First bike advice....

[Coyote]

Is a CBR or ZXR a bit out of your league?

[jrandom]

Is a CBR or ZXR a bit out of your league?

Praps Mencius just doesn't like the sprotbike look, and prefers to ride something naked or cafe-racer-ish.

Rock on, I say. Great big sheets of shiny plastic all over a bike are an expensive replacement job just waiting to happen...

[Coyote]

Praps Mencius just doesn't like the sprotbike look, and prefers to ride something naked or cafe-racer-ish.

Rock on, I say. Great big sheets of shiny plastic all over a bike are an expensive replacement job just waiting to happen...

I've taken off the left and right fairings till I get some nylon bungs to stop them from getting damaged. Its something like 3000 for an orig set isn't it?

I'm saving up for some fibreglass ones from just fairings. 600 for the whole front set

[Mencius]

alarumba: Mencius would like to live to see thirty-two

jrandom: Got in in one about the riding anyway. Just while we're on a learning curve, not having to replace lots of plastic if we have an off is a good thing!
And I'm a bit of a sucker for naked bikes..........nothing wrong with the sport bike look but what can I say....I like nudity

Ang

[laRIKin]

I would also say a GN250/SR250 for your first bike.
Light, small and low and low tech and reliable and not to power full.
You will sell it easy and give you a good start in riding.

I'm not a fan 250cc 4 cylinder bikes, as they rev to the moon and cost
just as much a any other 4 cylinder bike to rebuild and as you rev them
they do need rebuilds sooner than a bigger motor so be careful if you buy one.

[marty]

most new (mid 90's on) 4 cyl 250s are pretty bomb proof - there's not much rebuilding going on really. if it's tidy and looks like it's been looked after, then it should last the distance of your L/R licence. one really can't go wrong with an across, cbr, zxr, gsx. my pick in your case would be the SRV - the SR is really only a GN... if the srv is the one at masterton motors, then it looks really tidy - almost GB500 esqe, but the v-twin would be the bomb. i'd be interested to see how it went compared to a VTR - i see masterton has one of each - have you ridden them back to back? if not, go and do it.

[marty]

i fanged a vtr250 for a friend without a licence. it dragged my 100kg lard arse over to raglan and back without really thinking about it. was happy being pushed, or just cruising. looks cool too - a *little* like a small naked duke i reckon. sounds cool too. a *little* like a small vtr i reckon

[NC]

How about and Aprillia RS250 Heh

[marty]

hmmmmm aprilia.......rs250........one like this you mean?

[NC]

hmmmmm aprilia.......rs250........one like this you mean?

Yes

I'd take one in the for one of those

[marty]

i HAD one. does that count?

[Mencius]

Marty: it is the one in Masterton. May have to suggest to my test rider that he takes the VTR for a spin, just'cos he can :-)

Ang

[jrandom]

VTR250s are very nice, but my Zeal is nicer.

[MSTRS:Me]

If you are not an accomplished rider, just buy a cheap, tidy shitter, nothing too peaky, until you are out of the restricted time. Go unfaired too.

[Coyote]

alarumba: Mencius would like to live to see thirty-two

I don't plan to live past 30

Anyway, The CBR250 ain't that fast. I'm already a bit thirsty for more power. I'm gonna stick to the 250 rule, unlike my uncle in law. He decided he could ride anything even though he hadn't even ridin a bike so he buys himself a ZXR700 and doesn't put his L plate on. Bastard managed to get away with it, and didn't kill himself even though he was constantly falling off whilst wearing nothing but a T-shirt and jeans.