A learners bike of course, please help

[The road to mars]

Hi all!

My first post on this most excellent forum. I am a super newb. Had a wee ride on my mates wee suzuki 100cc and I just got to get my own bike now. Booking in basic handling and a learners test next week or two.

Would be great if you could tell me what you all think of the below for a learners bike on trademe. Want something stable and reasonably reliable on my student size budget. Thinking around $1000 to $2000 leaving me a bit spare for new helmut (which I've heard is critical) and gear.

I've spied a few on trademe in Christchurch where I'm located. Could knowledgable dudes give me there views on 'em? Or let me know where else I could pick a bike up from? Is it hard to get 'em shipped in from other regions? I'm not keen to buy without having a look at it.

Suzuki GSX250 1983
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=176067826

Yamaha SR250 1987
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=177058537

Yamaha Rs125z 1987
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=176496295

Thanks for reading any views appreciated!

[Slyer]

Hey man good luck with the bike hunt!
I just won my first one on an auction on Trademe for $1300.

[Bend-it]

Are they all (the bikes) younger than you?

I have no idea about bikes that old, I'm sorry...

But hey, wlecome to biking!!

[Bren]

okay, my views on these bikes....the best of the three you put up there has to be the gsx, and that one is in nice nic...29hp is a modest amount of power, enough to get you out of trouble, or into it, and a relatively basic engine...the gsx range has been around for a while, so they have proven themselves...

SR250 was yamahas shot at the GN250, was not as succesfull as the GN but nonetheless was a competent single...at only 20hp it would give you a top speed of i am guessing 140...again a basic engine...even more than the gsx...so mechanically would be easy to look after...not a bad bike but purely commuter class...

the other...personally i would not touch it...ningningningningninging two stroke



this one on tardme looks okay too...with honda reliability and gayness to boot!

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-176682875.htm

[McWild]

Oh man, can't believe this! Recently spent about 6 months looking, PRAYING for these kinds of deals, all across New Zealand lol. But oh well I'm there now.
Get the SR250, $1600 what a bargain. Doubt you'll see another deal like that on Tardme for a very long time, and from what I know SRs are fantastic, reliable bikes.
Good luck with your shopping!

[Radar]

Welcome to KB!

Looking at those bikes it seems you have a very tight budget. If you have to go cheap, be sure you get the bike checked out by a mechanic or at the very least get a friendly KB'er who knows what to look for. A cheap bike may wind up being expensive when it comes to repairs. Old bikes may not have parts so ring up your local bike shops and ask if the bike you want still has spare parts. A friend of mine had a 1989 250cc Honda Spada and was hit by a cage - needed a front wheel, brake assembly, and more, but getting replacement parts was a no go so he had to get a new bike. To make matters worse, he paid $3900 for the Spada only 6 months ago.

Do go for a 250, not a 150. A Scorpio might be OK, I think they are 225cc.

If the Trademe seller will not let you get it checked over by a bike mechanic (before you pay), then walk away - there are plenty other bikes to choose from.

Good luck and come back here to tell us what you have found.

[Griffin]

This is an option for you if you dont mind riding it home...
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-176521229.htm

Or even better - if you can get this at its reserve price and ride it home
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-176503416.htm

And if you dont mind paying a few hundred dollars for shipping - this is a nice looking first bike - sounds like it just needs a bit of mechanical attention to get it sorted but sure looks nice
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-176505848.htm

There are KB'rs all over the country who would be happy to have a look at the bikes for you (just offer up a case of their choice) best of luck with your hunt

[fatzx10r]

i had a we gsx 250 like that for my first bike, it went ok a bit on the heavy side though. but i had no end of problem's with the electric's on it, the bike shop even tried using part's off other bike's to cure it but could'nt. maybe i had a dud who's know's, but i would'nt recomend one of those after the prob's i had

[Subike]

I would go with the Yammy SR250.
I know im biased to yammys but
My reasons?
Christchurch is a flat city, the surrounding area is flat.
So? Well the SR250 has the highest seating position, so you can keep an eye of the fuckwits in the cages ahead of you.
The SR will not be strained climbing hills, like it would be in Welly or Dunners.
It is, as said, very similar to the GN250, the best learners bike ever, and spares are redily availabile if needed. just need to look in the right place.
Its not a Cop magnet, not fast enough to get you into trouble too quick.
The 125rz is a good bike, but for a first one the maintenance scedual would be not what you want. Unless you know how to ride them 2 strokers can die really easy. Im sure others will both agree to that and disagree
The Suzie is just too old.
There you go!
My opinion!

