250cc

[kes]

Hey guys, me again, i'm still dithering about which bike etc.

was thinking of different engine sizes etc. and was thinking about how a 250 is usually larger (with not as thin tyres and not as light as a 125) but there doesn't seem to be many on the market past the early 90s

I assume thats the same principle with getting rid of the 275s in the 70s/80s (my dad was a bike instructor back then so was explaining about that and was suggesting how if you go for a bigger bike but not a 400/600 it'd be cheeper and you'd get a better bike - just higher insurance- as 125s are everywhere for learners so pricees are still high.....

Is this a good idea and is there many 250s about nowadays all i seem to find a ninjas and not much else?
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CBT - 18/11/09
Currently deciding how to go about getting a bike/test done.

[Kickstart]

Hi

The 125 learner law pretty much killed the market for 250s. All that were left for a few years were pretty much the 250LC, RG250 and VT250 (and a CB250N at the time could be picked up for peanuts). Minor improvement when the TZR250, then later the KR1 and RGV250 came along, and the 4 stroke GPX250 (and later ZZR250) but still small number. The 2 strokes sold well, but emissions rules have killed them (the last being te Aprilia RS250), while the 4 strokes didn't sell well. No learner could ride a 250 and those who had passed their tests would probably want something a fairly bit quicker than a derestricted 125 2 stroke which pretty much killed off the 250 4 strokes.

The only 250s around now in any numbers are the new Kawasaki 250, a few Aprilia RS250s (although these are now at the point of going up in value, especially good condition ones) and various off road bikes.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Kal]

It's not often someone gets to add an addendum to one of Keiths posts.

Hyosung do a range of 250 bikes based around the same engine which includes a a standard, sports and cruiser frame.

Honda still produce the CBF250.
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Kickstart]

Hi

I'd forgotten them. Senility setting in.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[kes]

I know what you mean he always seems to have the last word or complete answer etc. (i tend to read alot of the forums without posting =] )

ohh i though the CBF was stopped by the introduction of the CBR CBR stopped having a 250 model in the early ninetys i think.
Will have to have a look into those.

Not sure on the ninja i've looked at them but not sat on one yet, see how heavy/comfortable they are and go from there

oh and i've been warned by quite a few people to say away from hyossong and to a lesser extent aprilla.

god damn theres a lot of information to learn when you're not used to bikes =]
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CBT - 18/11/09
Currently deciding how to go about getting a bike/test done.

[Kickstart]

Hi

CBR250 was never officially imported. A few around as grey imports, but not that many compared to the 400s.

Last non commuter that Honda imported (that I can remember) was the VT250F. They were pretty common when I lived in Northern Ireland (NI kept a 250 learner limit for about 15 years longer than the mainland), but chatting to a Honda mechanic once his comment was that the problem was that people thought they would keep up with a 250LC. They would, but tended to blow up if you tried too much.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Kal]

You made my day Keith

The VT if memory serves was a really nice piece of engineering apart from a timing chain buried in the depths of the motor that had a tendancy to stretch snap and otherwise ruin prefectly good engines.

I don't think that the CBF was in production in the early 90's, if memory serves it was somethign like the cb250f back then... or possibly the n (not to be confused with its predecessor the superdream)
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Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[Kickstart]

Hi

Think it was the cranks on the VT that went when they were thrashed. Also wonder about using the frame to carry coolant. Wonder how many frames have rusted through. To be honest I was semi thinking about buying one back then

Not sure when the CB250 came back in. Think it was early 1990s but never really seen more than the odd 1~2 of them.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Kal]

'91 or '92 from memory, based on the American markets Nighthawk
____________________
Kal...
I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It I Like To Hoon It Hoon It Ya Like To (HOON IT!).
1984 GB250 Clubman,1983 CB250N Superdream, 1999 GPZ500S

[bacon]

i picked up a little cb250 two fifty/night hawk, 1993 which im refurbing atm

its a nice commuter, returns over 70mpg, not particulary fast, it puts out about 20bhp, it feels like riding a cg, except you can cruise motorways at 80-85 with relative ease

they can be found on ebay now and again

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/mikejbry/beefcake/gimp2.jpg
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/mikejbry/beefcake/gimpbike.jpg

if its for commuting duties and your set on a 250 its ideal

[st3v3]

There's a few CB's on Ebay now of various CC's, I've just lost an auction for a 350 myself..

I can recommend having Hyosung as I had one for about 8 months and to it's credit, only let me down when I was stupid enough to let it, but you can say that about any bike.
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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done

[neil.]

There is also now the YBR250 from Yamaha which nestles into the commuter market. Perhaps a resurgence due to license holders wanting to save money but have a bit more poke than a 4t 125? It certainly appeals to a poor person like me.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[27cows]

[st3v3]

I'd like to know what 2t 250's 400's are still about to buy(more importantly cheap), I'm clearly not affording any decent cond R6 anytime soon so I find a treasurable big 2t an ideal project machine.
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Roger wrote: Women don't get damp for clingy puppies. Get some better happy pills, hit the gym & buy a medallion the size of a dinner plate. Job done