CB250 Nighthawk - what should I check on it?

[Ron4x]

Gentlemen (and biker ladies)

After much deliberation I have decided to start with a "sensible" 250. When I have cut my old teeth on it, then something bigger.....

So this evening I will be visiting to inspect a P-reg 1998. CB250.

What weaknesses should I be keeping my eye open for please, on that model?

Many thanks for your assistance.

Ron

[Teflon-Mike]

It's the Honda Benley Engine. Pretty tough little thing on the whole. Doesn't make enough power to do itself much real harm, about 20bhp. Main worry is oil starvation, if allowed to run low on oil, or not had oil changes done. Pretty small oil capacity & a TINY mesh oil strainer inside primary drive few ever bother cleaning.

Tappets are screw & lock-nut, & cam-Chain tensioner is manual adjust; these often neglected, so could account for any tappety rattles.

If left derelict, rings can gum & pressed back into service suffer pramature bore wear. Same as any bike, but these are tad more prone. Clutches can get sticky from lay-ups too.

On whole they have a couple of 'niggles'.

First is they are budget commuters, from birth, and living in the bargain basement owners are loath to do much if any maintenance to them, even more spend any money doing it. Getting worse older cheaper they get where a pair of tyres and a sprocket set can be more than the bikes worth!

Next; they are an uncommon model. Not exactly rare, but they never sold in great numbers. They share a lot of comon parts with other Benley based bikes, but some parts are pretty hard to come by, especially used.

Front brake is Nissin Twin-Piston floating caliper. Used on many models of bike, its pretty effective, but they are prone to gumming up and siezing. Semi-Cruiser styling & commuter use of bike often sees owners using a lot more back brake and the fronts get neglected. When the pistons corrode, they are £150 to replace & overhaul the caliper.

Exhausts on ALL the benley based bikes seem prone to rotting, seem to go most at balanve pipe. This is a daft one, in it ought not be a biggie, but on some models new 'zorsts are £200, which can make a bike beyond-ecconomical! But I have a feeling that the 'zorsts on the 'Two-Fifty' are peculiarly hard to come by.

TOP BOOK on one in mint condition is only about £800. They are not valuable bikes. Anything over £500 I would expect to be very neat and tidy, and have nice new tyres and obviousely 'good' front brake, & no nasty rattles.

As a bike to get you back in the saddle? Hmmm why not. They are light, and freindly, and can be a bit of a giggle, though you wont be blasting down the M5 on it!

Only thing that I'd be a bit wary of is that if you paid towards top book for it, and after a few months decided you wanted something bit more inspiring, or more long haul useful, you could struggle to get back your buy-price.... but? Cheap bike, how much can you really 'loose'? If cheap enough? What the heck? Disposeable 'fun'.

As any second hand bike; go on your gut. Is the seller giving you any twitches? And the bike? Well dont be fooled by the shiney bits, but, look over the whole thing carefully, under the seat, peer under the tank, look for signs of neglect and or ham-fisted maintenence, botches and bends. Look for signs of strategically applied copper grease, and 'good' maintenence. Listen to the engine. Try for a test ride. And go with it.

Have 'fun'... that's what you are buying for, and buying can be the start of that fun, even if you dont buy!

Just remember, there's no fool like an old fool, and a fool and thier money are soon parted
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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?'