Blew up the NS so am looking for something new. Opinions?

[racefactory]

The best combination of reliability, power, fuel economy, handling and everything you cannot go past the CBR250RR. Even maltreated they do 100,000k's. Raceworthy out of the box. And so amazingly nimble I've never ridden a bike the like. Wouldn't be that much slower around the track than my VFR400R.

My advice, ignore the Hyosung, heavy questionable reliability, slow. Positives are that it's cheap for the appearance, and it doesn't use much gas.

The GPX250Ninja, is just an 80 GPX in new clothes unfortunately, but they weren't terrible bikes. Other countries got the fuel injected version, and I wouldn't be able to settle for the carburretted one.

The GSX250. Another 80's bike prettied up, heavy, slow, unco, fuel economy probably reasonable, but i wouldn't tolerate one.

The 2 strokes, slightly quicker on the track than the CBR250RR but even though they are lighter, they don't feel as nimble. The engines rev freer and going from a 2 stroke bike you already know how to control the engine. They will be collectors editions because so few are left running after all the failure. Not a bike that you want to use too much. maybe as a track bike or perhaps an ornament.

The reason why I haven't commented on the other 250 IL4's is because they haven't passed the test of time like the CBR. The ZXR on the track has slightly better (more stable) suspension but isn't quite as nimble (throwable). More prone to oil leaks and has cam chain tensioner issues which can ruin the bike. The FZR and GSXR are in a similar basket, you don't see them around anymore because they are all either in the tip or in peoples garages awaiting repairs/refurbishments that will never happen because you can't get the parts easily.

That's another reason to get the RR mc22 (don't go for the single R mc19 vastly different handling characteristics and not as good brakes) lots of parts around, and noobs do crash them so it's often cheap to pick up a spare bike for parts when you crash yours. Aftermarket fairings are easy to come by too:
www.justfairings.co.nz
check out www.cr-x.org/cbr250
they are massive over on Victoria Australia. I raced them at Phillip Island, Winton and Broadford last year (a written off one that I fixed up) and won races and prize money on it even with gearbox issues against GSXR's and FZR's with heavy mods. Also beat plenty of 250 2 smokers and even 400's and 650 twins on it. No mods.

I've posted it several times before and I'll post it again, here's the race results from the last time I raced my road CBR250RR in NZ. Only one 400 beat me in F3 on my CBR250RR: http://www.silver-bullet.co.nz/event...p?eventid=5510

this guy knows what he's talking about. Those cbr250 engines will go round the clock with ease... coming from a 2 banger you are going to at least need a 18,000 rpm 4 cylinder... you'll be left shit bored otherwise. The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield it!!!!! i'd avoid buying twice.

Otherwise i'd have to agree with the guy talking about 400 bikes. I rode various NC30s for most of my time on learners, the money you save from the shockingly overinflated 250 prices will just break even with any fine if you get caught on it. Just be a bit more careful where you decide to get the old knee down. never got busted once regardless of having been stopped buy the old bill a few times....

[dynamite]

Ok so the general consensus is that the gpx is the best twin followed by the hyosung. I think I might go try to test ride these two and see if I think I could own one, maybe next week. I dont want a 400 because of the demerits (got 55 demerits and none of them clear for over a year) and if you get stopped without a L plate, on a large bike even at a checkpoint then thats 50 points there. From what you guys have said thats probably a long shot though lol. So is everyone agreeing with vtec etc that the cbr mc22 is the best of the 4s? I had a quick look on trademe and they do tend to be more expensive than the zxr250c or the fzr and gsxr (maybe because they are better?). Is there a remarkable difference in the other models of cbr? thanks again everyone