Which 250 to choose?

[JJNZ]

Hi guys,

You're probably sick of answering these sort of questions, but i'm a complete newbie, having just decided yesterday that a bike is a good option for going to and from work (first week in new job, travelling 600kms a week, cost me $100 petrol so far this week!)

I've spent the morning looking on trademe getting ideas of what is around, and figure i can probably afford to spend up to $4k if i sell my car. Obviously the first step is getting my license which i will be onto next week but once thats out of the way i will need to be able to put it to use!

I'm leaning more towards a sports style bike rather than a tourer/cruiser but thats where my troubles start - the only difference i can see is the styling, what other differences are there?

I want something economical, not really too fussed about brands although would rather stick to 'big-name' ones, not these bloody chinese things.

I've always had Honda cars so these are my main interest at the moment, but also like the look of the kawasaki's, but again am open to anything.

The next problem is i'm a lanky bugger at 6'3" so i want something i'm going to be nice and comfortable on for 45mins at a time twice a day.

How much is insurance likely to be a year for a 250cc learner license, 23yr old with clean insurance record? i will head down to the insurance company next week to find out for sure but good to get a general idea so i can do some budgetting over the weekend!

Thanks in advance for any help!

Josh

[Deviant]

I started out on a GN250, still on it, and I have to say, it's an absolutely awesome learner's bike.

Ask anyone, look on trademe, it's the "Classic Kiwi Learner's Bike", and is hands down probably the most forgiving and easy to learn on bike out there.

It's not sporty, but start safe, learn the ropes, then go for fashion and speed when you know what you're doing.

[koba]

You will never know for sure unless you buy one!

If I could do it all again I would start on an rg150. (2stroke)
That way it can be raced in streetstock and they are actually quite reliable (more so than my old 250 4cyl 4stroke!)

GSX250 or GPX250 can be a great starting point for a taller rider, and reliable tough and easy to fix, aswell as doing comfortable motorway speed.

Have a look around, keep asking but dont take too long because summer is just about here and you will want to be out there as much as possible once you have a bike to play on

[sprag]

Hi guys,


The next problem is i'm a lanky bugger at 6'3" so i want something i'm going to be nice and comfortable on for 45mins at a time twice a day.


Josh

Well at Hyosung GT250R are good for the taller bikers for a 250cc, and 2nd hand ones can be cheap on trademe, and its a sports bike as well.

mine does about 400k's plus on a tank of gas (16 or 17 liters )

[Maverick]

a single cylinder 250 like a Suzuki GN 250 will be the most economical, it might struggle over 100kph though,
a V twin like the Honda VTR will be economical and have a lot more go, but prices are much higher,
an inline twin like a GPX may be an option, but the V's are better. Stay away from GSX's, they are very heavy for their engine power so are supposed to be gutless.
an inline 4 like a bandit/zxr/etc will have a lot more top end performance but will drink petrol like mad, (my bandit got 180km off a tank about 14L)
2 strokes tend to drink a lot of petrol too and maintenance on that high a millage could be a killer.
Its up to you, I agree with your sentiments on the main brands, I wouldnt trust a chinese bike yet either. maybe in another 5 -10 years

insurance go to www.kiwibike.co.nz, bloody good. AMI was ripping me blind and I had no idea.

[Rosie]

Hi Josh,

Different styles of bike are designed to do different things, so each will feel different to ride, and be better at different things. Some of the differences in styling and handling will be more noticeable than others as you are learning to ride.

An obvious difference between different styles of bikes is the seating position. Since you are tall, you may find a lot of 250cc bikes quite cramped. Since you'll be using the bike to commute, being hunched over a too-small bike for 1.5 hours wouldn't be a pleasant addition to your working day.

Another obvious difference is the nice shiny plastic panels (fairings) that some bikes have on them. They help to keep you out of the wind when you're going quick, and they make the bike look nice (if you are into that sort of thing). They also scratch very easily if the bike decides to have a little lie down and they can be a pain to get fixed.

