Learner bike

[ZK-Awesome]

Righto I've been biking for about a year, done the scooter thing for 6 months and had the a100 for 6 months, it's been good and I'm definitely glad I made small steps instead of getting a 250 straight away (cos I'm pretty small) - which is all well and good, but now it's 250 time

From test-riding so far I have concluded: Honda CBX250rs and Kawasaki Ninja are the sort of bike for me.

No for me is the Gn250 or the Suzuki Bandit (don't like inline-4's, yeah I'm a pussy)

So basically I want a bike like the Ninja or the CBX250RS, both brought a smile to my dial and at the same time do the city riding I want. I'm definitely after a 4-stroke this time around. So now the challenge is finding a bike like these, less than $2200, that's reasonably close to Nelson (can do marlborough, canterbury, and probably wellington), and requires little if any work done on it.

So... congratulations if you read all that, is there anything out there??

[Willdat?]

I have a 1988 Honda GL145 if you want to continue with small steps! Otherwise I haven't seen anything in Nelson in your price range, good luck

[pyrocam]

my bike is under your budget. it is in auckland but since youve got a spare couple hundy you can have it sent down
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh....php?p=1881684

[ZK-Awesome]

Cheers Pyrocam but I've had my share of 2-strokeyness, it's time to go to a 4-stroke I think.

Still looking everyone - any GB250's, GPX250's, even FXR's..?

[samgab]

Cheers Pyrocam but I've had my share of 2-strokeyness, it's time to go to a 4-stroke I think.

Still looking everyone - any GB250's, GPX250's, even FXR's..?

FXR150 is a really good next step, from personal experience

[ZK-Awesome]

Yep definitely considering an FXR - yours is looking good actually samgab! A bit far from home though

[Willdat?]

Got my restricted today, wow it's pretty simple, seeing as I already have my next bike I want to move the GL145 on, you're welcome to come take it for a ride and see if it's to your liking!

[ZK-Awesome]

Got my restricted today, wow it's pretty simple, seeing as I already have my next bike I want to move the GL145 on, you're welcome to come take it for a ride and see if it's to your liking!

Really looking for a decent 250 I think.

What do people think about older liquid-cooled 250's -> reliable or do they go rotten in their old age? Looking at something like:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-197536108.htm

(Honda VT250f)

[Squiggles]

The old VT's had weak bottom ends

[samgab]

Really looking for a decent 250 I think.

What do people think about older liquid-cooled 250's -> reliable or do they go rotten in their old age? Looking at something like:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-197536108.htm

(Honda VT250f)

I'm no expert, but I don't think many people would have anything negative to say about that bike. It's Honda, so that's a good start. The VT is the predecessor to the current VTR, and has almost the same V-twin motor, which I've only heard good stuff about. I don't think you'd go far wrong buying a bike like that one.

[ZK-Awesome]

The old VT's had weak bottom ends

After doing some trawling through KB to confirm this, and yep you're probably right.

But speaking generally now, are older liquid-cooled japapese bikes (GPX...)to be avoided, or are they generally okay? I'm thinking air-cooled ones would perhaps be better (more simple, less to go wrong...) from a reliability point of view...?

My other alternative of course is to keep the 100 for the moment and wait til the new learner laws come in and get a cheap 400-500 thats on the list...

[ZK-Awesome]

Bump. I've revisited a Honda CBX250rs it's cheap but needs work doing, it's going with reg & wof though.

Though in the back of my mind is the saying, "only wealthy men can afford cheap bikes". I am considering keeping the 100 for the moment and either getting a 400/500 when the new learner laws come in, or saving for something a bit more modern, like a VTR.

[samgab]

Bump. I've revisited a Honda CBX250rs it's cheap but needs work doing, it's going with reg & wof though.

Though in the back of my mind is the saying, "only wealthy men can afford cheap bikes". I am considering keeping the 100 for the moment and either getting a 400/500 when the new learner laws come in, or saving for something a bit more modern, like a VTR.

I just went from a 150 to a VTR250, and so far I'm loving it. I'd say it's a really good step up. It's forgiving if you don't get everything right, and it has good torque from low revs for a 250. Fun to ride.

[v8s&2wheels]

Sort of out of your range but if you can afford more.. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...php?&p=1896517

Well looked after bike just unfortunate about previous owners dropping it.

[ZK-Awesome]

Sort of out of your range but if you can afford more.. http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...php?&p=1896517

Well looked after bike just unfortunate about previous owners dropping it.

Cheers, but looking for something a bit more commutey.

Unfortunately there aren't that many bikes for sale that I like and are closeby. If this one were closer I'd be in there.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/List...x?id=198398381