Thinking of going for a Hyo GT250N. Interested in the pros and cons from Hyo owners

[CookMySock]

Still not convinced on the second hand argument, though.

One look at my daughters' 2003 Comet will persuade you. It has about 11,000kms on it, and you can eat of any part of it. Nothing to do on it but ride it.

Steve

[ckai]

To be honest, I always had a chuckle when people would compare how fast their learner bikes were. Shit, learn how to carve up corners and piss 600's off Especially if it's on a Hyobag haha

I had a '08 GT250R. I thought it was a brilliant bike to learn on. Big bike size which is what I wanted. Got me used to my Daytona and I appreciated the better kit on the Daytona more. I'm not bagging the quality of the hyosung. The price was a big selling point for me. I just had a dash issue which was replaced but it didn't actually bother me that much. The '10's are meant to be better all round for similar money.

A mate for slaughter bigger bikes on his stock GT250R. Rider ability ah? There was the standard ribbing that you expect but they appreciated the bike and the rider. He didn't have any problems with his bike. Another mate had shit loads of dash problems (08 as well) and hated his. But he thrashed the crap out of it and didn't really care for it, so I suppose that could say something.

[Skuzzlebutt]

Hiya mate. I own a 2008 Hyosung Comet, the GT250 you're thinking about.

I bought it new a year ago in a run out sale for $5990 and love it. It's the only bike I've ever owned so don't have much to compare it too in terms of performance or handling, but I couldn't be happier.

I love the sound (standard exhaust still), it's a full size bike which fits my 6-3 / 110kg frame just right and it has no trouble hauling me along the motorway at 110kph, it even has some left over for passing at that speed. DB is right about the neutral thing (at least on my 2008 model anyway), but you can improve it with a little fine tuning of the clutch cable I found.

So far I've put 19,000km on it commuting back and forth to the city each day. I service it regulalry and have done a couple of oil changes myself. Here's what I've had to do to it so far:

New chain and sprockets at 12,000km (bit of a bummer, but I was prepared to replace some consumables like this given the low price)
New starter motor (replaced under warranty)
New clutch cable (snapped at 17,000km, replaced it myself, cost $49 and took 30 minutes)

The factory fitted Shinko tyres that some on KB love to hate on are just fine. I'm a conservative rider (but not a nana, I like to get a decent lean on through roundabouts :-) but I've never had any trouble. They still have plenty of tread left too after 19,000km.

It's also great on gas. I get at least 420km out of each tank which cost between $24-$29 to fill up.

It's a great commuter that I plan to hang on to for as long as I have to commute 50km each way to get to work.

And lastly, the Hyosung importer have set up a retail shop in Takapuna, I stopped in there the other night to have a look at the new 2010 EFi version you're considering and it looks great. I plan to head in there to have a ride of some of the other Hyos to see how it compares my little trooper :-)

Bottom line....if you don't plan on thrashing the thing and dropping the clutch at every set of traffic lights, service it regularly, you'll be more than happy on the GT250. Nothing has ever fallen off it either (including me...touch wood).

[BiK3RChiK]

Hi guys. Did either of you have any of the issues I mentioned earlier: clutch cable/side stand/peg vibrations? Or any others for that matter?

I did about 17,000 km's on the GT250 R. It had a side-stand switch problem which was replaced under warranty. We haven't replaced any clutch cables that I'm aware of, and I don't have any peg vibration issues. I've probably done about 5,000 km's on the 650 Comet. The only other thing on the GT-R was it would cut out in the cold on long trips, but after pulling up on the side of the road, it would start again straight away, leaving me to think that it was the fuel tank vacuuming down. We did the tank gasket mod on it, but it didn't seem to make much difference. Since it happened so rarely though, we kind of left it.

We service our bikes regularly and take good care of them, and I think that can make a world of difference.

Also, there are other Hyo 650's out there, just not as many as there are 250's and they look so similar that when you see them, you wouldn't recognise it's a 650 unless you looked closely.

All the best choosing... That can be half the fun

[CookMySock]

there are other Hyo 650's out there, just not as many as there are 250's and they look so similar that when you see them, you wouldn't recognise it's a 650 unless you looked closely.

Or else if it has an unbaffled shorty screaming demon on it - then you will know.

Steve


Steve

[Racey Rider]

Front end is very dodgy..... shakes it's head VERY easily.

