http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Hyosung-GT-250_W0QQitemZ4568950918QQcategoryZ6719QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If I can pick one up for a grand or so I think it would a be a blast to commute on.

Jake

i've heard good things from people who own Hyosungs.  a couple of people on the about motorcycles forum owned their 250cc cruiser and really liked it.

i've heard some speculation that Korean bikes might do to Japanese bikes what Japanese bikes did to British bikes in the 60s.

There's no comparison between Japanese bikes of today and British bikes of the '60s.  There isn't a niche of reliability to slide into.

that's true.  however, the Koreans and the Chinese may well be able to undercut the price while maintaining comparable quality.

Mebbe.  But they tried to do that with scooters, and it has yet to work - the cheap Chinese scooters don't sell well.  Part of that is that they just don't have the network of service folk who know the vehicles and parts for them.

And another is that Americans like big bikes, and we're willing to pay for them.  I would love it if the SV400 were available here in the States - but it's not that Japanese bikemakers won't make fun small-displacement bikes; it's that most Americans won't buy them.

Quote from: RoadstergalMebbe.  But they tried to do that with scooters, and it has yet to work - the cheap Chinese scooters don't sell well.  Part of that is that they just don't have the network of service folk who know the vehicles and parts for them.

And another is that Americans like big bikes, and we're willing to pay for them.  I would love it if the SV400 were available here in the States - but it's not that Japanese bikemakers won't make fun small-displacement bikes; it's that most Americans won't buy them.

I just seen a pic of a SV400s on another website.  53hp @ 10,500 and 367 lbs for the S model and the SV400 350 lbs dry.  They also had stats on the GS 47 hp @ 9,200 and 396 lbs.
Suzuki models    Just go to 2004 models page #4 for the SV400.

I love the tail peice on the Hyosung.

That SV400 looks very interesting. I understand that most bikes made for the domestic market in japan are 250s & 400s, something to do with local insurance.

When I finally bought my Gs new in '03 I looked around at a lot of bikes, one that caught my eye was the Hyosung Comet GT650 but considering how near the cost is to the real thing, Suzuki SV650 and a slightly "iffy" rep here I can't see how they will sell unless they come down a lot. A nearbye dealership I phoned, can I ride one ? No, can I see-touch one, No, but they would order me one, some chance. With a dealer network like that it's all going to be uphill.

Smaller bikes are big sellers here, 125s in particular, some of the Chineese and Korean bikes are not brilliant but some are amazingly well finished and seem very good value, Kymco sells well around here, they are a firm from Taiwan and build in Korea, Indonesia and China also plenty of 50cc / 125c scooters as starter bikes from Spain, Italy and the far east some amazingly well equipped, heated grips etc on bikes that are new on-the-road for less than a grand.