Any good review sites for older bikes?

Hi!

We are surprised that we haven't been able to Google and find a good list of
bikes with pros and cons of each model, year, etc.

Have we missed something???

We are currently looking for a 250cc (due to "Learners Restriction") road
bike, but have a general interest too in bigger bikes for `ron.

Cheers,

Alex.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 24 Jul 2004 10:20:03 +1000

There you go, there's now a niche for you to fill with what you find
out.

That no one has all that info? That people who have pieces of it
haven't felt the need, or have no where to post it? That those who want
the info haven't set up a place to put it and haven't searched it and
posted it? That pros and cons of bikes are very subjective?

Posting to sites not in your country about bikes to fill local
restrictions when models are surprisingly different in each place is
probably not as efficient as you'd like.

If you want info about bikes available in Oz, then say which state the
restrictions are for, so bikes that are legal can be recommended.

For any bike it's also useful to say how big the rider is, what sort of
use the bike will get (commuting, long distance, lots of freeway work,
lots of city work, carrying heaps, carrying pillion), what sort of money
you want to spend, if you are a cruiser or sportbike type or don't know,
how long you intend to keep it, how mechanically minded you are.

Zebee

 

or
http://www.micapeak.com/reg/bikes/

 

Thanks for the links . . . one full of adverts 8-( http://www.bikez.com
and one that looks worth perusing of bike owners comments
http://www.micapeak.com/reg/bikes/
Will check them out. Any other favourites?

We have been looking for a reliable 250cc road bike at about aus$2,500
(~us$1,500).

So far considered:
GPX 250 Kawa
CB 250 Honda
CBX 250 Honda
SRX 250 Yamaha
but haven't found a list of things to 'look out for'.

ZZR 250 Kawa and
VTR 250 Honda look great but too expensive

Seems that a 'naked' bike is more practical for learners (no fairing to
damage)?

Zebee:
The only restriction is 250cc (stupid Victoria Australia ruling, but easy to
administer I guess).

rather than 'consuming', seems tough though.

have a go at maintaining.

Thanks,

Alex

 

all of the bikes you have listed will do the job and last a long time

excepting the CB which will do the job and last a long time but will be
the slowest of the lot but is very cheap to run

$2500 will find any of those ex VTR , the VTR will be a bit more exxy as
you found
but for around $2500-$3K you will find spadas the earlier VTR250

usual things to look out for such as consumables etc , but for the much they
are all
pretty reliable bikes barring those that have been abused which is par for
the course

google is your friend

 

<snipped>

Some of the links here might be useful.

http://brand.iinet.net.au/

It looks like mostly newer bikes, but there is some older ones mixed in.

D.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 24 Jul 2004 11:51:41 +1000

That's the bottom end of the market. You want cheap and reliable in
a 250? Forget it, unless you are prepared to do some work yourself, and
you can pick a good one from one that's merely clean. (and dont expect
US prices and Oz prices to have anything at all to do with each other.)
THe 250 market is very artificial - high demand means old thrashed bikes
bring good money and as people want to move up immediately, the cheaper
ones are not looked after. Even the mid priced ones aren't!

Your best bet at that price is probably a CB250 because they are
unloved. A slow reliable commuter, not sporty, boring, and so the young
lads won't want it.

If you want a bit zippier, then try to find a GPX with some crash damage
to bring the price down.

If you can manage a bit more, look for a VT205 Spada as well as a GPX.

Be very aware that at that end of the market you are buying someone
else's trouble unless you buy a bike that's cheap because it's slow or
hard to get bits for.

None of them have model wide problems. At this end of the market, it's
the individual bike and the size of the rider and use.

If you are tall, forget the CBX and SRX.

Yes, although a damaged faired bike goes cheap.


I can't read the answers to my questions because of the way you
formatted them, it's all on one line to me. Please try again, leaving a
blank line...

If you want to just commute, without much freeway, a CB250 is a good
bet. If you want to do a fair bit of freeway and you are a big bloke
them spend more money.

Zebee

 

Volvos and people wearing hats.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

Try this Zebee:

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 24 Jul 2004 11:51:41 +1000I can't read the answers to my questions because of the way you
formatted them, it's all on one line to me. Please try again,
leaving a
blank line...
<<

Zebee:
The only restriction is 250cc
(stupid Victoria Australia ruling, but easy to administer I
guess).

long distance, adventure touring, carrying heaps

would like to buy a bike worth keeping rather than 'consuming',
seems tough though.