I've done about 1200km on the GT-r pushing it hard on country roads and race track. Thought the forks are a bit spongy std, only once have I had any shake out of it, (and that was when I was coming back onto the track.... from the grass...... at speed..... )

[CookMySock]

Had one headshake from the 650R.. was doing about 140 in a mildly tight sweeper and there was a little rise that caused the forks to extend right out.. bars did about three quite violent cycles and then it was gone. It never did it again. Was probably the worn tyres. Not amusing.

Steve

[Scorp]

Big thanks to everyone for all the feedback...



I'd particularly like to thank Skuzzlebutt, OldSteve, Lurch, Dangerous, BikerChik and ckai for taking the time to post what you did. It's great for a beginner to get this kind of feedback, all your comments were really helpful. What a great site this is, and what a great bunch of people on it! Love the way the old hands (and learners too) are so willing to share their experiences and opinions. Oh, and thanks to meowmix and DarkLord too.

Hiya mate. I own a 2008 Hyosung Comet, the GT250 you're thinking about.......I bought it new a year ago in a run out sale for $5990 and love it. It's the only bike I've ever owned so don't have much to compare it too in terms of performance or handling, but I couldn't be happier.......... Bottom line....if you don't plan on thrashing the thing and dropping the clutch at every set of traffic lights, service it regularly, you'll be more than happy on the GT250. Nothing has ever fallen off it either (including me...touch wood).

I don't understand the argument around the Hyo being slow, if anything it's a benefit for the short duration that you are on your learners/restricted in that you are less likely to fuck yourself up by trying to race your 'mates' on their overpriced learner bikes...........The '07 Hyosung GT250R that I owned from almost new took me all around the north island and served me flawlessly for the 15,000kms that I needed it for prior to getting my 6F.

These two quotes pretty much sum up the kind of bike I'm after and the kind of rider attitude I share... I want a sound 250 for really "learning" the craft of motorcycling on, not for going anywhere fast.

I work from home and don't need it for commuting, so my sole focus is going to be on learning and practicing basic skills - slow maneouvering, clutch control, throttle control, countersteering - and turning those basics into second nature.

So thanks guys. My decision is pretty much made up. As soon as I buy...



I'll let you know how it all goes. Cheers!

[StoneY]

I took one round Taupo racetrack at the Red Baron Extravaganza....

Nice handling bike, but for gods sake dont hang out in the fast line youll get bowled (hehe)

nah mate go hard they look like a good learner machine for sure

[macdo]

Coming late to this but had an 06 Comet in the garage for about six months. Daily commuter for my son who is tall and it fits him. I play on it at weekends. He sat on a VTR and it was cramped for him, so size is probably the main reason he went for the Hyo. Only problem so far with the Hyo is finding neutral and a problem changing from 5th to 4th if you haven't completely engaged 5th. That was simply a matter of learning to make the upchange positively. Played with the clutch adjustment and neutral can still be elusive.
Runs on Pirellis which seem sticky enough for 250 speeds. The suspension isn't the most sophisticated in the world. Could use the ability to preload but it's fine for day to day and learning. I suspect it's going to stay as a cheap to run commuter for a few years yet.

[CookMySock]

Only problem so far with the Hyo is finding neutral and a problem changing from 5th to 4th if you haven't completely engaged 5th.

Put a thinner engine oil in it. The trans on these bikes don't like thick oil.

Steve

[macdo]

Put a thinner engine oil in it. The trans on these bikes don't like thick oil.

Steve

Currently 10w-40 as per the book. How does the engine get by on thinner oil? I'd rather cope w neutral hunting than speed up engine wear.

[CookMySock]

Currently 10w-40 as per the book. How does the engine get by on thinner oil? I'd rather cope w neutral hunting than speed up engine wear.

Try one of the synthetics or maybe a 10W30. It does free up a bit once you get some km's on the bike.

Steve

[Scorp]

Well... I said I'd report back about this, and I'm pleased to say that I'm now the proud owner of a shiny black new Hyo GT250N



Thanks to everyone for their advice, especially Old Steve

And a special thanks to Dave & Trish at Bay City Motorcycles, Tauranga.

[Wannabiker]

Nice bike. I had the 250R. Bags of fun and great learner bike....with amazing fuel economy and a huge gas tank.... Upper Hutt to Napier on a tankfull with plenty left for running around.Regularly took mine to Hamilton and back, and around the south island. Never missed a beat. Replaced the chain at 10K and clutch cable at 15K...which seems to ring true with some other's experiences. Just fit a decent qiality chain when it comes time to replace it, and you should be sweet. Mine had the hard-to-find neutral, but regular oil changes help.