Good step up from a GN250?

**trd** · 9th July 2009, 11:37

Firstly thanks to everyone who contributes and runs this site, it's been an awesome resource for me getting into bikes, I've been lurking for a while.
Long story short: lost my job = lost my work car, bought a badly damaged GN250 as I needed a cheap way of getting round, fixed it up, now I'm completely addicted to riding it, got new job yay $$$
I've started looking at getting a new (secondhand, will be new for me) bike, it will have to be a 250 I've narrowed it down to either a GSF250 Bandit (first choice atm), honda hornet or a Hyosung GT250 (and maybe a Yamaha Zeal only discovered this at a showroom yesterday). As you can see I'm a fan of naked bikes and inline 4's with the Hyosung being the exception, that made my list mostly because the price appeals.
It will be a daily rider commuting to work and I hope to do some touring. My budget is about $6k (at a stretch). I'm looking at keeping whatever I buy for about 2 years. I prefer reliability over power.
So anywhoo, anyone got any thoughts on these bikes and there suitability for the task? I have 0 biker friends otherwise I'd be asking them and my bike knowledge is not so good.
Thanks in advance.

**007XX** · 9th July 2009, 11:46

Hi ya... and welcome to KB after all that lurking.

I know you have mentioned being a fan of inline 4s, but if you are considering a Hyosung, then forget about it and get yourself a VTR250.

Reliable, great resell value, awesome little commuter with enough comfort for touring as well. And you're bound to find a specimen in good condition for your budget.

At least take one for a test ride before you make up your mind and research it on here...heaps of KBers have had one of them and still rave on about it

Good luck and let us know how it went.

**trd** · 9th July 2009, 11:57

Thanks for the info, I'm trying not to make the list too big but it won't hurt riding yet another bike, one of the fun things about looking for a new bike has been riding a few differnent models (and realising just how much the GN lacks in the power/fun deparment).
I forgot to add if anyone has or sees a suitable bike in canterbury for sale then let me know.

**Lurch** · 9th July 2009, 13:12

Without a doubt your best choice is a GT250.

Big, comfy, very economical and you'll pick up an almost new one for 5k.

**R6_kid:Me** · 9th July 2009, 13:21

Try any of the 250 twins on offer, keep a close eye on the quality of the bike, and how it feels to you. Don't blindly jump on board the hyobag train just to get a 'cool looking' bike.

**howdamnhard** · 9th July 2009, 13:25

Try a Honda Spada.

**Oakie** · 9th July 2009, 13:32

I have a good deal for you.

My wife's Honda CB250FM (aka Honda 'Jade') has just gone on the market.
It's a naked in-line 4 just as you like. 25,000 km and in good condition. Nice easy bike to ride but certainly has enough get up and go to keep you interested. I think it has the same motor as the Hornet but I'm prepared to be corrected on that. WOF'd last month with no issues and rego thru to March I think.

$3999 is this week's asking price.

**NinjaNanna** · 9th July 2009, 13:55

Keep ya cash in your pocket at least until you've finished your probationary period in you new job and you've got a REALLY good feel for how secure the company is.

Practically when you first started riding the GN you probably thought it had heaps of power right? Well the same things going to happen with any of the bikes you've listed - in 3 months time you'll be thinking the same thing.

Are you still on your L or are you on your R now. How long until you can go for your open license? Regardless my advice to you is keep the GN get your open then buy a 600. Heaps of people do just that each and every year.

**Oakie** · 9th July 2009, 15:42

Originally Posted by NinjaNanna

Regardless my advice to you is keep the GN get your open then buy a 600. Heaps of people do just that each and every year.

A move from the GN to any of the bikes mentioned so far is still a decent step up though. It's not all about CC rating.

**R6_kid:Me** · 9th July 2009, 15:56

Originally Posted by Oakie

I have a good deal for you.

My wife's Honda CB250FM (aka Honda 'Jade') has just gone on the market.
It's a naked in-line 4 just as you like. 25,000 km and in good condition. Nice easy bike to ride but certainly has enough get up and go to keep you interested. I think it has the same motor as the Hornet but I'm prepared to be corrected on that. WOF'd last month with no issues and rego thru to March I think.

