Bike choices

[steelphoenix]

*flail* So I have two bikes I'm sizing up... very different beasts.

There's the pocket-rocket CBR250RR 1990 ($5500, from a dealer), and the fun-but-kinda-sensible VTR 250 2005 ($4000, from TradeMe).

The VTR needs new forks (pitting - how the fuck they did that in 5yrs, I have no clue), and possibly new brakepads. Nice commuter bike I'd have fun with, and has many years of life in it. Position felt weird, kind of neither upright nor sporty.

The CBR is in extremely good nick, but it is 20 years old, and does have 22k on the clock. Felt fucking fantastic when I got on and rode it (after an initial adaption period) - has the grin factor, and wasn't too bad in traffic.

General advice on the wisdoms of buying second-hand bikes (the work on them, age, odometer, etc) would be appreciated.

[fatboy323]

just talk this guy down to 4500ish and don't muck around replacing forks

That's if you like the VTR

*flail* So I have two bikes I'm sizing up... very different beasts.

There's the pocket-rocket CBR250RR 1990 ($5500, from a dealer), and the fun-but-kinda-sensible VTR 250 2005 ($4000, from TradeMe).

The VTR needs new forks (pitting - how the fuck they did that in 5yrs, I have no clue), and possibly new brakepads. Nice commuter bike I'd have fun with, and has many years of life in it. Position felt weird, kind of neither upright nor sporty.

The CBR is in extremely good nick, but it is 20 years old, and does have 22k on the clock. Felt fucking fantastic when I got on and rode it (after an initial adaption period) - has the grin factor, and wasn't too bad in traffic.

General advice on the wisdoms of buying second-hand bikes (the work on them, age, odometer, etc) would be appreciated.

[Neon]

*flail* So I have two bikes I'm sizing up... very different beasts.

There's the pocket-rocket CBR250RR 1990 ($5500, from a dealer), and the fun-but-kinda-sensible VTR 250 2005 ($4000, from TradeMe).

The VTR needs new forks (pitting - how the fuck they did that in 5yrs, I have no clue), and possibly new brakepads. Nice commuter bike I'd have fun with, and has many years of life in it. Position felt weird, kind of neither upright nor sporty.

The CBR is in extremely good nick, but it is 20 years old, and does have 22k on the clock. Felt fucking fantastic when I got on and rode it (after an initial adaption period) - has the grin factor, and wasn't too bad in traffic.

General advice on the wisdoms of buying second-hand bikes (the work on them, age, odometer, etc) would be appreciated.

Sounds to me like you've already decided

Main thing is to get whatever you are seriously considering fully checked over by someone who knows their shit. You didn't say what dealer, some are better than others but nevertheless I would recommend paying the $60 or whatever it is and getting George from Motorcycle Doctors to do a pre-purchase inspection.

A tidy, well looked after CBR will do you well, just be prepared to spend a bit more maintaining it than the VTR.

[PirateJafa]

The VTR250 is, bar none, the best all-round learner 250 in NZ.

[blackdog]

The VTR250 is, bar none, the best all-round NEW learner 250 in NZ.

IMHO the hornet is by far the better/sexier/quicker/more desirable machine.

[\m/]

Any 250 4 cylinder or a GS500 should keep you happy until you get your full.

[Number One]

CBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrrrrr for sure!

I still pine for mine...most awesome bike I've owned hands down so far. Confidence inspiring, handled like a dream and once I was confident had enough balls to still be fun.

oooo I wish I still had it...

Also I'd buy 2nd hand off a dealer before I'd buy 2nd hand off some random on TM

[TOTO]

I say go for the vtr, fantastic bike

[PirateJafa]

IMHO the hornet is by far the better/sexier/quicker/more desirable machine.

Quicker? These are four-stroke 250's we're talking about, mate. The VTR has a more fun engine than the Hornetto, and I've heard some that sound great with a aftermarket pipe, instead of the irritating whine of a IL4 two-fiddy.

[kiwifruit]

get the sv650

[blackdog]

Quicker? These are four-stroke 250's we're talking about, mate. The VTR has a more fun engine than the Hornetto, and I've heard some that sound great with a aftermarket pipe, instead of the irritating whine of a IL4 two-fiddy.

