Which 250cc sport bike should I get?

[Le_Thon]

The models that appeal to me are the Dongfang 250rtc, JL250P, Yingang YG3R-250, and the Shineray 250cc. Any suggestions on those bikes and good places to buy them? I take it I should start this thread somewhere else?

Does anyone have any experience with any of these bikes? If so please let me know! I am dying to upgrade from my 125cc WMX enduro. Also Im in St. Paul, MN, if anyone has one local that they would kindly show me. Don't worry I am no creep just looking for the best 250cc bike out there.

I found a few places online to buy them but I have been reading a lot of bad reviews of scooterdepot and mxmotorsports...

[FastDoc]

I've had good personal experiance with Scooter Depot, as have some others here. :D

Of the bikes you specifically mentioned, the Shineray 250cc is probably the best.

[FastDoc]

Again, JMHO.

[Le_Thon]

Thanks for the reply. Too bad scooter depot dosent have the yingang, thats the one I really want. Have you heard anything about mxmotorsports recently?

[ejcycles]

Hi Le_Thon

If you want an honest opinion... The best bike for the money is a Hyosung GT250 or GT250R. You will have to find a Dealer as these bikes are not shipped in a crate.

You can find them here: http://www.hyosungmotorsusa.com/ and their dealer locator is in the upper right corner.

[makenzie71]

^werd lol. They're a superior platform. It'll cost more than the Chinese bikes...but not much more.

[FastDoc]

http://kpr.craigslist.org/mcy/2440098823.html

[makenzie71]

http://kpr.craigslist.org/mcy/2440098823.html

The United Motors VM is the best looking ones by far....I just wish it wasn't +$500ish for the better paint scheme.

[makenzie71]

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ram/mcy/2424018164.html

Basically new

http://stcloud.craigslist.org/bik/2454834617.html

That one has been listed a few times. I wouldn't offer more than $2k.

[Le_Thon]

Hey thanks for all the replies. And I have been looking at the hyosungs, I just do not want to spend that much. I like to work one bikes, so it does not phase me that much to buy a cheaper china bike.

But Ill go ahead and put in an offer on those hyosungs on craiglist!

[Le_Thon]

I am currently in conversation with one of the owners of the hyosungs listed above on CL, I hope he likes/accepts my offer!

[katoranger]

St Cloud is not that far up the road from St Paul. Looks like a decent deal.

The Roseville bike is too much. A 250 ninja would be a better buy.

[Le_Thon]

I was trying to get the roseville guy to go down to around 2300. I am waiting his reply. Let hope I get it! The one in St. Cloud does not work, the starter went out on it. He wanted $3000 before that happened now he only wants 2300 so I am going to pass on that bike.

[katoranger]

Okay. Roseville is alot closer. My sister lives in White Bear and I use to live near the University.

[Le_Thon]

Yeah they didnt reply... but Im still looking for bikes local!

[makenzie71]

Well that sucks. That really would have been a great bike for a 250.

Are you dead set on a 250? There are a ton of older rides out there for pretty good money. The last bike I bought, a 1993 Katana 750, was in fantastic mechanical (and okay cosmetic) condition and it only cost me $500. Early SV650's pop up here and there for $1000~2000.

If you think you need a 250, then I would look for an older EX. I'm just not a big fan of the Chinese "sport" bikes...I love the off road stuff, but after seeing some of the things I have I just don't feel they're that safe for consistent 70mph duty.

[Le_Thon]

Im just looking for any commuter sport bike really, like a 600 or a 250 dosent matter to me. I am going to be doing a lot of riding for an upcoming job and would like efficient travel. My camaro does not cut it at all... MPG < 18 = sucks!

[SilveradoSS]

Does anyone think that buying a motorcycle as a gas saver is a bad idea? I know that when I bought mine, I thought that I was going to save money, but I didn't really when I added in the total cost of ownership. Now to me, it is a toy to enjoy. I can't do my grocery shopping or any other "heavy" work without my primary mode of transportation. And, I'm afraid to ride it in rush hour traffic, so it has been relegated to a toy of interest for in-town commuting as I don't use it for any of the reasons that I originally bought it for. I thought I would ride the bike and "preserve" my big investment in my pick-up, but I find that I still use the 4-wheeler most of the time and the bike for recreational purposes only. Sorry to get off track, Le_Thon!

[katoranger]

Unless you can ride year round and put on alot of miles and do all your own work and watch for good deals on replacement parts and the bike gets significantly better mileage than your car you won't save money.

Yes that is a run on sentence.

My scooter can do all of the above.

[SpudRider]

Unless you can ride year round and put on alot of miles and do all your own work and watch for good deals on replacement parts and the bike gets significantly better mileage than your car you won't save money.

Yes that is a run on sentence.

My scooter can do all of the above.
I agree on all points, Allen. :) My Zongshen 200GY-2 can do all of the above, also. :)

Spud :)

[Le_Thon]

I see what you guys mean. Ill get one and see how it goes! I can do all my own work just can only ride it 6 months outta the year :/

[Barnone]

I think a lot of people buy a bike/scooter in the USA with the intention of riding it a lot to save money only to find out that the bike doesn't get ridden that much for whatever reason.

I remember when I had a bike for my only means of transportation going to college in Houston Texas back in the 1960's. You don't know how much it rains and how cold it gets until you ride a bike full time.

Seems that the people in foreign countries that have to ride a bike for economic reasons jump at the first chance to move up to a automobile.

[katoranger]

I see what you guys mean. Ill get one and see how it goes! I can do all my own work just can only ride it 6 months outta the year :/

I road year round in MN. Just not on the street.

Also, a new japanese 650cc bike will not save anything. Seems that you need to stick to small displacement to get the math to work out.

Just remember the smileage factor.