250 choice of 4

[SS_Fury]

Well i will be soon purchasing my first road bike and after a bit of homework have come to the conclusion of getting either:

1)RGV250
2)CBR250
3)Suzuki Across
4)Kwaka GPX250 or ZXR250

Which would you choose for your first bike and why? All look and feel good to me sitting on them, however im yet to take em for a run. Any suggestions/comments to a novice?

[DaveHAT]

In this order:

Suzuki Across - storage area for your helmet and they go very well.
Kawasaki GPX250 - known quantity and proven reliable.
Kawasaki ZZR250 - see above.


If you're a novice my advice would be stay away from 2 strokes like the RGV and 4 strokes like CBR/FZR/ZXR's. They go like stink and look the shit but can be a handful if you're learning. They also cost a shit-tin in repairs to the fairings if you drop them.

[SS_Fury]

i do like the across's storage compartment, i agree

[SV8VZ]

Depends on what your looking for:

A bike to keep for 12 months then upgrade to big bike?
If yes, buy a cheap scratched up dunger that you won't lose money on.

If you are somewhere around 6 foot, you can't go past a ZZR. This is the only bike that a tall person will get comfortable on.

GPX has the same motor but slightly different running gear (16" wheels, single front disc) as ZZR, but is much less popular (but can be picked up cheap)

CBR250 is extremely common, so parts will be easy to get. Not a bad choice so far.

Across does have a "boot" to store your helmet, but is a bit long in the tooth.
Servicing an Across isn't cheap, so anticipate neglect from previous owners.

RGV is about the most extreme 2 stroke you could get (apart from an NSR). Expect a re-ring if not a rebuild as part of ownership. (I owned an RZ 250 as a learner and had 2 complete rebuilds done - $$$$$)

Another worth considering is a VTR 250. They look like a mini Ducati Monster and sound great with a slip on pipe. Less bodywork to repair when you end up dropping it too.

Good luck with it!

[SS_Fury]

it will be a keeper bike - a work hack/toy...the only sort of reason i thought of the RGV is coz i know they go like a shower of sh*t, however there in lies the danger....it would be a good bike when im more experienced i agree, but my point was im going to keep it for quite some time so i may aswell get a poky 250...however common sense must prevail and bikes of this calibre arent expensive if i want to upgrade later then i can pass on the rgv.
so let me get this straight:

Across - kind of all rounder with a handy 'boot', however their age is a concern unless i find a low km one?
ZZR - probably the best looking bike, im only 5'10...downsides?
gpx250 - probably the 'ugliest' bike, but is easy on the $$
RGV - goes hard, but prone to rebuilds coz she screams?
CBR250 - another good looker, but costly in fairings maybe? I prob will drop it being a learner

[OPPYLOCK]

I don't know the rules in WA but no 2 strokes like the RGV on your L's here in NSW. We have a power to weight limit. On the upside it does allow the Ducati 620 Lite on L's.
You may want to check the rules in your state before buying.

[WraithGTO]

I would go for a cheapie to start with until you get a little more confident on the road, Stay away from the 2 strokes to start with, as previous mentioned about the rebuilds,

The across is a little long in the tooth now, The problem in WA is the lack of Suzuki dealers, I think Midland and Vic park are the only 2 left.

GPX is a nice bike and seem to hold there value.

I know you say today that it will be a keeper , But as you become more confident with the road you will want bigger after you come off your P plates,
It's always the way,
Go for something that has a good service history and hasn't been dropped too much

[Road Warrior]

Considering its a twofiddy you're shopping for, I wouldnt get too excited about spending a fortune on one; you'll be sick of it in 6 months and be wanting to upgrade long before you can sit your open class test anyway.

For price and reliability, the GPX250 would have to be the pick of the bunch. Cheap, tough, reliable and if you do manage to break it, parts are easy to come by. The ZZR250 uses the same motor and box as the GPX but has a slightly more exotic frame and fairings, and will be dearer.

The Across is a good little bike but at 165kg is much more porky than the GPX/ZZR. They arent in production any more either. I had one of these as my first road bike and it was great fun, but IMHO the ZZR250 is a better bike.

Forget bikes like CBR250s and definitely forget the 2 smokers. You don't need that shit and all the expensive hassles that go along with them. Save your $$$ for when you are ready to get your big bike :)

EDIT: As for Suzuki dealers, there is McCullochs in Vic Park, the one in Midland, Witch Cycles in Rockingham and Lloyd Chapman's in Mt Lawley.

[Gteeez]

Considering its a twofiddy you're shopping for, I wouldnt get too excited about spending a fortune on one; you'll be sick of it in 6 months and be wanting to upgrade long before you can sit your open class test anyway.

