Choosing a bike - Bandit vs. Hornet?

[headlesschicken]

Hi guys just got my learner licence and looking for some advice
Took a 95 bandit 250 for a test ride within an hour of getting it - what a rush!
Seemed in reasonable condition, no smoke etc and jeez its quick. Only thing i noticed was a small clunk twice during the ride when upshifting just idling along. Have been told this is just a result of age. The bike is 6k from a dealership in chch and has done 17000k. Not sure if i should post a link?

So i went into casbolts honda who had a brand new cbf250 for 5495...what gives? Can't test ride til next week as they haven't got one sorted out yet. I reckon it looks the part but don't have a clue about it.
Any reservations for either bike?

Im just over 6ft and 55kg
I want something thats reasonably fast that would be happy on the open road. Im open to ideas but these are what ive narrowed it down to and to be honest looks are a large factor for me. Oh and my budget is 6k.
Thanks in advance

[mowgli]

I've found the Hyosung GT250R to be a good bike on the open road. Just over seven new but 2nd hand bikes around down into the 4s and 5s. The V twin sounds much nicer than a single and vibes a bit less too. The Hyo has a pretty low seat position (I'm 5'7") but you should definitely test ride one if you can. My red one gets mistaken for a Ducati

[PirateJafa]

The clunk is just the sound of changing gear. It's just that when idling you hear it. :P

6k is a fair bit though - must be in real mint condition.

The Bandits are great bikes though - they'll happily keep up with any other 250 on the road.

[scracha]

So i went into casbolts honda who had a brand new cbf250 for 5495...what gives?

Greedy dealers and stupid people who get shiny bike syndrome and pay too much.

Im just over 6ft and 55kg
I want something thats reasonably fast that would be happy on the open road.

Matey's missus just got a brand new hyosung 250 (sans fairing...Comet I think). Think it was a bawhair under 6 grand. Scoot about on it for a year, relax with the warranty and then flog it for 5 grand. You can't go wrong really.

Pretty much any 4 stroke 250's gonna sit comfortably up to about 130kmph so you've no worries on the open road.

[Drew]

The Bandit sounds too pricey to me, and the brand new bike will come with warantee too, it would be my choice for sure. But I'm biased with owning a 900 Hornet.

[HornetBoy]

Go for the hornet mate ,i like em so much i brought the 900 version as soon as i got my license they are awesome.the 250cc hornet does 100kph+ easy mate and they hold their value incredibly good ,as far as im concerned the bandit and hornet are almost identical in power ive ridden both but i reckon the hornet feels more bigger and looks like a bigger cc bike (which is what alot of L-platers want )

[98tls]

There will be a demo of each........get both on seperate weekends and ride the wheels off em...thats what demos are for.If you like one then buy it,simple

[MaxCannon]

From what I read the CB250F is a single cylinder with carbs putting out 16kw / 20hp
Sounds an awful lot like a GN250

Obviously the Honda will be a more up to date design and probably better built - but $5.5K would buy you a slighty used GN - a bunch of good quality gear and plenty of change left over
To me the Honda looks like pretty poor value next to a Yamaha Scorpio

However all the above is kinda irrelevant as I'd recommend against all three of them.
Something with a just a bit more poke would be a better choice. For around $5K my pick would be a near new Hyosung or a slighter older VTR250

Don't forget that good quality gear will set you back around $1000

[xwhatsit]

Make sure you know what you are getting -- I'm seeing some confusion on Trademe lately between the CB250F and the CBF250. CBF250 is a gentle little single-cylinder communter; CB250F Hornet is a four-cylinder screamer.

Hornet would be a better alternative to the Bandit, as chicks dig Hondas. Must be that gay confidante thing.

[disenfranchised]

Im just over 6ft and 55kg
I want something thats reasonably fast that would be happy on the open road. Im open to ideas but these are what ive narrowed it down to and to be honest looks are a large factor for me. Oh and my budget is 6k.
Thanks in advance

Being over 6ft didn't the bandit feel really tiny?
I can recommend the Hyo....you should be able to find a good condition used one for around $5K (not from a dealer tho..greedy buggers)..but make sure it's an '05 or newer...the '03 models had numerous problems
Added bonus with the engine being a v-twin, is that there's plently of torque, and gear selection becoms less of an issue while you learn.

[PirateJafa]

Im just over 6ft and 55kg
I want something thats reasonably fast that would be happy on the open road. Im open to ideas but these are what ive narrowed it down to and to be honest looks are a large factor for me. Oh and my budget is 6k.
Thanks in advance

I'm just a tad under six foot and also 55kg.

The Bandit fits me fine, and is a excellent position for commuting as well as cruising.

It got me happily to license-losing speeds yesterday, and surprisingly quickly too.

You can probably guess what I recommend.

[headlesschicken]

Make sure you know what you are getting -- I'm seeing some confusion on Trademe lately between the CB250F and the CBF250. CBF250 is a gentle little single-cylinder communter; CB250F Hornet is a four-cylinder screamer.

Hornet would be a better alternative to the Bandit, as chicks dig Hondas. Must be that gay confidante thing.

I'm confused....
http://www.motorcycletrader.co.nz/Us...item=6484&sid=

[headlesschicken]

there's fine examples of all the bikes recommended but none in chch
i'll test ride a gt250r but it really is out of my price range for a new one

[oldguy]

most people I know who owned a bandit didn't have them long, most people I know who have a hornet, still have them, and are reluctant to part with them.

go the mighty Honda.

[McJim]

most people I know who owned a bandit didn't have them long, most people I know who have a hornet, still have them, and are reluctant to part with them.

go the mighty Honda.

Mind you - I know someone who prefers their Buell to their Honda!

Shame the Buell Blast isn't allowable as a learner (single cyl Buell - less than 40 ponies I believe).

I think Hornets and Bandits are much the same really as long as we are referring to the old 4 cylinder ones and not a sheep in wolf's clothing (Surely honda have not dubbed their single cyl CB250 a hornet - tell me it's not true!).

Base your decision on overall condition not mileage and they'll all be old coz no-one's made a 4 cyl 250 since about 1995.

Oh, and try a Kawasaki Balius too if you get the chance.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-134789024.htm

If you bought this it would leave you money in reserve for chains, tyres, leathers, helmet, boots, gloves, filters, oil and pretty much any other consumables.