Reasonably priced 250cc learner?

[itchi]

Hey everyone

just got my learners license and have started researching whats what in the used 250cc market.

It seems that even rusted old pieces of shite from when grandad used to suck his mumas titty are worth more than your average house. and apparently anything that will be fun for the 2 years your stuck to the 250cc range is from the late 80s.

so here is a break down of the laws of 250 cc biikes from what i have learnt from reading through the the various threads on KB. searching trademe and visiting dealers.

1. hyosungs look like big bikes are reasonable for the money but, you will be laughed at.
2. GN,s and anything that looks like a GN is laughed at.
3. the truly fun 250s are from the late 80's early 90's. seem to cost the same as a new bike even tho its been round the clock and lying in bits in a pool of urine in some jokers garage and getting parts for them now is expensive and difficult. you will be laughed at.
4. FZR's are exempt from law 3 as they are cheaper, however even if it s mint you will be forced to prostitute dear old gran to keep it on the road. because of this you will be laughed at.
5. Dealers dont want your buisness and you if do buy from a dealer at their comedy prices you will be laughed at.
6.if what you have is differnt to the next guy. you will be laughed at.
7.honda CBR's are considered reilable. but you will neeed to prostitute your gran before anything goes wrong to buy it and for this you will be laughed at.
8. you will be laughed at .

so with this in mind i have armed myself with $2500 and the knowlegde that i will be laughed at. I am looking to get a cbr, a spada or something similar in good condition. with a decent amount of rego, new warrant. good tyres ,regularly serviced. chain, sprockets, suspension all good .straight body and anything else that will prevent me embracing the road at high speeds.

opinions and guidance welcome

CHEERS

[SMOKEU]

There is no such thing as a cheap 250cc road bike in this country, if it's in a good condition. Have a look at an RG150, they go almost as good as most of the 250cc straight 4s for half the price.

[Blinkwing]

There is no such thing as a cheap 250cc road bike in this country, if it's in a good condition. Have a look at an RG150, they go almost as good as most of the 250cc straight 4s for half the price.

Maintenance for these is a bit pricey though.

[Old Steve]

Don't forget good gear. Buy the best you can afford. Get a great helment, you only get one head and how much is it worth to you.

I spent $3400 on my bike, but it cost over $5000 in total to get me on my bike on the road, with gear and my 6L license.

A cheap bike will have higher ongoing maintenance costs. Get the bike checked before you buy it, by an independant professional.

And there will be someone who isn't laughing - your bank mamager will be weeping.

[AllanB]

Are the trail bikes (road legal ones) any cheaper/better condition/value? You could throw on some more street oriented trail tyres and still have fun on dirt roads.

Plus despite not doing it myself when I was young, I believe you'll learn more skills getting it a bit off road occasionally than sticking to the tarmac.

Just an idea.


Or buy a Harley - I keep meeting guys on these who are on learners!!!!!!!

[vindy500]

Ive never had anyone laugh at me....

[SMOKEU]

Maintenance for these is a bit pricey though.

If you get a good one they're not too bad in terms of maintenance. Try replacing the plugs or air filter on a CBR250 and you'll know what I mean.

[AllanB]

Ive never had anyone laugh at me....

That's because you are so far behind them on your Ho-Bag that you cannot hear them.

Bawahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[dynamite9585]

my g/f and i have just been thru all this too, with it's own share of drama.

she got a 1987 CBR for $1500 ($2000 by the time it was on the road with wof and reg).
my GSXR came with wof and reg for $2000 but my tinkering has lead me to spend a little more on it ($200) just coz i like things to be right.

the research we did found that as a rule: $1500 gets you a bike. $2000 gets you a tidy bike.
i suggest holding on to your extra 500 for gear and post purchase servicing.

all the cbr needed was an oil change and a new set of plugs and it was good to go (and a re-cert since the rego had lapsed)

the GSXR needed an oil change, and a new tank of gas. i have since had the carbs cleaned and it tuned at a shop.

[Sable]

You could always look at 400s. You don't get fined that much if you get pulled over, and in the last 2 years I've only been pulled over once. 4 cylinder ones make about as much hp as an RGV and a GB makes about as much power as a Hyoshit. Only far far cheaper. You can also apply for a license exemption so you can ride one legally.

[hayd3n]

honda honda honda honda

[MaxCannon]

I don't know what experience you have riding but don't discount a GN250
As a bike for someone starting out it's a pretty good option.

Mine was $2200 with only about 3000km on the clock. 2005 model.
I kept it just over 12 months and 10,000km.
Sold it for $2200
In that time it cost me next to nothing to run and insure. From memory (because I can't be arsed going to the other room to find the receipts) the only parts I had to replace were tyres (the stock ones are shit) and a clutch lever (I dropped it when I forgot to put the stand down).
I had it serviced a couple of times and when I sold it the chain was right at the end of it's life.

The pros
- Cheap
- Easy to ride
- Reliable
- Easy to work on
- Good resale

The cons
- Poor build quality on newer ones. (Mine was solid, electrics were fine, chrome finish was good but some are obviously built on Friday afternoons).
- There isn't much power. Depending on how big you are 100kph shouldn't be a struggle. I'm 5"10 and 82kg. Uphill into a headwind would require a downshift and wringing it's neck but I never got run over.
- No street cred. (If you care about that sort of thing)

[SMOKEU]

You could always look at 400s. You don't get fined that much if you get pulled over, and in the last 2 years I've only been pulled over once. 4 cylinder ones make about as much hp as an RGV and a GB makes about as much power as a Hyoshit. Only far far cheaper. You can also apply for a license exemption so you can ride one legally.

If you're going to breach your licence conditions you might as well go the whole hog and buy a 1000cc bike.

[riversouth]

i started with a GN 250 then another suzuki, mauder now i have the choise of a honda magna or a suzuki intruder all have been great bikes
the honda has fatter wheels that grip the road better
all bike preformed well on the open road and all crusie at the same pace
If it has two wheels and goes well who cares what we ride lol

[Mrs Shrek]

Hey everyone


1. hyosungs look like big bikes are reasonable for the money but, you will be laughed at.
2. GN,s and anything that looks like a GN is laughed at.
3. the truly fun 250s are from the late 80's early 90's. seem to cost the same as a new bike even tho its been round the clock and lying in bits in a pool of urine in some jokers garage and getting parts for them now is expensive and difficult. you will be laughed at.
4. FZR's are exempt from law 3 as they are cheaper, however even if it s mint you will be forced to prostitute dear old gran to keep it on the road. because of this you will be laughed at.
5. Dealers dont want your buisness and you if do buy from a dealer at their comedy prices you will be laughed at.
6.if what you have is differnt to the next guy. you will be laughed at.
7.honda CBR's are considered reilable. but you will neeed to prostitute your gran before anything goes wrong to buy it and for this you will be laughed at.
8. you will be laughed at .

so with this in mind i have armed myself with $2500 and the knowlegde that i will be laughed at.
opinions and guidance welcome

CHEERS

So you get laughed at Its character building
My bike looks like a hobbit bike especially next to the 1150 but it doesn't stop me enjoying the , L plate included.