VTR250. What do we think of them?

[JimO]

almost bought a hyosung gt250r yesterday but missed it and have since spotted a vtr that im considering for my boys, dont really know much about them its done 34000 ks and is a 98 model.....what say you

[McDuck]

Its a honda.

[Taz]

It doesn't matter what I think.......

[JimO]

Its a honda.

go to the top of the class

[LardEmbargo]

well I like mine anyway.

I think it's been a good bike for me to learn on - it seems pretty capable (so it hasn't got boring over time as my riding's marginally improved) as well as being forgiving of me screwing up every now and again. I find it nice and predictable - I'm sure it would lack "character" for someone used to something bigger but it's been great for a learner. It's not especially fast but seems happy at motorway speeds, and it's nimble around town. They seem fairly reliable (although obviously it's a 250 so there's the standard "been abused by clueless noobs" thing) Oh, apart from people have trouble with the underspecified regulator/rectifier Mr Honda saw fit to stick on them. (Mine just went last weekend, is how I know this.)

no rev counter on them pre-2002(ish) I think. they're pretty light and not particularly tall in the seat - I sat on a GT250 (naked version of the bike you missed out on) and thought it felt taller and heavier but I don't know if that's actually the case. I preferred the VTR cos I thought the Hyosung was too tall for me and the imposing tank made it feel too top heavy. People with longer legs might prefer the GT250(R) though so they don't feel like they're just sort of perched on top of the Honda.

I get maybe 250km out of a tankful so it's cheap to run too! Buy it, you know you want to.

[quickbuck]

Oh, apart from people have trouble with the underspecified regulator/rectifier Mr Honda saw fit to stick on them. (Mine just went last weekend, is how I know this.)

Caused by people running them with a flat battery. Most bikes will blow that, if that is the case.

no rev counter on them pre-2002(ish) I think

Not quite true.
The 1984 VT 250 had a rev counter, and thus the 1990 VTR incarnation of this bike did too.
During the 90's to now we import lots of Jap models that weren't released here. They come in all sorts of variants.... Some may not have rev counters, but not the mainstream bikes.

As McDuck said, it's a Honda.. So you can't go wrong really
(All in how you look at things).

As for what I think of them...
A great little bike for a learner, and also a cheap commuter.

I had fun when I borrowed my mates VT 250 Xeivis a while back. Not all the power in the world, but it could easily keep with the cagers.

[N1CK]

Yea the only thing about a 98 is that it doesnt have a rev counter.
And when your learning I think you really do need one.

[JimO]

Yea the only thing about a 98 is that it doesnt have a rev counter.
And when your learning I think you really do need one.

i never look at the rev counter on the raptor, and the gruesome twosome have been riding the Nz for 6 months so arnt complete noobs

[Radar]

I rode a VTR that I found on Trademe, then tested a Hyosung. The VTR was ok but could not compare with a Hyo. The GTR was fantastic but my smashed wrist could not take the lean so I bought a GT and am glad I passed up the VTR.

[nallac]

i was watching the auction you missed out on last night,
price sure did jump up at the end of auction..

[JimO]

i went and met the owner yesterday he is a chinese med student and seemed a ok guy at the end of the auction he started removing bids that were above mine at around $3720 but it shot up in the last couple of minutes to $4700 he doesnt like the bidders with no feedback and was verry wary of the winner i think

[RantyDave]

I have one and keep meaning to do a write up on it. The short version is: Good bike; Hugely easy to ride; Awesome handling round town but farking twitchy above about 110k. Not that I ride above 100k you understand. About 25k/litre.

Dave

[Insanity_rules]

Mines a little older in the pack being 88 and a VTZ but she's an awesome lil bike. Anywhere I go I have to ride a bit of distance and its never a problem. Punchy engine, they need a reasonably regular touch of up keep but no worse than any other. She has never let me down and has been a riot to own.

Rode GT250 and a VTR when buying, thought the GT was OK, good handling (just worn in tires) but a bit wooden in the brakes and got a little breathless up hill. The VTR had same riding position but lower seat, better brakes and a bit better top end performance. I missed out on that VTR but the next day met WASP, bought the VTZ off him, met you lot and the rest is history.

but farking twitchy above about 110k

What sort of tires are you running Dave? Mine doesn't get twitchy till 150 (In private conditions)

[Xaria]

Well, I like mine. Good milage, and gets me from A -B . Only thing I would like is a bit more passing power.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

almost bought a hyosung gt250r yesterday but missed it and have since spotted a vtr that im considering for my boys, dont really know much about them its done 34000 ks and is a 98 model.....what say you

The VTR is a great learners bike The other half has done 10,000kms done the whole bottom of the south island and been to many rallies with gear...on hers and it hasn't missed a beat.

The bike seems very forgiving and easy to ride. Personally its a great bike for what it is...