Decisions decisions

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Well kids its decision time again so i'm going to do the usual thing of asking your opinion then doing something else entirely.

I'm deciding whether I should keep the VX for another year or sell it now and get myself a little toy bike in a month or two.

The VX insurance expired a day or two ago, and i'm not really inclined to renew at the mo, its just too cold. I ride a lot less now, so i'm thinking about getting something light and fun for a few miles a year instead of running the tractor with iron tyres. It doesn't like standing.

Also.. well it weaves in corners now. I have a slight feeling that I may have damaged the frame when I crashed it, I definitely bent the headstock stop thingy up a bit, so the bars touch the tank on full lock one way and have about an inch of clearance the other way.

So. decision is, should I sell it now, set the money aside for a couple of months, and then buy a 250 2 stroke, or maybe NS400R in a couple of months, or should I hang onto the VX and hope it passes its MOT in July/August time.

The floor is open. Lets not get into abusive old man jokes until the second page.

EuropeanNC30R... · Gay Hairdresser Joined: 20 Jun 2002 Karma :

https://www.btinternet.com/~mauriceb/bike/rgv250/rgv2.jpg

You know it's always made sense Smile

. Though probably not a good idea unless you're doing no more than a couple thousand miles a year or rich. Which you're both Razz

Craig_ · Trackday Trickster Joined: 06 Oct 2003 Karma :

I vote you get yourself a nice little toy bike. Get a 400 sports bikes of a 250 strocker to scream all through summer, but with the added bang at the end of it.

And yes the GSXR400 makes sense.
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VAG Cars - www.vagcars.co.uk - North East VAG Owners Club

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Given your comments in the past on the NSR and the VFR you owned I suspect you would not be happy on a 2 squeak 250 or the NS400.

What do you want out of a bike? Do you just want something a bit more sporting than the VX, with a fair amount of low down power? If so one of the retro styled 750s would maybe do the job.

All the best

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

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Robby,
You don't like sportsbikes, so why go for one?

I voted for you to sell the VX because I like sportsbikes, and I love the handling aspect of it.

You didn't get on with an NC24, which is a sweet handling and fun bike. Perhaps you had a duff one? who knows. The real point is, why do you want an ikkle sportsbike, when you might just as well enjoy a GSX400 or something? reasonably cheap to insure etc, with a bit of zip and not ridiculously heavy.

Personally I would say try a sweet handling well looked after sportsbike and see how you get on. If you hate it then, well its time for a cruiser again isn't it? Wink

Or how about a Yamaha BT1100 Bulldog? Smile

____________________
British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Buy a proper cruiser Robby. None of this half-assed commuter nonsense, a proper cruiser.

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Well the "what do I want" question is the big bastard.

I really want a speed triple, or something similar. A big, fast, different, unfaired monster.

However, i'm not that rich, and I couldn't justify spending real money on something to do very few miles on. Probably going to be 2 or 3k per year.

Are there any little unfaired strokers? I know of the RG200 wolf, grey import one, but its a bit small and silly.

Possibly an RD350... But do they handle well, or do they handle well in 1984 speak.

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

Doddmaster · World Chat Champion Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Bendy is right. You don't want a sportsbike and you don't want a lame commuter bike, so get a Harley, or a jap Harley-clone. Then you have comfort and can go round posing Cool

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

Speed triples cost lots.

The budget here is about a grand; I wouldn't spend more on a bike to do so few miles, and it will be insured TPO.

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

All id say is dont buy an NS400R. I very nearly did, just as i thought it would be cool, a big 3pot stroker. But spares are virtually non existant for this bike now, and major parts like pistons/ cranks, and gearbox parts are unavailable new, and so most of these bikes will eventually end up being scrapped i guess. The RD500 is really rare and pricey, bu being a yam, at least you can still get all the motor parts for it etc. The RG500 will be the last 500cc stroker that you see on the roads, as it was more popular when new, and they are still making parts and conversions for it now, its a cult bike, and the motor is a favorite for 2 stroke specials builders around the world, being that its compact, and fairly reliable.
I was looking for a small 2 stroke but bigger than 125cc for ages before i got the KMX, but really i would only have considered other trail bikes, DT200R, MTX200, TSR200 or a TDR250. I was suprised to find another KMX200, but compared to the MTX its not rare, and the chances of getting a DT or TS 200 are very unlikey as they were never sold in the u.k. There's a few TDR's about, and i think the best 2 stroke road/trail bike for a fun second bike would be a CRM250AR. They are rare and very expensive though.

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Surprised Honda have given up on parts for the NS400. Honda used to make parts for every vehicle they had ever sold, so somthing that is only around 15 years old should still be supported.

All the best

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

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Get yourself a nice little RGV250 or RS250. Thumbs Up

MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

Yamaha SDR200's are nice. They have good sized wheels, are very light and flickable and have no expensive fairing panels to damage. 200ccs of 2 -stroke power!

The Yamaha R1Z 250 is quite nice too! Not in any way related to the R1, its effectively a naked TZR250 . Smile

Its jap import only though.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

Its a real shame, but Honda definately dont have stocks of any new major parts, for the NS400 motor, and other main components. Honda specialists like David Silver do still find some new parts, but alot of people are wanting cranks, and pistons. Bodywork and suspension parts seem to be available tho. Im still well glad that i didnt go for the NS400 streetfighter tho, as i would have spent a fortune, and could have ended up in the shit, if i needed parts. Im happy with the KMX200 i got, but as i have already had 1 before i would have equally have liked to have found an MTX200, TS200R or DT200R. The DT being the favourite! (same motor as the SDR200) The TDR is a good bike, but i used to have a TZR250, so its similar in some ways. I think bikes like the RD350YPVS and RG250 are great, but id probably get bored with a sports style stroker, and these bikes are more expensive to work with being sportsbikes. One bike i would love to have one day would be a big street legal air cooled enduro bike, like a Yamaha DT400MX or an IT465, just for the hell of it really!