Potential ZXR250 buyer looking for info.

The regulator/rectifier on the ZXR's are in a bad spot and prone to overheating and dying. New R/R and relocating it is the fix.

ZXR has fully adjustable front suspension, I think it's the only 250cc i4 that does.

CBR's have gear driven cams, so no cam chain or tensioner to die. One less maintenance item. They are a Honda, what more do you want to know?

The "restricted" model horsepower bikes aren't bad. In fact, they are better for the street, due to producing more torque in the lower rev range. Still mighty fun to rev up though and definitely NOT slow.

 

I have ridden both a little bit. My misses owns a zxr250c and I own a cbr250rr both the ones we own are the 45ps models from 1991ish.
Umm ZXR is better on paper, but CBR does have its massive advantages over the ZXR.
cbr has more stuff you can buy for it and way more spare parts floating around.
cbr is gear driven instead of timing chain and trust me that is awesome.
cbr i find easier to move around on.
zxr is unique and has usd forks and slightly bigger brakes.
zxr has weird sized rear wheel which makes finding a good rear tyre hard.
Umm honestly if I could chose over I would pick a cbr, my misses isnt unhappy with her ZXR but i suspect she is pretty partial to the CBR also.

 

You will find most people here will point you towards the CBR and for good reason. But thats not to say that the zxr is bad by any stretch of the imagination. Both are VERY similar and both are good bikes. If I was you I would just try a few out and by the best&bang for buck one when it becomes available.

 

Someone wise said to me on this same forum "get a cbr, you won't be disappointed". He was right lol.

 

Quick go get it! =p http://www.bikesales.com.au/private...R250RR))&Service=Bikesales)&pso=0&pss=Premium

 

Those are asking prices, you'd be a chump to pay them that.

If you have the cash, hold out for a bargain.

Making offers is another good way. They want $5000? Go in person and offer $3500 cash in hand.

For my 3LN6 FZR250R the guy wanted $1000. Agreed on $750 over the phone. Bike looked worse in person, got it for $500. Helps to show up with a bike trailer and cash, and not high as a kite, as his previous "customers" had.

The blue bike of mine, I paid the dudes asking price ($1500), but I should have bargained as I couldn't get it to start. If it had, I would have walked away as it ended up needing a lot of engine work.

 

I cant add much more to what damus and linkin have added, i will say the zxr250 feels bigger than the cbr, your best bet is ride them both and buy the one that rocks your world. There is no doubting hondas reliability, and tyre choices are better, but the zxr is cool too.

Good luck with your purchase

 

Yeah def more lean't over, it makes you feel like your on sesame street and you trying to learn the letter C all over again.
The CBR IS more comfortable. The zxr attacked my special region and has it's ways of trying to crush it, my misses doesn't suffer from that problem. But the "more lean't over" does make it slightly more fun to ride for some reason.
But I guess it depends what your getting the bike for.
I would REALLY like to see a rider as skilled as say Simon from team tiger on a zxr250c, that would be interesting to witness.

 

Most of these old bikes will need work, it's hard to find one in good condition at a good price - but I suppose that depends on where you're located too. Buy what you like to ride and what you can afford.

The CBR's, FZR's, ZXR's and GSX250R's are all comparable in performance really - it will come down to the rider skill, preference and condition of the bike etc. They're all popular in both Australia and Japan (in fact they're almost collectible in good condition in Japan now). I think the FZR's and CBR's are most common followed by ZXR's then GSXR's so parts availability is probably in that order too.

I personally ended up with a FZR because it needed minimal work and was probably 1/2 the price of a CBR in similar condition. It is a bit prone to a few niggles common to FZR's but you get that. I'm sure @Grasshopper @Linkin & @GreyImport will agree they'd back themselves in on their FZR's.

Had to balance all that CBR testosterone, after all

 

To be honest for the road any will do even the new ninja Cbr and r3 tops goes down to budget and ability to fix urself if u have no mechanical skills and not interested in doing any that's fine go grab a newish 300 if u don't mind tinkering get inline 4 I had fzr and now Cbr also had Cbr in past and ridden zxr they all good just really bang for ur buck mate

 

Yeh what you can afford, and what you can afford to fix lol

 

I'll add my 2 cents in, lots of great tips so far as expected. I own an old ZXR A model so most of my points will be considering that.

Yes defiantly an alright bike to learn on. Not as good as a newer bike but that's only on a reliability/safety/dependability sense. Maintain a bike wise basic service and maintenance isn't any more difficult on these bikes. However you will find things that need replacing or fixing that you wouldn't consider on a newer bike and you will need to keep a closer eye on the bike mechanically.

Pull down a ZXR or CBR, you'll learn SO MUCH.

With the ZXR particularly. Cam chain tension, vacuum condition, getting the carbies to work properly and dealing with overheating regulators are all things that you'll probably eventually have a problem with even if you buy a good running one. Don't expect to red line them all the time like people on youtube do too... sooner or later you will blow a motor. Stick with a C model bike also. Parts are much easier to come by and so are engines should you blow one. As has already been mentioned the 5hp restriction ins't that bad.

I don't own a CBR, but I've read enough threads and had enough pain with a ZXR to recommend the CBR!

Most of all though get what you like. They are both lovely bikes and even though at times I hate my one with a passion there's no way I'd ever get rid of it.

 

One other thing. When you are buying one of these bikes. The odometer/km's on the bike, it's all a big lie. Even my bike "has" 36 thousand km's, I've no idea how many the bike & or engine have done. You can swap engines, swap dashes and I've never done it but I think it's possible to roll them back.

So if you go looking at a bike with "10,000ks" on it, take it with a mountain of salt.

 

Except for mine which really is 36k legit.