Ninja 250R vs Hyosung GT250R

[TKDSKIP]

Do all sports bikes fall out of favour after 10years or is it just 250s?

I would agree that most leaner riders are very tough on bikes and a 15year old CBR would have seen a few, but there are likely to be few that have never been thrashed as many leaners feel happy just potting along.

Most people new to biking are likely to really care for there new pride and joy as opposed to an older someone who buys a new bigger bike every couple years and rides them to the limit.

New bikes are a great option if you can afford to go that way, with peace of mind and other sensible stuff. But if you want a sports bike 250 then look no further then a CBR/ZXR none of the new bikes will touch them.

[James Deuce]

Do all sports bikes fall out of favour after 10years or is it just 250s?

I would agree that most leaner riders are very tough on bikes and a 15year old CBR would have seen a few, but there are likely to be few that have never been thrashed as many leaners feel happy just potting along.

Most people new to biking are likely to really care for there new pride and joy as opposed to an older someone who buys a new bigger bike every couple years and rides them to the limit.

New bikes are a great option if you can afford to go that way, with peace of mind and other sensible stuff. But if you want a sports bike 250 then look no further then a CBR/ZXR none of the new bikes will touch them.

I think you're missing the point a little.

I'm no bike mechanic, but I know when steering head bearings, shocks, suspension linkages, wheel bearings, swingarm bearings, cables, brake lines, seals and carbs are shot. I've seen one good ZXR 250 out of approx 20 Bandit 250s, GSXR250s, CBR250, both R and RR that unsuspecting suckers, I mean mates have bought, that haven't had issues needing serious money thrown at them. It simply isn't fair to sell bikes that were designed to last a couple of years to people who have no idea. I've seen it time and again.

Most people new to biking clean their bike a lot. I know I did when I started out. That isn't the same as maintaining a motorcycle correctly. Adjusting and lubing cables and controls? No idea. Top end rebuild every 20,000kms for a performance 2-stroke? No one told me. Valve adjustments every 6-8000kms for a typical small capacity four stroke? You what now?

It's not a case of them going out of favour, I simply can't understand why people would avoid a rusty mid-90s Celica like the plague and then go and buy an early-mid 90s 250 Sportsbike with a fresh paintjob and not a single moving part that is operating within tolerance, if it can still move at all, and every piece of alloy covered in white fur, except for the nicely polished frame spars.

[yod]

time for a makeover Jim? very fetching

[Mikkel]

I would agree that most leaner riders are very tough on bikes and a 15year old CBR would have seen a few, but there are likely to be few that have never been thrashed as many leaners feel happy just potting along.

Tui anyone? The average kiwi male getting into biking is just looking for something he can trash and his idea of DIY maintenance is based on WD40 and duct-tape.

A highly strung engine such as the 4-stroke 250s which has (pre-1993) a specific power output of 180 hps/l from a naturally aspirated, carburetted engine requires a great deal of mechanical sympathy if you want to have any hope of keeping it performing according to spec. (BTW - my 750 has a better fuel economy than my 250.)

Personally I was very lucky and picked up a mint '89 zxr250a with only 18,500 kms on the odo-meter for $5,000. Still, I threw at least a thousand bucks at it inside the first 2 months to replace wheel bearings, chain and sprockets, getting a leaky fork seal replaced, new tyres and brake pads. Then a couple of months later the cam-chain started making funny noises and another $650 was spent refurbishing the cam-chain and cam-chain tensioner - a faulty part caused slight mechanical destruction and required four valves to be replaced (at cost to the garage luckily) as well as a new cam-chain setup to be installed.
I've changed oil approximately every 2,500-3,000 kms and gone through 3 sets of new tyres. I've now done 13,500 kms on the bike and it goes better than ever. I really shouldn't sell it now, but I need the garage space

You add it all up - it hasn't been cheap to own and run since I insisted on doing it properly. That said I don't regret it at all! And I have honestly not seen one 250 sportsbike that could compare to mine...

Jim2 is right on the money, if you want something sporty-ish to learn on the new bikes are going to be the most economical option. On the other hand, if you can afford it, you might get more fun out of the older ones... Ultimately motorbiking and sensibility doesn't really go hand in hand IMHO.

