Best 250 for a fat newbie?

[nzspokes]

Scorpio for sale here. Owner about same size as you.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1130252557

[DrunkenMistake]

That's the problem with quality control issues - most people's bikes will be fine. It's just that the percentage that lunch themselves during normal operation will be higher. That percentage was noticeable in Hyosungs up until a few years ago. Maybe they've fixed all the problems now and every machine out of the factory is a goodun. Dunno. Wouldn't bet my own cash and transport requirements on it just yet though.

My Gt650 has around 10,000km on the clock, so you could almost call it new, after owning it for a month I had two major issues, one been the reg/rec and stator, second been the front master cylinder sucking in moisture and corroding to shit on the inside,
other than that I have found it to be an enjoyable bike with ALOT of usable power.

My understanding on this is that part of the new legislation will require all new bikers to hold their restricted for 12 months, regardless of age, before being able to take their full license?

Wouldn't normally be a problem, but I have a self-imposed deadline of June 2013 to have my full license!

Out of interest and in complete defiance of my "no dying" stance, have people on the forum around my size/weight successfully obtained an exemption?

Cheers

Mate, im about ... 5'4 - 5'5 short ass, and I think im up around the 100kg mark, though Im not huge, its just puppy fat that a little exercise would probably sort out, but lets be honest, thats hard work... I think you are worrying just a little too much, If you have face book check out the fat bikers group, ( http://www.facebook.com/groups/174067929287610/ ) or go to the website ( http://www.fatbikersmc.co.nz/ ), I had an older CBR 250R which had alot of guts but wasnt a very big bike, and it was sweet as to ride, done a 2,000km round trip on it, I also had loan of a Scorpio 225 which wasnt the worlds quickest bike, but For such a wee bike it was alot of fun!
Dont worry about the whole 'can is haul my ass' shit or your just gonna get hung up on the wrong stuff, IF you are REALLY anal about it, go with the Hyo or similar as its a Twin and has alot of power lower in the Rev range, otherwise you could look at cruisers, I.E a Yamaha Virago or Hyo GV250
Hope this helps a little!

[jrandom]

Me? Id be looking at a 650 Virago or 650 Kwaka twin. (should be LAMS legal soon, and can be exempted already).

An 883 Sportster is a really nice bike, with similar power-to-weight again. $14K brand new is a lot of money to drop on a learner machine, though, and you can't easily do a 1200cc conversion in due course any more, either.

But if you got money to spend... probably the choicest of the probably-gonna-be-LAMS-legal bikes.

[matdaymon]

From what I understand the restricted to LAMS spec bikes (such as the Kawa 650's and Hyo 650's) can be brought up to full power relatively easily so you could have one of those bikes for a longer period of time than a regular learner bike. Just food for thought

[jmlt]

Hi, 6'4 here and 125kg and the hyo GT250R did the work perfectly
enough power to to send you anywhere and big size frame so perfect to prepare for a bigger engine once you get your full

no need to ask for exemption, I thought a lot about it but the Hyo is good to learn

[DrunkenMistake]

From what I understand the restricted to LAMS spec bikes (such as the Kawa 650's and Hyo 650's) can be brought up to full power relatively easily so you could have one of those bikes for a longer period of time than a regular learner bike. Just food for thought

basicly the case,
I know with the Hyos, its just a matter of a couple of washers added to somewhere retarded in the flux-capistor-powerband-airbox area, I guess you could always get the bike 'restricted' or buy one restricted then rerestrict it, I would think that if you rode sensibly then noone would be the wiser.

[Tigadee]

Am I actually just worrying unnecessarily here - will most modern 250's cope with my fat arse?

I'm 6' 1" and 110kgs and really most comfortable would be a largish cruiser like the GV250 or Honda Magna 250. Other cruisers would be too small, like the Marauder and Intruder, Lifan 250, Honda Rebel and Virago. Road and sports bikes could be a possibility but they could be cramped for big 'more-to-love' fellas like us. I've got a Yamaha Scorpio and a Kymco Venox [copy of the Honda Magna 250 cruiser]. Both are comfortable for a tall large person, although the Scorpio is fairly lightweight, so it feels the wind sometimes [advantage is that it's easy to handle and to get through traffic].

Most 250s will cope with lugging us around but what I've found in my [limited] experience so far is:
1. Increase tyre pressure slightly to compensate for heavier load
2. Adjust suspension to highest/hardest setting, as our weight will bring down the seat height, which will result in a harder ride and cramped legs
3. Taller seat height [i.e. tall bike] isn't necessarily better, especially if bike is heavy [e.g. Hysoung GT250 Comet) - as we would end up making the bike top-heavy, resulting in instability in windy conditions, and a harder fall
4. Make sure the bike you want has a wide comfy seat - makes a world of difference!

