First 'big bike' cb250g5 (1975)?

[rusty-94]

One possibility for my first big bike is an old 1975 cb250g5.

I'm 19 and on a restricted license, passed 6 months ago.

Any comments or advice on this?

Thanks

[Teflon-Mike]

Oh! What kind of comments would you like?
Whats your knowledge / Experience / Expectation of 'CLASSIC' biking?

Classics do NOT often make clever 'ever-day' riders.
Classics usually demand an AWFUL lot of user-maintenance, to even be notionally reliable.
Classics can become 'projects' for a small, but hard to source component, that means a five minute fix, see's bike off the road for two years while you find the bit you need for that five minute fix!

Classics do NOT have the performance or user-freindliness of modern bikes, and THAT one?

When NEW it only made, I think 16bhp. It is not a particularly inspiring machine to ride. Between '68 and '76, after the launch of the CB750 'Four' Honda neglected thier bike development, to launch thier new range of Civic cars; and in response to tightening emmission controls, rather than re-engineer, successively de-tuned existing models, giving them slight stying updates in recompense.

The CB250 was trading on the 'reputation' of the earlier CB's that WERE very credible sporting motorcycles, with overhead cam twin cylinder engines, but even they were over-shaddowed by the pace of development of the two-stroke twins. They were NOT even 'interesting' when new, and were sold as basic Learner-Commuter fare.

1977, Honda let the engineers get back to bikes, and launched a whole raft of new, and thoroughly re-engineered re models.
- 750 'Four' got double overhead cam motor, and a new 900cc big brother.
- CBX1000 'Six' was built to capitolise on the legend of the racing sixes
- CG125 'launched' for developing markets
- CB125'Twin' launched for western markets.
THAT bike of 1977 vintage made MORE power from just 125cc than the 250 did from twice the cubes... and with no more cams or valves to help it!

Took until 1978 for the CB250 to get the 'Super-Dream' treatment, thoroughly revised styling, comstar wheels and a new counter-balenced engine based on the 400N's But even that was rather lack-lustre and critasised for being 'slow' with I think only 22bhp, until the 1981 three valve heads came along.

SO... first question is DO you know what you would be getting yourself into vis living with a cantankerouse classic?

THEN, if you are prepared for the 'hassle' of a classic, is an old Honda CB250, that REALLY has nothing more than being 'old' to gain it classic status, REALLY a worthy candidate, and likely to be worth the trouble?

As a bike that was not in any way ground breaking, exiting, nor even desirable in its day; and not even particularly 'rare' now, PERSONALLY I would not reccomend one to any-one.

There are a LOT more 'interesting' bikes that are far more worthy of your attension and money, as a 'Classic'

While as an every day 33bhp complient 'Rider' FORGET IT!

You will be frustrated by the lack of performance, wooden brakes, pogo suspension and hard classic tyres, when it runs, you will be paranoid about trying to keep it looking 'good', and you will find it frustrating to keep on top of basic maintenence, even if you dont encounter any 'out of service' interludes due to faults.

If you really have to have a classic 250, then the old strokers like an air-cooled RD250, are far better supported, worth a lot more money, and are a much more viable proposition as either every day or occassional rider.

Other wise, avoid classics all together, and for 33bhp restriction, do the 'conventional' thing, and get a GS500 or similar and stick washers up its chuffs!
____________________
My Webby'Tef's-tQ, loads of stuff about my bikes, my Land-Rovers, and the stuff I do with them!
Current Bikes:'Honda VF1000F' ;'CB750F2N' ;'CB125TD ( 6 3 of em!)'; 'Montesa Cota 248'. Learner FAQ's:= 'U want to Ride a Motorbike! Where Do U start?'

[.Chris.]

I quite like the CB250 G5. 16bhp does sound a bit on the low side - pretty sure I've read 25bhp elsewhere. However, they don't have a great reputation for reliability - IIRC the camshaft runs directly in the head, and has a habit of wearing out rather quickly.

As Tef also suggests, poor spares availability can be a real problem with some older bikes - although I can't comment about this particular model. Not too much of an issue if you're running it as a second bike, but if it's your only transport then it could get seriously inconvenient.

Personally I'd go for it, but then I'm an idiot who goes misty eyed about old cars/bikes rather too easily
____________________
Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[Kal]