Recommendations?

[Marknz]

Honda VTR250. Plenty of posts about how good they are. And I can vouch for touring around the east coast of AU on one packed to the gunnels with Ventura packs, tank bags, tents etc, and I was tipping the scales near your weight at the time too. Ultra reliable little 4-stroke v-twin...

[HTFU]

Honda VTR250. Plenty of posts about how good they are. And I can vouch for touring around the east coast of AU on one packed to the gunnels with Ventura packs, tank bags, tents etc, and I was tipping the scales near your weight at the time too. Ultra reliable little 4-stroke v-twin...

One here for 4 g in Dunedin too !
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-244842684.htm

GSX twin in CHCH
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-244127048.htm

Just over your budget but new and people seem to get 30000km + out of these now worries (or just a few little ones).
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-245315989.htm

[Zuki lover]

quaka put out a good ZXR250 - try one of those

[NSR-Dan]

if your only keeping it for a year, who cares what it is. if it was me i would get a 250 that will have a good resell value.

yes a bigger bike will prepare you better, however then you wont be able to get insurance and you could incure fines if caught riding it.

i would look at a zxr/cbr/fzr etc, they seem to hold there value. still i wouldnt totaly write out a 2 stroke, they are becoming collectors items will deff hold there value and they have power comparable to a 400cc 4t plus there still legal to ride on restricted. still i would only buy one newer than 1990 as its hard to find parts for anything older.