Getting a newer 250

[jrandom]

Certainly I feel it at the end of a 1000Km day but figure that is fatigue in general not just the lack of a screen.

I've always felt that the delicious tiredness one gets after a thousand or so klicks of punting down the highway behind nothing but a shiny round headlight and a proper set of handlebars with a nice smooth breeze flowing past is just part of the joy of motorcycling.

I wouldn't give it up for anything. Naked bikes ftw.

[Highlander]

I've always felt that the delicious tiredness one gets after a thousand or so klicks of punting down the highway behind nothing but a shiny round headlight and a proper set of handlebars with a nice smooth breeze flowing past is just part of the joy of motorcycling.

I wouldn't give it up for anything. Naked bikes ftw.

Tired as you are you have to wait for the glow to start dimming before surrendering to sleep - hopefully you get enough to repeat the exercise the next day.

[Timmay]

Thanks for all the relies so far. One of my mates has one of the ninja's , i might see if i can borrow it for an afternoon. Ithink it is an ex250 or a 250r, is there any differance? No comments yet about the ZXR250.... Might just have to go try one out i guess

So ruling out the screen we have the VTR, Bandit, Zeal, Balius, CB250 for looks the vtr must win but the rest appear to have inline fours which I assume are de-tuned motors from the ZXR, GSX, FZR and CBR?

[jrandom]

So ruling out the screen we have the VTR, Bandit, Zeal, Balius, CB250 for looks the vtr must win but the rest appear to have inline fours which I assume are de-tuned motors from the ZXR, GSX, FZR and CBR?

The CB250's a parallel twin, and much slower than the others you mention.

I advise against getting a decade-plus old 250cc inline four, but if you're prepared to muck about with it a lot to keep it running, your call. It's a gamble.

I still don't quite see why, if you're prepared to have something finickity, you wouldn't get a V-twin two stroke with twice the power, though... om nom nom nom!

[Highlander]

Might be a silly question but why restrict yourself to a 250?

Why not complete your licence (if it is not already a full licence) then spend the same money on a bigger better bike that you are likely to be happy with for longer?

[Ragingrob]

Yeah how long 'till your full?? For $5,000 you could get a sweet 400 or 600.

[Timmay]

I have been commuting for 9 months on my learners so i have at least a year till i can get a bigger bike. Getting my restricted is top of the priorities after exams.

So if decade old is out for reliability issues then both the cbr and zxr are out. Leaving the more modern inline four and twin naked bikes.... post exams will be test ride season.

On a related note why is it that people looking at a bike on tardme send you texts saying they will give you $1000 CASH when the buy now is $1500. Do they think putting cash in capitals makes it more enticing?

[TomJ]

I have ridden my '07 gpx through learners to full and still have it after 3 months on full. I will get a bigger bike when cash allows. having said that the GPX is a great bike to ride with surprising power. I go out on rides with mates including one with a busa and keeping up at 110 cruising is no problem. There are second hand gpx's around which come into your budget. The new bike looks great but is not radically different anyway. good luck with exams and test rides!

[Unit:Me]

Ok so you've answered the 'restricted to 250' question. Dont touch the Bandit, in my opinion. You havent mentioned the Hyosung? Any reason for this? There are a couple of ladies that do our 6 weekly BOP ladies rides on Hyosung 250s, and they do just fine.

[Timmay]

My brother has a hyosung...I find it a bit big, and it has the same sort of power as my CBX.... despite being 22 years older...ummmm...errrrrr

[Ragingrob]

I don't think you have to rule out all 20 year old bikes... A bike's a bike and each one will be in a different condition etc. On KB you see some people with brand new bikes having to consistently get things fixed under warranty, whereas you see others who buy an older bike that never has a problem.

The cbr250rr is slightly bigger than the single r I think, and they're newer (well, less old), just depends how the bike's been treated etc.

[McJim]

Get an RG150 - it's a real little animal. If you're already able to handle a bike it will be a really rewarding ride.

[captain_andrey]

You can have my GT250R :P
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-183130077.htm

[CookMySock]

On KB you see some people with brand new bikes having to consistently get things fixed under warranty, whereas you see others who buy an older bike that never has a problem.

I think you exaggerate there. There are sometimes issues with all brand new bikes, and some older bikes are reliable, but I submit that modern bikes overall are much more reliable. Mine certainly is - its' first fault was the vacuum fuel tap, after 15,000km. The fault didnt stop the bike, it just had a tiny drip, and I rode it around for three weeks until I got completely sick of the petrol smell.

Cue the recent example on KB of a brand new BMW! Where the owner has rightfully had a total fucking gutsfull of the damn bike and its irritating and dangerous faults, and is returning it under the consumer gaurantees act. Even this supposedly top-marque bike is not immune.

Steve

[Timmay]

Blasting over the bridge this morning i wound the cbx up to a merry rate of knots and see I JRandom is correct about the screen, in fact i expect that some wind pushing on ones body probably helps to relieve wrist and back stress on longer rides. It is good to have the bike back after a week in the cage. I would still like to hear from some ZXR owners though, are these bigger than a cbr? and now of the naked sports which to go for? zeal, bandit, hornet, vtr?