A new Ninja or a 10-year-old Hornet?

**meatface** · 12th July 2008, 22:05

Originally Posted by Qkchk

Where abouts you sitting your BHS? Doing it with Riderskills?

BTW What ChocolateWheels says about the gear is true - Spend as much $$$ as you can afford on GOOD gear as this is the only thing saving your skin/bones/body from serious harm if you happen to come off. (Sorry not trying to scare, just being honest)

Yep, Riderskills. Handy-ish to where I live. I'd just been waiting for a day without thunderstorms!

Cool about the gear. I have been watching a few crashes on youtube to make sure I know what might happen....

**meatface** · 12th July 2008, 22:10

Originally Posted by ChocolateWheels

Yeah! I got my 1996 Hornet 250 for 4.4K, sure it's a bit dinged up but thats just means I can mod it

, do some searching and ask around on KB.

P.s Naked generally drops better than plastic coated bikes.

How many kms did it have on it? Someone was telling me that bike kms are like dog years.

10000km on a bike much more than 10000km on a car. So a bike with 35000 - 40000km is pretty well used? I suppose that is a massive generalisation of course...

I understand the dropped faired vs naked thing. Another thing on my rather long pros / cons list.

**meatface** · 12th July 2008, 22:12

Originally Posted by Qkchk

Blame it on the fuel prices - More people are learning to ride bikes (in order to save money on fuel) and since youre only allowed up to a 250, its a niche market. Its amazing how many people who havent ridden for years are now getting back into riding. The smaller bikes are also getting snapped up for commuters...

Yeah, I have a feeling fuel prices are a big reason. I mean...i'm one of those people!

**Choco** · 12th July 2008, 22:15

Originally Posted by meatface

And if you had the choice between a hornet and a ninja for the same price you'd choose the ninja?

I tried to find an old GPX to have a sit on but could never find one and no one had a new 08 Ninja either because everyone had bought them all!

I had a GN250 before I got my Hornet and decided to move up because I kinda needed a bigger bike. I wanted a bike that...
- could overtake (dont laugh)
- had some more grunt, so moving up to a 500 or something later on wouldnt be such a scare
- Actually fit me, I'm about 6 ft and i usually sat on the pillion seat of the GN, so a large bike was important.
- could go on long trips
- could teach me more about riding a sport(er) bike

The main factor for me buying the Hornet was it's size, I loved the fat tank and the riding position! But the bike I got WAS older than I wanted, but I fell in love so got it

The main thing is that YOUR ARE COMFORTABLE ON THE BIKE!!!

If someone chucked my 7k and told me to get a bike I would go for a (much) newer hornet personally. But I wouldn't really recommend it for a learner/new rider because the IL4's are not so friendly at lower speeds, but thats just my opinion

EDIT: My bike had just under 20,000km on it when I got it.

**Coyote** · 12th July 2008, 22:16

Buy the ninja, take the fairings off, put them aside. Run it as a naked, buy a single lamp for the front or whatever you want to make it look like you want it too. When it comes time to sell the bike as you upgrade to the next machine, put the fairings back on and it'll look mint.

Chances are, being new to bikes, you may drop it. I certainly did, a few times, still do, but I'm a muppet. If you're into faired (is that the word?) bikes I'd be saying to take the fairings off too.

**Choco** · 12th July 2008, 22:24

If your concerned about bike history/service history/false mileage then buy new

Sit on both bikes and see which one you prefer!

**gijoe1313** · 13th July 2008, 00:38

Ahh the mention of little ol'hornets makes my heart go pitter pat

Its been great to see the uptake of new riders on hornets in this forum!

And yes, the price of hornets now on the market is ridiculous! When I first got my one, it was only at 5.5k ... and now its shot up almost 1.5k in that time till now!

A brand new bike with a warranty makes good sense, but do give a little ol'hornet a sit test! I remember sitting on a whole lot of bikes and the first time I sat on a hornet (all the way out in the Coromandel!) I knew it was the bike for me!

PM sent with the usual spiel about hornets I give!

**BruceC** · 13th July 2008, 01:02

Stop procrastinating and buy the Ninja you know you want to. And when you have brought that go and buy lots of nice leather and a skid lid

**NOMIS** · 13th July 2008, 01:06

Originally Posted by slopster

The hornet will be faster, rev a lot higher and probably a bit thirstier. The ninja will have a warranty though.

$6500 is a ridiculous price for a hornet 250. You should be able to get one for half that. Also consider the suzuki bandit 250 its pretty similar to the hornet.

you must be tight if some one offered me less than $5500 id laugh... alot..
Must be a pretty shit hornet

**slopster** · 13th July 2008, 01:39

Originally Posted by NOMIS

you must be tight if some one offered me less than $5500 id laugh... alot..
Must be a pretty shit hornet

Well I brought a gsxr 250rr for $1200 and a zxr 250 for $1500. My mate brought a cbr 250 for $500 a couple of months ago. All in good mechanical condition but rough cosmetically. None had more then 35000km on them.

Plenty of bargains out there - just got to look for them.

**BruceC** · 13th July 2008, 09:48

In ten years the Hornet will be 20 years old. In 10 years the Ninja will be 10 years old. And I know you will still have it in ten years

**gijoe1313** · 13th July 2008, 10:04

Hehe and I hope mine will still be running then ... I keep what I collect, and I'm collecting all the Hornets, just a couple of 600s to get next!

And if it ain't still going by then? I'll be mounting it on the wall as 1:1 scale model of a nice little ol'hornet

**NOMIS** · 14th July 2008, 09:32

Originally Posted by slopster

Well I brought a gsxr 250rr for $1200 and a zxr 250 for $1500. My mate brought a cbr 250 for $500 a couple of months ago. All in good mechanical condition but rough cosmetically. None had more then 35000km on them.

Plenty of bargains out there - just got to look for them.

yeh well mines not rough in any aspect.. so yehh. actually a darnsite better than a brand new one of the floor .. mind you mod's dont put up the price of a bike