LAMs on a budget

[amberzfire]

15 pages on your own thread and this is the first motorcycle related information you have shared about yourself.
Maybe you are a real person.

thanks for the vote of confidence twinkle toes ..

[Ender EnZed]

I think that model is KLE650 which is on list.

It is a KLE650 but the KLE650 isn't on the list. The 500 is and the KLR650 is. Also the KL650 but that's just the KLR.

[mossy1200]

It is a KLE650 but the KLE650 isn't on the list. The 500 is and the KLR650 is. Also the KL650 but that's just the KLR.

Random E model making life terrible. Wonder how hard it is to get it added as some have already managed to have bike list extended.

[haydes55]

Random E model making life terrible. Wonder how hard it is to get it added as some have already managed to have bike list extended.

The KLR and KLE500 have less power. The KLE650 has the same motor as the 650 ninja (EX650?, too many god damned ninjas). I don't think it fits under the power to weight ratio.

As for why buy a motard.......
1 ) light weight, amongst the lightest.
2 ) cheaper maintenance, no fairings to remove to service a single cylinder engine.
3 ) if you drop it, chances are the damage will be limited to handlebars, levers and indicators. Cheap to repair compared to other bikes.
4 ) great commuters, slim for was splitting, light, plenty of low down torque from a single and a nice high view over cars to better see traffic.
5 ) fun for a blat down a twisty road.
6 ) you can go anywhere...... Almost. I road mine on long gravel roads on road tires. I even did a lap of an MX track on road tires, jumps and all.
7 ) you can buy completely new plastic kits to make it look good as new for a couple hundred, a couple hundred more for a sweet sticker kit and your bike will look instantly cooler.

[Ender EnZed]

The KLR and KLE500 have less power. The KLE650 has the same motor as the 650 ninja (EX650?, too many god damned ninjas). I don't think it fits under the power to weight ratio.

It is missing a few peak hp though. Using 44 kW and a 206kg wet weight it would just sneak under at 149kW/T. Maybe it could get put on the list?

[eomo]

Okay, so here is what I've gathered so far:

- Ninja 250s are reputable, many people have them.
- I shouldn't get a used 250 because they do not wear well and people sometimes thrash them.
- Motards are very expensive when compared with their equivalent normal bike, and they tend to be sold unconverted. (Also can someone comment about the fenders effectiveness in rain conditions?)
- Bikes above 600cc are very confusing to sort out with the authorities for LAMs, and more expensive to register and insure.

Crap, is my only option left a new GN250? =(.

Mossy, thanks for recommending the gs500, going to research into that more.

[GrayWolf]

Okay, so here is what I've gathered so far:

- Ninja 250s are reputable, many people have them.
- I shouldn't get a used 250 because they do not wear well and people sometimes thrash them.
- Motards are very expensive when compared with their equivalent normal bike, and they tend to be sold unconverted. (Also can someone comment about the fenders effectiveness in rain conditions?)
- Bikes above 600cc are very confusing to sort out with the authorities for LAMs, and more expensive to register and insure.

Crap, is my only option left a new GN250? =(.

Mossy, thanks for recommending the gs500, going to research into that more.

Ninja 250, GPX, ZZR 250. all basically the same motor.... Sadly Mossy is right, most 250's have been used, abused and frequently have little or poor maintenance performed.... caveat emptor.

Motards? Or the 'adventure' bikes DR, XT KL, F650's etc are a better bet. Up till now they havent been the bikes of choice for learners.
In many ways I am glad to see people still pushing 250 at 'newbie's' it keeps the larger bikes at reduced 'risk'..long may it continue..

In reality, WHY? would you pay an over inflated price, for a raped and fucked 250 when you can buy far better? The GS is a good solid bike, like the EN500/400 if I was learning today? They and the adventure singles are where I would be looking.

[RJC]

I got a kle500 as my lams bike, it's in the same rego price range as the 250's has reasonable power and torque. Being a twin it's smoother than the 650 singles on the list.

Don't buy a mortard if you want to ride it Palmy to Auckland, you'll get blown all over the place by truck air wash with no screen. Good for commuting though.

Got mine for $4k with about 18,000 on the clock.

[mossy1200]

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-807592857.htm

Hes asking to much but you could always try your luck on a 3.5-4 grand offer

[R650R]

Screw the budget, these look interesting... http://www.revzilla.com/common-tread...e-coming-to-us

[Tazz]

In reality, WHY? would you pay an over inflated price, for a raped and fucked 250 when you can buy far better?

Because they are FUN! Good luck punting a GS500 around with as big of a smile on your dial as a 250.

That said, for the day to day 'grind' of commuting you can do better than a 250 inline 4 and I wouldn't bother with the newer gutless single banger 250's when you have the whole LAMs range.

All bikes have their downside and only you can weigh up what is important to you, just like all advice from a salesman or the internet shouldn't be trusted

As for fairings and rain, I much, much prefer them for longer trips, but I wouldn't make it a deal breaker.

I wouldn't get a DR unless you're going to be taking it off road.

[F!ddl3r]

I bought a 650 ER6F as my first bike, I'd never ridden before... and loved it, I kept it a year.. wanted something quicker.
I bet whatever you buy as your 1st bike, you'll be looking at changing it. I've only had my second bike for 3 months and I'm looking at something else.. Because I can
So get a learner bike, something that feels right when you test ride it.. because guaranteed once you get your licence you going to be changing it.

[FJRider]

... advice from a salesman or the internet shouldn't be trusted

So ... you're not a salesman ... ???

[Tazz]

So ... you're not a salesman ... ???

Nope! If I had to be labeled as one, it would be the world's worst, and I said all advice (even underlined it), not everyone is out to get you in NZ. You need to go overseas for that.

[GrayWolf]

Because they are FUN! Good luck punting a GS500 around with as big of a smile on your dial as a 250.

That said, for the day to day 'grind' of commuting you can do better than a 250 inline 4 and I wouldn't bother with the newer gutless single banger 250's when you have the whole LAMs range.

All bikes have their downside and only you can weigh up what is important to you, just like all advice from a salesman or the internet shouldn't be trusted

As for fairings and rain, I much, much prefer them for longer trips, but I wouldn't make it a deal breaker.

I wouldn't get a DR unless you're going to be taking it off road.

Agreed a WELL MAINTINED 250 sprottie is fun,,, but there's the rub, most ARENT, they are raped and fucked grenades in waiting. Yes the GS is a bit heavier, but that weight is comparative, it's still a fairly 'light' bike... It's advantage IS it's more flexible engine wise, more planted (weight) on poor surfaces. Doesnt have to be ridden 9/10th's to get anything out of it.
Yup a 250 inline is a good commuter,,, but then maintenance costs factor in,, a 250 4cyl costs to service the same as a 1000 4cyl. Plus it probably red lines at double the revs of a GS500.
A 250 will bring a 'smile to your dial' I can remember quite clearly my first 250, a Kwacka S1 250 triple,,,, My earlier bikes, specially the CB175 are still smiled on with affection. However after riding 'bigger' bikes? The limitations of a 250 become apparent.
The high performance 250's were introduced AFTER the UK went to a 125cc learner limit, (because of the Suzook X7 and Yam LC250's) in the early 80's. So the 'supersports' 250's you enjoyed in the mid 80's onwards were never meant for the learner market... remember what you call a 'dog' for performance (Hyo) is as FAST as those final 250's released in the UK.