For price and reliability, the GPX250 would have to be the pick of the bunch. Cheap, tough, reliable and if you do manage to break it, parts are easy to come by. The ZZR250 uses the same motor and box as the GPX but has a slightly more exotic frame and fairings, and will be dearer.

The Across is a good little bike but at 165kg is much more porky than the GPX/ZZR. They arent in production any more either. I had one of these as my first road bike and it was great fun, but IMHO the ZZR250 is a better bike.

Forget bikes like CBR250s and definitely forget the 2 smokers. You don't need that shit and all the expensive hassles that go along with them. Save your $$$ for when you are ready to get your big bike


Yeah, exactly what he said!

I'll only add that if you can already ride, as in dirt bikes and the like, and are handy with tools and want to have a huge grin on your face, then the strokers are a lot of fun. But, as said above, a lot of hassle, especially if you can't work on them yourself. And on grey imports, why the hell would anyone pay that much when they could buy lets say a 1993 zxr750 for less, just doesn't make sense. Save your money for a real bike when you're ready for it.

Enjoy the ride whatever you get, as long as its a Kwaka I guess.

[AiRHeaD]

I picked the CBR250RR & did 50000km;s on it, never missed a beat.. tyres and general servicing besides 1 fuel tape was all i spent on it. Then i went to a R1 :-)

I did test ride all of that list except for the rgv and liked the cbr. A good forum is http://www.cr-x.org/cbr250/default.asp for cbr info.

My mate got a gpx, he traded it after 3 months on a CBR as it was quicker and handled better.

Other mate had a across and loved it.

All i can say is take em all for a ride and see which one suits you.

[Vulture]

The RGV might be the emotional choice as it is the most 'full on' but they require their little rings to be given a thrashing on a regular basis to keep the two stroke running well. Too peaky - absolutely no torque and then wham!

[TheRealMadMax]

If you want a bike that will last a few years, go pretty hard and remain safe and reliable, go the ZX2r - 250(c model). I had one for my first full road bike and was very impressed with it's performance. The only bad side is if you plan long journeys (goes for most bikes anyway), then you will get a sore arse. It's usually good for about 2 hours, then you need to get off and stand for a bit!

Mine had a slight exhaust modification and I never had a 250 4-stroke beat me off the lights.

Overall, a good, sturdy bike.

By the way, a ZXR250 is the 'a model' of the same bike.

1)RGV250 - Fast bike, always rebuilding/oil mixing issues.
2)CBR250 - The standard bike is not so flash, have a look at the CBR250-RR (2 disc brake rotors on front wheel)
3)Suzuki Across - avoid. Expensive and you will be over it in 3rd time you ride it.
4)Kwaka GPX250 or ZXR250 - GPX is a very basic bike, again like the Across, you will be bored within a week. The ZXR250 - Choose the ZX2R250-c model. You won't regret it.

Hope this helps.

[Gteeez]

Yes, slow night at work.

One absolute pearler of a bike has been left out. For those who can already ride only!
Aprilia RS 250. If you want something that turns heads, is an absolute beauty to ride, will leave pretty much all other 250's for dead, not to mention a lot of larger bikes and has the chassis, brakes and suspension to match it's engine, then look no further. But like the RGV, it is a no compromise 2 stroke sports bike.

But depends what you really want in a bike. These are about the same price as a CBR250, but are seriously twice the bike. Yes, Valentino won the world championship on one. His had just a few mods. If you are looking for something a bit special and also to keep for a while, then at least you won't get sick of the lack of power, RS 250's have plenty. Being Aprilia, fitted with all the good bits. And they are seriously beautiful to look at.

If your are a large framed person like myself, then forget it. Most 250's are too small to sit on comfortably and you are better off getting a road registered dirt bike to learn on and then a big road bike later on. Good Luck.

[DaveHAT]

Another worth considering if value for money is important.

HYOSUNG GT250R

http://www.hyosung.com.au/Media/images/GT250R-header-image-02-a0db9f7b-0120-4c25-9276-de2b907ddc61.jpg

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

Pretty good value IMO & looks the business.