[FJRider]

I would go with the Yammy SR250.
I know im biased to yammys but
My reasons?
Christchurch is a flat city, the surrounding area is flat.
So? Well the SR250 has the highest seating position, so you can keep an eye of the fuckwits in the cages ahead of you.
The SR will not be strained climbing hills, like it would be in Welly or Dunners.
It is, as said, very similar to the GN250, the best learners bike ever, and spares are redily availabile if needed. just need to look in the right place.
Its not a Cop magnet, not fast enough to get you into trouble too quick.
The 125rz is a good bike, but for a first one the maintenance scedual would be not what you want. Unless you know how to ride them 2 strokers can die really easy. Im sure others will both agree to that and disagree
The Suzie is just too old.
There you go!
My opinion!

What he said... but what are those big lumpy things to the south east...???HILLS ... on the SR you may need to drop a few cogs, and give it heaps... but it will handle it ok. Not a bad bike to start with. Go Yamaha...

[T.W.R]

The GSX250 isn't a 83 model, it may have been 1st registered in 83 but it's definitely earlier 83 models had more rounded bodywork. They're a busy motor & for a 250 they're heavy in weight, easy on gas & will do about 140 top whack.

The SR250 was around before the GN250, very simple easy to live with motor directly taken from the XT/TT250 of the era, a fuel miser with no nasty traits a genuine 125-130 is about top whack.

The RS would be easy to learn on but you'd get complacent with it quickly, more of a around town commuter that would struggle out on the open road.

That VT250 I got that going for the present owner as they brought it in to work after being given it by a family friend (It had been parked up for a number of years without being used). It does go OK but has been down the road in years gone by. Would be the most competent bike of the bunch for a allrounder for a learner.

I'd keep looking for a better deal if I was you.

Welcome to the world of bikes & the madhouse aka KB

[The road to mars]

Thanks to all who have read & replied. Giving me some good ideas.

Having a look at the slow old sr250 soon, seeing as its close by. Though I am tempted by that rgv250, its probably a bit quicker than I need right now. How reliable are those 2 stroke v twins, and other 250 2 strokes?

Though also interested in the vt250's. Was it the Blenheim vt250 that you got going T.W.R? There's also another in chch. If its sound could be a good 1st stead. 'll probably mostly use it for around town and occasional open road/ port hills cruises. I'll be in no hurry to get up the hill on the sr250, that is why the vt250, perhaps the gsxr and gsx are tempting.

How do I get in touch with a local KBer to have a look at those out of town bikes?

Honda Vt 250 vs suzuki gsxr? V twin vs inline four? Any comments

[Bren]

VT mate...nuff said....someone mentioned that th GSX did have electrical problems....he is correct in that...they did have a weak system...the VT is just that much better looking and will perform better @35hp, and a 6 speed gearbox

[Wolfrider]

Don't go near the SR 250, they are a heap of crap, I had one of these as my first road bike, top speed was 95 going downhill! Add to this the consant oil leaks and breaking down, I was better off with my push bike! Your best bet is to get a suzuki GN 250 or a Honda CB 250, both have parts for africa and are very robust and can take a bit of punishment.

[T.W.R]

Though also interested in the vt250's. Was it the Blenheim vt250 that you got going T.W.R? There's also another in chch.

Nah the Christchurch based VT in the link that The Redneck posted is the one I'm referring to

It's a jap import (most likely via Pacific Motorcycles at the time), apparently was used for a couple of years then parked up.
Mechanically it's pretty good but cosmetically it isn't too flash, it's complete but has had a few bashes & like I said in the earlier post it has been down the road (there's a fair amount of gravel-rash on the R/H side in a couple of spots.

The young fella that has it is wanting to sell it to get an MX bike, he got given the bike by a family friend.