As well as the sports and cruiser style bikes, dual purpose, or road legal trail bikes are worth a look. They have a more upright seating position, and tend to have fairly high seats, so may be more comfortable for a tall person. And despite outward appearances, they can be quite nice to ride on the open road. Mine is actually nicer on the road than my road bike

As a starting point, go around several bike shops and have a look at the 250s they've got, and see if you can have a sit on them to see how they feel. And while you are there, you can start buying all the gear you'll need, so once you buy a bike, you'll be set to go.

[mogiman]

test ride a few 250s to see what you like ,ended up with a 92 cbr but for comfort my gb250 was great and a lot of fun would run on the smell of an oily rag but im only 5'10 and a bit
ITs a shame they dont use the hp laws like in some states in aussie because an rf 400 would be ideal for someone like you and comfortable

[Drum]

...You're probably sick of answering these sort of questions

Doubt it mate. It's a popular argument point round these parts.
Myself, I learned to ride on a Kawasaki EL250 and would do so again. A bullet proof bike and perfect for learners who want more than a GN250.

[JJNZ]

cheers for the replys guys, i had a look at a coupe of the bike sites last night and 6k for a new bike is really quite affordable so may even look at that as a option if i can get the right price for my car - the problem with going and taking a couple for a test ride is i don't even know how to ride yet, but will get there soon enough all going to plan - i'm keen on the idea of the v-twin style motors, how am i able to tell which models have which type of engine? cheers

[JimO]

i bought a nz 250 for my boys which is a ideal size for them as its narrow,nimble and a good fit but a 250 Katana is a better size for the larger gentileman its pretty much the same size as my cagiva 1000

[sweetp]

My partner was the same 6' and broad. He ended up on a Hyosung GT250R, being a lover of sports bikes. He said it was the best fit for him and it certainly was a trouble free bike. He ended up trading it in with 18 000Km on the clock and never had a single issue with it. The son still has his (he is just about as big as dad) and loves it.

Key thing is you don't want to spend to much on bike one as it will have a few tumbles. Also the most important thing is fit, sports bikes you lean forward and crusiers like the GN you sit more upright. It comes down to what feels best for you.

Also I would suggest you go to a professional riding school to learn to ride. They are great and you can come out at the end of the day with your basic handling cert and with enough skill to get you going.

I second the point on kiwibike insurance, they gave me a price 4 times below that of state.

All the best mate, I hope you find something you like.

[HTFU]

for someone your height I would not recommend the GPX. Its a good bike but I am 1.75m tall and you wouldnt want to be much taller. I think you should have a look at a Hyosung GT 250 naked. They are 6000 new and would suit a taller person. They are more upright than the Faired version. Worth a look. I found them too tall for me.

[MidnightMike]

Stay away from GSX's, they are very heavy for their engine power so are supposed to be gutless.

Yes they are heavy, 169kg dry, they are'nt the most powerful (about 35-40hp, 160kph top speed) but they are just as quick as the gpx, but a lot more comfortable, especially for taller riders (like me- 6'4")

They are great bikes and the prices on them have dropped a bit in the past year or two, though they might still only just fall into your budget of $4,000

You also might want to look at:

Hyosung GT / GTR250's, Not VTR 250's (great bikes, but are ridiculously small), I think the zxr250a model are a bit higher in seat height than the other zxr models, also the ZZR's are good too.

[Mr. Peanut]

Get the newest 250 you can afford, and pass it on quickly. If you want speed, buy a 400 and risk the fine, you'll still be saving yourself some cash.

If you want to keep it for a while, wait for the new GPX250, it'll be above and beyond any current 250 on the market.

[Renegade]

i love my hyo, its been the best, but if you only got $4000 to spend expect to take $800 of that and spend it on gear, at the end of the day its cool riding a bike but its cooler when you come off and you still have all your skin cos the gear you invested in did its job and then some. (first hand experience).

Dont let that deter you, get shopping! biking is the way to go!