The hornet and the lams

**ZenBlade** · 28th February 2012, 15:20

Hey bikers!
I have been on the hunt for the best bike for me to sart on. Long story short I've fallen for the hornet 250. Great bike for lots of reasons...
It is more expensive though (around 5G) but the reason I'm ok with that is that they seem to hold their value really well.
However, after all this, the friggin LAMS stuff shows up on the radar...
Question: will The Epic Honda Hornet 250 hold its value after LAMS?

**quickbuck** · 28th February 2012, 17:22

Originally Posted by ZenBlade

Hey bikers!
I have been on the hunt for the best bike for me to sart on. Long story short I've fallen for the hornet 250. Great bike for lots of reasons...
It is more expensive though (around 5G) but the reason I'm ok with that is that they seem to hold their value really well.
However, after all this, the friggin LAMS stuff shows up on the radar...
Question: will The Epic Honda Hornet 250 hold its value after LAMS?

Well, I think the Hornet was only ever an import.... I do know they fetched a premium price in Japan a few years ago when most were coming over here.... (like a grand more than any other 250) So that is why they cost a bit of dosh... Well, one reason, and the other being a 250 (obviously).

So to answer your question, yes they will take a little hit when LAMS comes in. However, I am picking not so much as some, as they are a fantastic little bike.

That said, no bike will hold it's value if not looked after, not saying that is you, but I have seen people expecting too much for a tatty POS.

**ZenBlade** · 28th February 2012, 17:25

I guess a search for a bike of comparable awesomeness in the LAMS approved line up is now inevitable...man just when i thought i knew what i wanted!

btw, im 28, 6"1, 80kg.
I do not fit on the smaller 250's anyway...

And so far, found this forum to be awesome! have used the search function well

**quickbuck** · 28th February 2012, 17:39

Originally Posted by ZenBlade

I guess a search for a bike of comparable awesomeness in the LAMS approved line up is now inevitable...man just when i thought i knew what i wanted!

btw, im 28, 6"1, 80kg.
I do not fit on the smaller 250's anyway...

And so far, found this forum to be awesome! have used the search function well

I am 6'1" and 95 Kg and RACE a Ninja 250R......
Check them out, there is a bit of room... Mind, the longest race is about 15 minutes...

Take a look at the CB400's if you want naked bikes. The VTEC ones are real trick, and the earlier ones were pretty cool as well.
They look like the CB1300 from a distance.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-447437406.htm

Or, even closer to you...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-452543943.htm

**ZenBlade** · 28th February 2012, 18:41

Originally Posted by quickbuck

I am 6'1" and 95 Kg and RACE a Ninja 250R......
Check them out, there is a bit of room... Mind, the longest race is about 15 minutes...

Take a look at the CB400's if you want naked bikes. The VTEC ones are real trick, and the earlier ones were pretty cool as well.
They look like the CB1300 from a distance.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-447437406.htm

Or, even closer to you...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-452543943.htm

Those actually look pretty mean!!

Cant believe some of the bikes learners will be able to ride...(Ducati monster 600?

)
This is also LAMS if you go by the aussie list: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-452150969.htm
Saweet!

doh....now the dilema of buying a 250 now or waiting till october to get out there

As for the ninja 250...i sat on a new one in the shop and my knees wouldnt tuck into the tank..not really cool for commuting...racing on the other hand..that sounds wicked!

**ZenBlade** · 28th February 2012, 18:46

hmmm does the hornet 600 fit LAMS criteria??

**quickbuck** · 28th February 2012, 18:52

Originally Posted by ZenBlade

Those actually look pretty mean!!

Cant believe some of the bikes learners will be able to ride...(Ducati monster 600?

)
This is also LAMS if you go by the aussie list: http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-452150969.htm
Saweet!

doh....now the dilema of buying a 250 now or waiting till october to get out there

As for the ninja 250...i sat on a new one in the shop and my knees wouldnt tuck into the tank..not really cool for commuting...racing on the other hand..that sounds wicked!

Take your time I would suggest... After all winter is coming up, and it isn't so flash to learn how to ride in to be honest.... And if you are more suited to a 400, then it could well be for you.

Racing the Ninja is fun. Really amazing how fast they are... Okay, Nick Cole laps Manfeild 26 seconds faster than me on his 1000, but it is fun being in a battle where the guy next to you has a very similer bike, and it comes down to getting the most out of a bike with very little power.

I might have short legs for my height, as my knees fit in to the tank fine.
The Mrs has the same leg length as me, and she is 5'7"....

**ducatilover** · 28th February 2012, 18:53

Originally Posted by ZenBlade

hmmm does the hornet 600 fit LAMS criteria??

No way. Unless it had a restrictor kit and I'm not too sure if we will be doing them yet.

