250 or 500?

[ReverendChile]

I'm in the market for a bike. I'll be doing city driving only for my commute, so priority #1 for me is reliability. I need to be damn sure that my cycle will start up every day. With a limited budget (<$2000), do I get a newer 250cc (I've got a line on a 2000 Honda Nighthawk) or an older circa 1987 ~500cc motorcycle? I won't be doing any highway driving at all. The only need for more engine is when I have to cart the "ol' ball and chain" up to work in the Berkeley Hills. Comments? Suggestions (aside from me losing weight)?

[saizai]

I recommend a ninja 250 over a nighthawk fwiw.

My ninja has been an excellent bike for commuter, touring (LA & back, Yosemite & back), twisties, etc. Plenty of on and off highway miles. Check ninja250.org

[ReverendChile]

Have I been brainwashed to believe that Hondas are more reliable than Kawasaki's? How long will a ninja or vulcan last compared to a nighthawk or shadow? And are the horror stories about the Buell Blast true? At the very least, insurance on a nighthawk will be far less than a ninja.

[sinncere]

If reliability is your number one priority, then the cc's probably shouldn't matter. Just get a later model bike if you want to make sure they'll start right up.

Do you plan on working on the bikes yourself? Unless you are, getting an older bike is probably not best for you.

[ReverendChile]

I can do all the basics. Oil change, sprockets, cables and wires etc..., but I'd far prefer to never have to touch a carburator. I probably could do it, but I would consider that $200 very well spent.

You're right, I'm not intersted in engine size except for those rare moments when I 'm taking a passenger up a hill.


Originally posted by sinncere
If reliability is your number one priority, then the cc's probably shouldn't matter. Just get a later model bike if you want to make sure they'll start right up.

Do you plan on working on the bikes yourself? Unless you are, getting an older bike is probably not best for you.

[sinncere]

Hmm, you're kind of between a rock and a hard place.

You want something that will start up everyday, so for that I'd bet on a later 250cc you're looking on. But then there may be times (though seldom) that you'd have a passenger, so the early model 500cc sounds more fit for that.

My thought is that I don't see why you can't lug a passenger around with the 250cc, even up the hills. Now it may work for it, but that's not saying that it can't. Plus you'd probably need reliability from the bike more than the ability to easily carry a passenger, from what you wrote anyway.

Now, with enough looking around and tire kicking, you may be able to find an older model 500 that's well taken care of even to date. I found a 1980 KZ550 that starts right up and runs just as well as my 2006 EX, so maybe you can too.

Also, if you plan on taking care of your bikes and being on top of the maintenance, I don't think it matters what maker you get it from. As far as the Buell Blast, if spec numbers matter to you, then there are better bikes than the Blast. It looks damn good though.

[Rtboa]

I have a 93 ex500 that I just did a carb job on and got a new tire and chain and some other stuff. It starts up every time its just kind of hard if it is really cold. I also have a set of extra wheels. and two manuals. This has been a great starter bike but I want to sell and but my friends ZX9R in a gixxer 750 frame.
If you want to ride it tonight let me know.