[Josho]

IMO only but the across looks ugly as and the zzr also (please dont buy either one). They arnt that quick either of them. I owned a CBR250RR and had a roo racing pipe on it and boy it hammered. The Aprilia RS 250 is not learner legal so if you have your l's or p's that bikes out. Either the CBR250RR or the Kwaka ZX2R. Both look awesome and go well. This is my old CBR:
http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s182/burnsies_bucket/MyCBR250RR.jpg

[ls2 crew]

don't forget to look at a aprillia rs250 2 stroke, they have all the trick bits and are nearly as quick as a std 600 of they same year model, beware of the cbr 250 for lack of suspension adjustment they are suited to 55 kg japs and not so good for 90+ kg aussies in that way, but with a big pipe you will feel like you are on a gp bike until the falcon bf taxi with 4 drunks in it over takes you when you race it.....:confused:

[DaveHAT]

IMO only but the across looks ugly as and the zzr also (please dont buy either one). They arnt that quick either of them. I owned a CBR250RR and had a roo racing pipe on it and boy it hammered. The Aprilia RS 250 is not learner legal so if you have your l's or p's that bikes out. Either the CBR250RR or the Kwaka ZX2R. Both look awesome and go well.

Good points Josho but a smart novice learner doesn't buy a motorcycle based on looks ... they buy based on which is easier to repair if/when they fall off or drop it and cheap to run.

You won't be on a 250 forever so don't spend a fortune buying one is my advice.

[Josho]

Good points Josho but a smart novice learner doesn't buy a motorcycle based on looks ... they buy based on which is easier to repair if/when they fall off or drop it and cheap to run.

You won't be on a 250 forever so don't spend a fortune buying one is my advice.

Yes they do lol. My CBR had one of the sexiest looking paint jobs/general design of any bike, it looks awesome. I had people ask me to swap their cars for my bike while filling up in the servo haha. Like i said before the Aprillia RS 250 is NOT A LEARNER LEGAL BIKE. And IMO is very much not a learners bike. The 2 strokes power band on that thing would make learning to ride very hard.

[Delft Maloo]

mate if you have ridden bikes befor(even dirt bikes) go the rgv if your lisence will allow. Ive had 3 so far 92,90 and 89 all great bikes that will fog all other 250's and out handle most big bikes. Love the 2stoke nothing like powerband wheelies with no clutch useage. but be carefull these little rippers are faster than most people think and because of the lack of weight you end up going faster then what you anticipate. The guy that i sold my 92 to found out the hard way, he tried to take a corner at around 200kph that was sign posted 80kph, off camber corner that the road also drops away on and he left the road ,cleared the padock fence and ended up in a padock. he dislocated his hip and some other stuff and stuffed the bike(tore the head stem and front end clean fro the frame beams.
next choice would be the little cbr 250rr, does 204kph single and 170kph with a 100kg rider and 80kp pillion, also pulls great burnouts and will clutch wheelie.

[SS_Fury]

wow so many different opinions!
Seems the 2 strokes are out...the HYOSUNG GT250R doesnt look bad either...it was my bro who reccomended the Across - he has been riding all his life and now owns a cbr600 just to muck around on.
Well mixed opinions, i will have to have a ride of each...im only 5'10 and at my heaviest 75kg so im not a huge fella, so perhaps a weightier bike will be a safer option to learn on. I cant like the look of the GPX, im trying but it just doesnt grab me....mechanics aside the only ones which have visual appeal are the zzr, cbr (the rr was the one i was referring too in the original post), ZX2R250-c, the aprilla is something i will have a gawk at, not sure about 2 strokes though, they sound kinda hairy for a beginner...thanks guys all opinions highyl valued!

[Josho]

next choice would be the little cbr 250rr, does 204kph single and 170kph with a 100kg rider and 80kp pillion, also pulls great burnouts and will clutch wheelie.

I can vouch for all of that (except the pillion part anyway) and they ride great being a small bike and look the goods and being a learner and a 250 ( i cant see how fuel consumpion would come into buying a 250cc bike :confused: whether it cost $13 or $15 who cares. No point buying some ugly bike that you wont wont to look at imo. But i am biased towards them :)


wow so many different opinions!
Seems the 2 strokes are out...the HYOSUNG GT250R doesnt look bad either...it was my bro who reccomended the Across - he has been riding all his life and now owns a cbr600 just to muck around on.
Well mixed opinions, i will have to have a ride of each...im only 5'10 and at my heaviest 75kg so im not a huge fella, so perhaps a weightier bike will be a safer option to learn on. I cant like the look of the GPX, im trying but it just doesnt grab me....mechanics aside the only ones which have visual appeal are the zzr, cbr (the rr was the one i was referring too in the original post), ZX2R250-c, the aprilla is something i will have a gawk at, not sure about 2 strokes though, they sound kinda hairy for a beginner...thanks guys all opinions highyl valued!

Do you have your licence yet mate (l's or p's)? Your only the same size as me so have a look at my cbr in my previous post. You wont be dissapointed. But have a ride of each and make your own mind up. Good luck with it all.