1996 CB250 Hornet 40hp, 24Nm
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mod...ornet%2096.htm

2009 VTR250 32hp, 22Nm
http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/mod...tr250%2009.htm

Not to mention the hornet has a decent size 180 section rear tyre, makes it look far more grown up.



I have ridden both and the hornet outperforms the VTR in every aspect by a substantial margin.

And I'm not your mate, or do you know me?

[PirateJafa]

*stuff*

So, what you're try to say is that both bikes, whilst being able to happily achieve and maintain the speed limit, are not supersports bikes? Fancy that. Maybe that's why they're the sort of bikes that, y'know, learners are restricted to.

A 180 rear on a 250 is not something to brag about. Reduced flickability with a larger tyre is justifiable with larger bikes, where they need the larger contact patch. On a 250 you're just forking out more money for tyres for no reason.

I have also ridden both bikes, and the RS250 outperforms them all. But that isn't the point of this thread, you daftie.

[blackdog]

*wank*

I can hardly be arsed with you after the week I have had, but let me spell it out for you anyway. Please bear in mind you are still entitled to your own opinion despite overwhelming proof that you are wrong.

Actually both machines are capable of nought to 100 in about 6 seconds give or take (give for the hornet, take for the VTR). Quite a bit quicker than about 90% of the cars on NZ roads.

Both are capable of doing 100mph, the hornet beyond 180kph depending on gearing.

The Hornet is the best naked learner bike you can buy bar none (except maybe a vvt bandit, or a fightered rs/rgv etc if you want to be pedantic)

I am happy to scratch in the twisties with mates on bigger sprots bikes with a Hornet and will keep up with all but the best of them.

Just because someone has disagreed with you does not require that you go on the offensive.

[PirateJafa]

I can hardly be arsed with you after the week I have had, but let me spell it out for you anyway. Please bear in mind you are still entitled to your own opinion despite overwhelming proof that you are wrong.

Actually both machines are capable of nought to 100 in about 6 seconds give or take (give for the hornet, take for the VTR). Quite a bit quicker than about 90% of the cars on NZ roads.

Both are capable of doing 100mph, the hornet beyond 180kph depending on gearing.

The Hornet is the best naked learner bike you can buy bar none (except maybe a vvt bandit, or a fightered rs/rgv etc if you want to be pedantic)

I am happy to scratch in the twisties with mates on bigger sprots bikes with a Hornet and will keep up with all but the best of them.

Just because someone has disagreed with you does not require that you go on the offensive.

Look mate, just because you've had a rough week with your boyfriend doesn't mean that I'm not going to call bollocks where it is due.

Your original post in this thread suggested that the Hornet was superior in one measurable way, and three purely subjective ways. I disagreed, at which point you've started veering off onto hilarious tangents about how a larger tyre is superior on a 250 and how your own personal experiences on the bikes are the be-all and end-all of any potential discussion as to the merit of each model.

As opposed to myself, who has merely owned a Bandit 250 (VVT too, since it seems to matter to you), had a Hornetto as a daily commuter for two months, and have ridden most of the rest of the 250 range... so clearly it's not possible for me to hold any sort of opinion here, of course. And all things considered, I reckon the VTR covers all the learner bases the best (for a naked bike - for a faired bike, t'would be the GPX).

Btw, keeping up with larger bikes isn't exactly difficult when everyone is restricted to 100.00km/h. Alternatively, find some faster mates.

[steelphoenix]

just talk this guy down to 4500ish and don't muck around replacing forks

That's if you like the VTR

Um, yeah, that's actually the VTR in question - I did talk him down, because a pre-purchase inspection revealed that the forks needed replacing...

Sounds to me like you've already decided

Main thing is to get whatever you are seriously considering fully checked over by someone who knows their shit. You didn't say what dealer, some are better than others but nevertheless I would recommend paying the $60 or whatever it is and getting George from Motorcycle Doctors to do a pre-purchase inspection.

A tidy, well looked after CBR will do you well, just be prepared to spend a bit more maintaining it than the VTR.

It's at Botany Honda (pls to not be poaching? ) - and yes, I was considering getting George to do a full report for me. He was the one who did the report on the VTR. I'm not too concerned about maintenance - I'm decently mechanically-able, and with the manual, I can certainly do all the basic stuff myself.

Also, guys... snark/derail thread much?