay, zeals look awesome, sure different, but eye cacthing.
And yamaha owners dont wank the most or are gay, are they???

[GOONR]

So Hornets are over priced with crap gear, Zeal's are gay etc etc... Ferk this I might just stay in the cage.

Come on guys, you have a total noobie asking a valid question (or so I thought) can you just put your differences aside, the handbags down and get back on topic...

By the way, thanks for the (mostly positive) input.

[Dean]

So Hornets are over priced with crap gear, Zeal's are gay etc etc... Ferk this I might just stay in the cage.

Come on guys, you have an totally noobie asking a valid question (or so I thought) can you just put your differences aside, the handbags down and get back on topic...

By the way, thanks for the (mostly positive) input.

Sorry bro, please dont go on the cager side. I will go shopping on trademe now and have a look at the best bikes for you financially, appeal, performance. I promise i can find you a bike that you will think roughly about buying.

[GOONR]

Sorry bro, please dont go on the cager side. I will go shopping on trademe now and have a look at the best bikes for you financially, appeal, performance. I promise i can find you a bike that you will think roughly about buying.

Hey, I was just after peoples thoughts based on experience. I'm willing to include / exclude most (naked) bikes from my shopping list.. as long as the feedback I get is based on sense, otherwise I would just have to go on what the seller is telling me... We all know that is not the best for the buyer.. :jerry:

[Reido]

also a good thing to do is ask on here or get a mechanically minded friend to give the bike a good look over, cause its not all about the model.

stating the obvious, but you know

could also take bike to a bike shop and YOU pay them to check it out. that way their working for you, not the seller, and will have your interests at heart.

[Dean]

First up the gsx 250 invader, a full size frame, known to be a reliable tourer bike. Not as fast as the il4, it has 33hp twin cylinder engine.


http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-205159557.htm

[GOONR]

also a good thing to do is ask on here or get a mechanically minded friend to give the bike a good look over, cause its not all about the model.

stating the obvious, but you know

could also take bike to a bike shop and YOU pay them to check it out. that way their working for you, not the seller, and will have your interests at heart.

Good advise, when I get my shopping list down I may well shout out on here. seems like a good community willing to help people out. I've even had offers of rides on peoples bikes to get a feel of what that particular model is like, first class that. :first:

[Dean]

Second - Bandits are very nice naked bikes, and so are the zeals, and there are the honda jades. All are naked il4 with 41hp, there is the bandit on trademe and i have added a link to a review on the bandit,zeal,jade to give you a whole insight on these bikes in all factors by first hand knowledge.


http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-206009562.htm

http://www.bikelife.com/natania/dubi/250cc.htm

[Gizzit]

Ok .... I'm prepared to overlook ... the comment about cruisers being Gay !! You will learn ..... :whistle:

However ..... as others have said .... do have a good look at the Honda VTR 250. These bikes are amazing. My son had one for a while, and I was really impressed with it. It does everything really well, and has an excellent reputation with pretty much anyone and everyone who knows about bikes. Just read any reviews on them. As a 250, and a first bike, you'd be hard pressed to find a better bike. You can get a pretty low mileage one around $5K, and possibly less.
I know this as my step son has a very low mileage one he is selling (not sure if it's on trade me or not ?). I think he was looking to sell his a few weeks ago, and putting it on for $5K. Its done bugger all K's, and is/was .. a minter!
I'm not pushing VTR's because he's got one and wants to sell it (his could have gone now for all I know .... I haven't seen him recently) .... VTR's are a very good bike!!! Period!

Good luck with your choices. There aren't any/many bad bikes around these days, and they are all really reliable. You can't go too far wrong. Have fun!!

[Dean]

The Hornet, the ultimate 250cc motorcycle, many kbers have fell in love with these hornettos and many are still. This bike brings both style and performance to macth, with a bigger seat height than most small 250s. An il4 engine derived from the cbr 250.
Putting your leg over a hornet is like putting your leg over jessica alba, unfortunately i never really have, but in this sense Toto and gijoe are true players.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-208091780.htm

[PirateJafa]

You, like most Hornet owners Dean, forget to mention the downsides to them.

Namely that most are overpriced, and that ALL have stupid tyre sizes, which makes finding tyres usually a pain in the arse and a lot more expensive than any other 250s.