If the CB400 is a LAMS bike, I'd take one any day over a Hornet 250, they go better, they are feckin' smooth.
At your height I'd try one before buying though, it may be a little cramped for you, mine was cramped (aftermarket bars though) and I'm short

**quickbuck** · 28th February 2012, 18:57

Originally Posted by ducatilover

At your height I'd try one before buying though, it may be a little cramped for you, mine was cramped (aftermarket bars though) and I'm short

Hmmm,
Again, I found them fine....

I had a CBR400 for many years though, so I could be used to it?

**ducatilover** · 28th February 2012, 19:00

Originally Posted by quickbuck

Hmmm,
Again, I found them fine....

I had a CBR400 for many years though, so I could be used to it?

Could have been the bars, or it just wasn't right for me?
I prefer lowish bars, did a fair few KM on my Spada and that had a "sportier" position, my ZZR6 now has rather low bars, about 3 to 4 inches lower than standard.

**nzspokes** · 28th February 2012, 19:01

My understanding is the Hornet 250 only just makes it due to its light weight and ok hp.

**ZenBlade** · 28th February 2012, 19:24

Originally Posted by quickbuck

Take your time I would suggest... After all winter is coming up, and it isn't so flash to learn how to ride in to be honest.... And if you are more suited to a 400, then it could well be for you.

Racing the Ninja is fun. Really amazing how fast they are... Okay, Nick Cole laps Manfeild 26 seconds faster than me on his 1000, but it is fun being in a battle where the guy next to you has a very similer bike, and it comes down to getting the most out of a bike with very little power.

I might have short legs for my height, as my knees fit in to the tank fine.
The Mrs has the same leg length as me, and she is 5'7"....

Cheers for the tip! man...not an easy call to hold off on buying something though...but I can take the hint about commuting in winter...i live in welly.
Yeah i got real lanky legs haha.

re: your comment about racing 250's...would you feel the same holds true for learning to ride..better to be able to thrash the 250 and learn about bike limits rather than cruising on a 400?

Originally Posted by ducatilover

No way. Unless it had a restrictor kit and I'm not too sure if we will be doing them yet.

If the CB400 is a LAMS bike, I'd take one any day over a Hornet 250, they go better, they are feckin' smooth.
At your height I'd try one before buying though, it may be a little cramped for you, mine was cramped (aftermarket bars though) and I'm short

Damn! but thought as much..
cheers for the info!

man..it's a sucky time to get your learners when they dont even have that much info out on the bikes you could ride in a few months....is it even definite that this will happen in october?

**quickbuck** · 28th February 2012, 20:04

Originally Posted by ZenBlade

Cheers for the tip! man...not an easy call to hold off on buying something though...but I can take the hint about commuting in winter...i live in welly.
Yeah i got real lanky legs haha.

re: your comment about racing 250's...would you feel the same holds true for learning to ride..better to be able to thrash the 250 and learn about bike limits rather than cruising on a 400?

Damn! but thought as much..
cheers for the info!

man..it's a sucky time to get your learners when they dont even have that much info out on the bikes you could ride in a few months....is it even definite that this will happen in october?

Nope, not easy to hold off at all I know.... The best time to buy in my opinion is about July.
People get sick of tripping over the bike for a couple of months, and can't really see the summer coming... So flick them off for slightly less than they would get for them in Summer....

Racing is a world away from road riding.... So I can't really say that riding a 250 to it's limit is better than cruising on a 400, as in reality the performance of the 2 bikes we mention is quite similer, except the 400 makes a little more low down torque. Not much more, but enough to notice.

What I find with our 250 rule though is this:
Those that get a 150 to learn how to ride on find they get blown around by the wind. 250's not quite as much, but they still take a hammering. Then people get their full, and some decide that they have to get a 600+ to make up for lost time, or something...

A 600 will handle the wind well, in most cases, but the rider has never really learnt to deal with it properly in the first place. As a result they never develop the skill and become farefull.

Now the kicker is that this goes for many motorcycling skills.

Now, if they had something that handles the wind just like a big bike does, then the problem wouldn't be there.
See, the best way to ride through wind is to use the bikes power when appropriate, and also move your body in a position where the wind won't effect you so much. The 400 has the torque to do this. This means you aren't reving the nuts off it all the time, and dancing on the gearbox....

It is a shame that there isn't much info out there. We should razzle NZTA and get them to put the info out, for the very reason you have alluded to. I am pretty sure it is going to happen,

I used to work for a guy who was hoping this was all happening 3 years ago. We had many imports that were on the LAMS list, and I got to ride some real beautys. They came in from Japan with all sorts of things on them. It is a shame the market wasn't quite there for them yet....