Ok, so it seems I'm in the market for a new bike. Having been riding for a touch over a year now, and with winter nearly set in, I have decided to hold off till spring to actually PURCHASE my next bike. That and there's a possibility of going to germany in the new year, though it might be better to put this aside till 2014 if my studies allow it. Nonetheless, research time! I have yet to actually go out and test-ride any of these bikes, I'm not neglecting it as yet it's just that it's assignment time for me at the moment and a trip into the city for a day just to ride bikes isn't really an option this week. Soon though! My requirements go something along the lines of: Something NEW. Given my last bike's range of health issues, from minor hiccups to the sudden but expected 40k epiry on some parts and the like... I'd like to try something with less than 10,000km on it. Maybe off the showroom floor. Probably ex-demo at best though. Fuel Injected. The carbies on my last bike just drove me spare. Maybe it was just that bike. Maybe it was something else. Maybe I'm over-reacting a little bit but hey, I'm a child of the computer age. Embrace the new technology I say! Besides, I'm trying something new here so FI would be that. 250cc or smaller. Why go bigger for a student commuting to uni and the girlfriend's place where 80km is the limit? Sure I'll do some freeway stuff but it's hardly the norm and I'm close to the city. Besides which modern 125's CAN do 100. Though I may be a bit tall for some. The CBR125 feels like a pushbike and sems to have been designed for folks the girlfriend's size (about 160 cm) not mine (178 cm). Though if I ever win tatslotto I have her b'day pressie picked out... The shortlist: So far, quick research have turend up the following: Daelim VJF250. Pros: Wow that price tag. Seen them for 4,300 for the 2011 model off the showroom floor, nothing on the clock. Bound to come down. Dual disc front brakes. It might be overkill but... providing you don't lock who can complain about more braking power? Good in an emergency... Sexy. As. Hell. Cons: No kill switch. Why they ommited this I don't even want to speculate on. You'd think it was the simplest thing in the world to through in there, but hey. Build Quality. This isn't a con so much as a question to VJF owners. I've heard on some discussions that it's about 5 years behind hoyasung, and that it could easily be more prone to various faliures. Is this just the early 80's fear of the universal japanese motorcycle all over again but set in Korea, or are there legitimate concerns? Gearbox: My experience on my old CB250 left me feeling that bike would have been awesome with just one more gear... I can't hep but feel perhaps the same might be said for this bike... no test ride yet though. Power: Though not measily at 16 kw, it's also a bit heavier than the CBR. 2011 CBR250 Pros: Lots of them about, second hand and new. Good Rep. In solid colour the styling is quite unusual but it has flair. 6 speed. 1.7 more killer wasps than the daelim on a lighter bike. Cons: Pricier than the Dealim - is this just branding or is there some serious bang coming for my extra muhlah? Style: Solids are great but the trademark honda red white and blue? Not my fave. Seat -heard it's a bit hard? Yamaha YZF R15. Pros: This thing is a featherweight. Dunno if that's a pr or a con in terms of riding feel, but i'll through it in here for fuel consumption and p/w reasons. Price. It's a 150. I read the retail new was 4k, making it the cheapest of the bunch Known company. Cons: It's a little less powerful, as is to be expected by a 150. I can't help but wonder what that will do with me (nearly 90 kilos in leathers = helmet) on board. So folks... what's missing? Those who own these bikes, let me know your experiences/opinions! Am I missing a contestant? Tell me about it! All advice welcome and encouraged!!!
Hopefully the r25 will be out by the time you are ready to buy. It looks like the r15 but is a 250. Single cylinder too.
As some riders use 250's as a transition to a bigger bike, you may pick up a bargain bike thats only 1 year old or pick up a near new bike that someone bought and lost the will to live... oppps ride For new bikes, they generally new bikes start at 5k and go up from there. My pick of the newer style bikes are the Daelim VJF250 (single cylinder) and the Kawasaki 250R (Paralell twin cylinder) and finally the new Honda CBR250R (single cylinder), all 3 get favourable reviews and are sharp lookers to boot. Chris
yeah... I don't know about the ninja... My next-door neighbor's boyfirned has an older model one and it just didn't feel quite right to me :S Plus with their nomina higher price tag, I just dn't see them as worth that extra cash. Maybe that's just me, but I think kawasaki's have priced themselves out of the market.
