Kawasaki EX250, Ninja 250 2009 or Hyosung gt250r 2009? Please help

[Gibbo89]

please im choosing between either of these bikes and cant decide. Please no ranting XD

how come u keep dabbling with 250's? your suzuki should be reliable. when was the last time you gave it a full service?

[Laurence]

no it was but ive sold it. And im dabbling in the 250s because i cant get insurance on anything higher and i cant get my full for another year

[not2slow]

Laurence,
I am going through the exact exercise you are doing, trying to decide between the ninja or Hyo (mainly the GT250R). I rode almost everything that red barron would let me jump on (VTR, Hornet, ninja (2009) and hyo (the 2008 GT250R) and also rode the 2010 hyo (both the GT and GTR). Only thing i didn't ride was the Bandit and GSX's
The 2010 GT250R and Ninja came out on top for me. I think the hyo was more fun (had a big smile on my dial after test ride) and had more low down grunt than the ninja. The hyo was easy to ride, well balanced, easy slow speed manoeuvres (e.g. U turns) similar to the ninja, both look really nice (well the ninja does look smaller and a bit slim, but that can be a positive during filtering). I'm 6"1 and both bikes felt comfortable to ride. For me its coming down to $$$, i would easily buy either bike if the price is right, however the 2010 Hyos are all in the $7-8k bracket so i'm looking at the 2009 Hyo.
Ride as many bikes as you can you and get the bike that:
1. you are comfortable on
2. can afford
3. like the looks of and
4. is not going to die in a hurry

For me the Ninja and Hyo tick these boxes!
2 cents from someone who know F-all about F-all.

[Neon]

I would absolutely, without question, get the Ninja. I have heard enough stories of things blowing up/falling off/crapping out on the Hyo to steer well clear, and hence my rationale is overall build quality. I have yet to see or hear of people having major problems with the Ninja. I'm not saying every Hyo is a dog, just that the risk of something going wrong appear greater on the balance of evidence.

[Laurence]

thanks not2slow, yeah i liked the 2010 hyo too it was nice and big. But as neon has said Ive only really heard good things about the ninja and although the hyo's are really nice i think the ninja comes out on top.

[sil3nt]

You can't beat this deal.
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...9-only-2800kms
Get in quick!

[not2slow]

thanks not2slow, yeah i liked the 2010 hyo too it was nice and big. But as neon has said Ive only really heard good things about the ninja and although the hyo's are really nice i think the ninja comes out on top.

Sweet as! hey found this link that you may find handy! Ninja 250 service manual. enjoy!
http://bikerpunks.com/media/other_fi...ce-Manual2.pdf

[not2slow]

Yo Laurence, did you find yourself that ninja yet?

[tigertim20]

please im choosing between either of these bikes and cant decide. Please no ranting XD

You are comparing two very similar bikes, bit 250cc, fully faired etc etc, the main differences are that I understand the hyosung to be closer to a larger capacity bike in physical size, and the hobag I think has a Vtwin (somebody will correct me if I am wrong) and the other a parallel twin I think. They are both a similar price, and bot hold their value quite evenly. The kwak is basically a remodelled version of the 20+ year old GPX, dont take that as a bad thing, there are still heaps of them around, which is testament to their solidness!. At the end of it all, they are so damn close, it will come down to a small choice. Ask yourself this, are aesthetics the most important? if so pick which you see as sexier. If function is more important, test ride both, and pick the comfier one, because as you get more and more confident on it, the rides you go on will get longer and longer and longer....

Either way both decent wee bikes. A lot of hobag haters on here, but pick what YOU prefer, and stick to it. let us know how you get on

[tigertim20]

I would absolutely, without question, get the Ninja. I have heard enough stories of things blowing up/falling off/crapping out on the Hyo to steer well clear, and hence my rationale is overall build quality. I have yet to see or hear of people having major problems with the Ninja. I'm not saying every Hyo is a dog, just that the risk of something going wrong appear greater on the balance of evidence.

I beleive there is a guy on here who has put well over 100,oookm on his over about 2 years or so with no issues. Hyosung had a bad rep at the beginning, but they are sorting themselves out.

[Neon]

I beleive there is a guy on here who has put well over 100,oookm on his over about 2 years or so with no issues. Hyosung had a bad rep at the beginning, but they are sorting themselves out.

Sigh. Once again, the thing with quality control is that the risk of something going bad is greater, not inevitable. Not every Hyo is going to self destruct. I'm sure there are many happy Hyo owners. I'm just saying if it was my money on the line I'd choose the option that gives me the absolute best chance of having a saleable bike at the end rather than an expensive paperweight. But maybe that's why I own Hondas...

Maybe Hyosung are improving.... and maybe not. I'm not a betting man so I'll stick with my choice of Ninja hands down.

[Old Steve]

There's a lot of Suzuki in the Hyosungs. 30 years ago, Suzuki had Hyosung make Suzukis in Korea. When Hyosung started making their own bikes, there seemed to be a lot of similarities between the GV250 and the Suzuki Intruder - I spent quite some time on Sunday discussing how hard it is to find neurtral if the engine is running, she rides a Suzuki Intruder and I have a Hyosung GV250, and how we often turn the engine off then turn the key back on in order to get the gearbox into neutral to leave the bike in neutral.

I'm happy with my 2006 Hyosung, have had to have some maintenance done (pair of sprockets and a new chain and fitted a ScottOiler at 13,000 km, had a new rear tyre fitted at 15,000 km, I replaced the front sprocket oil seal when I did a bit of maintenance last weekend - checked the plugs, checked chain tension, did an oil and filter change).

I wouldn't worry about which bike you chose, both are very close, just maintain it and keep riding it. 250s tend to keep their value because there is an endless stream of learners wanting to buy 2nd hand 250s. So you shouldn't lose any more money if you buy one or the other. The main thing is to buy the bike you feel more comfortable on.

[crash99]

Hey guys - interesting thread. My 18yr old son has been so wanting a bike and we finally got a 250Ninja for him a couple of weekends ago. What decided us was the looks (reckon it is streets ahead of the Hyo), general rep of Kwakkas, and that it was a good deal (only 7000ks). I rode it from Napier back to Paraparaumu - easy trip on it and was so impressed with the way the Ninja rode. Easy to just get up and go. Gets to 100 real good and plemty left to 120+ if you need to. Very smooth with little buzz. Overall very, very impressed - highly recommended.
And my son just compelted the Road Safe course today - Andrew the instructor agreed they were a great bike for a beginner, and riding it back from Welly to PP tonight I reckon I could almost live with it as a commute over the 900 Hornet! (OK, well not quite but you get my drift . . . ) Good luck!

[phiretrojan]

please im choosing between either of these bikes and cant decide. Please no ranting XD

ZXR250cc or a CBR250 1989, enough said =) and you'll see why youtube it if only you want more power, those bikes are gutless! and overpriced
AND honestly you'll thank me when you do get one!