Honda CBR first road bike?

[CRF119]

Hey guys,

Im not new to motor bikes ive been riding for years just only on dirt.

Im looking to spend around 3g to 5g this is just a bike to get me to work and probobly a few day trips mainly to save on gas.

Basicly are there any problems with them that i should know about in the years Between 1986 and 1992.

Ive riden my brothers suzuki Bandit and i like that but im a honda man

I like this.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-136027492.htm


Any help would be good

[quickbuck]

Yep, looks good. 5500 though? And that is just the start!

51000k's too, but they look like they were easy ones... But then again, it isn't original paint.

A CBR for a first road bike is a good choice. You have the advantage of a bit of dirt riding, so that works in your favour.
Remember though, you will probably get bored of the 250 before you get your full licence, so you will be looking for something a bit bigger.

So, it may pay to get a cheapie, then upgrade as you will. 250's do hold their value though... that one is 17 years old, and was probably first sold in NZ in 1995 for $6000.

If it is gas you want to save, and are willing to settle for a 250, then look at the brand new CBF250. Apparently these are going for similar money, but they use less fuel, and are brand new!

[HRT]

Look around, you should find something cheaper. You'll be paying for the paint on that by the look of it.

My 86 CBR (20k on it) was $4000 from a dealer, though it seems thats about what you'd pay for something a bit later privately. $5k should get you something early 90s with failrly low kms. Didn't someone have a fairly nice 92ish RR on here for pretty cheap?

[Monsterbishi]

My old ciblet is on trademe at the mo, 3xk's and he wants $3700 for it.

[Skinny_Birdman]

Remember that 4 cylinder 250s cruise sitting on about 9000-10000RPM on the open road (depending on gearing and how hard you want to push your licence) so 50000km is a lot 'higher' than the same KMs on a less revvy or larger bike. Watch out for things like difficult starting, smoking when first started and when decelerating etc.

I had my '87 MC17 from 26000km to 56000km (sold for $2500 OMG!!!) and had no dramas other than blown fork seals (due to stone chipped fork legs). I was pretty fussy about warming it up, and about maintenance, which probably helped.

Curiously, it used more gas than the CBR600F I replaced it with, probably because it is always revving so fast.

Good luck, hope this helps, they are great little bikes.

A

[Wally Simmonds]

I picked up my 89 GSXR 250 for just over 3k, and it had 18k on the clock. It was in average nick, but it goes pretty good - No complaints here!

[xwhatsit]

Remember that 4 cylinder 250s cruise sitting on about 9000-10000RPM on the open road (depending on gearing and how hard you want to push your licence) so 50000km is a lot 'higher' than the same KMs on a less revvy or larger bike.

No, not really. That CBR250 engine is designed with a 18,000RPM redline. That's its design redline. Sitting at half max RPM for long times is no harder on it than any other bike engine really, provided the engine has been designed well with that redline in mind.

Those CBR250 engines seem to last ridiculous amounts of time. You only have to look at something like the early VT250 motors, designed only a couple of years earlier, that in theory should be much less stressed (and lower RPM). Very few of them would ever boast 100,000kms+ that you see from the CBR mills.

Rest of your advice is very good though. These bikes have likely been thrashed and dropped and manhandled by all kinds of clumsy newbs who wouldn't know an oil-change if I drained the hot oil onto their foot.

[Skinny_Birdman]

Those CBR250 engines seem to last ridiculous amounts of time. You only have to look at something like the early VT250 motors, designed only a couple of years earlier, that in theory should be much less stressed (and lower RPM). Very few of them would ever boast 100,000kms+ that you see from the CBR mills.

I didn't mean that they won't last to 100,000km+, just that at higher kms they will tend to be pretty tired. They are certainly a well designed motor though, and having geared cams is an additional Honda bonus.

[Skinny_Birdman]

How about this one. It's an MC17 with 38,000km and reserve appears to be $2200, although it has probably been pranged, because that ain't the original paint. Down south we have a buyers market - except when I'm buying.

[CRF119]

That Black CBR seams very tidy i like that.

Thanks Heaps for your advice, Im going four cylinder because i love the noise lol.

Just have to sell my car and get a licence and ill be into it and i cant wait.

Thanks

[The Pastor]

cant go wrong with an mc22. Im kinda selling mine, i really want to clock over 100 000 on it by the end of the year (I put 10 000 on it in like 4 months)

[The Pastor]

i just woked that out, it would cost me 4grand to do 35 000kms over this year. OUCH!

[CRF119]

I went in to look at a CBF250 today and they are just under 5g, It didnt really jump out at me id rather have a old CBR then the new CBF. Looks to be good on fuel having one cylinder and only reving low but id get boared.

Eaither way im sure a CBR will do better then $60 to 350kms like my van dose lol. Leave the van for the weekend.

[pyrocam]

1990 CBR250RR a awesome bikes! I had mine for nigh 2 years and it was great!

highly recommended! definitely one of (if not THE) best 250 you can get. I have a full (400+ page) service manual for the bikes around that age, if you get one pm me.

get one with cheaper fairings though if you can, cost me an arm and a leg to keep mine looking slick.

my old one http://www.pyrocam.com/files/images/bike-pics/APR07/
specifications http://www.motorbikes.be/en/Honda_CBR_250_RR_1990.aspx
sex on wheels

edit: oh and look at the odo, if some of the figures are halfway inbetween and its under 20, chances are its been wound back, cant say it really bothered me on mine but just be aware of it. (see the last pic in my collection for an example)

[discotex]

1990 CBR250RR a awesome bikes! I had mine for nigh 2 years and it was great!

highly recommended! definitely one of (if not THE) best 250 you can get. I have a full (400+ page) service manual for the bikes around that age, if you get one pm me.

get one with cheaper fairings though if you can, cost me an arm and a leg to keep mine looking slick.

my old one http://www.pyrocam.com/files/images/bike-pics/APR07/
specifications http://www.motorbikes.be/en/Honda_CBR_250_RR_1990.aspx
sex on wheels

edit: oh and look at the odo, if some of the figures are halfway inbetween and its under 20, chances are its been wound back, cant say it really bothered me on mine but just be aware of it. (see the last pic in my collection for an example)

I'd say the odo is likely to be tampered with regardless. You're better off looking at general condition of the bike/engine/etc.

For my money I'd buy another ZXR250 just because they're cheaper than the CBR and I personally prefer the look of the C model (without the twin headlights).

But then again, if I was starting again I'd seriously consider a Hornet or Bandit. They're more fun to ride at sub licence losing speeds. At least take one for a spin