Hornet VS VTR 250 VS Hyosung GT Comet

**greminn** · 5th December 2008, 15:16

Hi There,

Fianlly took the step and got my learners after much pushing from all my mates with much bigger bikes... So all new to this!

I am looking at getting my first bike and looking at:

Honda Hornet 250 (2001 or somthin) - $5800
Honda VTR 250 (2007) - $4500
Hyosung GT Comet (2006) - $4500

Ive looked at heaps of others and getting a bit sick of it acually... at this stage i just want a good bike for 9 months that will resell faily well. My budget is $4500-5000 so the hornet would be a bit of a streach. Im not skinny, about 103 kgs. Any suggestions would be good!

The two cheaper ones above are more in my price range but the hornet was a bit of a bigger bike....

Hi!

Simon

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 5th December 2008, 15:25

My other have loves the vtr250, and she has toured the lower south island on it just after she got her learners... and had luggage and all... I take it for a blat up the road every so often... (and I am a 100kgs) it has no problem

Its been reliable and good bike to learn on as it has a nice solid frame, its not twitchy and is forgiving if you make a f@*k up

I can't comment to much on the Hyosung, only know one person that has owned it, then he moved to the 650... and now has a ninja.

Are you wanting to commute or do any touring or bit of both or none and just polish it in the garage

If the Hornet is out due to the finance and left with the other two I would go for the VTR

**vifferman** · 5th December 2008, 15:29

VTR for the win.

**greminn** · 5th December 2008, 15:33

Originally Posted by NighthawkNZ

Are you wanting to commute or do any touring or bit of both or none and just polish it in the garage

If the Hornet is out due to the finance and left witht he other two I would go for the VTR

Thanks for the reply, its not as a commut'a - just for fun. Weekend stuff and touring etc. I could stretch abit for the hornet, but id rather not. I suppose if it was "like a million times better" than the VTR then i would look at it... but i have to get gear as well.

Bike shops have SO many different opinions but in the end i want a good bike i can learn on, that i wont get board with in 3 months, that goes OK, that resells well when i get my R6

- so i can keep up with my mate and is MV 750 SR.

Simon

**Hadley** · 5th December 2008, 18:04

I got a Hyosung 06, had i t for almost 2 years now.
Suits me just fine.
I use mine mainly for getting to work and back but will easily handle a longish ride to Invercargill n back (400 km round trip).
I'd say that the Hornets are better built, but I am completly happy with my Hyosung.

**greminn** · 5th December 2008, 19:15

Originally Posted by Hadley

I got a Hyosung 06, had i t for almost 2 years now.
Suits me just fine.
I use mine mainly for getting to work and back but will easily handle a longish ride to Invercargill n back (400 km round trip).
I'd say that the Hornets are better built, but I am completly happy with my Hyosung.

So do you have the Commet GT?

**Hadley** · 5th December 2008, 19:35

Originally Posted by greminn

So do you have the Commet GT?

Yep. Gt250.
I Do like the nice fat rear tire of the hornet tho...

**Aa7** · 5th December 2008, 19:38

had a comet for commuting and the engine was sweet and everything was fine except the brakes where absolutely crap. It was written off when I got taken out on a round about and so I went back to a bigger bike for commuting but sometimes miss the upright seating and low centre of gravity. good bikes but not all that well put together....

flatmate has the Hobag GT250R and this thing stops way better with dual front discs rather than the single but still doesn't feel right when riding it while other GT2050R's I have ridden felt not so bad so maybe this is an option for you if you want a cheap hobag for your first bike

Ridden a VTR once only and it was kosher and seemed a good bike, while many people swear by the hornets and i like the look of them I haven't ridden one so cant comment. The Hornet 900 is nice to play on though and the smaller version can only be as much fun I gather

Best option is to take them all for a ride and see which one suits YOU best. None of them will have you keeping up with your mates bigger bikes but all will be suitable for learning on however if you cant stretch for the Hornet I'd go the VTR if it was me and had those choices. (Test the Hornet too and you may prefer that and find the extra money somewhere)

**l8cuma** · 6th December 2008, 05:17

Went through the same debacle 3 months ago when my wife and I decided venture out of our comfort zone and get our L-Plates along with a couple of bikes.

I got the ninja 250r but she was a bit short for one so we looked at all 3 models you are and here's what we found.

The Hyosung is actually a great bike and great to ride, has a big frame so if your taller it may feel more comfortable but unfortunately the build quality lets it down and when it comes time to sell it well it may be difficult to recoup the cost to get you into the R6.

The Hornet was a little big for my wife but that didn't stop me taking it for a ride. Its great to ride and feels big too. I found that it required reving to go anywhere (same as the ninja) and if you go to the link below on the tech spec it's not surprising as all the HP and torque are well up in the rev range compare to the VTR.

The VTR was only just the right size (she is 5'4 and 53kg) and what surprised me was how much torque (pull) it has which is great when your learning or if your a litlle heavier boned (I'm 6'2 and 100 kg). If you find yourself in the wrong gear (often) on any of the others you will need to change down, not so for the VTR(also has better power to weight ratio). Off the lights or getting onto the motorway I have to get up into the 10-12,000 rpm range to save face. Resale for the VTR looked better and you can get a newer model (No rev counter pre 2003).

Anyway hope this helps

http://www.motorbikes.be/en/Honda_VTR_250_2005.aspx
http://www.motorbikes.be/en/Honda_Hornet_250_2005.aspx

**RantyDave** · 6th December 2008, 09:58

I had a 2004 VTR for a while. It was great (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...32#post1617032). I sold it for $250 less than I paid and it took slightly over 24 hours to sell.

Get a VTR.

Dave

**Gubb** · 6th December 2008, 18:02

Buy the Honda.

They seem to last.

**The Pastor** · 6th December 2008, 18:37

hornet is by far the best bike, vtr is the 2nd best and alot cheaper.

go for either, you wont be disapointed

**davebullet** · 7th December 2008, 06:59

I haven't ridden any other bikes, so can't compare my VTR with others.

I like the VTR's torque curve. Very forgiving. Means you can be a lazy / inept rider and still accelerate out of trouble. Fuel economy is good on the VTR. I consistently get between 25km/l - 30km/l. The 30km/l usually with motorway riding.

We've done 3,000kms on the VTR (second hand) and it hasn't missed a beat.

Dave.

**greminn** · 7th December 2008, 07:18

Hi there! Thanks for the replies, a great help!

I'm off to look at the VTR this afternoon, so fingers crossed I will own my first bike before the end of the day... Now where is that helmet...

PS: to the person who PM'd me with the offer of the Hornet, the forum permissions won't let me reply as I'm too much of a learner. But as I stated at the start of the thread... I have a budget. Your bike is to high $$ for me sorry. Thanks anyway!

**greminn** · 7th December 2008, 18:25

Originally Posted by greminn

Hi there! Thanks for the replies, a great help!

I'm off to look at the VTR this afternoon, so fingers crossed I will own my first bike before the end of the day... Now where is that helmet...

PS: to the person who PM'd me with the offer of the Hornet, the forum permissions won't let me reply as I'm too much of a learner. But as I stated at the start of the thread... I have a budget. Your bike is to high $$ for me sorry. Thanks anyway!

Well i got the VTR250! Needs a good clean but goes well... pics to follow.