250cc Cruisers?

[junxs]

They don't seem to exist, what's up with that?

I currently own a Suzuki Marauder GZ125, but when I pass my test I wanted to get something a little more powerful, I know I'll be restricted to 250cc for 2 years but to be honest I'm not a boy racer and would be happy with a 250cc bike for many years.

I only want something to go to work and back in, I start at 7am and finish at 7pm so there's no traffic to skip anyway.
I do ride on A roads though with 50mph limits and my Marauder struggles, its top speed is just over 60mph which I'm happy with, but takes a life time getting there.

When I pass my test I still want a cruiser but something just a little quicker, thought about buying one from new but all the big brands only do a 125cc then jump right up to 750cc in the cruiser ranges.

Can anyone point me in the direction of a 250cc cruiser that I should be looking for? or any older bikes that the big brands used to do, that I can pick up 2nd hand.

Thanks

[P.addy]

Hyosung GV250

Are you from the UK...if so you wont be restricted to 250cc, heck you could go get a 1000cc cruiser, just restrict to 33hp if you are under 21 for 2 years...

[MarJay]

They don't exist because it'd be pointless. It wouldn't meet european/British 33bhp limits, and it would be dog slow and corner terribly.

Cruisers have large engines and low power. They don't need to have small engines with no power.
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[stirlinggaz]

does it have to be a 250?
the kwak vn400 is only 33bhp as are some of the older bikes,or you could get the bigger marauder, pretty sure theres a 250 version available,
cheers,
GAZ

[Burnside]

Have you considered the Yamaha Virago 535?
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[junxs]

Yeah I'm in the UK, the rules are that when you pass your test you are restricted to a 33bhp machine for 2 years. That's why I was asking for 250cc recommendations.

I'm happy with my 125 Marauder but just wish it had better acceleration to get up to 50mph which I believe a 250cc would give me.

[Alex A]

The only point of a 125cc cruiser is that learners can buy them. They have no other merit.

A 250cc cruiser would be pointless. Cruisers have grunty, low power engines. And you can't get that from 250cc. I'm sure you could restrict an 883 Harley if you wanted a 33bhp cruiser - they don't make much more as standard!
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[junxs]

[G]

They don't do any 317cc ones either, how weird .

The aforementioned virago 535 makes less power than quite a lot of 250cc bikes. Ok, a little more than 33hp, but not much so it will be fine restricted - it seems silly to go searching after elusive 250cc bikes probably spending a lot more than restricting a bigger readily available bike.

In my experiences cruisers tend to be short geared and underpowered, so are likely to take to restriction relatively well compared to a superbike geared for nearer 200mph say.

[smegballs]

While there might not be any full on cruisers, there were a few "custom" or "SE" models back in the day.

Off the top of my head there is the Yam SR250SE (I used to have one) and Suzuki GN250. I'm pretty sure there is a honda too, quite a lot of old yamaha models had a SE variant eg the XS models.

SR250SE

GN250

[junxs]

I was under the impression that 33bhp was equivalent to 250cc (somebody said in another thread). So those Yama and Kawa bikes above could easily be restricted to 33bhp after I pass my test then?

You can tell I'm a newbie

Any ideas on how much it would cost to get them restricted? and are they easily de-restricted again? ie its not a permanent change?

[G]

Your impression was wrong . Previous 250cc sports bike I had made 53hp and that was slightly down on what it should have been in fresh condition - those 250cc bikes above are more likely to make around 20hp, possibly even less on a dyno.

Just as with cars, there's not a direct correlation between capacity and power.

Restriction is not permanent and is easily reversed; if you go the 'easy' route of an FI kit, it'll cost yo £200 or so, however you can often do it yourself for a lot less or get some secondhand. 33hp may help you sell too.

[johnsmith222]

[Moo.]

Theres the Beta Euro 350.

Thats a cruiser styled bike, and has 33bhp.
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[Pete.]

Surely the Honda 250 Rebel is just what you're looking for?
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[andyscooter]

hyosung aquila sp

dont think they are over powered and quite sporty for a cruiser
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[hmmmnz]

there are loads of 250cc cruisers,
you guys don't get them because your learner limit is 125cc,
but here in nz, aus and japan the noobs get to ride 250's so there are thousands of the little beggers about
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[junxs]

I see, makes sense now.

On the flip side is it possible to increase the power of my current 125 Marauder, I'm just guessing here, but it may be restricted to make it a learner legal bike?

[stirlinggaz]

nope, you wont get much more out of it, waste of time trying.
was always going to be a learner legal bike & therefore wouldnt be able to get more than around 12bhp out of it.
i'd be looking at the 400+ bikes,
cheers,
GAZ

[kitty kat]

I rode a Marauder 250 in Tenerife 2 years ago, to be honest it struggled to reach the speed limit never mind break it.
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[Mudskipper]

I rode a Virago 250 once, reeeaally slow. Hardly seemed faster than a 125.
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[jimspeed]

what about the kawasaki EL 250
https://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/52/Kawasaki_ELIMINATOR_EL250_01.jpg&imgrefurl=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kawasaki_ELIMINATOR_EL250_01.jpg&usg=__ORa7R_m2oAVuojWfvjgXVAynhKA=&h=543&w=800&sz=125&hl=en&start=10&itbs=1&tbnid=fskinFAyXRJQdM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=143&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkawasaki%2Bel%2B250%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7GGLL_en-GB%26tbs%3Disch:1%26prmd%3Div
more of a custom than a full out cruiser and 33bhp twin.
i love mine its just what i wanted when i passed my test a few months ago.
its not a ploddy low revving twin tho its a buzzy 12K+ type
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[chris-red]

Cruisers suck power wise, My mates girlfriend has a intruder 800 that was only 45bhp or so. You can easily get a restrictor for them.
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[kawashima]

Regarding eliminator, I like eliminator250V too.
https://www.kawasaki-motors.com/model/eliminator250v/
I rode it at suzuka twin circuit, and it was surprisingly powerful .(35 PS/12,500 rpm)(2.4 kgf・m/9,500 rpm).
But I don't know if this is sold in UK too.
To tell the truth, I really wanted kawasaki to make sports bike with this engine, or souped up one to 400cc.
It's really a shame that kawasaki stopped making this engine.

Edit
This video is good to know what it's like.
ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMkhDcnYPMM
(add "h" in front)
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[DrDonnyBrago]

Honda 250 rebel

basically a tarty cb250:

https://www.rinusvandijk.nl/Occassions/250rebelB.jpg