You're welcome I almost forgot to tell you about the biggest downside to the V-Star 650 - its charging system. The charging system puts out about 240 watts at highway speed. Now, the bike uses about 180 watts just riding around so it sounds good, right? Well, there's a bit of a complication. There's a pair of electric carburetor heaters that kick in at any temperature below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Those heaters use 60 watts. If you're adding everything up, that means that my bike uses all of its electrical power at highway speed if the temp is below 50. If you're just going around town and it's colder than 50 degrees, you're going to be discharging the battery. I don't get too much highway riding time, so I've taken to hooking the bike up to a battery charger every couple of days
I put 14000 miles on a Triumph America in one Northeast riding season. Rode with every type of cruiser and never regretted one mile. That bike is WAY under the radar.
Not putting out enough electrical power can be a problem. Putting out too much power can be an even bigger problem. I had an '85 Goldwing 1200LTD (the fuel injected model) and it had a 500 watt stator. The bike with no accessories probably used less than 200 watts. Heres where things get complicated. Motorcycle stators, unlike car alternators, do not vary their output based on load. They run wide open all the time. The extra power that is not used is literally SHORTED to ground by the regulator, turning it into heat. Now, this is a dumb way to do it in the first place, using engine power to generate more electrical power than is needed, but then disposing of it as heat is even dumber. Yes, brakes waste energy as heat, which makes them wear out faster. That's unfortunate, but there is not much you can do about it. But alternator output can be controlled. It's always been done that way on cars, and is on '88 and up Goldwings with real alternators. The problem I ran into with that 500 watt stator running full blast all the time was that the regulator couldn't handle the excess current, and got red hot. Hot enough to set some wires on fire at one point. A higher capacity regulator with the ability to dissipate heat better would have been a band aid solution, but IMO the whole concept is wrong. I have never had a problem with the charging system on any other bike (I did rig a headlight off switch on some of them so I could use the power for my electric gloves) but I never had a bike that made 500 watts either. This was clearly a design flaw by Honda.
Yeah, most of the cruisers in that class are about that hp:weight ratio. Torque is pretty close too. Those bikes have a whole nother personality to riding. Like a tractor. You just short shift it and go where you're going, smelling the roses as you go.
well, yesterday I went to my local multi-brand dealer and I had a chance to sit on several of the cruiser models. I had forgotten what the feeling was like, and now I can see why you mention the good and the bad of theses bikes, nice seats (couch like) a lot of weigh on the back and the feet forward thing. I also sat on the smaller side of the cc's I sat on the vstar 250 and notice I have a "correct" size for the bike, then next to it was the rebel and NOP not for me, I don't have word to describe it, it just wasn't for me. Also a sit test were given to all 750 shadows and the 650 and 950 from vstar, and that was all the time I had since the store closes at 6 pm and I only had 15 min. and still had to order a face shield. As you have notice, I want something for me, and not for bling, I am having a lot of fun with my scooter and all 100 cc than come with it, so I was thinking a 125-250 would be the same just better (faster and hwy legal if a 250 was chosen). I know the 2 up will be gone, but I think I care even less now than when I first ask about cruisers. I am guessing there isn't much power on the v-star 250, maybe cruising speeds of 50-55 mph? I did read that gives you just over 70 mpg and that sounds nice (mpg's and mph). I did like the much bigger bike feeling of the 650-750... I which I was rich!!! Damasovi
And that is exactly why I love cruisers. There is nothing better when you want to "just ride" and not get a major workout in the process. I had a Rebel 250, I was WAY to big for it. I moved the pegs, shifter and rear brake 4" forward, and reworked the rear of the riders part of the seat, and managed to put over 20,000 miles on it. It was anything but comfortable, but a lot better than any sport bike, even an EX500. I have seen large people ride Rebels on the highway by putting low bars on them, and using the passenger pegs, for almost a sport bike riding position. The Rebel is the way it is because way back in '85, Honda made an almost exact copy of the Harley FXR, and scaled it down. When they did that the proportions came out all wrong for anyone over about 5'4" The V-Star 250 will easily cruise at highway speeds on a flat road. It's climbing that slows it down. I hit a GPS indicated 80 mph with my Rebel a few times, but it didn't happen very often. Another great cruiser for someone to big to fit on a Rebel is the Suzuki S40. Ergo wise it is a perfect fit for me. If I were looking for an inexpensive cruiser, that's what I'd be looking for. Plus it has belt drive and that beautiful engine.