[GOONR]

Ok .... I'm prepared to overlook ... the comment about cruisers being Gay !! You will learn ..... :whistle:

However ..... as others have said .... do have a good look at the Honda VTR 250. These bikes are amazing. My son had one for a while, and I was really impressed with it. It does everything really well, and has an excellent reputation with pretty much anyone and everyone who knows about bikes. Just read any reviews on them. As a 250, and a first bike, you'd be hard pressed to find a better bike. You can get a pretty low mileage one around $5K, and possibly less.
I know this as my step son has a very low mileage one he is selling (not sure if it's on trade me or not ?). I think he was looking to sell his a few weeks ago, and putting it on for $5K. Its done bugger all K's, and is/was .. a minter!
I'm not pushing VTR's because he's got one and wants to sell it (his could have gone now for all I know .... I haven't seen him recently) .... VTR's are a very good bike!!! Period!

Good luck with your choices. There aren't any/many bad bikes around these days, and they are all really reliable. You can't go too far wrong. Have fun!!

I guess that you are right, and in a nutshell all modern bikes are going to be far better than me right now. I will add the VTR to the list seems that a lot of people on here rate them, and most (hopefully all) people on here know a shite load more about handling etc than I do right now.

And I apologise, cruisers may well not be gay... just 250 ones :Oops:

[GOONR]

The Hornet, the ultimate 250cc motorcycle, many kbers have fell in love with these hornettos and many are still. This bike brings both style and performance to macth, with a bigger seat height than most small 250s. An il4 engine derived from the cbr 250.
Putting your leg over a hornet is like putting your leg over jessica alba, unfortunately i never really have, but in this sense Toto and gijoe are true players.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-208091780.htm

Do you work for Honda advertising ???:laugh:

[Reido]

Do you work for Honda advertising ???:laugh:

no, but apparently he knows all on 250s and such.

[Gizzit]

I guess that you are right, and in a nutshell all modern bikes are going to be far better than me right now. I will add the VTR to the list seems that a lot of people on here rate them, and most (hopefully all) people on here know a shite load more about handling etc than I do right now.

You probably just need to go and ride a few of the bikes you are looking at, to get an idea about what fits you well .... and what you like. Think about comfort .... i.e too much weight on your wrists/hands from leaning too far forward .... being tucked too far over ? ... generally on the more sport oriented bikes, .... versus being maybe too upright (however ... I never have found that to be an issue .... but I have never raced!)creating more wind resistance. It's just about finding what works for you ..... and it will take a while to actually know that from riding. Just filter through the advice .... and take some rides .... and make a choice! You'll have fun whatever you get!



And I apologise, cruisers may well not be gay... just 250 ones :Oops:

LOL :D just pulling your leg mate. You never know what you might ride in the future ! They are all fun ... just depends what you are into at any one time .. :niceone:

[Dean]

Do you work for Honda advertising ???:laugh:
No but i can write up another review for you on another bike or the hornet

no, but apparently he knows all on 250s and such.
Nope, i dont know more than you know.

[GOONR]

.......Namely that most are overpriced, and that ALL have stupid tyre sizes, which makes finding tyres usually a pain in the arse and a lot more expensive than any other 250s.

Yeeahhh, back on topic. So from what I can gather they aren't worth the extra $$$$. Basicaly at my level there is nothing much between one model and the next and (I knew this bit already) I will get shown up way way before the bike does.

They are still on my list though, not sure why. Over priced, will cost more to run cause of big tyres etc etc etc but, they still appeal. :bash:

Go figure.

[T bone]

My hornets been ok, the prevoius owner must have been a muppet though, I've had to put in a new cdi & regulator in it because the regulator was over charging & fried the cdi. The sympton was that it rode ok for 20mins then would die & not restart. Apart from that its been sweet as, starts first time no matter how long I leave it, handles good. I stuck some renthal ultra low bars on it, made it alot better position & its super manuverable at low speed too.

It's up for sale too if your interested

[Sidewinder]

I dont think zeals look gay, zeals look awesome, sure different, but eye cacthing.
And yamaha owners dont wank the most or are gay, are they???

well wait to you meet a r1 or r6 owner then you tell me if they wank them selfs or not

[GOONR]

No but i can write up another review for you on another bike or the hornet

Hey Dean, was just tugging your chain mate, I guess my humour may not translate over the interweb device thingo...

