Thinking about getting a bike

**CookMySock** · 23rd June 2009, 08:59

Originally Posted by ChainReaction

How much slower?

What I mean here is, your thinking here is incorrect. 250's aren't fast. You are a learner. Relax a little rather than trying to turbo it. The 250 is never going to be fast, so forget it.

Originally Posted by ChainReaction

And can you give some examples of models you are meaning?

vtwins? Spada, GPX, Ninja, GT250R.. dig through trademe and you will see them, or ask around at bike shops.

Originally Posted by ChainReaction

Inline four still wouldn't use anywhere near as much gas as say... my 2litre primera would it?

Not that much.

Originally Posted by ChainReaction

I want to find the right balance between speed looks and reliablity (hence why I think i may need to save more). I definately want a sporty looking bike.

If it's about styling, then that's a hugely personal thing. Some folks like the GT250R where others like the baby Ninja, whereas you might prefer a cafe racer, so whatever spanks your monkey.

If you can reconcile the poor fuel economy of an inline four against its' beeyoooootiful wail at 15,000rpm then theres your answer... until you eff it by redlining it everywhere.

Steve

**jono035** · 23rd June 2009, 16:51

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

its' beeyoooootiful wail at 15,000rpm

Like the voice of an Angel... In a mincer...

**SMOKEU** · 23rd June 2009, 19:32

WTF is up with people saying that straight 4s are thirsty? My CBR250R uses under 5/100km around town and I give it a fair bit of shit as well, it's not much thirstier than my old CG125. And when I went to Ruapuna I thrashed the fuck out of it for the whole day on the track redlining it at every shift and managed about 7L/100km.

**ChainReaction** · 23rd June 2009, 21:56

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

WTF is up with people saying that straight 4s are thirsty? My CBR250R uses under 5/100km around town and I give it a fair bit of shit as well, it's not much thirstier than my old CG125. And when I went to Ruapuna I thrashed the fuck out of it for the whole day on the track redlining it at every shift and managed about 7L/100km.

And how do you find that CBR to drive? Decent ammount of get up and go? Does it sit on 100km quite well? Any other comments

**SMOKEU** · 24th June 2009, 13:45

My CBR is a nice bike to ride, even though it's a relatively small size for a 250 I find it quite comfortable to ride for up to an hour at a time and I'm over 6 foot tall. The power band kicks in at around 15,000RPM and it has good top end power, but it doesn't have a lot of torque, especially at lower revs. It's a very rev happy engine which redlines at 18,000RPM. Sits at 100kmh at 9,000RPM in 6th gear. So far I've had mine up to 170kmh before I ran out of road...

**1tonne** · 28th June 2009, 14:48

Originally Posted by SMOKEU

WTF is up with people saying that straight 4s are thirsty? My CBR250R uses under 5/100km around town and I give it a fair bit of shit as well, it's not much thirstier than my old CG125. And when I went to Ruapuna I thrashed the fuck out of it for the whole day on the track redlining it at every shift and managed about 7L/100km.

I get 19.5km's a litre traveling at 110km. When I travel at about 150km's an hour I get about 16km's a litre. These measurements have been done on long rides. Cheers.

**geestring** · 28th June 2009, 15:21

Originally Posted by NDORFN

4 G is HEAPS for a first bike. ZXR250 or CBR250 should do the trick. DON'T bother with a dealer, you'll get ripped. Ride before you buy.

i second that, got my ZXR 250 for 2300.00 5 yrs ago. was in the T&E the same bike at the shop was 4500.00, mine had lower ks. when you get use to it you can change sprockets to give you more top speed, just done this to mine. actualy makes heaps of diff. keep looking you will find one. good luck.

**Dirty_Harri** · 28th June 2009, 15:41

Originally Posted by ChainReaction

And how do you find that CBR to drive? Decent ammount of get up and go? Does it sit on 100km quite well? Any other comments

Hey! I think you'll find the mc22 has more than enough go, if this is to be your first bike. I'm used to driving fast cars (track racing) and the cbr250rr has more than enough power for me..for now

.

From what I've read, I think it's important not to walk before you crawl (fall) when it comes to bikes. I don't know much about riding 250s, but I plan on riding mine until I know all there is to know about them.

**Buckets4Me** · 5th July 2009, 08:26

CBR250's and most inline 4's like that ARE FAST!!!!!!

Just ask the 600 rider that punted one over a fence at the back of my place

He was use to racing a much bigger faster bike and still found the 250
to fast and couldn't stop it in time for the corner. Dont be fooled into thinking a 250 isn't fast tehy would beet most cars out there (and kids still die in hondas)
r1 and r6 or gsxr10k are just supper fast that is all

**McWild** · 5th July 2009, 14:12

Get a RG150.

Can consistently pick them up for less than $2500, parts around for days, cheap as chips and simple to repair. Repairs can be frequent, but as I said simple as.
They put out around 35-36bhp, have no worries in twisty roads. You can thrash them and thrash them and they don't mind. I can personally verify that they will hit 140kph with two 75kg guys on it, and will tap out more with just one rider.
You can race it in streetstock if you ever feel the need to do so.
They are 2 strokes, so you can be guaranteed respect by everybody in the world. You are also guaranteed a place in heaven. God likes 2 strokes.

They are just really really fun. I'm not even close to bored of mine, I doubt I ever will be. I would be amazed if I was ever able to ride it to its limits: they are far beyond me and most people.

**Ooky** · 6th July 2009, 18:46

yeah get a 2stroke best bikes ever! 9-10L/100k economical as!

**Howsie** · 6th July 2009, 22:56

By now you have read a lot about many peoples perspective on a whole range of bikes. I am sure it has provided some insight as to what kind of bike you might like.

Some advice on things that I have come across on buying a bike:

-Go to many bike shops and at least sit on every 250 you can, big, small whatever. Find a size that fits you.

-Seeing as its your first bike, any 250 will be fast enough for you. Just remember, everyone can go fast in a straight line, but thats boring. (Within reason

)

-Dont get too caught up on fuel consumption, though a twin is not as thirsty as a 4 or a 2stroke. But there is not great diff between them all other than how heavy your wrist is.

-About $1K would be right for gear, some shops have starter packages that give you reasonable gear for a good price. How much is your skin worth?

The "fast, sporty" bikes that you are after are (to the best of my knowledge):

Honda CBRR - 4
Yamaha FZR -4
Kawasaki Ninja -twin
Kawasaki ZXR -4
Hyosung GT250R - twin

Honda NSR - 2stroke
Aprilla RGV - 2stroke

On a more personal note, I decided to buy new as the price difference between a 2nd hand ZXR and the Ninja was worth it for me to go new. Yea sure it cost a few bob more but I have a warranty and all that jazz. Otherwise I would have bought an older ZXR or CBRR for that "speed" factor. Looking back now I can say that it will take some time for me to outride my "slow" 250. Some new tyres would help hehe

Anyway, good luck with whatever bike you choose and may it bring you many happy kms of safe riding.

**Garvani** · 8th July 2009, 22:34

I had a 1990 GSXR250RR as my first bike (at 17), i was petrified the day i went to pick it up, dont think i left third gear all the way home lmao.. That was a great bike and i recommend it thoroughly, if you can find one that is, they seem to be pretty rare.. Reliable bike that started almost everytime, didnt cost a fortune to get serviced, was fairly good on petrol (dont have figures) but at the same time it hauled ass when you wanted it too

.. had it at off the clock and sittin at about 205km on the canterbury plains.. I still regret to this day selling it (especially for the price i did!!), 6 years later im looking at getting another bike, quite keen on the new ninja 250rs, waiting out on specs for the 2010's before i jump though