The Ultimate Learner Bike List

[Matariki]

Based on personal opinion.
From each type (or as many as you want to suggest), 250cc or under.
Optional: Post an image of each bike and write a brief list of the pros and cons with a 1 - 10 rating.

• Cruiser:
• Dual Sport:
• Off Road:
• Scooter:
• Sport:
• Street:
• Other:

Have fun!
*I hope a thread like this doesn't already exist*

[Cayman911]

Dual sport - Honda NXR125 ( it is perfection )

it will do anything everywhere without a complaint
anything else is irrelevant

[Zamiam]

Oops missed it was 250cc or under

•Cruiser:

Hyosung - quite like the look (and over 250cc Harley, Harley oh and a Harley)

•Dual Sport:

DRZ (BMW R1200)

•Off Road:

Yamaha WR or KTM

•Scooter:

Vespa (is there any other brand?)

•Sport:

Honda (Ducati 1198)

•Other:

Raleigh 20 (Canam Spyder)

[jaffaonajappa]

Scorpio. All categories except off road. And unsure what 'Scooter' was referring to.

* Assuming you mean best learner bike, hence having a 250cc max requirement.

[ducatilover]

VT250 Spada, all categories, who wants a scooter anyway?
light, reliable (I've proven that) easiest "performance" 250 to ride, easy to service, very cheap to fix, can potentially sound very cool, low seat height and roomy enough for most people, great handling and bloody cheap. Can dip under the 4L/100km mark on the open road, I managed 3.7L/100km on mine with the fairing fitted.

[nathanwhite]

•Cruiser:
Harley, Harley oh and a Harley
•Dual Sport:
BMW R1200
•Off Road:
Yamaha WR or KTM
•Scooter:
Vespa (is there any other brand?)
•Sport:
Ducati 1198
•Other:
Canam Spyder

I think your missing the point......

Yamaha Scorpio.
http://www.drivesouth.co.nz/files/sl..._Scorpio_2.JPG

[Old Steve]

Cruiser:

Got to put in a plug for the Hyosung GV250

Cheap, has one of the most powerful 250 engines on a learner cruiser, low centre of gravity makes it very easy to ride, bars not too wide make it a handy city commuter bike, one of the largest 250s so it's visible, take the baffles out of the exhausts and that vee twin sounds great, comfortable seat, economical - over 30 km/L if you're riding within the legal limits, large fuel tank (15 L) gives 400+ km range at legal cruising speeds, and capable of up to 130 km/hr (9,500 rpm in fifth gear, down a slight hill with a following breeze).

Though I've got to give the Yamaha Scorio credit, it's light so the 225 cc engine gives it credible performance.

[baptist]

Scorpio as others have said, I had one as a commuter (sold it last month, needed the money) and I cannot say enough good things about the little machine, light, nimble, oily rag running costs, never went wrong and being a single its cheap to service, pretty quick for such a small bike, comfy (round town anyway), a jack of all trades really, never took it off road though!!! I really think Yamaha have hit a little gold mine with it.

[patarch]

if your buying new: go the CBR250r

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/625/82...irst-Look.aspx

second hand i'd go with the a hornet250 or dare i say it a ninja

[Cayman911]

Am i like the only person who knows the NXR exists or something?

There is absolutely nothing the scorpio has over it.

[ducatilover]

Am i like the only person who knows the NXR exists or something?

There is absolutely nothing the scorpio has over it.

I found the NXR wasn't as good as a Scorpio on the road, less torque and power, more like an AG100 really.

[Cayman911]

I found the NXR wasn't as good as a Scorpio on the road, less torque and power, more like an AG100 really.

i've had one for nearly 2 years now.
still not sick of it.

i've done pretty much everything with it. its amazing.
its just faultless.

it could use a little more grunt sure. but i think it's still pretty amazing.
loads of torque.

looks fantastic.

can do anything and go anywhere. it runs on fumes. and it runs circles around any other thing in the same category.

its even better than a cbr125.
it'll take on any motorway too.

[ducatilover]

i've had one for nearly 2 years now.
still not sick of it.

i've done pretty much everything with it. its amazing.
its just faultless.

it could use a little more grunt sure. but i think it's still pretty amazing.
loads of torque.

looks fantastic.

can do anything and go anywhere. it runs on fumes. and it runs circles around any other thing in the same category.

its even better than a cbr125.
it'll take on any motorway too.

Maybe the one I rode was a bit sad, it would barely pull 115 with me on it and it was a very calm day. There's no doubt that they are a good little bike, I just think the Scorpio is easier to use.
Each to their own though
The CBR125 is a horrible bike....

[baffa]

For the ideal learner bike I'd be thinking the Scorpio, Suzuki Bandit, Honda Hornet, or Honda VTR.

I have a VTR, and even sitting on 6'2 and 100 odd kilos I can sit comfortably on it.

It hits 100 fairly quickly for a 250, and will go beyond 140 if you really want. Not having fairings means you really ring it out to get those speeds, which is probably a good thing for a learner. Vtwins have decent torque, are reliable, and have lower maintenance than a 4 cylinder. $24 of gas sees me 250 Km with "spirited" riding, and the seated position is reasonably upright so pretty cumfy, but you can get down on the tank without cramping up. Good compromise between cruiser and baby sports bike.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RYclTA4YpS...250_460x0w.jpg

[gdoggt]

94 Bandit 250. Redline starts at 17k, looks great, sounds awesome, mine will do 0 to 150 pretty quickly to be honest. Lovin it.