You could try to qualify for an exemption - I did apply and was approved for one, but the string attached was that I had to choose and buy one bike and one bike only out of their [mostly antiquated] list - most of which were vintage or not-so-common bikes. Some of the more modern ones were too expensive while others were above 600cc and up one level in rego fees and other costs. Also, searching on Trade Me showed that there is a scarcity of between-251cc-to-600cc bikes, as compared to 250cc-or-less bikes, or above-600cc bikes.

[DrunkenMistake]

Uh on the note of sports bikes,
If you do find that the old gut is in the way and you just cant find a bike to fit,
Try a naked sports or something that has a more upright neutral position so your not leaning or stretched over the tank, may help a bit

[HoorayForYou]

Cheers all - this has been really helpful.



I am going to crack on with the basic handling etc, comfortable in the knowledge that there are suitable 250s for me out there...Can't really wait until August and the LAMS as I need my full license before June 2013!

Applying for an exemption?

Not sure - I can completely understand the reasons against, though it would be nice to buy something that would get me through the first 2 years comfortably, rather than spunking away a comparatively large amount on a 250 that I will likely want to sell on within a year.

Still, better a 250 than a red smear...

[jrandom]

Not sure - I can completely understand the reasons against, though it would be nice to buy something that would get me through the first 2 years comfortably

Yeah... people talk about 250s 'lugging you around', but you'll still be quicker from 0-100 than 95% of everything else on the road.

[HoorayForYou]

You could try to qualify for an exemption - I did apply and was approved for one, but the string attached was that I had to choose and buy one bike and one bike only out of their [mostly antiquated] list - most of which were vintage or not-so-common bikes. Some of the more modern ones were too expensive while others were above 600cc and up one level in rego fees and other costs. Also, searching on Trade Me showed that there is a scarcity of between-251cc-to-600cc bikes, as compared to 250cc-or-less bikes, or above-600cc bikes.

Thanks for the input...

Any chance of pointing me to that list, if it is available online?

Uh on the note of sports bikes,
If you do find that the old gut is in the way and you just cant find a bike to fit,
Try a naked sports or something that has a more upright neutral position so your not leaning or stretched over the tank, may help a bit

...was thinking maybe a girdle of some kind?

[Fatt Max]

Plenty of fat cunts on this forum dude, no need to worry about being insulted.

The Hyosung or a Kawasaki Ninja 250 would work fine for you. I'd go for the Kawasaki, because it's probably less likely to break.

Stand by for everyone who's been lucky enough to buy a Hyosung that didn't break turning up in here to tell you that Hyosungs don't break. You'd still do better to get a Kawasaki, of course.



Heck, even a Yamaha Scorpio. I was perfectly happy on one at 115kg a few years back. 150kg is more the point at which your motorcycle choices become limited, not 120.

Just been to wellington and back on my Hyosung GV250 and she ran frikken great. 2,000 odd km's in 5 days plus a shit load of eating and drinking and she didnt miss a beat.......
My arse did feel like I had just had a weekend with the Honda Civic Owners Club mind, so maybe a bit of work on the seat is required....

[Tigadee]

My arse did feel like I had just had a weekend with the Honda Civic Owners Club mind, so maybe a bit of work on the seat is required....

Definitely! Factory seats are made for little Asians...

[Tigadee]

There is no official NZ LAMS list yet, but the Vicroads list is a good starting place:
http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/...viceriders.htm

[nzmikey]

Ullo forum.

I know this question has been asked elsewhere, but opinions seemed to differ so much, I thought I would try and nail down a more definitive answer with your help...

I am looking to get my NZ bike license, starting from scratch with my basic handling in the next few weeks.

(FWIW I am 34 years old and have held a full drivers license for yonks...)

Due to excessive pie consumption, I clock in at around 120kg (and am just over 6 foot tall), so I will be looking for a decent 250cc which will safely haul my bulk around without needing to modify brakes or springs and that hopefully won't give up the ghost on the steeper hills...

Initial research seems to suggest something like a Hyosung GT250 would best fit the bill?

Am I actually just worrying unnecessarily here - will most modern 250's cope with my fat arse?

Thanks in advance for your assistance and insults.

Heh come join the FMBC http://www.forum.fatbikersmc.co.nz/u...e=view&f=0&p=5

Bunch of lardys on bikes ..... they are also on Facebook just search for Fat Bikers on there or do a search on here for Fat Max .