VTR 250

[Bridger]

Anyone have any experience with a Honda VTR 250 Interceptor?  Im lookin at an 88 for $1000 that looks good and runs good.  Should be the perfect bike for my wife to learn on, low seat height and light.  Any thoughts?

[AccidentalF]

I knew a kid who had one and loved it, and i know that I think they are neato...beyond that I am useless...

[mister]

Compared to a Honda CBF 250 (or older CB250) it's faster. But lighter isn't always better - cross winds, for instance. [edit - sorry, just re-read to see OP is talking about an 88]

One girl that goes on rides with us has a Suzuki Intruder 250 and she rides like a demon. Has no issues overtaking the pack to get to the position she wants - she'll corner mark then make her way back up to the front.

The GS is good for learning - and for after learning. Is there a reason you're not looking at a GS? Have you taken the bike (any bike) for a spin to see what she feels comfortable on?

Michael

[Bridger]

Shes ridden my GS and is for some reason intimidated by it I was gonna buy her a brand new Ninja 250(she has looked at them and they don't intimidate her), but I'm pretty sure she'll probly drop it at least once or twice since shes only 5 1 115 pounds.  She can't even flatfoot my GS and there's no way I'm gonna lower it for her.

[joshr08]

if you do a search on honda VTR250 you might get a nice little look at a project bike that i did over the winter. 

[simoniz]

Josh has one and so do I, they are fast and furious for a 250 and your wife will love it. Very tractable and easy to ride, but also some fun to be had on the open road when you wind up it past 9000rpm, then it screams and takes off. But as she progresses and gets used to it, it will suit her well, plus the seat height is nice and low. Let us know when you buy it, there is a VTR250 forum and a Yahoo Group I can link you to.

[Dr.Sparkie]

>Shes ridden my GS and is for some reason intimidated by it

i can vouch for that. my GF dropped my gs twice because of the weight and height. she couldnt flatfoot it either until i lowered it 1.25"

[birdman561]

I was considering a real, nice low mileage one that hovered on
Craigslist for a while before my GS. I researched it pretty thoroughly and
the only negative I could find about it was that is was prone to burning
out its stator at any time and heat affected the voltage regulator.
But, a lot of old UJM's had that problem.
You can wrap the reg and get a nicer aftermarket stator from a cbr600
that will work and make it bulletproof.  This is what I read on a few VTR
pages, anyway

[tt_four]

Yeah, i really wish I would've tracked down a ninja 250 for Heather. She likes naked bikes better, but the GS is kinda top heavy and tall, I think she would've been much more comfortable on the 250, and even if it doesn't have as much HP, it can still cruise at the same speeds. I had one for a year and a half and loved it, and that was back roads, highway, rain, cold, and whatever else, it's just so hard to find a cheap one because people get them, ride them for 600 miles, and try to resell them after they learned how to ride for the same price they bought it for.

The vtr sounds awesome though

[joshr08]

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=46909.0 heres a little something for your viewing pleasure.

[Bridger]

I rode that lil VTR 250 today....  Didn't use the choke, the bike was cold.  It fired instantly and held an idle.  Took off 10 seconds later down the street with no popping and coughing whatsoever......  Sure wish my 09 F could do that.......   That bike ran and rode good, tho the front end seemed soft.  Maybe just needs fork oil?  Also, the brakes were very weak.  Anyone know what it may cost to replace them?

[Bridger]

I think I'm gonna try and get it for $800.  It's complete with 12k miles.  It's in pretty good shape.  Im gonna lay a new gloss black paint job down on it with my new ASTRO EVO gun if we get it.

[simoniz]

The front forks are air assisted, so a few pumps with a bike pump (not an airline, you will blow the seals) will fix that. If not, new fork oil is an easy fix. The brakes have probably never, ever been serviced, or had new pads, as everyone is terrified of the enclosed front brake. Pads are still available, and servicing it is not impossible, you just have to reverse your thinking about brake disks.

Yes, they do run like a Swiss watch, even from cold - HD riders call that soulless because it doesn't sound like a bag of broken wrenches all the time, but I love it.

Go for it, I hope you get it!

[Bridger]

Huh, well thanks for the good info.  man, that bike was soooo easy to ride.  Made the GS feel big!

[mister]

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=46909.0 heres a little something for your viewing pleasure.

That was/is... nice.

I've been following the Project on another thread. Up to 18 pages now. Going on for 2 years. And still not finished. You show how little projects can be completed in a timely fashion. A little bit every day or so and it is done.

Wife still enjoying the ride?

To the OP. I can see a lack of confidence easily coming from not being able to flatfoot while on the bike. I'd completely forgotten, what with me being 6'2. I have the same prob with my wife - cannot flatfoot the GS, so we're looking for something lower in height and at the moment that means Small Cruiser, Prob Suzuki as I've ridden the Yamahas and they vibrate too much.

Michael

[brickerenator]

I saw one on ebay the other day, I WANT!!!

Other than that, I have nothing to offer.

[Bridger]

It was a cool bike, but were getting a new Ninja 250 for her on Wednesday. 

[jserio]

not a bad choice. i've kinda fallen in love with the new ninja 250 as well. 

[birdman561]

It was a cool bike, but were getting a new Ninja 250 for her on Wednesday. 

Hopefully you'll post a review ? 

[Bridger]

Got the new Ninja 250 today.  Puts the GS to shame cosmeticially.  Pics and a review 2moro when I have more time.