Why don't they?

**firefighter** · 15th September 2009, 10:29

Why do'nt Suzuki, Honda, and Yamaha make affordable 250cc bikes modelled off the big bikes like Kawasaki have done?(remember the waiting list for these!)

I'm pretty sure the market is there, considering the still high cost of 1990 CBRs.......

Iv'e been saying it right from when I started looking for my first bike, then Kawasaki brought out it's new Ninja 250, which I thought was about time and bloody awesome, and thought surely the other manufacturers would follow suit, but still no.

Why is this? Are they expensive to make with little return?

It's about bloody time the popular old CBRs/Zxrs etc were replaced with a bike just as fast, and aesthetically pleasing, built in this era.

What say you?

**James Deuce** · 15th September 2009, 11:22

There's almost no market for them. The options are NZ, part of Aus, and girls in the US.

No other markets get that excited about 250s anymore because they aren't compelled by law or fashion to provide them. Now that Moto2 is 600cc you'll see less diversity in the 250 market not more.

**firefighter** · 15th September 2009, 11:38

Originally Posted by James Deuce

There's almost no market for them. The options are NZ, part of Aus, and girls in the US.

No other markets get that excited about 250s anymore because they aren't compelled by law or fashion to provide them. Now that Moto2 is 600cc you'll see less diversity in the 250 market not more.

I had a feeling this would probably be a reason.

The U.K is 125 cc for leaners is'nt it?

Funny though how de-tuned learner legal 600s tend to actually have less power than the same model 250. (thinking of Hyosungs in Australia)

**slofox** · 15th September 2009, 11:50

Suzuki have one - of sorts...

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...d.php?t=107743

**firefighter** · 15th September 2009, 13:30

.....................

**firefighter** · 15th September 2009, 13:32

Originally Posted by slofox

Suzuki have one - of sorts...

Yeah I know, there's also VTRs and Hornets, but i'm meaning more fully faired race replicas.

**tigertim20** · 15th September 2009, 14:30

Kawasaki isnt really the best example, the new ninja has cool fairings yes, but the engine as I understand it, is the same as the 20 year ol GPX.
It is just a V twin with easy usable power, not inline four, thus many of the characteristics of the bike couldnt be fairly described as being modelled off the bigger bikes. As for why? Oerhaos JD has hit the nail on the head? If they were to do it with 400cc bikes, I would think there would be a bigger market (if the threads about what to go to from a GN250 are anything to go by!!)
I guess it probably comes down to sales, if they were still profitable, they woudnt have stopped making them would they!?

**mashman** · 15th September 2009, 14:36

Originally Posted by firefighter

The U.K is 125 cc for leaners is'nt it?

Yup, or 33bhp (or just sit the DAS course like me and get your full in 5 days without any prior experience... fookin insane idea, but hey, that's the law). I've never been a 250 fan, more than likely cause i is a fat git...

**R6_kid:Me** · 15th September 2009, 14:44

They are price inhibitive. The production cost of a 250 such as the ZXR/FZR/CBR range that were available in the early 90's cost about the same to make as a modern 600cc sports bike - would you want to pay $13k+ for a modern version of them?

It's the same reason on a select few buy the Aprilia RS250, and the same reason why Aprila don't make them anymore. They cost too much for what they are (too make, and therefore to sell) and so the market for them is too small.

I've heard numerous times that both the 250cc and 400cc 'production race bikes' were generally sold at a loss to the manufacturer... so go figure.

**YellowDog** · 15th September 2009, 14:53

You really need to be learning on something you don't mind dropping a few times. It also needs to be something you can easily manouevre to learn the required skills to pass the test.

A new fully faired 250cc sports bike wouldn't really fit the bill. When you pass, the first thing you want to do is to free yourself from you shakels and get a 400cc plus bike.

**Sidewinder** · 15th September 2009, 15:16

bro the aprila rs250 ftw, no point getting anything alse if ya want something fast

**firefighter** · 15th September 2009, 15:36

Originally Posted by YellowDog

You really need to be learning on something you don't mind dropping a few times. It also needs to be something you can easily manouevre to learn the required skills to pass the test.

A new fully faired 250cc sports bike wouldn't really fit the bill. When you pass, the first thing you want to do is to free yourself from you shakels and get a 400cc plus bike.

Bullshit.

I learn't on a fully faired heavy ZZR. Had no worries. Never dropped it once.

There must be some real special people out there if you need to get a bike you "don't mind dropping a few times"

I'm no Rossi. But somehow I did'nt drop my fully faired first bike.