Getting a bike.. 250cc because the retarded qld government didn't implement LAMS like all of the other states bar WA.

im looking for a sports bike, but one that has some balls(relatively, being only 250cc).

ive pretty much decided to get a cbr250rr, since i think a 4cyl is the way to go, and is the most likely to keep me satisfied while i endure a year of 250cc pain.

anyone have a better suggestion on what bike fits into (or close) to these specs and that might be a better option?

If you feel like paying out the ass for 10+ year old bike then go for it.

If you are using it as a daily rider a 250 fully faired sports is probably not the best choice. Seating position is too aggressive especially if you are tall.

If you haven't given a though about naked sports 250's you should... cause
1) its only for a year
and
2) you get far more bike for your money

For the same money you spend you will get a far newer naked than an old faired sports thats probably been down the road a few times.

Fully faired sports:
Honda CBR250 R and RR
Kawasaki ZXR250
Suzuki GSXR250 (extremely uncommon and quite rare)
Yamaha FZR250 R and RR

Fully faired sports/tourers:
Kawasaki ZZR250
Kawasaki GPX250

Naked sports:
Honda VTR250
Honda VT250 (i think) Spada
Honda CB250F Hornet
Kawasaki ZX250 Balius (same motor as the zxr250)
Suzuki GSF250 Bandit
Yamaha FZX250 Zeal

Have you written a will ?

You should prolly have a clause where you dont wind up a vegetable with a colostomy bag.

I also hope you have Full Private Cover so my Taxes dont have to pay for you to be spoon fed liquid veges by a Nurse to stay alive

last edited by FaceMan at 00:35:51 16/Nov/08

Thanks to faceman for the input, i'm sure he hasnt heard ANYTHING along those lines before.

If its your 1st bike I would suggest sticking to a naked bike 1st. If you drop it its minimal damage. The Honda CB250 is a great little bike. Same with the 250 Bandit. Recently in some tight mountain sections I had to ride like a mad man to get away from a great rider on a 250 Bandit.

Also every thing Rubba suggested above is good advice.

last edited by BOHEMION at 12:00:29 16/Nov/08

last edited by BOHEMION at 12:31:06 16/Nov/08

The funny thing is one of my mates had a similar view on bikes.

Convinced him to come out and have a go on another mates wife's Virago 250 cruiser. In the end he didn't want to get off :P

Went out and booked his Q ride a week later and bought a bike.


If you've never ridden before you won't understand why we do it.
It is also not for everyone.

So it's your fault Mark! :P

I also hope you have Full Private Cover so my Taxes dont have to pay for you to be spoon fed liquid veges by a Nurse to stay alive

the new median strip barriers on the M1 and similar will prevent this happening. if you drop your bike on a left hand turn leathers, helmets or whatever won't help.

Insurance will hurt you with a full faired bike.

My Honda CBR600RR was around $1700 a year to insure, and that was cheap.

It was a 2006 model as well.

I just recently traded that in and bought a brand new 2008 Kawasaki Z750 which is semi naked. Insurance is now $700 a year...... go figure.

Also, having an R or RR after the model number, will jack up your insurance.

If you want something practical that is full faired, get a ZZR250, they are cheap to buy, cheap to run, and cheap to insure. CBR probably isnt the best first bike because you will go fast in a straight line and when the moment comes, forget how to corner at speed.

Eds is spot on. The only other bikes I'd recommend you look at are either the Kawasaki GPX250 (a bit old now though), and the GSX250F (Across) from Suzuki. Both good learner bikes that will still let you have some fun.

If your looking for a cheap new bike you cant go past the Hyosung GT250R they are not as dated as some of the grey bikes like cbr250, zx2rs... second hand ones only a couple of years old go for around 3 - 4 k

http://www.hyosung.com.au/Products/GT250R.html

do it

We recently got LAMS in Melbourne and and RS 125 and 250 have both been restricted.

go for a honda cbr125rr.

cheap to buy, cheap to run, and you wont be breaking the limits of whats possible with tyres like that :)

THE

FASTEST

ONE

YOU

CAN

GET

I suggest get a 2-Stroke 250cc.

