Sunday, 31 August 2014

Friday bike

Another 'bike I nearly bought', but this time it I didn't buy it due to the seller.

On my regular commute back in the 80s, I used to see a white Honda VT250F fitted with Krauser panniers, then one weekend saw it for sale in a local bike shop. I knew one of the guys in the shop and he told me that the customer had bought it from them new, had it regularly serviced, and had only used it for commuting into the city centre. My BMW was getting a bit 'tired' at this point and I was looking for something smaller and more modern, so the Honda potentially filled the bill.
Never a common bike in Britain, it had lots of typically 80s features - hydraulic clutch, anti dive forks, watercooling, 4 valve heads, plus some that weren't so cool like Comstar wheels and enclosed disc.
I'd been offered £515 by a friend of a friend for the BMW, and as the Honda was priced at £599, it looked like a deal was on the cards. I told the shop owner that I was interested, and he arranged to move the bike nearer the door so I could take it out for a test ride the following weekend (the shop was quite small and the Honda was near the back).
The following week arrived and I noticed that the panniers and frames were missing and the price tag now read £699. I questioned the shop owner about this and he said that the panniers weren't part of the deal and it had always been priced at £699. Meanwhile, I could see my friend that worked there shaking his head and mouthing 'no' over his shoulder! I told him to forget it, and walked out. The bike was probably worth £699 even without the panniers, but I wasn't going to be taken in by a blatent con like that.
Shame really as I always thought it a really pretty bike (in an 80s sort of way), and it probably would have been a fun bike to own.

Specifications

Engine Two-cylinder 90° V Twin, Four-stroke
Displacement 248 cc
Bore & Stroke 60 mm x 44 mm
Valvetrain DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Compression ratio 11:1
Maximum power 26.1 kW (35 hp) @ 11,000 rpm
Maximum torque 21.5 N·m (15.9 lb·ft) @ 10,000 rpm
Starter Electric
Cooling system Water-cooled
Transmission Six speed
Drivetrain Chain
Seat Height 780 mm (30.7 inch)
Fuel capacity 12 litres
Brakes Front: single inboard disc
Rear: drum
Dry weight 149 kg (328.5 lb)

No comments:

Post a Comment