Bike queries

[CBRowner]

Hi all,

I'm looking at getting a cheap bike whilst mine's being restored and I think I've found one but I wondered if anyone has any views on the make and model.

The bike I've seen is a 2008 Hyosung GT650R and it's only 2500 with 6K on the clock and a full service history.

Like I said, I was after people's opinions because I'm pretty good at chosing sh*te bikes and I'd hate to blow my hard earned Op Allowance on another turd ;D

[StreetHippo]

Think it uses the SV lump, sturdy but quite heavy and low residuals, but that's why it's cheap!!! ;D
Stu

[CBRowner]

Bloody hell Stu, that was quick ;D

I know it's cheap but it looks good and I've not seen many complaints about it but that could be due to people sticking with Honda's and Yamaha etc.

I had a go on the 250 version in Spain and it was awsome but most 250's are because they can be thrown around due to their weight.

I may have to give it some thought, unless someone tells me to stay clear, which means I'll have to start looking from scratch :(

[Scotty]

Excuse me asking Emlyn, are you throwing good money after bad restoring that shed of a CBR? How much is that costing you? Did you consider flogging it for spares and putting what you get for it towards a better bike instead? :-?

[wiltshire builders]

Those chinese bikes are ****e. I wouldn't even consider it. I've never heard a good thing about them and even hear horror stories of seized shocks throwing people off.
£2500 could buy you something decent and you wouldn't be worrying that every rattle or squeek was going to be something falling off and sending you into a hedge.

[silly_simon]

Have a word with GM Stevens in Trowbridge :) Assuming that isnt where you have seen the bike ;)

Hyosung are a Korean Manufacturer and as such are built alot better than the chinese crap :(

Stu is on the money about them using the SV 650 engine under licence from Suzuki :) So there shouldn't be any probs in the engine dept.

£2500 I will admit would get you a whole bunch of bikes these days incl :-

Fazer 1000
GSXR 600
CBR 600 F
Z750 Etc Etc

It really depends on what you want the bike for ? But I would seriously have a good look about if you have that sort of money as there are some deals to be had privately as there is more bartering power with cash in these economic times 8-)

[tommyjgraham]

Theres a few good priced bikes in the old george whites/budget bikes in swindon at the moment. Zx9r, Zx10r, r6 etc.

[Mitch9128]

£2k.5k should get you a ZX9r F2p, last of the model, no inherent faults, better than some foreign muck ;)

[redken1]

The Hyosung is Korean and they have been in the UK market for sometime now. Whatbike? gave the GT650 a very reasonable review. Checked out their stand at the bike show a couple of years ago and the build quality is far superior to the Chinese fare on offer. Emylyn, I suggest you go on the MCN bike review section and see what the owners have to say with regards to reliability issues etc.

[redken1]

£2k.5k should get you a ZX9r F2p, last of the model, no inherent faults, better than some foreign muck ;)

Did I miss summit Mitch - Was Kawasaki bought-out by a UK firm? lol ;D

[CBRowner]

Excuse me asking Emlyn, are you throwing good money after bad restoring that shed of a CBR? How much is that costing you? Did you consider flogging it for spares and putting what you get for it towards a better bike instead? :-?


The CBR's working now but I only bought it as a hobby/project and never considered what I was going to do once it was finished. I'm looking at part exchanging it but I still need to find a good bike and after going through Autotrader, ebaymotors, pistonheads etc. I'm yet to find a good bike for under 2500 and I don't fancy buying something that's over 10 years old which alot of bikes in that price range are. :(

[Squashed_Fly]

Theres a few good priced bikes in budget bikes in swindon at the moment.

If you buy a bike from there, you need your head seeing to!

Never before in my life, have I encountered such a bunch of... Well I can only politely describe them as plonkers. Plonkers with no care about customers, service, aftersales care etc. If you ride it off the premises, and it breaks down outside the shop, they won't have anything to do with it.

We call it a tail light warranty (except in this case they still wouldn't help if they could still see your tail lights)

Personally, I would recommend Blade Trade centre, next to Triumph. Mikey there has helped me out loads since buying the bike. The day I first rode it (a week after picking it up) it broke down, they came out to me with their van, brought me back to the shop and gave me coffee while they prepared a brand new battery for me and fitted it free of charge.

Now that's good service!

#Edit: 2.5k bought my my 02 ZX6r, with 12,500 miles on the clock. I know for a fact they have some more in now with good mileage at good prices. If you don't know where it is, when you come off the roundabout for George Whites, and you turn left, iof you go straight on instead, it's down there on the left hand side. Their van is usually parked in front of that left hand junction into George Whites.