[avgas]

I agree the Jawa 250 sport took alot of effort to maintain.....lol jokes
But have to agree with Mikkel a bit. Bike i had best fuel eco on was GB400 (22km/L) and worst was my RG150 (8km/L after the engine was worked).
The 955i was good on gas but shit on tyres (2-5,000ks).
FZ is a little in the middle of it all.
ZXR was too loud.
The other GB's wern't ridden enuf.
TS was fantastic except for the fact that it had sat still and rusted for 20 years before i got it.
Infact kid if you want the ultimate learner bike get a TS/ER - i cannot fault them except for looking ugly.

[NOMIS]

Tui anyone? The average kiwi male getting into biking is just looking for something he can trash and his idea of DIY maintenance is based on WD40 and duct-tape.

IMHO.

You forgot hammer and and pinchbar. ........

And the $6k i have worth in my garage

[Gubb]

You forgot hammer and and pinchbar. ........

And the $6k i have worth in my garage

I bet your cock is huuuuuuuuge.

[Ragingrob]

Picture this (for the 250 pessimists) -

1988 CBR250r, done 40,000km, fairings a little rough, bought for $2,700. 6 months and 14,000ks later the only thing that's caused problems and I've needed to replace was the original 1988 reg/rec for $180.

Bike runs strong with no mechanical problems noticed over the 14,000ks. General servicing I've replaced tyres, and chain and sprockets.

It's been maintained by the last owner and I have continued the maintenance... Dunno about the previous owners... But c'mon, these 250s are designed to be thrashed. An F1 car would die if you never revved it right up there. And when I say thrashed, I mean thrashed and serviced well.

[NOMIS]

Picture this (for the 250 pessimists) -

1988 CBR250r, done 40,000km, fairings a little rough, bought for $2,700. 6 months and 14,000ks later the only thing that's caused problems and I've needed to replace was the original 1988 reg/rec for $180.

Bike runs strong with no mechanical problems noticed over the 14,000ks. General servicing I've replaced tyres, and chain and sprockets.

It's been maintained by the last owner and I have continued the maintenance... Dunno about the previous owners... But c'mon, these 250s are designed to be thrashed. An F1 car would die if you never revved it right up there. And when I say thrashed, I mean thrashed and serviced well.

Because its a honda.

[NOMIS]

I bet your cock is huuuuuuuuge.

wow how did you guess? :-)

[James Deuce]

It's been maintained by the last owner and I have continued the maintenance... Dunno about the previous owners... But c'mon, these 250s are designed to be thrashed. An F1 car would die if you never revved it right up there. And when I say thrashed, I mean thrashed and serviced well.

They're actually designed to last a couple of years and be replaced with the next model. Don't get me wrong. If it's been looked after well and good. 90% of them haven't. If you want a really good 250 there are plenty of Hornet 250s popping up that are 2004-2006 and are around the $7-$8k mark.

[Candle]

id go with a cbr as i have one myself the zxrs just sound like your strangling a cat and the hyosungs just don't have the pick up but if you want my opinion get q two stroke for you first bike they teach you how to ride hard and to red line every change and then youl be ready for a cbr and youl acually ride it propertly cuz you l be used to thrashing it

[zeocen]

id go with a cbr as i have one myself the zxrs just sound like your strangling a cat and the hyosungs just don't have the pick up but if you want my opinion get q two stroke for you first bike they teach you how to ride hard and to red line every change and then youl be ready for a cbr and youl acually ride it propertly cuz you l be used to thrashing it

If this is the new generation, I'm so outta here lol ;(

[mtroskill]

Until reading this thread was seriously considering the GT250r as my first bike.....

Mt Eden Motor Cycles seemed to speak reasonably of it .. as far as a bike for a learner goes - and was pretty impressed with the advice they gave..seemed genuine.

What other options are there out there for someone who is 6'5?? (250R looks awesome but is too small).

Would prefer to stick with something that is no more than 3-5 years old if possible.

[Gubb]

What in this thread has put you off? I'm 6'4" and fit in the Hyo superbly.