[Sidewinder]

First up the gsx 250 invader, a full size frame, known to be a reliable tourer bike. Not as fast as the il4, it has 33hp twin cylinder engine.


http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-205159557.htm

there a bit heavy tho for a 250, realy you just got to go for what you like riding and what is the best price and if you get a japper you realy cant go too rong

[Sidewinder]

And I apologise, cruisers may well not be gay... just 250 ones :Oops:
nah all cruizers are gay and its even worse if you waste your money on a bigger one!

[Dean]

well wait to you meet a r1 or r6 owner then you tell me if they wank them selfs or not
So yamaha owners wank alot aye
I think we both know who this r6 owner is, or do we, which one say it.
And yes the gsx is heavy but it still has enough power for a learner, and looks reasonably nice. Im sure it doesent cost much for maintenance either or petrol.

[Sidewinder]

You probably just need to go and ride a few of the bikes you are looking at, to get an idea about what fits you well .... and what you like. Think about comfort .... i.e too much weight on your wrists/hands from leaning too far forward .... being tucked too far over ? ... generally on the more sport oriented bikes, .... versus being maybe too upright (however ... I never have found that to be an issue .... but I have never raced!)creating more wind resistance. It's just about finding what works for you ..... and it will take a while to actually know that from riding. Just filter through the advice .... and take some rides .... and make a choice! You'll have fun whatever you get!



LOL :D just pulling your leg mate. You never know what you might ride in the future ! They are all fun ... just depends what you are into at any one time .. :niceone:

hey i had a new model VFR800 which is a touring bike and i only got the gsxr600 because it was more comfortable for me! seat on the 800 was to wide and gave me sore legs, and the gixxer has more power and better everthing too!

[Paris]

I LOVE my Hornet - best thing I ever did was to buy the Hornet instead of a Suzuki Marauder or something else - stable, quick and fuel efficient..great vfm ;)

[Mikkel]

Can't be arsed reading through all of the thread - but if this hasn't been said I think it's worth mentioning (or re-mentioning as it may be).

Japan introduced new emissions requirements in 1993 which means that all 250 ccm IL4s from before 1993 are more powerful than those produced after this point. (Unless, of course, the post 1993 bike has been derestricted).

That aside I don't think anyone would argue against the reliability of Hondas.

[wbks]

The Hornet, the ultimate 250cc motorcycle, many kbers have fell in love with these hornettos and many are still. This bike brings both style and performance to macth, with a bigger seat height than most small 250s. An il4 engine derived from the cbr 250.
Putting your leg over a hornet is like putting your leg over jessica alba, unfortunately i never really have, but in this sense Toto and gijoe are true players.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-208091780.htm
Perhaps you should leave telling the world which bike is the king of 250's until you're an experienced/capable rider who knows how to test bikes and it might be necessary to actually ride all the bikes first...

[vtec]

CBR250RR mc22 is the king of the 250's, raceworthy and reliable. Old Honda's are reliable. Look around at what's still going from the early 90's. A few ZXR's and plenty of CBR's. Where are the Yamaha's and Suzuki's. Gone they failed the test of time.

The two strokes are really just interest pieces. Good luck having them as a daily driver.

The hornet and VTR as far as I can tell (haven't ridden them) appear to be great bikes. Can't vouch for the other big 3 japs.

Is a Hornet worth a grand extra than the Zeal, in my opinion, yes. But for me I could never settle for less than an mc22. The mc19 although similar in some ways is worth about 2 grand less than the mc22, it's second rate in comparison but still reliable.

[frogamic]

I sure hope hornets are good because I just bought this one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=207885195
it sure seemed pretty good when I rode it, quite a bit faster than the gn

[GOONR]

I sure hope hornets are good because I just bought this one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=207885195
it sure seemed pretty good when I rode it, quite a bit faster than the gn
Congrats on the new ride :cool: Maybe you can post back here once you have had it for a bit and let me know what you think.

Enjoy!!

[Harvd]

I sure hope hornets are good because I just bought this one: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=207885195
it sure seemed pretty good when I rode it, quite a bit faster than the gn

haha So your the 1 that bought that! i was going to make an offer after the auction ended but you were too quick! good on you it goes nice as and its got that biig fat tyre on the back.


I ended up going for a Suzuki bandit in the end.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=206835115

[Harvd]

one day i learn me some compoota skilz and do a linky thing properly...