Maybe, but they have more grunt, the ninja 250 was the biggest selling 250 for tha last few years, but this year Honda has that claim to fame. What about a hyosung gr250 ?
hmm poking around the Hyosung GTR has raised some questions... theough I've heard elsewhere (from a guy who rode one in my license course) that they were... somewhat rust prone. This could be an issue for me living where I do (begrave is known for it's dampness and there are no garage facilities to make use of). It would be living under a weather proof bike cover at best :S Not ideal I realise, but about the best I've got.
Honda VTR250, think they've had FI for a while. Hyo GT250 - pre 2004 they had issues, post 2004 they got better but still have the odd problem. The big frame makes them feel like the 650's they make. Have you considered 250 dirt and dual sport bikes? XT250, WR250 (expensive), KLR and KLE 250's. DR250 are a bit tall. Though personaly, If I was going to get a new 250 today, it would most likely be one of these... http://www.suzukimotorcycles.com.au/bikes/road/sport-sport-touring/2012/tu250x.html 250cc, single cylinder air cooled, fuel injected, about $6000 brand new so If you find a test model you could knock a few hundred of maybe.
I'm not a dirt/dual kinda guy. I'm not going to be taking a bike off-road, so I don't really see the point. I'm warming to a newer hoy, though the daelims still catch my glance.... I'm a sucker for the unknown :S | Really apreciating the input guys!
You don't have to take a dual sport of road, they can make great road bikes, unless you want to go for long trips a high speeds. And they crash better... I know nothing of the Daelims, so can't help you there.
Hey Artemis, I have a 2011 CBR 250r and have had it for nearly a year and haven't had any problems at all it has been a great bike i've done 6500ks so far. I was a complete novice as well this being my first bike. I done a fair bit of research on the net and talking to dealers and these ore the reasons that i chose the CBR, and remember theses are personal reasons and needs so they may differ from yours 1. the Cbr is fuel injected the ninja isnt ( not sure about the 2012 model) and seeing i work night shift the ability to just start up and ride away over the need to play with a choke 2. the cbr has less power but more torque so it makes it a little easier in traffic ( my bike will happily pull from 3-4 thousand reves in 5th gear all the way through the rev range and i'm 92kgs with no gear) 3. apparently the ninja likes the revs more so more gear changes in traffic that coupled with the less torque factor 4. the cbr is apparently a little better on fuel i get about 300ks out of a tank with around town riding and a little better on the open raod a couple of draw backs are 1 the cbr doesn't sound very nice with an aftermarket pipe it sounds like a 4 stroke dirt bike not that the ninja sounds that much better. 2 the seat is a bit hard but from limited experience with the others models they aren't much better if at all i know some of these things are a bit trivial but they are what led me to buying my bike hope help
Ok so I went into Scooterrama in the city today (was in fitzroy having lunch with the parentals... discovered thats where scooterrama is!) and had a poe around at their VJF. First impressions are good- it's a decent size although not 'full bike size', looks compfy, I like the dash lay-out... and in person I think it's a bit more impressive than the baby blade. Looking at booking a test-ride tuesday (after all my essays are in!). Their tag price was 5k ride away, but you got some free gear with that (jacket of vauge unknown-ness- they didn't show me, unarmoured gloves or half-armoured gloves, and a kbc or another brand helmet I didn't recognise but both around the 250 mark). Don't NEED gear atm as I have a full set, though I come of restrictions in october, so the thought of getting the helmet and jacket to suit the gf for pilioning (she's riden on the back of her dad's bikes since she was tall enough to reach the pegs) . Sounded like a good deal, especially as some careful word-work revealed the dealership might come down off the ticket price a smudge. Good foot in the door. Come home. Go online. Search around. Discoer that FX Powersports in Brunswick are selling their vjf250 for 4,350 acording to a bike sales advert. Curious. Any explanation? Other dealership ads put the bike at the same 5k mark... is this a good deal, or is someone not telling me something?
Hey Al $4990 is the RRP list price for the VJF250, if you can get one for $4350 then it might be older stock ie 2011 plate model, might also pay to check it thats ride away, they want to hit you with dealer delivery, stamp duty and rego Very interested in your thoughtson how she rides Chris
Ok folks, the race is won, after a Test ride today the Koreans at Daelim have it! Rider's report up in the daelim section for those who are interested.
I really like it's retro style, that's for sure... If I could have two bikes... Actually, being able to afford two bikes would make the girlfriend VERY happy methinks... Something along the lines of just wait a sec while I get my L's... if dad asks it counts as you teaching me right?"