I need it to be reliable!! Prepared to have a go at maintaining.

 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 25 Jul 2004 09:29:51 +1000

Forget SRX and CBX. CB and GPX and maybe Spada.

Then forget speed on a 250. I have ridden an MZ 250 all over Eastern
Australia, carried a shit load of gear, and had a lot of fun, with a top
speed on the flat of 100kmh.

A Spada or GPX will do that job, and probably even at the speed limit
instead of below. But it's hard on a small bike. My GPz250 died in a
year of the treatment the MZ hardly noticed. Big's Spada has carried
him long hard miles for a long time, but it was more expensive to buy
than you want to spend, and he spent a lot on maintainance. BTH's GPx
did a lot of hard miles, and GPx is probably more in your price range.

At the money you want to pay,yes. If you are willing to take the slow
back roads, and learn how to make do and keep it going, then not really.
I have done a lot of 250 touring and it's plenty fun if you can shed the
idea that you will die of boredom if you can't sit on 130 all the time.
If you do feel that you need high speed then forget the 250. Get a
cheap commuter, put the fancy ideas on hold till you get an unrestricted
licence, then get something bigger.

Personally I think 250 touring makes you *tour* instead of high speed
commute between hotel rooms, but hey...

You'll also need something that can manage luggage. Good luggage will
eat into your budget if you want waterproof and lockable. Else you just
use canvas backpacks and bin liners and make it up as you go along.

Again, spend the money. My MZ was dead reliable, but it was built to
be, and your chances of getting one are minimal. If you buy a good twin
and do frequent oil changes and chain maintenance, and don't make it sit
on its redline all day carrying a load, it should survive.

And if you wnat to do "adventure touring" do yourself a favour and learn
how to maintain the bike at least to the level of oil changes,
electrical troubleshooting, chain replacement, wheel removal at both
ends ,and puncture fixing for tubeless.

Be very aware that bikes need you to know what you are about, they don't
protect you from consequences in the way cars do...

I'm unusual in that I think a good 250 is a find all purpose bike. But
I've also spent time and money on them, and not asked them to do what a
bigger bike is capable of.

Zebee

 

1. Buy a GPX250 that's in reasonable mechanical condition;
2. Equip your workshop with tools, and do your own servicing;
3. Ask me nicely and I'll send you a copy of the service manual;
4. Ride it. Lots.


BTH
(http://www.geocities.com/za2bb/odyssey/)

 

Nev, you've mistyped 4WDs with bullbars.

Hammo

 

OI I resemble that remark

 

You are?

Hammo

 

Thanks for your help guys! It has been very useful, even just browsing
through the trading post I know which bikes to ignore and which to look into
more now..

What are your opinions on a KLR250 for road and some off-road touring? It
will be 95% road, but I definitely would like the option of avoiding the
road trains and taking the back road.

Going to look at a nice sounding KLR tonight - anything I should lookout
for? Its done 15,000k's and its a 99 model. Usual story of never been
dropped and owned by a lady...

 

In aus.motorcycles on Wed, 28 Jul 2004 15:03:05 +1000

If "back road" means "unsealed" then a road bike works fine. You'll need
to practice to get reasonable speeds and understand how to ride on loose
surface, but that's true of any bike. You might want to restrict your
bike choice to soemthing with a narrowish back tyre like a GPX instead
of a big one like a Hornet, but even a fullon sportbike will do gravel
with a capable pilot.

You should only use a 250 traillie for a main bike if "back road" means
"mud and bogs and rocks and a fire trail is a good road!"

They are not at all first choice if 95% of your riding is touring on
bitumen or reasonable gravel.

They have lower gearing, so lower top speeds, more upright so less
comfortable, tend to have less luggage space, and poor headlights.

Zebee

 

Volvos resemble Yetis?

Kevin Gleeson
Imagine It
West Hobart
Tasmania Australia
www.imagine-it.com.au

 

one has shaved since last you saw one

 

Oh? Has one? One has been Dining with Dicky Butler lately?



Kevin Gleeson
Imagine It
West Hobart
Tasmania Australia
www.imagine-it.com.au

 

eck chewally, ones daughter has been to the guv'ners house for tea recently