Need help on 250cc choice...

Tinkering around with getting back on a bike again but am unsure of
model choice to look at. Its been 15years since I last rode so will have
to start with the 250cc again

Though I would like the Suzuki RGV for a bit of speed, most of my
riding, say 85-90% will be freeway riding at 100kmh...So am I right in
assuming a 4 stroke is a better option here than say the RGV screaming
its tits off?

If thats the case what are your thoughts on these bikes and what do you
guys recommend...These are used by the way, looking at max 30,000klms.

1: Honda CBR250RR (not the grey import R model)
2: Kawasaki ZX2-R (might be stretching my budget)
3: Suzuki GSX250F Across (dont know anything about these?)

If there are other models, let me know, I prefer the sportsbike with
fairing look, not really into cruisers.

Thanks

Firthy

 

1 + 2 are going to be around the same money

1 is going to me more available , also the RR there is a shitload of imports
of them as well

2 will be an import there was a small shipment of new ones sold here , but
still a grey import

3 is going to be cheaper , fuel range sucks and the seat is the worst seat
designed for a bike
good points is it has the boot

are you in NSW ? then other bikes are available

GPX/ZZR is also out there cheap to run and service and decent fuel range

 

I thought of the ZZR but its a 2 stroke isnt it? Most riding will be @
100kmh on the freeway...
Im in vic btw

Firthy

 

ZZR/GPX same motor 2 cyl 4 stroke

 

oh, ok thanks for the info, how would these models ZZR GPX be on the
freeway at 100/110kmh? Are these imports or aussie as Ive been looking
online and it seems imports have a lot higher insurance cost. (Im over
30 and rating 1 on car licence)

 

They'll sit on 110 about as happily as, say, a 1.6L four-cylinder car;
that is to say, with a bit of busy engine noise, but no real fuss.

Well, Australia having no indigenous motorcycle industry (did it ever?),
they're all imports; the differentiation is between official imports,
brought in through an official relationship with the manufacturer, and
grey imports, brought in by other means.

But, to answer your question, the GPX250 and the ZZ-R250 have been two
of Kawasaki's steadiest sellers in Australia ever since they were
released in 1988 and 1990, respectively. There are grey-import examples
about, but they're outnumbered 10 to one by official imports.

There are reams of discussion about 250's of all flavours in the group
archives. Whatever you want to know about them, likely problems, quirks
of ownerships, tyre life... just Google it.

 

I found the GPX250 good for a couple of reasons.
1. It is capable
2. It is cheap

I sold mine with 12 months rego for $800. You can't beat that for cheap
reliable transport.
Since 250s are usually temporary rides, I'd go for something that you're not
going to lose much money on.

 

Well there is this about aussie bikes, but you got what I meant, eg
factory imported not 2nd hand imported (grey)
http://www.ozebook.com/ausmc/australia.htm
thanks for the info...

 

I do prefer the look of the ZZR though, gonna find out some insurance
prices then make a decision...

 

<Circles around and sniffs smelly bait>

Trolling bastard !

JL
(for a subset of 4 stroke and 2 stroke 250s the above is true, but not
even close to all)

 

my zzr sits at about 8000rpm at 100km/h

 

I'd tend to agree with Uncle Bully; you'll soon tire of the constant need to
run the 250 "hot" just to get decent pull out of it, and unless it's a
really punchy 250 will likely end up throwing down the anchors in times of
trouble rather than gunning past to safety.

I went through a similar plight as yours a little over a year ago; hadn't
ridden for over 15 years then decided to get back in. Being over 30 and
having a gold driver's license meant I didn't have to go through the
restrictions of a provisional license, so I bought a rather old (but still
functional) Suzuki GSX-250 for not much more than $1k to get past the
license test, then sold it 'n bought a "full-size" Kwaka Vulcan.

I don't know if the licensing regulations in Victoria are the same as in New
South Wales, but here if you're over 30 and have a gold car driver's
license, you go straight from your "L"s to an unrestricted* license, so
there's no limit to capacity.

*Unrestricted except for carrying pillions or towing trailers - you can't do
either of these legally 'til you've held your rider's license for a year.

With regard to insurance, I don't think you'll find any company wanting to
insure your bike while you're on your "L"s (though I could be wrong). And in
my hunting have found Western QBE to be the best value for money (under $600
on a $12k new bike, as opposed to over $2300 quoted by the GIO).

- Bob.

 

Boltons Kawasaki here in Adelaide are selling new GPX250 for $5990
they say that's $1500 off. Probably same deal around the country.

My experience with a 2-stroke is the KR250. I found on the open road
it was quiet and smooth and understressed and comfortable. The
annoying bit was how it wouldn't hold a road speed e.g. 110. The
slightest rolling terrain and it just would not. Every rise and she
dropped 10-20km/h (and the rest on a longer rise) unless I constantly
rowed the box. It got to me after a while, which was a pity because I
promise you the bike and rider were very happy at 110 and could go all
day.

I assumed the 4-strokes like GPX250 are better at holding a speed, but
now I'm not so sure, if they don't deliver below 10krpm.

I reckon an RZ250 might do you. It has a decent fairing. The
handlebars are not too low. The position is open, not cramped. And the
power valve might provide enough torque to hold 100kph. How does $1500
sound?

 

There's (technically) no such thing as a 2-R in this country,
they're all grey IIRC.


Popular learnerbike, but beware the low fuel tank capacity.
That lovely helmet-sized storage bin where the fuel tank
should be means that they had to shoehorn a little fuel tank
in someplace else. End result: a range in the order of 200-220Km
per tankful. Can be a pain in the arse when everyone else you're
riding with is getting 300-350Km. Apart from that, I've never
heard a bad word said about 'em. Folks seem to like 'em.


GPX250, ZZR250. CBR250R, CBR250RR.

The CBRs are cute little things, and fun. I wish I'd had
one for my learnerbike, in hindsight.

Probably about right. IIRC, a new ZZR250 list price is $8999, but
they usually sell for $8000 even. GPX250 is circa $500-$1000 cheaper
than the ZZR.

[...]

My ZZR250 would happily pull 140Km/h with me (75-80-ish-Kg I think)
on it. If I really wrung its neck, I could get it to go to 160Km/h
and stay there, but it wasn't happy about it.


GB