Is this a good idea?

[xwhatsit]

Spada... errrr ain't they just an eariler modle of the vtr???

Yes, but the Spada is bloody quick. 40+hp at the crank? I've heard 45hp but that seems excessive. Alloy frame, too, like the CBRs. Low production numbers, but certainly a match for the CBRs and ZXRs of the time, despite being a naked twin. The modern VTR250 is much more of a commuter, albeit a very nice one.

Why not wait until you get your full? How much time is left? I'm assuming you will get a `big bike' once you get your full, you won't keep your 250 forever like me.

If money is tight (and you'll make money when you sell the CB then buy the VTR, right?), then it's not a completely stupid idea. You'll find the VTR very easy to ride, and they're quite similar bikes apart from the engine. Definitely a reliable bike, the early VT250 bottom-end woes are long gone.

In addition, everybody knows that your coolness is inversely proportional to the number of cylinders your bike has.

[klyong82]

I thought the inline 4 would be cheaper in the long-run. not sure about 250cc but a 1000cc v-twin eats tyres and brake pads faster than a 1000cc inline 4

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

I thought the inline 4 would be cheaper in the long-run. not sure about 250cc but a 1000cc v-twin eats tyres and brake pads faster than a 1000cc inline 4

Don't know about brakes pads... I use more engine braking (which the v-twin has heaps of) and hardly touch the brakes????... depends on riding style I suppose.

[McJim]

Why have I got deja vu? I thought I replied to this thread....goes and looks

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=56364

Yup - we got a double posting here - we need the threads merged.....goes to find a mod....

[bomma]

go the vtr!!!!! amazing bikes and pack a lot more punch than they let on!! depends on your style of riding but i basically tried out a gxs250, cb250, cbr250, zxr250 and then a vtr250 and i ended up owning my lovely vtr for more than a year!! Felt bad everytime i revvd the nuts off her but she loved it

[McJim]

Spada... errrr ain't they just an eariler modle of the vtr???

the Spada was the final evolution of the VTR before the 'great restriction' came. For some reason honda in their infinite wisdom said "Well, we managed to squeeze 43hp out of a little 2 fiddy twin - we can say we've done that now - from here on let them be gutless!"

Dunno why they did that - ZXR250s and CBR250s were still pumping out 40 hp+ in the early nineties.

[HornetBoy]

Well ive ridden the vtr250 and it has an aftermarket exhaust on and i was immediatly taken by it a, it felt alot lighter and less stable at higher speeds and head winds but i really enjoyed the lower revving and less gear changeing or it and also that v-twin sound.the hornet ive got now is good yea and has alot better top speed etc but it only gets 150km to the tank and the vtr gets over 220km which is a significant difference to me anyway

[HornetBoy]

fuel is not the major influence on my choice but it is a bonus

[Squiggles]

I thought the inline 4 would be cheaper in the long-run. not sure about 250cc but a 1000cc v-twin eats tyres and brake pads faster than a 1000cc inline 4

go the twin, you'll love it i tried an inline and there just wasnt the same grunt until i was revving its balls off, twin pulls from idle

[HornetBoy]

Yea thats what i found, the vtr250 sounded great and "deep" whereas my 4cyl sounded like i was in first gear all the time.The main thing for me is that the vtr is really skinny and small and feels easy to lift up and get pushed around in head winds.The vtr for me felt like (dare i say it) riding a harley compared to my hornet as in motor sound and feel.(i have ridden a harley by the way..)

[TKDSKIP]

My lil Spada is a sweet bike for getting to work and short trips with good grunt throughout the rev range and the sweetest handling, but I have been cleaned up by every Hornet I have tried to play with once the speed gets above 100ks. Yes they are cheap to run but only if you dont thrash them everywhere, found a CBR1000 was as cheap to run on a trip to Raglan a few weeks ago.

[lanci]

I believe from my totally uninformed and unbackupable opinion that it would be a massive mistake!!!

For my next bike am tossing up the same situation......a Hornet 600 or SV650..........will see what plays out.

[HornetBoy]

Maybe im just bored and wanting something new but i swear this vtr250 just felt so much ...easyer to ride and alot more quicker .Yea i agree the hornet 250 would kick the vtr250 over 100km but im not really worried about that a until i get a real bike like a ducati or a triumph

[klyong82]

Don't know about brakes pads... I use more engine braking (which the v-twin has heaps of) and hardly touch the brakes????... depends on riding style I suppose.

I can see your point guess like you said depends on riding style.

go the twin, you'll love it i tried an inline and there just wasnt the same grunt until i was revving its balls off, twin pulls from idle

Yes twins have the torque but remember those rides we went...your fuel consumption was not as great as an inline. Alright perhaps one day we should swap bikes and just ride it in circles.

[klyong82]

Well ive ridden the vtr250 and it has an aftermarket exhaust on and i was immediatly taken by it a, it felt alot lighter and less stable at higher speeds and head winds but i really enjoyed the lower revving and less gear changeing or it and also that v-twin sound.the hornet ive got now is good yea and has alot better top speed etc but it only gets 150km to the tank and the vtr gets over 220km which is a significant difference to me anyway

150km on a 16L tank? I say your carbs might need balancing unless you are riding it really hard. I can agreed with you that the v-twin sound is just nice especially if you have an aftermarket pipe with it. They tend to vibrate more than inlines so that's normal.

ANyway all the best in making the change.