New bike advice needed

**Boob Johnson** · 2nd June 2007, 21:22

Well its been three wonderful months on the SR two fiddy, I bought well, its a real minter, loved every minute of it but its time for an upgrade

I ride every day to work & on the weekends go for long rides with the lads (damn the ride to Whangamomona from Stratford is WICKED!!!). They all ride big ass bikes & im getting pissed at being left behind on the straights

So heres the conumdrum...

Im interested in a range of bikes, they include a Yamaha Zeal, Suzuki Bandit, Suzuki GSX/GSXR, Kwaka ZXR/ZZR, CBR(R/RR) (dont like the Yamy FZR

)

Im off to look at a few bikes tomorrow down the line.

Basically im sick of getting stuck behind traffic on the open road (@100Km/h) and struggling to pass. With that in mind I want something thats gunna be able to easily pass that annoying law abidying citizen doing his 100Km/h and open her (the bike

) up and pass safely.

Im three months into my learners so looking for something quicker to tide me over for 6 to 9 months until I get my full licence and a big bike

My question is (long winded I know, just wanted to set the scene

) is, have you owned any of the above mentioned bikes? Or riden one of them, enough to comment? Is there any bike I should stay away from? Ive heard the GSX 250 is a bit of a lemon? Is this true?

I want no hassles from my bike, im not a mechanic etc & I dont wish to allocate funds to constant matanience etc if it can be avoided.

I like the idea of 4 cylinder as it usually mean more HP & a better back note but in saying that im open to a twin also as long as its got the punch to pass easily at 100Km/h as mentioned.

Cheers in advance

**Boob Johnson** · 3rd June 2007, 08:48

*Bump*

Help plz

**crazylittleshit** · 3rd June 2007, 08:56

Id go with the bandit probable the the best bang for buck reliable and not to slow take one for a ride and decide for yourself though but they definatly last the test of time....

You will find buying a 4 you will have a few probs, all 4's are a bit old now due to them not being made or not brought in anymore. Ive got a friend with a gsx 250 and I ride it all the time not a dud starts everytime and fun to ride.... not a rocket ship just make it up in the corners...

**Mully** · 3rd June 2007, 09:46

I rode a ZZR round a bit and found them OK. More touring for the open road, takes some weight off the wrists.

**Oakie** · 3rd June 2007, 10:01

At the risk of raising the ire of a group of owners, I'd advise you not to get a ZXR if you're still a learner. Nothing wrong with the bikes as such in experienced hands, it's just that they do take fair bit of effort ride safely as they are quite peaky. I've ridden a couple of different ones a few times and found a fair bit of concentration required to ride them well.
You'll also find that a few of our KBers have come to grief on them over the last couple of years too.

I'd look at the ZZR myself (not the same grunt and top speed but easier to ride) and the Zeals look pretty tidy too although I've never ridden one.

**car** · 3rd June 2007, 10:34

Originally Posted by Boob Johnson

im getting pissed at being left behind on the straights

Pick better roads.

My question is, have you owned any of the above mentioned bikes? Or riden one of them, enough to comment?

Yes. And my advice to you is to save your money. Save, save, save. Be patient. If, in 6 - 9 months' time, you find that your balls are still too big for your boxers, go buy a GSX-R1000.

You sound like you're ready for it.

**MSTRS:Me** · 3rd June 2007, 10:49

GSX - ZZR are twins.
GSXR - FZR - Zeal - ZXR - Jade - CBR/R-RR are fours. Another option here is the Suzuki Across.
It would seem that you want a sporty-ish type, in which case you should be looking at the fours. Be aware that the cbrrrr's and ZXR are capable of 200kph in the right conditions.
Have you considered the v-twin like the Honda VTR or Spada? They are surprisingly punchy and very easy to ride, not having the peakiness of the fours yet deliver more go than the inline twins.

**Boob Johnson** · 3rd June 2007, 20:23

Originally Posted by car

Pick better roads.

Yes. And my advice to you is to save your money. Save, save, save. Be patient. If, in 6 - 9 months' time, you find that your balls are still too big for your boxers, go buy a GSX-R1000.

You sound like you're ready for it.

Every forum has one I guess, well done on being the dickhead in KB'r, your parents would be proud you have achieved something at least

Did I just say that out loud?

Anyway, back to business......I just returned from an epic 500Km trip from NP to PN & back again with a few stops on the way to test ride some bikes, didnt get to test as many as I would of liked but got a reasonable feel for two that I did.

First off I rode a 2003 Suzuki GSXF 250 FX ("Across" I believe). It has the same motor as the Kwaka Balius 2, went like snot, bloody great, except the rear got a lil woobly under power out of a 40Km corner so had to get out of it

Im not sure if thats just how they are or what? May have been binned once before and the chassis is twisted etc, who knows. Other than that it was a really nice bike. Has twin "Showa" shocks at the rear & generally looked pretty mint. The speedo worked fine (all the way upto 160Km/h

) but the milage wasnt ticking over at all (twas stuck at 15 odd thou). Dunno bout you but that smells of tampering. Im rather suss on these imports proported milage....anyway thats another matter.

The 2nd bike was a 93 ZZR250 with 29 thou on the clock. Very clean and tidy bike also. The ride was very firm (I liked that) but didnt have the same punch as the GSXF, but certainly enough to tide me over until I can sit my full licence. Main issue I had with it was the distance my foot had to travel to change up. I had to move my whole bloody leg lol, was terrible. The saleman reckon he could adjust it but didnt have the tools on hand at the time.

My final thoughts on the two...Liked the ZZR's firmness, but prefer the sound & power from the 4 cylinder. With that in mind, is there any bikes anyone can reccommend I try. As you can see im open to either naked or fully faired.

Any advice is appreciated (expect comments like "Cars")

**Devil** · 3rd June 2007, 20:56

Originally Posted by Boob Johnson

First off I rode a 2003 Suzuki GSXF 250 FX ("Across" I believe). It has the same motor as the Kwaka Balius 2

These bikes aren't even slightly related.

I used to have a Balius (ZR250), engine is most closely related to the ZXR250's.
Good little bike and does at least 175km/h

**Oakie** · 3rd June 2007, 22:33

The 'Across'. I actually thought it was a 400 ... Anyhoo, they apparantly have a small gas tank so if you're into long distances, I believe you'll be stopping every 140km or so to refuel. (Or perhaps I'm confused. Check it out anyway).

**Boob Johnson** · 3rd June 2007, 23:48

Originally Posted by Devil

These bikes aren't even slightly related.

I used to have a Balius (ZR250), engine is most closely related to the ZXR250's.
Good little bike and does at least 175km/h

Mmm ok. Someone on TM mentioned the name Across with regards to it.

I did hear that the engine is the same as the ZXR but slightly detuned.

Correct me if im wrong but the ZXR is 45BHP.

I know this Balius/GSX250FX is 40BHP for sure.

Originally Posted by Oakie

They apparantly have a small gas tank so if you're into long distances, I believe you'll be stopping every 140km or so to refuel. (Or perhaps I'm confused. Check it out anyway).

Mmmm, forgot to check the size (will google that now), but in saying that the fuel gauge had definately moved after I had rung its neck for 10 mins or so

Just googled the fuel tank size (14 litres).

Also confirmed the exact name, its GSX 250 FX

**Oakie** · 4th June 2007, 09:35

Just checked my source and the bike I was thinking about was the Suzuki RF400 which I thought was called an 'Across' but I'm not so sure now.

Double check that tank size though. The source I used to check out the 250 'Across' said the tank is 12 litres which gets you running on reserve at 160 to 200 km.

**MSTRS:Me** · 4th June 2007, 09:48

The Across is a Suzuki, with a 4 cyl 250cc engine (detuned GSXR). It has an underseat petrol tank and the 'normal tank' is actually just a shell that lifts up, under which is a sizeable storage box. I think they were popular in Oz but not so much here.