Sports 250 that will have me entertained for ages

[Mr. Peanut]

I don't know, it's not overly expensive to run. It should be noted that the NSR doesn't suffer from most of the reliability issues of the other 2 stroke 250s (RGV, KR1, TZR etc)

Never failed on me, starts first kick (even when I left it for 2 weeks) just keep the oil and fuel topped up. Would be wasted as a commuter though.

I'd trust my simple, rebuilt stroker over any thrashed, 16 year old, 16 valve, 4 cylinder four carb 250


I'd say the best 250 out there at the moment is the Honda Hornet.

Detuned CBR250 engine ( so it's under stressed, and will last forever ) which is better than the Bandit, as its liquid cooled and has cam gears (instead of a cam chain, which often has to be replace along with the tensioner)

And you can pick up relatively late models, so things which often trouble the older 250 sports bikes (like carbs and electrics) aren't going to come up during your period of ownership.

No fairings to break when you drop it either.

[gijoe1313]

^^^ What he said! The little ol'Hornet will get you places and in style - bags of fun, reliable and definitely got that "it" factor...

But what do I know! I'm biased! Prob is ... you hardly ever see one for less than 5k!

[steved]

I'll use horsepower to give you an idea of what we are talking about comparatively.

GN250 - 20hp
GT250R - 29hp
VTR250 - 32hp
RG150 - 37hp
Spada - 43hp
ZXR/CBR/GSXR/FZR250 - 40-45hp (depends what previous owners have done to them)
NSR/RS/RGV250 - 55-60hp

The Spada is a great bike but I think you meant to say 33hp, not 43hp?

[yungatart]

That sounds good - cam chains are the worry with Spadas but not usually an issue until the kms are high.

Rookie - how come no bike?

Just done hXc's cam chains at about 45000 ks...it cost just over $500, which is actually pretty cheap. They can be up to $800 to do.

[yungatart]

The Spada is a great bike but I think you meant to say 33hp, not 43hp?

No...43 is right. Some of the earlier VT's possibly are in the low 30's but they aren't the same as the Spada.

[steved]

No...43 is right. Some of the earlier VT's possibly are in the low 30's but they aren't the same as the Spada.

43 bhp from a 1989 250cc V2 would be amazing. The modern Honda VTR250 only has 32 bhp. Every link I can find apart from bikez.com indicate a 33 bhp rating for the 1989 Honda Spada VT250.

http://www.wheatland.com.au/spada/info.htm

http://forums.kustompcs.co.uk/archiv...p/t-33811.html

[Mr. Peanut]

My arse dyno says they're lively enough.

[TKDSKIP]

I want something cheap but a sports 250 that will take me to wellington from Tauranga with no struggles on the motorway.

A Spada will do this easy, took mine aroud Coro loop and it was a blast. Only started to feel tired after the 400km mark but I am almost 6ft and only been riding a couple of months.
As for reliable, a low K Spada would be sweet but how many Ks has a 18 year old bike really done. I have seen them advertised with under 20000km which is hard to believe. There are heaps of referances to timing chains and occasional crank problem on this site but all bikes have there little issuses. They are cheap to buy and service apart from the chain which should be good for 45000km.
My Spada does make sweet power for a 250 twin, I have no power figures but I have had fun with mates on a ZZR and late model VTR and they both got cleaned up. If you want to have a go on a Spada pm me in a week or so and come around for a blast.

[Steve 555]

would be keen let me know thanks

[rookie]

Rookie - how come no bike?

I sold the zxr....i was getting a bit silly on it so i needed to take a break for a while...although i was smoking 600cc bikes which was a great feeling
Also rego and insurance was coming up so it seemed like a good time to have a break and save some money
I do miss the old girl.

[McJim]

43 bhp from a 1989 250cc V2 would be amazing. The modern Honda VTR250 only has 32 bhp. Every link I can find apart from bikez.com indicate a 33 bhp rating for the 1989 Honda Spada VT250.

My arse dyno says they're lively enough.

The Late model VTR250 has been dumbed down to meet with Japanese hp and emission legislation I think.

The Spada had (and here's a technical term coming up) Fuckloads more hp than the VTR250, 1 more gear and about 2,500 extra rpm before redline.

Cost too much to make s'why they only made them for 2 years - wait until hXc returns from frozen parts and he'll never shut up about his little phoenix Spada.

[gijoe1313]

Yah, I was looking seriously at the Spada for my first bike ... but then a little ol'hornet gave it the spanish archer!

[vamr]

Do yourself a favour and testride a 250 2t (rgv or nsr)... not necessarily buy but a nice 50km+ blat on open roads to know what the world will be missing.

[prvoke]

i just picked up an 89 CBR250R with 32k on it for $2450. Cosmetically it could do with a paint but mechanically it seems very good. Cruises at 100km/9000rpm of an 18000 limit. WAYYY faster and more comfortable to ride than my old KR150. I think there are decent priced 250s that will do the job. you just have to wait to find them

[MSTRS:Me]

43 bhp from a 1989 250cc V2 would be amazing. The modern Honda VTR250 only has 32 bhp. Every link I can find apart from bikez.com indicate a 33 bhp rating for the 1989 Honda Spada VT250.

http://www.wheatland.com.au/spada/info.htm

http://forums.kustompcs.co.uk/archiv...p/t-33811.html

You didn't look at this one http://www.bikez.com/motorcycles/hon...a_obi_1989.php Ooops - just noticed the 'apart from'...
When talking about Honda VTs of any model, the Spada VT250K is the turboed, nos version with the chassis to match. They are not a slow pos. hXc's one was clocked at 172kph. They do not suffer from cam and bottom end failure like some of the other VTs do.
Aside: Why do people keep bagging them? The subject of Spadas has been done to death. In 250 terms, they are the shizz.