$3999 is this week's asking price.

What he said... offer him $3500 and get yourself a minter!!!

And Oakie, pretty sure they are both MC14 motors, so you're probably right on it having the same engine as the hornet.

**YellowDog** · 9th July 2009, 16:06

Originally Posted by NinjaNanna

Keep ya cash in your pocket at least until you've finished your probationary period in you new job and you've got a REALLY good feel for how secure the company is.

Practically when you first started riding the GN you probably thought it had heaps of power right? Well the same things going to happen with any of the bikes you've listed - in 3 months time you'll be thinking the same thing.

Are you still on your L or are you on your R now. How long until you can go for your open license? Regardless my advice to you is keep the GN get your open then buy a 600. Heaps of people do just that each and every year.

I agree. 250s are fine until they just don't have enough 'umph' to negotiate the steeper than expected hill.

Wait a while and get a 600+.

However FWIW - I rode a Hyosung GT250 and was very impressed (for a 250).

**Oakie** · 10th July 2009, 11:07

Originally Posted by YellowDog

I agree. 250s are fine until they just don't have enough 'umph' to negotiate the steeper than expected hill.

That's what the gearbox is for though. I just happened to take Mrs Oakie's 250 to work today and in respect of your comment took note of what it did going up the solitary hill (Port Hills Road / Centaurus Rd). In the right gear and right revs it flew up just like my bike. Even had to slow at the top. Depends on gear ratios of particular bikes I suppose though. I know I've gone up hills on my bike where say 5th was too high but 4th was too low.

**trd** · 10th July 2009, 13:04

Thanks for all the replies guys. If I was happy touring on the GN I'd keep it but being an 85 that has had a very hard life it's days as a long distance machine are pretty much over, it'll cruise at 100 but it's not comfortable to be on for a long time at all. I did think about changing a sproket but I'd just be putting more money into a bike without adding any value, I'd rather put the money into a more suitable bike.
I'll PM you about the honda Oakie, I've been a little misled about the reliability of that particular engine I think, seems lots of people say it's bulletproof which is what I'm after.
Like I say I'll be aiming to keep whatever I buy for a couple of years, I know I'll probably end up with a bigger bike eventually. As for 250's and hills, I often ride over dyers pass to Diamond Harbour to see my dad and even the GN will go a a reasonable pace uphill if you kept it in the right gear and revs, as soon as you go too slow though it won't regain the speed. I usually end up going up faster than I go down due to the GN's crappy brakes.

**CookMySock** · 10th July 2009, 13:39

Originally Posted by YellowDog

250s are fine until they just don't have enough 'umph' to negotiate the steeper than expected hill. [...] However FWIW - I rode a Hyosung GT250 and was very impressed (for a 250).

The Hyo's are plenty cool, and enough power to roll up most hills in top gear at the speed limit, unless the hill or you are rather massive.

There's not much wrong with the Hyosungs. The things to watch for are ;

Gearbox. With the cold engine idling at around 2,000rpm, clutch in and click through first, second, and then try and find neutral with the bike stationary. Warm the engine up (20 min open road ride) and see if it's any more difficult to find neutral. If it is, then this gearbox has been mistreated. Don't touch the bike, as you will need new engine cases and a complete engine strip to fix the problem. Engines with this fault have a strange spongy feeling clutch, and are extremely hard to find neutral.

Engine. Starts and idles smoothly with no rattles and clunks - you either get a good engine or a dud one.. There are plenty of dud ones, but there are also plenty of good ones. Oil is not overfilled - it makes a bad metallic clatter if you overfill the oil in these. Oil colour is clean - these engines run real lean, and must have regular oil changes.

Electronic Dash. Lights up properly and everything works. Expensive to replace.

Go for a good ride on one - an hour or so. Don't push the shinko tyres in the wet at all, or they will bite you.. Don't push the bike hard into corners on heavily undulating road - they don't have a quality suspension in them, and you will find yourself on your arse.

Cheap to buy, cheap to crash, cheap to fix.

Steve