Honda VT250 fd 1984

[Noggin]

What's one of these then? (I've seen a pic and I understand it's a bike!! LOL)

A friend is really excited to go see one, but I've never heard of them - figured one of you would know

[KungFooBob]

It's an auld Honda v-twin.

I think they handled ok and didn't look terrible.

I'd be more excited if it were the JDM VTR250 (Honda's attempt to make a Ducati Monster) or the 250 Spada, with the cast frame.

[Tricky]

I've personally never ridden one, but seen a few over the years - water-cooled V twin with an in-board front disc brake, never sold well in Europe, or in the UK at least
It's not going to have a lot of go, and I'd imagine spares will be trickier than for most, but quite a cute/cool looking bike

[Noggin]

Cool. I like the fact that it's a twin!! Maybe that's why she's looking at it!!

She's asking someone to look at it for her so will wait and see what they say.

But, it looks ok and will get her back on two wheels - and as she said, only 2 years and she won't have to pay tax for it

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Nice little bike that handles nicely but is slow, needs the oil changing every 1000 miles if you thrash them.
They have weird inboard disc brakes and a 16" front wheel, the suspension linkages will probably be corroded or worn out - most likely both.
I quite like the looks.

[The Spin Doctor]

There's a page of info here.

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model ... 0f_84.html

They date from Honda's V era (VF400, VF500, VF750, VF1000 etc).

I think the ones we saw in the UK had a handlebar fairing rather than a frame mounted job like this VF400 similar to the one my brother owned.

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model ... 0f_83.html

According to the stats sheet on that site, it put out 35hp and had a top speed of 100 mph... I'd guess the hp claim's a bit optimistic, but I remember they were pretty nippy, certainly much quicker than my CB250RSA single.

I had a trainee on the Japanese import model, the one that looked like a baby Monster, when I ran a course over on the Isle of Man years ago. It didn't seem to lack any zip, at least, not till we hit the GLF section of the course!

Not sure about reliability. I'd guess most of them were thrashed mercilessly, so buyer beware. But if it's low mileage and has been treated with a bit of TLC could be a nice little machine!

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

35bhp is very optimistic, that's more than an RD250LC, low to mid 20s is more realistic, but Honda also claimed 70 odd bhp for the VF500, I think all of the Japanese manufacturers were rather optimistic in the 80s, usually claiming 20% higher than the measured bhp, but with the VF400/500 Honda were particularly optimistic because they were trying to compete with the two strokes from Suzuki and Yamaha.

[Bigjawa]

They were basically a slow unreliable heap of dung that are best forgotten.

Basically Honda doing it's usual 80s thing of trying to be too clever by half and failing miserably, those bloody inboard discs, an engine that was made of cheese and rear suspension that seized at the first autumn leaves falling or had more play than Kerry Katonas flaps.

You couldn't get parts for them in the 90s so Christ knows how you'd get them now.

[Druid]

You couldn't get parts for them in the 90s so Christ knows how you'd get them now.

David Silver spares

No bodywork parts of course, but enough to keep it running

[Noggin]

Well, she decided not to buy it. A friend looked at it and along with a list of niggles and probably should fix it, the body work had been 'painted with a paintbrush'!!! LOL

She's happy with an old (and short/low) bike but not one that has a big list of issues and a dodgy paint job to start with!! LOL

She'll probably show me the next advert for an old weird bike, so I'll post up again if she does!! LOL

[KungFooBob]

Tell her to buy one of these...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124877657529

(but not necessarily that one, it's a bit of a dog).

Tho' they seem to be going up in price, coupe of years back you could get a nice one for £800.

[Skub]

They were basically a slow unreliable heap of dung that are best forgotten.

Basically Honda doing it's usual 80s thing of trying to be too clever by half and failing miserably, those bloody inboard discs, an engine that was made of cheese and rear suspension that seized at the first autumn leaves falling or had more play than Kerry Katonas flaps.

You couldn't get parts for them in the 90s so Christ knows how you'd get them now.

This is pretty much my memories of them too.

A soft top end and the usual Honda cam chain gremlins.

[maccecht]

If she wants cheap with warranty retro looks and fairly slow look at the mash range they get good reviews
400 here for 3k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/bike-detai ... 7230379851