[Dabz]

Also recommend the Blade Trade Centre, he's a top bloke. And he's coming camping with us in July :)

[Nico_babe]

Emlyn, there is a georgeous, 98 Red and white R1 at ProBike is Newbury for £2,600. If i had the money i would buy it. Its in excellent condition for its age.

You can def get a nice bike for about 2.500

[CBRowner]

Emlyn, there is a georgeous, 98 Red and white R1 at ProBike is Newbury for £2,600. If i had the money i would buy it. Its in excellent condition for its age.

You can def get a nice bike for about 2.500

Thanks for the info.

Just had a look at their website and I've emailed them about the bike, so hopefully they'll get back to me with some further info.

I'd spend more but I plan on getting married this year, not asked her yet, so I don't think it'll be a good start if I buy myself a new summer toy ;D

[470four]

Emlyn,
Would you wear a cheap helmet? No.
Would you feel comfortable in cheap leathers? No.
Would you fit cheap tyres to your bike? No.

Main reason being on a motorcycle you cannot afford any breakages / catastrophic failures / seizures etc...

The Hyosungs are cheap for a reason, the Koreans & Chinese have far to go to catch up with the build quality of the Jap & European bikes, best to get something a bit older you can trust better... ;)

[Nooj]

If it's going to be a used bike with no warranty as such, you'll be better off buying something privately that's obviously been looked after as you'll get a lot more for your money.

Pick a bike you like and hit the owner's forums, you rarely get a nail on them as sales are open to other forum members, so it would be stupid to try and palm off some crappy old bus there.

The Missus has just picked up a 2001 Aprilia Falco with an ohlins rear shock, 25,000 miles on the clock (nothing for the Rotax motors), standard and aftermarket cans, a satnav, a Givi topbox with rails attached, an assortment of mods that owners 'in the know' do, already done, all for about a grand and a half. There's a few scuffs on one side of the fairing, but other than that it's immaculate. Performance, practicality and reliability wise it'll piss all over a used Hyosung 650, there's much much better stuff out there for the money you talking about spending.

[CBRowner]

I"ve started the proccess to get the bike from Pro-Bike in Newbury, but I'm not holding up much hope as I'm still currently away.

Thanks for all the advice, I see that Korean bikes aren't that popular on this forum even though I've been seeing some good reviews. I spose it's a bit like chosing between a Kia or a Ford, both good cars but one's more common :)

[Nico_babe]

I"ve started the proccess to get the bike from Pro-Bike in Newbury, but I'm not holding up much hope as I'm still currently away.

Thanks for all the advice, I see that Korean bikes aren't that popular on this forum even though I've been seeing some good reviews. I spose it's a bit like chosing between a Kia or a Ford, both good cars but one's more common :)


Oh brilliant news. Tis a beautiful bike and i have been many a day at ProBike drooling over it.

[CBRowner]

I"ve started the proccess to get the bike from Pro-Bike in Newbury, but I'm not holding up much hope as I'm still currently away.

Thanks for all the advice, I see that Korean bikes aren't that popular on this forum even though I've been seeing some good reviews. I spose it's a bit like chosing between a Kia or a Ford, both good cars but one's more common :)

Thanks for the heads up. It is my favourite model, apart from the 07/08 version, and I hope that I get some good news when I speak to Kev on Wednesday :)

Failing that, I'll have to persuade my girlfriends granddad to let me have one of his bikes as he does keep promising me one so that I can get out on some rides with the guys on here instead of reading about it like I have been doing since I joined last year :(


Oh brilliant news. Tis a beautiful bike and i have been many a day at ProBike drooling over it.

[Nokesy]

[quote author=CBRowner link=1299779851/14#14 date=1299853612
I'd spend more but I plan on getting married this year, not asked her yet, so I don't think it'll be a good start if I buy myself a new summer toy ;D
[/quote]

That's great news - fingers crossed!! Can we come to the wedding en masse?! ;D

[CBRowner]

[quote author=CBRowner link=1299779851/14#14 date=1299853612
I'd spend more but I plan on getting married this year, not asked her yet, so I don't think it'll be a good start if I buy myself a new summer toy ;D


That's great news - fingers crossed!! Can we come to the wedding en masse?! ;D[/quote]

Obviously there will be invites for WB members but I am trying to keep costs down otherwise I won't be able to treat myself to a bike ;D

[Loops]

That's great news - fingers crossed!! Can we come to the wedding en masse?! ;D
Obviously there will be invites for WB members but I am trying to keep costs down otherwise I won't be able to treat myself to a bike ;D

We could give you a bikers escort to the ceremony ;D