Toss-up between to bikes: 88 Honda GB400tt or 91 Honda CB250 Jade?

**durp** · 19th October 2011, 08:46

I just sold my 01 suzuki 250 volty. Got a little underwhelmed with the power and looking to step it up a little bit.

I put out a couple of offers on both these bikes, and both owners came back accepting my offer. I like both of them, but I don't know a whole lot about them technically.

I can get the CB250 for $1600. And the GB400tt for $2000. Both in excellent condition. I know the CB250 is pretty quick roughly 40hp. But I can't seem to dig up any specs on the GB400. What could you tell me about the power on it? Which would be faster, which would you recommend going for? One more reliable then the other?

**tigertim20** · 19th October 2011, 09:03

as someone whose been fucked around by so called 'buyers' - dick move, you should have asked the question before making 'offers' on two bikes.
That said, here are the specs on a GB400TT, looks like the CB250 might have better power if thats your main concern, but go ahead and look for yourself.
http://www.amy.hi-ho.ne.jp/tachi/eng.../spec_eng.html

**Murray** · 19th October 2011, 09:20

Wives got a GB400TT - great bike I love getting off the 750 and riding her bike. Hers has 6 gears and have increased front sprocket size so it goes like a little rocket!!!

**The Pastor** · 19th October 2011, 09:21

choose the one you like the look of the most. The 400 will have more maintenance issues, but its a nice bike

**durp** · 19th October 2011, 09:22

Fair enough. I get that. Just turned out that one of the guys took nearly a week to get back to me on one, after i started looking elsewhere.

Regardless. Power aside: which would be the better buy for the money?

**Flip** · 19th October 2011, 09:29

What model CB250 is it?

The hornet would be the better bike.

**Jantar** · 19th October 2011, 10:12

Originally Posted by durp

Fair enough. I get that. Just turned out that one of the guys took nearly a week to get back to me on one, after i started looking elsewhere.

Regardless. Power aside: which would be the better buy for the money?

Without more details such as general condition, upcoming maintenance needed etc. I would personally choose the 400. Power is only one consideration, and even then only if you intend racing. More important is torque, and that is where the 400 has it over the 250.

**DrunkenMistake** · 19th October 2011, 11:31

GB400 for sure,
If you get bored you cafe the cunt

**nzspokes** · 19th October 2011, 11:49

I thought the CB250 jade had about 19hp?

**The Pastor** · 19th October 2011, 11:53

Trust me mate the 400 will cost a lot more to run. Well maybe if you dont maintain it, then it wont cost more :P

**Renegade** · 19th October 2011, 15:16

ive got a GB400 as my commuter bike, great little bike, puts a smile in my face every day i ride it.

Cheap as chips to run, tyres are cheap im running a sport demon on the rear and a battle-lax on the front which cost $300 fitted and they are lasting really well.

plenty of maintenance parts available through econo honda and there appear to be plenty of engine parts for it being an XR400 donk.

Im planning on some cafe racer mods soon for giggles.

**Flip** · 19th October 2011, 15:43

I was a partner in a bike courier company and we owned a quite a few GB 4 and 500's. They were all great bikes apart from going through can shaft and followers.

The need regular oil changes, which is a very easy and quick job to do, I did ours every 3k. The cam shaft, provided you catch it early, can be reground up to twice and the cam followers can be hard faced. I never had to do a cam twice probably because the refaced followers were a lot more wear resistant than the factory ones. The profile we used to use was the std trail bike one which worked fine and I always thought the 400's were as fast as the 500's once the cam was done. I never did the work to determine if the GB and XR motors had the same cam profile. I used to put Yokohama race compound tyres on my personal bike and it used to be a brave sole who used to keep up with me on a twisty road.

The CB250Jade has the 16,000 rpm 40 hp CBR250 motor. A GB 400 would not keep up in a drag race.