Handling info? And bike comparison?

[brendonjw]

Hi everyone, short time lurker but now im getting serious, ill be looking at getting my first bike soon, and im more interesting in handling than outright speed. Are there any cheap mods in this department that make a difference on bikes(ie in my silvia strut bars and braces help a lot and are a easy cheap thing to do)

Ill be looking at a post 2000 bike (i just want something a bit newer although i see the CBR seems to be the bike to have but to me they seem to be pretty pricey for their age.)
Ill be looking for something with Fairings to help with wind protection and i just think they look a bit better so im being superficial so not really looking at a VTR

So from what iv seen on the forums that leaves me with a GPX, GSX, Hyo and maybe a ZX2R for choices, am i missing anything out?
Which of these are set up better for the handling side of things?

Please give me info, im being a sponge and taking everything in right now

[HDTboy]

I've got a mint little CBR for sale at a reasonable price. I can also get it set up to suit your weight with new springs, and a set of fork cartridge emulators if you wish, these will make the bike handle a bit more like a big sports bike

[vtec]

Sorry to hijack

Hey gav, when did you get a CBR250RR? Why aren't you keeping it? Great fun.

And yeah, the CBR250RR is the best option. It's noticeably better than the single R. Even with standard suspension setup and parts. It's a bike that I've kept after getting my full licence. Prefer it around town to the 600, and it feels safer on the open road. And I'm racing one in Australia at the moment.

Handlingwise, I haven't found a bike I prefer, and I've ridden a lot of different bikes. Only downside is the ground clearance to the footpegs, you just have to put your head and shoulders down further. The brakes are excellent, enough to do a stoppy at any speed. The suspension is soft, but for some reason I like soft suspension, you can modify it like HDTBoy (Gav) suggests, but I like it standard.

The Hyosungs are big, steel, heavy and underpowered, which in my opinion is everything is motorcycle is not meant to be. The VTR250 has less power, has no fairing and is very ordinary. The GPX250 even though they've improved the appearance with the latest version is still an early 1980's motorcycle, and isn't in the same class as the CBR and ZXR. The GSX250 is the same, has fairings is big heavy and underpowered (and ugly). The ZXR has a few more reliability issues than the CBR, and it's bigger although it may be slightly more powerful and has adjustable suspension. The CBR and ZXR just come down to personal preferance, and I'm not talking in terms of appearance.

[Meekey_Mouse]

And yeah, the CBR250RR is the best option. It's noticeably better than the single R. Even with standard suspension setup and parts. It's a bike that I've kept after getting my full licence. Prefer it around town to the 600, and it feels safer on the open road. And I'm racing one in Australia at the moment.

Handlingwise, I haven't found a bike I prefer, and I've ridden a lot of different bikes. Only downside is the ground clearance to the footpegs, you just have to put your head and shoulders down further. The brakes are excellent, enough to do a stoppy at any speed. The suspension is soft, but for some reason I like soft suspension, you can modify it like HDTBoy (Gav) suggests, but I like it standard.

The Hyosungs are big, steel, heavy and underpowered, which in my opinion is everything is motorcycle is not meant to be. The VTR250 has less power, has no fairing and is very ordinary. The GPX250 even though they've improved the appearance with the latest version is still an early 1980's motorcycle, and isn't in the same class as the CBR and ZXR. The GSX250 is the same, has fairings is big heavy and underpowered (and ugly). The ZXR has a few more reliability issues than the CBR, and it's bigger although it may be slightly more powerful and has adjustable suspension. The CBR and ZXR just come down to personal preferance, and I'm not talking in terms of appearance.

Yup, gotta agree with all that.
I haven't ridden a lot of bikes, but I have owned the Hyosung, ZXR and GSX 250's. Favorite by FAR was the ZXR.
Have you looked at the new ZXR ninjas that have come out? I've never ridden one so I don't know anything about them sorry.

