Opinions on VTR250

[itsnotagsr]

Hey guys,
Bout to get my licence and Im looking at various bikes. Havent decided whether to get a racer or a naked bike, but the VTR250s seem to look pretty good. Has anyone got or had one? Opinions please....

[Nucci]

They are probably the best first/learner bike out there, they are a honda so can't go wrong as far as build quality, fit and finish and resale goes.

250 V twin, as far as two fiddy's go they have nice accessible power, no fairings to worry about and they look like a mini monster.

2003 and later models come with a tacho and revised rear suspension.

[dazza]

The early ones didn't have a tacho? WTF

[fro]

I had a very early Aus delivered one ('99 model?). It came with the service book in Japanese only...

It was a great learners bike. Zippy enough round town, great for maneouvring around the city, and just big enough to do 2 hour trips, but not much more.

If you can pick up a second-hand one, it'd be worth the cash. I dropped $2k on mine, but wasn't upset about it, 'cause I had it for two years, got what I wanted out of it, and never had a problem.

[fro]

Oh, and no, the early ones didn't have a tacho. They looked just like a mini-Monster (which didn't ahve a tacho at the time, either).

[Vicko]

Don't let the lack of tacho distract from a top bike.

Awesome little jiggers they are. One of the few 250s that are fun to fling about. Not exactly stump pullers (no 250s are), but you won't be used to anything else and its all relative.

Good choice - do it :)

[_shay]

Any one know about fuel consumption on these? particularly on the highway.

[dazza]

I don't think I could handle not having a tacho... I thought I was revving the crap outa my bike and then you look at the tacho and you've got 10,000 rpm to go!

[Shifty]

Fuel consuption... a mate took his old carby GSXR600 for a 350km fang and it cost him $19 in fuel... so no bike is going to be horrendous :)

[dazza]

255km on 12L last week for me (Not entirely sure on that I try and fill the tank to the same spot each time although its probably not entirely accurate although at most 13L)

That's 21km/ltr by the way :D Ok probably more like 19 or 20...

[itsnotagsr]

Thanks guys. Seems like a good bike. The prices seem to be about $4-5k. Seem reasonable? Are people usually that negotiable on bike prices?

[fro]

What year model? How many kilometres?

I sold mine back in '01, '99 model with 15k on the clock, for $5500. I'd imagine that a 2-year old with around 15-20k on the odo would sell for a similar price now... but haven't looked at the 250 market in a while.

[itsnotagsr]

Thanks. Prices and ages range. I've just been looking on bikepoint. Are there any other good sites to try? Tradingpost seems to be good too.

[nissanpower]

theyre not bad
look at zzr's and cbr's a couple of my friends have them
nice bikes

[itsnotagsr]

Yeah thats the alternative...

[Nucci]

If you get the chance, VTR's are the way to go in my opinion.

ZZR's are great - I used to ride one but VTR's are a much nicer ride.

As far as CBR's go, I wouldnt go near one but that is just me. I was keen as mustard on getting one, but unfortunately I couldnt justify the price when some of the ones I looked at were 15 years old.

Go a VTR!

[fro]

If it's your first bike, the chances are that you'll drop it at some point in time. The VTR being a naked bike is heaps easier, and lot less to damage.

Picking up a second hand one, it's also easy to see if it has been damaged in the pastm, with the frame all exposed. The fairing on a CBR250 can hide quite a few indiscretions.

The VTR doesn't have the grunt of a CBR, but has plenty more torque, in a much more accessible band of revs. I test rode an Across and CBR, and didn't want to have to rev the crap out of my first bike to get out of the way of traffic.

And the lack of a tacho never bothered me. Just rode it where I felt comfortable changing. I probably wasn't using the entire rev range available, but it was never a problem.

Ride a few, get what you like. But my VTR was great, and I don't regret getting it.

[itsnotagsr]

Fro.. yep thats why I was thinking naked. Im guessing at some stage I'll drop it or it will get a knock from something whilst parked.

Tacho would be nice though...

I think the only thing thats holding me back at the moment is that the racers (eg CBR) just look a little tougher/purposeful. *shrugs*

The other thing that kind of annoys me is the big space above the back wheel.

But I think the riding position will be more comfortable on the VTR than the CBR/ZZR/Across. The crown jewels were getting numb enough on the CB learners.. cant imagine what it would be like on a CBR after more than 20min!

[_shay]

Hey guys, a bit OT but..

I just got a job that requires me to drive from the northside of brisbane to the gold coast everyday. I am looking at the cheapest mode of transport available! I was thinking a vtr250 would be 'the shit' because it's torquey enough to be comfortable at 110 with out too many revs. Do you guys know of any other bikes i should consider? I have an open licence and have owned r6's and r1's before.

[dazza]

If you have an open liscence get something bigger no question

If you've ridden something bigger I think a 250 wouldn't satisfy in comparison, I seriously thikn if your travelling on the highway I doubt a smaller bike would work out any better all on fuel than a bigger bike

[Belly_up]

another vote for the VTR250 here! but you already knew that.

I get about 220-240kms of 10L most weeks, and thats not riding with economy in mind.

[itsnotagsr]

Any opinions on a Suz. GS500 vs a VTR250? The 500 is apparently learner legal.

[MadHatter]

pfft no tacho.. just shift when the rev limiter kicks in.. or when the valves start bouncing if there is no limiter.
I got there in .5 scs every gear on the fizzer.