[Harvd]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=206835115

maybe just maybe i can do it

[frogamic]

Looks like you'll be getting an opinion from a bandit owner and a hornet owner pretty soon, goonr. I considered some bandits but decided the hornet looks much better.

[Harvd]

Looks like you'll be getting an opinion from a bandit owner and a hornet owner pretty soon, goonr. I considered some bandits but decided the hornet looks much better.


i agree but the bandit was more comfortable for me.

if i had the choice between the honda and the suzuki on similar ks and similar condition i would probably be taking the honda. but there would then be a price diff. which i guess is the problem you face and i didnt really help to answer it...

RIDE THEM ALLL

[GOONR]

Looks like you'll be getting an opinion from a bandit owner and a hornet owner pretty soon, goonr. I considered some bandits but decided the hornet looks much better.

I'm with you on the looks thing... Hornet's just appeal to me more than any other naked 250. Looks like you got yours for a good price.

I think if I can pick one up for that kinda a $$ then I'll be on one too. Just got to wait for a while and make sure my job is safe, might be redundant by the end of the month but should find out on Monday. Fingers crossed.

Ferking love the hairdo man, that is just wild.

[GOONR]

i agree but the bandit was more comfortable for me.

if i had the choice between the honda and the suzuki on similar ks and similar condition i would probably be taking the honda. but there would then be a price diff. which i guess is the problem you face and i didnt really help to answer it...

RIDE THEM ALLL

Yup that is the crux for me, the price diff. I would still be interested in what you think of the Bandit after you have had it for a bit.

Enjoy the riding.

[KelvinAng]

I've been wanting to sell my lil' ol'hornet for a while now but could never quite bear to part with it.

I thought it really sux when it comes to city riding. The throttle is touchy, and the fuel economy is terrible for a 250cc (I got around 16km/L). The high-revving, high engine compression ratio (11.5:1) probably means you'll want the best oil and gas you can get for the lil' ol'hornet (arguably a psychological thing for a relatively modern engine... but I'm not sure if I want to risk it) which translates to higher ongoing maintenance cost. Not to mention big bike tyres (and therefore big bike prices) too for the little one.

Open road performance is fantastic however, and the styling is so pretty :love:

I think the Hornets have achieved cult status. It's definitely not $1000 better-performing than a similarly-specced bike from oddball brands Y or S, however!

[frogamic]

Ferking love the hairdo man, that is just wild.

hahaha just think of the helmet hair, that's even more wild

[vtec]

Sweet, they take a 180 rear? That's brilliant. That means that you can use all the dirt cheap second hand supersport and superbike race tyres. Also I'm sure you could get a 120 on the front, so you could get replacement tyres for about $150 for the set. Just have to be very cautious when they are cold.

[Harvd]

Yup that is the crux for me, the price diff. I would still be interested in what you think of the Bandit after you have had it for a bit.

Enjoy the riding.

well after 2 days of ownership and 600km i can say im pretty dam happy with the bandit, after a 400km ride to kaikoura and back i was admittedly sore all over but in saying that the was double the longest distance ive ever gone. the previous longest distance the day before 2 akaroa and a bit extra.

the motors nic, revs high at 110(but what 250 il4 wont) but means you can just twist the throttle to overtake without a downchange if you want. but the nicest bit is the way it corners and grips. the seating position is great, a bit more forward than the hornet but still very comfortable and allows for more aggressive cornering.

I think either way you will have a big smile on ur face

hope it helped

[quickbuck]

My hornets been ok, the prevoius owner must have been a muppet though, I've had to put in a new cdi & regulator in it because the regulator was over charging & fried the cdi. The sympton was that it rode ok for 20mins then would die & not restart. Apart from that its been sweet as, starts first time no matter how long I leave it, handles good. I stuck some renthal ultra low bars on it, made it alot better position & its super manuverable at low speed too.

It's up for sale too if your interested
The previous owner started the bike with a flat battery and used the bikes charging circuit to charge the battery.
This fried the regulator/rectifier.
Typical Honda Fault... okay, Honda operators fault, but can happen to any bike.
Lesson is to charge your battery up at the wall if it has gone slightly flat.

As to the question are the Hornets worth the extra?
Well, it is a case of supply and demand.

[Weta]

Get the Bandit cos you know that one day you'll regret having to say,' well yeah I did own a Honda once.... but it was along time ago':sunny::sunny: