FXR vs RGV 150 battle

[The Pastor]

kinda though aye

[2_SL0]

I have not ridden a Hornet so this is just what I have heard. "Very Nice, I met a guy who had one and was thrilled with it. They certainly look the part. But as a first time bike, I would say NOOOOO."

[Zapf]

And the consensus is?

And when I was lookin' through my NZ Motorcycle Trader and News, and I saw a Honda Hornet 250, anyone know anything about that?

Yea I know a bit about them. Its a inline 4, puts out 40hp/14'000 rpm and 2.4kg/m / 11'000 rpm. Dry weight 151kg, wet 168kg. Runs 11.5 compression and Chassie code is MC14E. Its a 6 speed, steering head configuration are 25.45degree / 100mm.

The only down side is that it runs 180/55 17 rear tires and they cost big bucks each.

Link to Honda Japan's site on Hornet 250

I think u are better off getting a VTR250, more torque, less hunting for the right gear, more fun powering out of corners. Lets you concentrate on riding instead of finding the right gear at 1st.

[Bonez]

Electric starts are for pussys.

(Troll)Tell that to all them HD riders (End of troll)

[SPORK]

Yea I know a bit about them. Its a inline 4, puts out 40hp/14'000 rpm and 2.4kg/m / 11'000 rpm. Dry weight 151kg, wet 168kg. Runs 11.5 compression and Chassie code is MC14E. Its a 6 speed, steering head configuration are 25.45degree / 100mm.

The only down side is that it runs 180/55 17 rear tires and they cost big bucks each.

Link to Honda Japan's site on Hornet 250

I think u are better off getting a VTR250, more torque, less hunting for the right gear, more fun powering out of corners. Lets you concentrate on riding instead of finding the right gear at 1st.

Argh, goodo. I'm more interested in the faired bikes, but I think that a naked one would be easier on my pocket

I've heard that the VTR has a singe sided swingarm (on the later models) is this a good or bad thing mechanically wise?

[VivaVee]

Unlike all but one other, I have owned/ridden an RGV150. Now jrandom is claiming high reliability for his FXR150 but i can assure you than his new bike has spent more time at Colemans than my RGV150 ever did. My RGV150 NEVER broke down and I rode it almsot every day commuting for that three years - rain or shine. It got hammered. All I ever did to it was fill the tank with gas and periodically toop up the 2-stroke oil tank - I did use nice Motul theoretically ash-less oil though - the engineer in me. Apart from that it got the routine maintenance stops to meet the warranty requirements. It is an auto-mix 2-stroke so none of that old fashioned mix the oil & gas stuff was needed. I would think that any mower mechanic could work on it - I don't know because I never had to. I filled the tank once every fortnight and always had change out of $10. The oply thing that pissed me about it was the kick start - it could be a pain starting on a damp cold winter morning when I hopped on all sleepy like and over choked the damn thing.

The only problem with ANY used sub-250cc is that i is likely to have been ridden by a beginner like your self. No offense intended - we all have to start somewhere and learn. I re-learned to ride on the RGV and then moved on to the VFR. I don't regret buying either bike.

[Antallica]

Mine's still going hard. Hardly ever been in the shop eh. Maybe twice in the 1 1/2 years I've had it.

Btw JR, my mate's got his wheelies sussed and it scares the shit out of me when he does it. Definitley not for me.

[jrandom]

Now jrandom is claiming high reliability for his FXR150 but i can assure you than his new bike has spent more time at Colemans than my RGV150 ever did. My RGV150 NEVER broke down and I rode it almsot every day commuting for that three years - rain or shine.

Well, there you go. Can't be much wrong with the RGV, then.

Not sure what you're referring to, though; my bike's never had mechanical problems... it's only ever been at Colemans for servicing. Being as I'm too much of a lazy numpty to do it meself, and I'm not particularly enamoured of the guys up the road at Holeshot.

[The Pastor]

This keeps getting more and more interesting. Most of the posts are baised because the poster has owed a bike. If it was an unbiased post they wouldnt have much personal experiance. Has anyone owned or riden both? Its a bit hard to say these bikes never brake down because mine didnt. Or That they always brake down because mine did. Alot comes down to the rider and how much damage they have done to them right? Most people would of ridden these as there first bikes on there lerners when they didnt know much stuff so it could easily (and understanably) get damaged by the rider not excatly from the genral make of the bike?

[clint640]

My $0.02, having ridden on and/or with 150's a few times:

FXR's are a great learner/commuter bike - small, light, e-start, reliable, good around town. If you plan to do much touring or lots of open road rides they are too slow.
The RG/V will be a bit better on the highway, but higher maintenance.
Don't forget the Kawasaki KR150 2 stroke - same power & cheaper parts than an RG.
All the 150's are excellent for smaller people to learn on, but if you have the size & strength to feel OK on a 1 or 2 cyl 250 they may be a better choice.

Cheers
Clint

[jrandom]

if you have the size & strength to feel OK on a 1 or 2 cyl 250 they may be a better choice.

Hehehe.

Indeed.

Being more the build you'd expect to see on a Beemer tourer myself, though, I'll just point out that the weenie-bikes still aren't too bad for the chunkier ones among us. A bike that weighs the same as you do has enormous advantages in maneuverability, learner rider or otherwise.

[The Pastor]

i think the fxr won this battle by a running mile

[SPORK]

Indeed it did! Although some other non polled bikes got pretty high recomendations!

By the way, your sig is rather loud and obnoxious, here's me politely asking if you could size it down a bit please?

So what chu gunna buy?

[Blakamin]

By the way, your sig is rather loud and obnoxious, here's me politely asking if you could size it down a bit please?
?

here here!

please from me tooo

[The Pastor]

My big siggy made my posts look bigger


Hopefully im getting a 91 GPX on saterday, then free gear from firestormer!!! (Thanks again mate)

Yeah getting my scratch n win done on sat morning too.
YEAH!!!!