Topic: JUST PICKED UP A 1991 VT-R 250 ??? IS THIS A GOOD BIKE

[cardrell]

PICKED UP A 1979 HONDA CB650 ON CRAIGSLIST FOR 150 BUCKS AND HAD IT IN THE BACK OF MY TRUCK.SOME GUY WAS LOOKING AT IT AND ASKED IF I WANTED HIS WIFES BIKE.I SAID SURE WHAT IS IT.1991 VT-R 250 HONDA. NOT SURE WHAT I HAVE BUT IT LOOKS COOL.NEED TO CHARGE THE BATTERY TO SEE IF IT WILL RUN.THE GUY SAID HE WAS PUSHING IT HARD ON THE FREE WAY AND IT LOST POWER. IF ANY ONE HAS HAD ONE OF THESE LET ME KNOW.IS IT WORTHY TO BUILD

[333]

Isn't that sometimes called a "Barbie-Ceptor"?

[number13]

With a Fun Factor of 91.3, how can you go wrong??

http://www.bikez.com/bike/index.php?bike=20167

[CharlieT]

Well, I've got around 18 bikes, a lot of them dirt, but a fair amount of road bikes, too. Gold Wing, Valkyrie, 700 Interceptor, FT500.....and a '90 VTR250.  Of all the road bbikes I have now and have had for some time, that little 250 has the biggest grin factor. Its an absolute blast to ride. Light weight, narrow, incredibly well handling. With me on the 700 interceptor and my boy on the VTR, he can stay right with me up from 0 to up about 75mph. Easily winds right up to 14,000 rpm. And with the right exhaust, sounds like a GP bike. Can cruise all day down the highway at 80mph. TOps out around 110, give or take dpending on size of rider. But where it really shines is on the back country two-lane twisties. Whenever I take it out for a run, there's a big grin behind my faceshield. (and getting 60-65mpg doesn't hurt either!)

Fortunately, mine is plain white, didn't have any of them pretty pastel graphics on it. Have seen some repainted that are really sharp looking.



I wished they still imported them. Like the naked Duc-Monster look to them now:

[mlinder]

   249.00 ccm (15.19 cubic inches)
Engine type:   V2
Stroke:   4
Power:   32.00 HP (23.4 kW)) @ 10500 RPM
Torque:   24.00 Nm (2.4 kgf-m or 17.7 ft.lbs) @ 8500 RPM
Compression:   11.0:1
Bore x stroke:   60.0 x 44.1 mm (2.4 x 1.7 inches)
Fuel system:   Carburettor
Valves per cylinder:   4
Fuel control:   DOHC
Cooling system:   Liquid
Gearbox:   5-speed
Physical measures
Dry weight:   140.0 kg (308.6 pounds)


Compared to cb350:

Displacement:   347.00 ccm (21.17 cubic inches)
Engine type:   In-line four
Stroke:   4
Power:   34.00 HP (24.8 kW)) @ 9200 RPM
Compression:   9.3:1
Bore x stroke:   47.0 x 50.0 mm (1.9 x 2.0 inches)
Valves per cylinder:   2
Fuel control:   OHC
Cooling system:   Air
Gearbox:   5-speed
Transmission type
final drive:   Chain
More details   Consult a Honda repair manual.
Physical measures
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc:   178.0 kg (392.4 pounds)


I'm betting that bike could be pretty fun....

[cben750f0]

they are usually bullet proof, mate of mine had one, and chassed uss around the country side for 40000km, and it very rarely went under 130km/h.... makes me wonder why it stopped.... they are super fun, and handle really well... they are usually the bike i recommend to learners...

peace

[heffay]

an 89 vtr 250 was my first street bike.
it was ok to learn on.  plenty of power to kill me at the time.  the kawasaki ex250 has dominated that market though, so they stopped importing the vtr250. 
the 80/90's florescent floating geometric shapes were it's most detracting feature.
if you can get over the fact that you most definitely look gay while riding it then it is a fine little bike.
topped mine out at 95 if i remember correctly, which is a feat for any 250cc 4 stroke.
it looks like you lucked out and got the newer one... the 89 had pinker pink and lighter blue.

i only rode it about 2 months before some dumbass u-turned in front of me on a major highway... the bike flipped over the car as i slid into it.  a lot goes thru your mind when you're headed straight toward a car at 60 mph w/out a helmet.  i shudder whenever i think of that moment and realize just how lucky i was.  since then, i watch other cars like a hawk AND wear a helmet.

you know what bothers me the most though?...  never once, did he say anything, much less, apologize.  although, i probably would have kicked his ass if he came near me again. 

come to think of it... it may be that bike that spurred my interest in smaller displacement bikes... had i not had it, i may have just looked the other way when my cb350f came along.

here's the earlier version:

[heffay]

i still like the 80/90's florescent floating geometric shapes though 

8 bikes later...

[333]

I didn't mean nuthin by the Barbie Ceptor comment.  That's just what a buddie of mine called his.  Very cool bike.  He also has the NS 50, same color scheme(sort of).

[CharlieT]

Hey 333.....I own one and look at that 88-89 version.....and with those colors/graphics  Barbie is indeed one image that comes to mind!
WHile the VTR 250 out performed the Kaw, the Kaw had much much better looks ...it indeed looked like a little Ninja. ANother diff between the 88-89 and the later ones....look at the pics above and look at the front brakes. THe outboard disc of the later versions was a much better set-up. THere were some aftermarket mid sections from Lockhart that were available that gave it a full fairing look. THat along witha repant dramatically improved the appearence. I do beleive Airtech has fairings, race and street and rear cowling sections still available.

BTW, the specs posted above are not the ones for the version imported here to the US back then. HP was 33-34 and it also has a 6-speed, not a 5-speed.

[CharlieT]

BTW, besides the mid-fairing...other accessories also made a dramatic improvement in over all appearence!!

[cardrell]

GOT IT STARTED LAST NIGHT.WOULD ONLY RUN GOOD ON CARB CLEANER.SO IM THINKING 1 OF 3 THINGS. 1 BAD GAS 2.VACUUM TO PETCOCK 3.RESTRICTED PETCOCK. WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK.  OH AND IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE FIRST PICTURE,WHITE WITH BLUE. NOT BAD FOR FREE.

[mlinder]

Is your caps lock button broken?

Could be lots of things. I'd clean the carbs, first.

[333]

Good chance of all 3 and then look at the carbs.  If it's been sitting with gas that you think is bad, You've probably all gunked up throughout the fuel system.

[bryanj]

Hey Charliet we never got that accessory in UK!!!

If it lost power in use its possible a top end partial sieze but best way to approach is clean the fuel system, change oil and filter then see if it smokes/rattles