I am going to be deployed to Japan in about 2 months and I am thinking about buying a VTR250 while I am over there and tinker/ride it, then bringing it back state side for the wife to learn on. Has any one here ridden and /or shipped one state side?

 

You ought to contact our forum member in Japan to see what he knows about the bike situation there, his name is gordthebiker.

 

Got one myself (a VTR250) Shrunken down version of our Beloved S-hawks, without the modern up-grades. Around town, type bike.. Just not enough there to really make you feel safe pulling out in traffic, or confidence when you pull on the brake lever to stop...
If you find one for a deal, it would be worth your wife learning to ride... Oh ! ! parts are hard to find in the states(when you must repair)

 

You will not get any info on the Gen II VTR250 around here if that is what you are looking for ( or the one that looks like a Duc Monster) the only one "legally" imported to the US were the Gen I bike from '88-'90

Though I will say the Gen I bike can be fun.... if you wring their little neck

Here is a page that wil show you the differences: Honda VTR250 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

The first generation was sold in Canada. The brakes are terrible...

I've ridden a CBR250. It was pretty nice. The CBR125 was a good learning tool, but didn't have enough power to keep anyone entertained for long... Pulling onto the highway while wringing its neck wasn't a fun experience.

The 250 was great though. I'd love to find a crashed one and turn it into a track bike. For smaller tracks, it'd be a blast.

 

For my money and if I had a wife I'd be looking for an NT650 Hawk. More power for highway use, yet still light and nimble. It also has a huge following.

Another yet harder to find would be the 500cc Vtwin Ascot, an old friend of mine is still riding one in New Jersey. Again enough power to merge on a highway but light and nimble.

 

I would agree with you HRCA... Yet putting a new rider on that wonderful getting more rare NT650, Sorry I couldn't sleep at night, knowing that It would be damaged...The Ascot is a fine thought, and could be converted into a street-fighter in the end..
I could justify buy my wife a new CBR250rr for a learner...

 

Have you seen the price of those CBR250rr's, alot of money for a cheap engine and frame. ( I mean cheap to produce ).

Edit: My bad apparently you're referring to the Japan only 250/4cyl, I was talking about the US single cylinder.

Edit2: Just for yucks I looked on fleabay and found a VT500 in RI for $1800. Better yet an NT650 in VT for roughly $1500, bidding isn't over! Too bad for me there both on the wrong side of the country!!

 

Thank you all for the replys. I did forget about the CBR250 I-4s. If the Brakes are terrible and it cant get out of its own way then I dont think I am going to do that. I want somthing that atleast I can feel confident getting the wife on and knowing that its safe.

 

Let's not get confused here. it's the 1st generation VTR250 (US Model) with weak brakes, not the CBR250rr I-4 sold in Japan. If you Google it there are some YouTube vid's of a guy smoking the rear tire across a parking lot and wheeling at the end. A very cool little screamer.

 

If you go that route, may as well get an SV650... better parts availability and it's more of a modern bike...

 

Two more cents worth. Only the '88-89 (and a very few early '90) VTR250s had the unfortunate "internal caliper" brakes. The '90 had conventional calipers and worked properly. My 1990 VTR250 was as quick as my 650 V-Strom, because it was 200 pounds lighter. They both have less than 10 pounds per horsepower (with 200 pounds of me and gear), which is Mustang GT territory. I suggest the VTR250 forum www.vtr250.com for more in-depth info.

Ranting aside, it makes an excellent first sport bike. It's not an extreme laydown. It's very forgiving of gear choice. It's light enough to pick up easily when dropped. You can run it unfaired until rider ability increases (I started to say, you can run it naked until the ability rises, but that has connotations inappropriate for this esteemed group). Parts are cheap and easily available. Gets 60+ mpg. What's not to like?

I must also concur that it's very like the Superhawk in many details, which is why I'm looking at a SH now as my next sportbike. But if you do manage to successfully import AND LICENSE a Gen II VTR250, let me know when you want to sell it.