Then get it modded with a Turbo.

What are you using it for, just the weekend or commuting as well? you dont want a 2-stroke with a powerband for commuting. Sitting at 8k revs just to take off from the lights, they whine like a bitch.

Nothing as wonderfull as powerband kicking in when you are mid corner and over a sewer plate either...

If your looking for a cheap new bike you cant go past the Hyosung GT250R

They still feel cheaply made, the factory tyres are s***, their brakes make lovely horrible sounds, the clutch cable will snap at 10k, and if you are lucky your carbies won't backfire and ignight your air filter. However I still enjoy riding mine.

i know ya asked for a road bike suggestion but i always recommend ppl get a trailbike for thier first bike. they are generally easier to ride (lotsa low down torque), taller (than road 250s) for tall riders, they cope with the low speed accidents much better than road bikes & are heaps cheaper to run/repair.

if ya gotta go the roadbike see rubba's post :]

My biggest complaint about it would probably be the turning angle - its like using a 4wd, when the bars are turned too far in my hands get wedged into the tank.

but what, thats only at low speeds in carparks right?

I got myself an XR650R big desert basher, and man i love myself a bike with a tight steering circle. this thing can turn like a pushbike in the tight spaces. love it

Ive heard good things about the ninja 250's, but im not sure how easy they are to lay your hands on. Anybody shed some light on these?

/end hijack

ZXR250s are a 250cc race oriented bike.

Upside down forks, adjustable rear suspension, dual front brakes.
Super aggressive riding position.

I had one as my first bike, was a terrible choice. Nearly died of cramps after 20 mins of riding the thing. My mates CBR250R is tame compared to the position the ZXR had. Is rather fast for a learner bike, not really what you want as a very first bike.

Its built for the track, so if thats what you want to do then great, for daily riding it was a piece of s***.


They aren't as common as CBR or FZR and generally price up near the CBR250RR range - $3.5-5.5k depending on condition.

last edited by rubba-chikin at 00:23:28 18/Nov/08

but what happens when they get to 1yr and swap the trail bike for an R1 with no road bike experience?

i guess a similar result to changing to an r1 from any 250cc bike. if anything a 250cc single cylinder bike is more likely to teach a novice rider tighter throttle/traction control than a 250cc 4 cylinder bike.

An R1 is simply natural selection.

Also, if you are getting a bike, please remember to put away around 2k at least for Boots, Pants, Helmet, Gloves, Jacket...hell, on weekends I even wear a Knox back protector as well.

Don't be a squid. I have had too many people just pop down the road quickly and not wear leathers and come back missing skin.

Iv had people come off at speed wearing leathers and jump straight back up and be all pissed off but perfectly okay.

the new LAMS in victoria are great u can ride a 600 on l's im hoping to find a ducati monster 600 0or a sv650 ive had alot of bike experience but never got L's cause didnt want to have to ride a 250 for a year i ride most weekends either it be on the dirt in the state forrest or or in the suburbs ive got a wr 450f wich i have a set of road tyers for so when im not in the bush i change them take like 20 mins to change its great on roads but yeah if u have no experience at all id go either a cdr250 as they are cheap and common and easy to fix or if u are tall id go for a hornet or something naked but the best things u can get is a decent set of leather's a nice helemt, gloves and some boots cause in the end that about the only thing that will save u in a crash id spend as much money on the best stuff u can buy when it comes to safety.

Giant TCR with 105's is a good start

I'm a whimp in the cold(and hot), so jacket that covers high up to the helmut to keep the chilly wind out and have a really good pair of shorts and singlet for the Summer.

I mark the line at Jandels, gear lever hurts my toe :(

last edited by Fn at 20:59:24 28/Nov/08