Most people are not too happy with 250s for very long. Not even the 500-650s, to be honest. The 800-950 bikes are very fun and those seem to keep poeple happy longer. However, the upgrade bug bites everyone eventually, this is why it is best to buy used, especially if you don't have much money to piss away. There is no way in hell i would buy a brand new 250cc bike. There are way too many of those used for nearly half the price with barely any miles to be had on craigslist. Save your cash, be patient and keep looking.
yes I read this before. I once was a 250 cc owner myself, bough the Tornado 250 from honda at 0 km, and only sold it because i need it to pay some very urgent, and expensive expense, other wise I would still own it (my father inlaw bought and still has it after like 5 years and he is so happy on it, (and it is on the short list or bikes I can actually buy). That same goes for my 100 cc scooter, I am keeping that until it moves no more, or someone really wants it (like my wife or 5 year old when she is like 15?) But you are correct, there could be a ninja 250 out there with my name on it! or a tw200 or xt225-250... I just have to keep drinking water or let someone else pay for my beer and I will all set! Damasovi
Have Ridden almost every model of 250cc Roadbike currently available in North America and Kawi's Ninja 250R arguably is the most Bike for buck of the bunch ... Honda's new CBR250R is up there too ... followed by Suzuki's TU250X.
I had an 883, and a V-Star 650 classic and found it the other way around. The V-Star felt like a bigger than the 883 sitting on it, and smaller going down the road. I liked the V-Star better, but in the way one would say they like a Toyota Tercel better than a Ford Fiesta.
Just keep in mind that the feet forward position can be changed with floorboards. It's probably one of the best changes I made on my Triumph I wouldn't trust them to stand up on, but now I have a multitude of foot positions as the day progresses. Much better than being stuck in just one.
Not everybody "upgrades", on size anyway. I have down graded quite a few times. There was a time when I wouldn't have been caught dead on a scooter. or a 125 or 250cc motorcycle, now I love them.
My wife has had 3 Rebel 250's. Definitely too small for me, but since she didn't ride very often, I would take her bike for a spin occasionally, just to keep it running. It's amazing how much fun a small bike can be.
If you're really hell bent on a 250, consider the suzuki gz 250. It's one of the more comfortable ones
i had forgotten about this bike !!! I do not know how common they are close by, will look for. Thanks everybody, I had forgotten all about this sector, and now I am interest in reading more than just the great DP sector that got in love with 2 wheels.... Damasovi
The 'zuki GZ250 Marauder is near bullet-proof ... we have a dozen or so in the Training Fleet of the MTP I part-time with ... those Bikes have suffered every abuse you can imagine a Student Rider giving them and still run like a watch! Comfy they may be, but they're bland, boring little ponies ... the TU250X is twice the Bike IMHO ... twice the style and character, better handling and even MORE comfortable!
good info! too bad the TU is not sold in Mexico nor in California where I could go and buy one. I did had a chance to sit on one of them way back when they were about to hit the market at the IMS and I saw the style and really like it, but they never came all the way here. Thanks! Damasovi
Too bad the TU250X isn't offered in Mexico, it is a fine, fine motorcycle ... but I'd be surprized if there weren't some 250cc Bikes with a more "standard" set-up offered in Mexico that aren't available in the USA or Canada? Of the 250cc Cruisers that I've ridden, the Yamaha V-Star/Virago 250 beats both the Honda Rebel and the Suzuki Marauder hands down as far as I'm concerned ...
The Honda Rebel fills one niche that no other street legal highway capable bike out there does. It is an absolutely perfect fit for riders of about 5'4" tall or under, with a 28" or less inseam. That includes a lot of female riders. The Rebel is a bike they can ride for a very long time and never outgrow. But if you don't fit, you don't fit. I made a lot of modifications to try and make it fit me, and the best I could do was to make it just bearable. The V-Star 250, GZ250, TU250, and even the tiny little Eliminator 125 were all a much better fit. In fact, the Eliminator was actually the best fit of all the small cruisers. Sadly it was not freeway legal. Put a 250cc engine in that thing, leave everything else alone, and I'll buy one. I would even be willing to pay $500 more for either tubeless tires or a centerstand. With people willing to pay $1000 or more for ABS, something completely worthless to me, that sounds like a pretty good deal. The TU250 is a great little bike, and unless you intend to make a coast to coast freeway run at full throttle, or ride 2 up a lot, it has plenty of power. But just like all the other 250s, and the Suzuki S40, it has tube type tires and no centerstand, which means you have to use up most of your available carrying space just to carry tools and parts to fix flats. I think it's weird how many of the adventure touring bikes like BMW, KTM, V-Strom, and even the KLR650 and DR650 either come with centerstands or have high quality factory made centerstands available. According to a Mexican friend and coworker of mine, it is possible to get just about anything registered in Mexico. I was told that they don't have versions of DOT and EPA there. Even in AZ, it is fairly easy to get a dirt bike or quad registered as street legal, all you have to do is put a horn, mirrors, headlight, tail light, brake light, and license plate light on it. It does not even require instruments. That is a huge no-no in CA. People caught riding their converted registered, plated and insured AZ vehicles on the street in CA risk getting them confiscated.