Question:
OK you bikers - I'm considering a Yamaha YBR250 or a Honda CBF250 - anyone had experience of these machines.
anonymous
2007-08-03 07:56:15 UTC
It's proving difficult to get user info - all that seems to be available on the net is the same stuff - makers blurb etc. Details of ride, build, performance & fuel consumption would be really useful - good or bad, don't hold back!
Eight answers:
ShuggieMac
2007-08-07 01:32:32 UTC
Well I am 43 years old - so no spring chicken either but have been riding for 25 plus years and a bike business owner, so no young kid with stars in my eyes.



If you want a commuter for about 60 odd miles a day then in all honesty I would rather point you in the direction of a different style of bike altogether. I would be happy to advise so if you see this and let me know which country you are in for a start and if the commute will be on urban, country and or highways then that would certainly help.



Did you pick these two bikes for a specific reason?



EDIT - OK thanks for the feedback. Actually when I was saying a different style of bike, I must have been having a blonde dyslexic moment and misread the names of the bikes (mixed them up in my head with enduro style bikes). In all honesty for what you want then it is not a bad choice - to a point.



These are both from two of the companies with the best build reputations in world, so quality will not be a major issue for you but they are at the budget end of their ranges. I can't tell you where they are made but they may well be from non Japanese factories. They are both single cylinder engine bikes and will not bestow you with much in the way of power at about 20hp in both cases, which I suspect is not your major desire but sometimes is handy to get out of a tight spot, or over take a wagon. They would be good enough utility bikes and will get you back and forth no problem but things like suspension and brakes will be pretty crude.



However I would suggest for a 60 mile commute that you consider something slightly bigger but still not in head down, bum up sports category - along the lines of a Honda CBF500 which is a twin cylinder bike and will feel a whole lot less frantic on your journey. It has better spec components on it and for example has a disc rear brake as opposed to the small drum on the others. It also can be supplied with optional ABS and the like, should that be of interest. It has a slightly more user friendly power figure of around mid 50's horse power but that will come pretty high up the rev range. Thus in the main at the speed where you will be riding it will still feel very controllable and placid yet you know there will be something there should you get into bother. Other options would be the likes of the Kawasaki ER-5 which is similar (but would need to be a used buy), or the Suzuki GS500 which is available also with a fairing for a bit of weather protection.



If you are not fussed about looks, maybe also consider one of the maxi-scooters that are out there. I ride Ducati sport bikes but am thinking about one of these for the more mundane journeys as they are so comfortable, ecomomical and well, just damn civilised. I am thinking along the lines of the Suzuki Burgman 400, or the Yamaha X-Max250, Majesty 400 and similar. There are a number of people here on the continent who use them as touring machines, they are that comfortable.



I hope there is something for you to think about there. If you want to chat about it more then you can email me at shuggiemac@yahoo.com but in summary what you have selected are not bad choices but basic, though I think in the longer term something slightly bigger and thus more relaxed may suit better.



Best of luck
arroya
2016-10-20 11:22:14 UTC
Yamaha Ybr 250
Muddy
2007-08-03 09:10:38 UTC
OK, here goes!! Dont! Both are truly aweful cheap tat bikes!! They dont go, dont stop, dont handle (my Kawasaki W650 was more fun in the corners when it had a slow puncture and I didnt realise!!), dont start in the cold and wet, have appalling lights, abysmal suspension and a sniff of road salt will turn the whole thing orange. My mate had one and I rode it just to see how bad it was....without doubt the worst bike I've ever ridden without crash damage! Fuel consumption is its only redeeming feature, taking it easy will see almost 90mpg and it'll run on a sniff of gas (assuming it isnt cold and wet!). Oh and its comfortable, but the other factors will make you take the car unless you're some kind of masochist!!

If you're after a decent 250 I'm afraid you're choices are pretty limited. The Aprilia RS250 is awesome if you consider race reps, as is the CBR250 (baby blade), however the only other small bikes I can think of are either motorcrossers or superscoots.....sorry!!
ruvalcaba
2016-12-16 09:33:08 UTC
Honda Cbf250
outremerknight
2007-08-04 06:47:28 UTC
Performance and CBF250 don't go together in the same sentence. Why a 250? Any special reason?
tunnellram
2007-08-06 21:15:42 UTC
look for a low mileage kawasaki vulcan or suzuki intruder. a 250 will not hold up. look in the 750 range, anything smaller won't get out of it's own way. keep on riding
z900a4
2007-08-09 01:15:39 UTC
honda very reliable.kawasaki er500 great rider position and power to get out of near scrapes.
goat
2007-08-03 08:11:19 UTC
well it is a starter or ...gulp..chick bike


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
Loading...