New 250

Scoops

Ok so I want to sit my A driving test (I have already applied) and now I need to get a 250 on which to sit it- can anyone recommend a reliable good 250cc motorbike that would be most suitable to sit my driving test.

The honda cb250 would be a fairly bulletproof bike. It all depends on whether you want to ride it after the test? A bros 400cc is learner leagal too because of its power. Other than that yamaha have dragstar / virago 250's and suzuki have the maurauder 250. Hyosung have a nice looking 250 called the comet too.

Pigeon Reaper

Most 250's are fairly expensive. Especially the higher powered ones like CBR, hornet, bandits etc. The 250 crusiers lack power for the weight of the bikes. Any of these will do for the test. You could look at the likes of the Bros, or some 400cc crusiers which come under the 33BHP. You could get anything restricted if you wanted but check the insurance on them first. The CB250 is pretty bomb proof. I don't know about Hyosung but owners seem to be very happy with them.

Scoops

I like the look of the cb250 but I believe they are quite hard to come by.

tk123

If you just want the bike for the test you can hire them out from ISM etc.

Scoops

tk123 wrote:

If you just want the bike for the test you can hire them out from ISM etc.

I knew that but I think I'd be as well to have the bike for a while before the test so that I'm completely used to it. Also I want to buy something reasonably decent and keep it for a few months afterwards aswell. Thanks for letting me know though.

Scoops

What are the best websites to look on for used bikes sales- I have had a look at Gorey bikes, motomax and bikebuyerswguide. Are there any others that I'm not aware of?

autotrader.ie
buyandsell.ie
donedeal.ie

Scoops

Thanks Baz

Pigeon Reaper

Can't think of any others.

Motomax are expensive for Bikes. Dropping into the shops will normally turn up a better choice as most don't put all the bikes on the net. If you know what you're doing try buying private as you'll save alot but be careful if going this way.

Hotblack Desiato

Scoops wrote:

I knew that but I think I'd be as well to have the bike for a while before the test so that I'm completely used to it. Also I want to buy something reasonably decent and keep it for a few months afterwards aswell.

You do realise you'll remain restricted for two years after getting your full licence..?

Scoops

Yes I know that but not to a 250cc.

Hotblack Desiato

:rolleyes: you're not restricted to a 250 now either. Passing your test doesn't change the restriction!
Buying a bike you don't really want with the intention of selling it in a few months is a sure way of wasting a lot of money.

wolfman

I dont get this?
I thought if you have a provisional, you can only ride 125cc or 33bhp. I would be interested in a Hornet as a first bike, but can I ride it on provisional? I got the provisional about 18 months ago and have still not got a bike

Idleater

wolfman wrote:

I dont get this?
I thought if you have a provisional, you can only ride 125cc or 33bhp. I would be interested in a Hornet as a first bike, but can I ride it on provisional? I got the provisional about 18 months ago and have still not got a bike

On an A provisional (and for the subsequent 2 years after passing the DOE test) you may drive any bike with a power to weight ratio of <=0.16kw/kg.

Whether you can or not probably depends on training which I would heartily recommend.

The ratio basically covers any bike up to 25kw/33HP and a couple of Heavy higher power cruisers and the like that fall under the power/weight criterion.

There are now many bikes that are normally more than 25kw but are "factory restricted" down to this level, so if you want a ZX6R you can. I don't know what the power of the 250 hornet is so it is possible that it is at the top end of the power limit (like the 400cc BROS).


L.

Hotblack Desiato

@ Wolfman: No.

Class A1 (provisional or full) is <= 125cc AND <= 11kW (about 15hp)

Class A provisional, or first 2 years of full licence: Any cc, <= 25kW OR <= 0.16kW/kg

Class A full, once 2 year period expires: Unrestricted


I presume you're talking about a Hornet 250. I believe they're over 33hp/25kW


EDIT: beat me to it nereid

Hotblack Desiato

nereid wrote:

Whether you can or not probably depends on training which I would heartily recommend.

I agree on the training, but the idea that big bikes = bad, small bikes = good is not borne out by crash data.

Lack of experience, lack of training and excess of testosterone is a bad mixture in any type of vehicle, motorised or not...

wolfman

Cheers lads!

Well it will need to be a big bike anyway (not a small guy )

I believe the Hornet 250 is approx 40/42bhp, so it looks like thats ruled out for me anyway

I have a Class A provisional, so basically - @ninja900, from what you are saying, my limit is 33hp/25kw OR a bike with a power to a weight ratio of less than or equal to .16kw/kg

Hmmm. Need to look around more then. Also, I would go along with the big bikes/small bikes arguement and yes, I would also need to look at training, although at this stage of my life, I would kinda hope I have the testosterone thing under control!!!! (Oldy! )

Hotblack Desiato

wolfman wrote:

@ninja900, from what you are saying, my limit is 33hp/25kw OR a bike with a power to a weight ratio of less than or equal to .16kw/kg

Yeah, you can have more than 33hp if your bike is very heavy, but unless you're into cruisers this isn't much help! A GL1500 GoldWing (100hp) was so heavy it fell within the power to weight ratio, I believe a DragStar 650 does too. But cruisers ain't my thang, baby!

yes, I would also need to look at training, although at this stage of my life, I would kinda hope I have the testosterone thing under control!!!! (Oldy! )

Well, according to the insurers the only cure for being a higher risk is... a sex change :eek:

galwaytt

...or, my Aprilia Atlantic 500, weighing 193kg and with 28.5Kw comes in at 0.14766Kw/kg.........means you can ride it on a Provisional A.

And it ain't slow, and it ain't heavy.......and it ain't a cruiser !!

Oh, and I'm selling it.

Q_Ball

so the hornet 250 is out of contention on a provisional A?

dang

Esel

This one looks like a runner?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054927563

(It has just been posted on adverts.ie as well).

insomniac_32

Q_Ball wrote:

so the hornet 250 is out of contention on a provisional A?

dang

Im on a provisional A and could get in sured on a Hornet 250 if I wanted to part with the €2500 to insure it. I know a lad I work with was turned down insurance on a Hornet but it wasnt because of the licence but because he had no NCB.

Hotblack Desiato

insomniac32 wrote:

Im on a provisional A and could get in sured on a Hornet 250

Proves nothing. It's not the insurer's job to enforce the licensing rules, they just want to take your money. Just because they take your money doesn't mean that your policy is worth the paper it's printed on. It's YOUR responsibility and no-one else's to make sure you comply with the law.

Hotblack Desiato

Q_Ball wrote:

so the hornet 250 is out of contention on a provisional A?

That depends, have you got accurate power and weight figures for the particular year?
Though it's very difficult for a small, light bike to benefit from the power to weight ratio. E.g. if it makes 30kW it needs to weigh 187kg to be legal on a restricted licence (my old CBR600 weighed about that much.)

Q_Ball

i'll just have to ring insurance and find out