FXR vs CBR

[vtech]

Heh, can't make my mind up. Both models are 150cc

Pros and cons of both bikes? Which would you prefer? Also found out about the KR and RG but both are 2-stroke, so would probably require more attention and i just want something thats cheap, easy to run and hassle free to get me into the city really.

Your thoughts would be appreciated,
cheers

[Ragingrob]

FXR I found rather uncomfortable and didn't know if I'd ever be able to have babies, also the mirrors are terrible. It is very easy to manoeuvre though and quite fun.

CBR I've never seen a 150 but you should just get a 250 anyway cause you'll grow out of a 150 way too quick!

[Vacarious]

cbr150 are crap on the open road, can barely pull 120 and are unstable.. but what 150cc is?

250 is the way to go, you will get used to the power as everyone does and have enough power when you are confident enough.

gn250 are excellent for around town just as long as you dont go too far out of town.

regarding the 2-strokes, they are dangerous machines even the 150s.
hit the power band for the first time is a whole new feeling but getting it around a corner can be fatal. too much maintanance and petrol prices nowadays wont be good for your pocket.

anyway thats what i think

[wildpudding]

Had an FXR as my first bike and would recommend it. Very very cheap to run, servicing is simple if needed, and they go pretty good, even better if you fit some decent tyres. Fast enough to ride on the open road no problems (I didn't follow the 70K speed limit while on my L). Not really suitable for anyone bigger than a normal size person.

Had a few issues with mine, advice for you is don't get overproactive with the servicing, ie if it isn't broken dont fix it!

Stefan

[Nagash]

Never heard of a CBR 150... Though after google imaging it, it looks nice! (below)

FXR 150's are alright, Sinister took his all the way to Cape Reinga and back. I have a FX 125 which I find to be a pretty amazing little bike.

I would recommend a 250, if you're worried about power honestly don't be. 250's have very little in 'em. But if you are dead set on a 150 I would go for.. the CBR 150. Cause it looks pretty dead sexy, though I can't imagine it'll be cheap.

[Ragingrob]

I would worry about not having many parts around for the CBR150, doesn't seem to be many of them in NZ at all... FXRs and GNs are great starter bikes, just know that you will probably grow outta them a lot faster than you think! Give it a few months and you'll be wanting to step up to the biggies already!

[Meekey_Mouse]

cbr150 are crap on the open road, can barely pull 120 and are unstable.. but what 150cc is?

250 is the way to go, you will get used to the power as everyone does and have enough power when you are confident enough.

gn250 are excellent for around town just as long as you dont go too far out of town.

regarding the 2-strokes, they are dangerous machines even the 150s.
hit the power band for the first time is a whole new feeling but getting it around a corner can be fatal. too much maintanance and petrol prices nowadays wont be good for your pocket.

anyway thats what i think

Dangerous Rofl... Have you ever ridden an RG150? The power band is very tame... Unless you pull the clutch in, give the throttle hell and drop the clutch... Which is a bad thing for any no0b!
Sure if it's your first time on a 2-stroke it might take you a day to get used to the powerband, but after that you'll be sweet

They are pretty good on maintenance as well, just like any bike... You just have to buy a good on at the start. At least with 2-strokes if you don't, then it's cheaper to replace engine parts and there isn't a whole lot to the engines.

I do agree that a 250 is the way to go, but sadly many are overpriced now days. Here's hoping the new laws will change this a bit, but at the same time... Am I correct in that the new laws are dropping ZXR250 and CBR250's?

[Wiki Drifter]

For a first bike, I'd go for the FXR, its alot cheaper. I've ridden a CBR150, the vibrations from the handle bars are pretty intense at >100km/h, like putting your hands on a washing machine during spin cycle, they get pretty numb after 10 minutes.

[90s]

Dangerous Rofl... Have you ever ridden an RG150? The power band is very tame...

Have you ever ridden an RG150? Above 8k they are anything but tame, and they are faster than the 250s mentioned here. I could outdrag CBR250s up to a point on mine, although it was very very close.

RGs make excellent commuters. I couldn't stand a gutless bike that had a theorectical top whack of just over 100. As much as I like the look of voltys and a few other starter 250s unless you can have plenty of power of reserve at 100kph on the motorway I would look elsewhere if your journey contains motorway riding.

Ginny's etc are good little bikes, but I would either invest in a 250 I would be happier with long-term (bearing in mind the upcoming law changes) or get a 2T 150 that is faster, cheaper and just as reliable, and for which demand will stay strong due to the bucket racer market.

[90s]

Never heard of a CBR 150... Though after google imaging it, it looks nice! (below)

FXR 150's are alright, Sinister took his all the way to Cape Reinga and back. I have a FX 125 which I find to be a pretty amazing little bike.

I would recommend a 250, if you're worried about power honestly don't be. 250's have very little in 'em. But if you are dead set on a 150 I would go for.. the CBR 150. Cause it looks pretty dead sexy, though I can't imagine it'll be cheap.

Oh, I posted a while back I saw one of these recently on Lorne St. In the flesh it had a super weedy undernourished look, and was about as wide as a coathanger. None of that RG/KR "real bike" look.

Apprillia 50ccs look more convincing.

But as it is really just the CBR125 (in the same way the UK has the RG125) it is an OK starter bike ...

[xwhatsit]

about as wide as a coathanger.

After seeing one in real life I thought that was its strong point

Narrow bikes are hot

[phoenixgtr]

I travelled over 25,000kms on my FXR in the 16 months I had it. The longest trip I did in 1 day was approx. 500kms. All this crap about them being gutless is just people not knowing what they're talking about. Top speed is around 130kph, however, but they'll sit on 100 till the cows come home and they're soooo much fun on the corners. Riding an FXR is about learning to get everything you can out of the bike.

In saying that if I were you I'd look at a 250. Something like a bandit would be really good (my fiance has a bandit and it's a hoot to ride).

I wouldn't bother with a CBR150. They're ridiculously over-priced at over $5k and (I'm assuming), very similar to an FXR.

[90s]

I travelled over 25,000kms on my FXR in the 16 months I had it. The longest trip I did in 1 day was approx. 500kms. All this crap about them being gutless is just people not knowing what they're talking about.

Not a single post on this thread says that FXRs are gutless.

There is one about the mirrors being bad, somebody found them uncomfortable, I think that GNs & Volty's are too slow for habbitual motorway commuting etc.

Overall the FXR is a nice bike and adequate to learn on. The question is what would you recommend if you had the choice?
Personally as I posted if I was looking cheap I would go the RG route - it is a much superior bike to the FXR. But then again if you can afford a fair 250 such as a GSX250 I would get that.
Rather the FXR though at $2k than a CBR150 at $5k.

[Capinure]

Theres a few cheap GSX-R250 on trademe , not quite as expensive as the ZXR's and CBRs and only a tad slower.

But you want something hassle-free for around town..I'd recommend the GN250 it will never fail you.

[fergie]

go for the honda, it's much easier to say "cbr" than "gsxr"