Hey guys, going to be buying my first bike soon, but I am stuck deciding between a 2nd hand CBR250RR or a CRB125R (New).

I live about an hour from all my friends, my work and the city, so just about everyday I drive on the freeway for around an hour with the speed limit varying between 90-110k's.

I can get a brand new 2009 125 for 4.9k, but I'm not sure if it'll survive the commute...
So I'm looking at paying a few thousand MORE for a 2nd hand bike thats years old and has +50000k's... (But they're so much sexier and I want one badly, money is just the issue, plus the age.)

Any advice or input guys? Help me out here lol, would a 125 be fine?

 

CBR250RR's are reported to go over 100,000km with proper maintenance. I think CBR125's are great bikes but I wouldn't use one for a highway commuter. Anywhere a scooter would be used, you can use the 125R. Otherwise, look at the Ninja 250R if you don't like the mileage of a used CBR250.

 

Ok thanks, that's what I've been thinking. I've been taking a look at the Ninja 250's and some of them are decently priced. Why don't they make CBR250's anymore... it's so lame T_T

 

They don't make CBR250's anymore because they are expensive to build. They have just as many parts inside the motor as a 600 or 1000 (16v i-4). The costs of machining and assembling those parts far exceeds the cost of making a single or twin. Back in the early 90's Japan had laws that meant you could only ride a 250 or 400 depending on what license you had, so while we had the 600's/750's/1000's, Japan had high-specification 250's and 400's. No one in America would spend the same amount for a 250 as they would on a 600, thus, when Japans laws changed Honda and other manufacturers stopped making inline 4 250's.

 

Oh ok fair enough, I just want a Learner approved CBR that's bigger than 125...

Considering my 1 year old car, which I bought new, has 90,000 kms on it from commuting, and it hasn't been driven hard or anything like that - would an old bike (with like 50-60 thousand km's) last me until I can get my full licence?
I'm pretty sure it wont, I don't think many of the 2nd hand ones will last me and the 125 just wont cut it.

Ninjas are pretty expensive for a 250, I've been looking at ZZ-R250's and the Suzuki SV650S's (which I can take the limiter out of once I get my licence)