Which 250 to buy?

[RSrider]

Hey People,

I recently obtained my learners license, and am currently looking for my first bike. I have ridden bikes on private land before (Dad used to race them) but this will be the first bike i have actually owned.

My question is, which 250 should I buy?

The 3 that I really like are the NSR250, ZXR250 and RGV250. Which of these is the best all round bike? Which is the quickest? To me the ZXR is the best looking, but I've been told they lack reliability compared to the RGV and NSR, is this correct?

Any info would be helpful as i'm kinda throwing myself in the deep end here. What is a good price to pay for these bikes? I'm preferably looking at bikes that have done less than 30,000kms and have up to $5500 to spend.

Thanks

[Ragingrob]

Have you test ridden any of them? I'm pretty sure they all have their pros and cons which will cancel each other out kinda thing to make them all even so it's up to personal preference. $5, 500 will get you a pretty decent bike I'd say! Make you should also look at CBR's

[Pussy]

There are a few late model GSF250s about, might be worth a look at one of those. Gassit Girl bought a brand new variable valve timing one in 2000. Bloody awesome little bike. The VZV model is identifiable by the orange/black colour scheme, clip on bars,red valve cover, and small fly screen. They go VERY well

[imdying]

Buy a new Hyosung GTR250. The RGV and NSR are not learner/non mechanically inclined friendly. They will however rape the GTR250 or the ZXR250 once derestricted (unless you buy one that is already derestricted of course).

Having said that, if I were to do it all again, and I was working full time, I'd buy another RGV250.

[vamr]

I'm preferably looking at bikes that have done less than 30,000kms and have up to $5500 to spend.
Thanks

Pipe dream for bikes of that age. Don't be surprised if the 2xxxx reading spedo starts going out of sink as the Kms pile on.

Subsequently, I'll let my delicious rgv go for 5.5k. It had a rebuilt (top and bottom) 4.7k km ago, still has 32mm carbs but an unrestricted sapc.
I've been thrashing it well and proper, just as you're meant to.

[Elise]

ZZR's are stable and learner friendly. They handle similarly to the larger bikes so you dont have to learn everything again when you get your bigger bike. However, if its fastness your after, then ZZR isnt for you

[RSrider]

Thanks for the quick replies.

I'll be honest. The look of the bike is a big point for me, but in saying that I'm not going to buy a bike that looks good but runs like a sack of crap.

The GSF250 isn't really my kinda bike, the ZZR looks alright, so might look into one of them as well. What are the hyosung's like? I've heard good and bad things about them.

At the moment i'm heading in the NSR250 or RGV250 direction.

[MSTRS:Me]

At the moment i'm heading in the NSR250 or RGV250 direction.

I wouldn't. They are high maintenance, thoroughbred racehorses and often end in tears. Get yourself a 4cyl 4stroke like a ZXR, CBR, Bandit, Hornet, Zeal.
Bear in mind that as a learner you have a heightened chance of dropping your pride and joy, and faired bikes can cost buckets to repair.
Whatever, shop around and get a proper check done on any likely prospects.

[owner]

my 2c. if you have 5500 already. wait it out. why buy a 18 year old 45 hp wanna be race bike that has had the life beat out it. When $8000 would get you a real nice 2000+ bike with plenty power and looks. but hey. to each his own

[RSrider]

$5500 is stretching it. I dont actually have $5500 in my bank account. I have around $3000 in savings. The rest will be a top up on my current loan. Also I don't really want to spend anymore than that on a bike.

How do the ZXR250's compare with the RGV and NSR? I also notice the Hyosung's are quite cheap for the fact that most of them are late model? Is there a reason for this?

[carbacca]

I also notice the Hyosung's are quite cheap for the fact that most of them are late model? Is there a reason for this?

the fact that they still actually make them is probably why. lot of 250's just arent made anymore, like zxr250, nsr250, gsxr250, zzr250 etc. the only brand new 250s you can get (off the top of my head) are the VTR250, CBF250, GT250/R, GN250, GPX250

the hyosung GT250 engine is very newbie friendly, plenty of torque from low down so youre not constantly ringing the crap out of it. i can putt-putt along at 40-50k on 5th gear quite happily and its cheap on gas, massive tank and has heaps of range

but knowing what i know now....i hindsight i wouldve gone for the GT250 naked

[Rosie]

$5500 is stretching it. I dont actually have $5500 in my bank account. I have around $3000 in savings. The rest will be a top up on my current loan. Also I don't really want to spend anymore than that on a bike.

Remember that if you don't already have all your protective gear, you'll need to budget for that as well.

[imdying]

Subsequently, I'll let my delicious rgv go for 5.5k. It had a rebuilt (top and bottom) 4.7k km ago, still has 32mm carbs but an unrestricted sapc.

Buy this. It's exactly what you want... musings on the rgv250.co.uk site indicate that the 32mm carbs aren't really that much of a restriction, certainly the unrestricted SAPC is definitely a good thing.

How do the ZXR250's compare with the RGV and NSR?

They don't. The RGV will eat them alive.

They drink petrol and 2 stroke oil though, so long as you don't neglect it, it'll give you bugger all trouble, and they're dead easy to work on anyway.

[owner]

2002 fxr150??, boots gloves helmet

[MSTRS:Me]

How do the ZXR250's compare with the RGV and NSR?

Who cares? Mostly, as others have said, they have already had a hard life. Granted 2 strokes are easier to work on yourself, but they can get very expensive to rebuild and will need that treatment way more often than a 4 stroke (multi or otherwise).
Anyway, faster is subjective....the skill of the rider is much more important. Even with greater acceleration, A to B in a straight line, the rider must still know what to do to get the best out of their steed. Leave the dragging between lights to the dickhead boi-racers. Us bikers are above that sort of nonsense.