[Gteeez]

http://www.2stroketeamplus.com/bike%20gallary%20pics/ApriliaRS250.jpg

Yeah, still slow at work. For your viewing pleasure ssfury. Aprilia RS250. Function is pretty much the same as cbr250's and the like, these just do it soooooooo much better. Just give them the respect they deserve and you'll be smiling for many years to come. Certainly don't write the idea off until you've had a ride on all of them. You'll be surprised how compliant these really are. Best brakes in the business, Brembo's are standard.

[Road Warrior]

Guys...getting wound up about which 250 is faster/more fully sick is like boasting about who has the better arranged marriage. Its a 250, and its your first bike. You will be sick of any 250 within 6 months. Buy something basic, learner friendly and cheap to maintain and repair and save your coin for when you can sit your open class licence and buy an open class bike, because that's when you will have the REAL dilemma on your hands and be spoilt for choice, with bikes with decent chassis, brakes and suspension (not to mention power).

Hell, if it were me and I had to do it again, I'd be going for a road/trail because then you can hit the dirt which can also help your skill development.

And allocate some $$$ for some decent gear - jacket, helmet, gloves at a minimum. Too many squids around here these days, and you don't want to be one of them.

[SS_Fury]

to the question above, im only on my L's so far, and yep I got all the equipment first off (jacket, helmet and gloves)...ill have a go at all of em i guess although the Aprilia looks hawwtt but not many of them around here in WA.

[Josho]

Aprilia looks hawwtt but not many of them around here in WA.


Ill say it again. You CANNOT ride the rs 250 on your l's or p's!! So forget about the Aprillia.

Josh

[SS_Fury]

even in WA? didnt know that....thoguht it was all 250's...oh well

[Josho]

Well in nsw you can ride up to a 600 on your l's and p's as long as it doesnt go over a specific power to weight ratio. There are a few 250's even on the banned list that you cant ride. The Aprillia rs 250 and honda nsr 250 are just two of the banned 250's.

[Timmay5.7]

Here in good ol' W.A. L's = <250
Open class = any bike.
simple.

I like the look of the Hyosung, and being a taller fella myself, suits me, but i will be shopping around for like a gpx or zzr under 3k, when the time comes... Its only for a year anyway.

[Road Warrior]

Ill say it again. You CANNOT ride the rs 250 on your l's or p's!! So forget about the Aprillia.

Josh

In Western Australia a holder of an R-E licence can ride any road legal 250 he/she wants. No LAMS here.

SS_Fury, get yourself over to www.perthstreetbikes.com and register there, helpful crowd for a n00b and being a local mob they know all the in's and outs of biking in Perth.

[SS_Fury]

excellent, thanks!

[NefariousVX]

mate ive just been through this dilemma myself, i onlyjust got my re license 4 weeks ago in qld. I looked at a cbr, gpx, zzr and a vt spada, and even an old cb 250. Well i tell you my choice was based on dollars more than looks so i was looking at everything under 3k. I ended buying a honda vt 250 spada. I got it for $1800, and the main reason i picked it was i enjoyed riding it more than the others. Also the lack of fairings as well for when i eventually drop it ( as someone with too much confidence and not enough skill) will eventually do. Already i thanked my lucky stars, some idiot at work knocked it over and it cost me $450 to get it fixed, and that was just gauges, clutch handle and gear lever. Gauges are bloody hard to find!!! only found one set in brisbane.
(hate to think if i had a bike with fairings)

Already im glad i only spent wat i did, so that when im able to upgrade (license restrictions aside) i can use the extra cash to put towards something better. Also because it was a cheap bike it is almost not worth selling , but better to keep as a second bike or for letting the missus ride, wen she gets off her ass and gets her license.

Good luck with the choice

[TheRealMadMax]

The only reason your 250 Spada cost so much to fix is because it is a grey import, e.g. they never sold that model new in Australia. Many 250's are grey imports, therefore it is a problem with some bikes, however, if you go for a popular model (CBR, ZXR, ZX2R...) you can be comfortable in the knowledge there will be plenty of spares. The CBR and I think the ZXR were both sold as new in Aus also (although many grey imports as well).

My ZX2R was dropped on a driveway by a 'friend' and it bent the clutch, smashed the indicator and tore the fairing (about 5 inches). It cost $20 for the indicator, $25 for clutch lever and $50 for the fairing. Not exactly expensive stuff.

The Spada is a cheap entry into a relatively new bike, however beware it is not cheap to fix/service, as described above. Think about the cost of engine/gear/clutch parts! It would probably cost more than the bike to fix.

By the way, plastic welding for a fairing is pretty cheap - not much more than $50 for minor cracks (about 3-6 inches).