The main thing is to test ride the bikes you're interested in as every one will have different preferences on handling

[brendonjw]

I went into a shop today to ask about the new Ninja vs the hyo, the salesman reckoned the Hyo out performs it in the handling due to the upside down front suspension, does this sound right to you guys? Both bikes are the same price and theres only 3kg diff in weight so i cant see that effecting handling too much there but theres a back order on the Ninja.

Im currently booking my handling test so i can get my learners, just looking at info for which direction i should be looking at when i get it and can do some test rides.

[vtec]

Upside down suspension definitely looks prettier, but I've heard that on the Hyo's the dampening is still shit. I think you have to test ride both, but if I had to have one I'd probably go the GPX just because it's japanese. Pretty sure the GPX will be faster too, it's definitely the pick out of the two. despite the fact the design is ancient.

[HDTboy]

I've had it just over a month Jason, bought it intending to sell it.

Brendon, when you've got your licence, come and take my 250 for a ride, you won't be disappointed

[CookMySock]

the Hyo out performs it [the ninja] in the handling due to the upside down front suspension, does this sound right to you guys?

I havent ridden a Ninja, but the GT250R does have a nice touchy steering setup if you want to learn to corner a sportbike. The problem with the GT250R is the pre-load is too high, that is, the springs in the suspension are too hard (particularly the rear) and the suspension spends all of its time at near-full extention - unless you weigh 135kg.

Ride both of them at 100k on a not-perfectly-smooth open road and you see the difference right away. AHEM, while you are test driving, don't push either of them into a corner at any speed if you are an absolute learner, or you will promptly become an ex-learner.

DB

[brendonjw]

Im assuming you can get replacement springs for the rear shocks? I weigh 70kgs so something a lil softer may be the go for me. Yeah ill definitly be going easy for any test drives and for the first few months too, so something beginner friendly but i'll be able to push once iv got a bit more experience under my belt (if there is a bike out there like that)

Thanks HDTBoy, i wasnt really thinking about a older bike to start with but ill deff give it some consideration

[BiK3RChiK]

I have the Hyo and I can confirm that all 60kg of me bounces around on the bumps! Rear suspension is way too hard. Front doesn't seem too bad.

[CookMySock]

Im assuming you can get replacement springs for the rear shocks? I weigh 70kgs so something a lil softer may be the go for me.

I am told there are replacement shocks, and replacement springs for the OEM shock. I have yet to prove this.

DB

[rphenix]

I have the Hyo and I can confirm that all 60kg of me bounces around on the bumps! Rear suspension is way too hard. Front doesn't seem too bad.

You can of course adjust it to suit your weight or when carrying a pillion...

[rphenix]

Upside down suspension definitely looks prettier, but I've heard that on the Hyo's the dampening is still shit. I think you have to test ride both, but if I had to have one I'd probably go the GPX just because it's japanese. Pretty sure the GPX will be faster too, it's definitely the pick out of the two. despite the fact the design is ancient.

Well I'm not that light so maybe that makes a difference, but I thought the GPX was slow as shit during the test drive and so did the wife without any comments from me to influence her opinion She ended up going for the GT. I'd highly recommend the GT over the GTR for a learner you can drop it while stationary without crying about the cost of a new fairing

As for Hyo suspension the rear shock could be better but then given the price I guess cant expect everything

[Zoolander]

the salesman reckoned the Hyo out performs it in the handling due to the upside down front suspension

Some dealers will say anything to get a sale dude. Upside down forks (USD as they're known) have the potential to be better than conventional due to several factors such as rigidity and reduced unsprung weight. There have already been multiple threads on this subject so i'm not going to go on about that.

The Hyosung, however, has cheap, basic forks, that are USD for showroom appeal only. There is no way they would outperform a good set of RWU's, for example those found on pre 2004 GSXR600's.

Personally I wouldn't even think about buying new suspension components yet, just learn to set up what you have and get comfortable on a bike first. Of course if you are 6 foot 5 with a taste for pies then standard suspension on a learner bike might not quite cut it, in which case it may be worth looking into potential upgrades.

[dave_a]

its a 250 ride it till you can get a real bike,then worry about handling.