20 year old GV 250

How well can you work on any motorcycle , ie what is your skill level ?

Then from what i have read, i say go for it and get it. If anything you will have fun restoring the Hyosung (though some days you may swear at it but efforts will pay off) , I could be biased to say get it so you can stay in this club haha.

Honestly though the GV’s most common faults tend to be the paint work on the swingarm rust and such, so cosmetic restoration is where you will spend most time unless the bike is looking very good!

Engine wise, if it sounds healthy like it’s purring like a kitten , you’re in good hands! – If it sounds like a helicopter, expect to rebuild the engine one way or another , but i hope it doesn’t come to that!

Either way, as you learn about it, the forum is here for assistance , so get it if you dare 😉 ,

Hi John

The GV250 is the frame same etc size as the GV125.  I am 6’4″ with a 34 inside leg and size 14 feet, I find my GV a lovely fit.  I did play with the back brake pedal to make it a bit lower (put a longer adjuster bolt in).

Go for it, a GV250 is easy to work on and a joy to ride for the taller rider.  At 950 Euros you will make money when you sell it on.

Keep an eye out for ST7 and the GV650 versions of the bikes too, to be fair , you will even come across a 125cc version than a 250cc, least with a 125cc you will have an easier time working on it, when your bike does show up again, sell it or trade it in for the GV250 of your desire

Same body = Different engines (125/250).

John wrote:

Tom wrote:

Hi John The GV250 is the frame same etc size as the GV125. I am 6’4″ with a 34 inside leg and size 14 feet, I find my GV a lovely fit. I did play with the back brake pedal to make it a bit lower (put a longer adjuster bolt in). Go for it, a GV250 is easy to work on and a joy to ride for the taller rider. At 950 Euros you will make money when you sell it on.

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I wonder if the Aquila 125 has changed over the years, as I’ve just read a couple of reviews of newer (2020-ish) GV125’s being a bit cramped for longer legs?

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The newer GV125-S as i’ve witnessed with my own eyes is definitely a little smaller than the older carby ones.  It’s because it’s more like  Half cruiser/Half Street naked bike   = think “Bobber” style.

For fatness and comfort  (dare i say) , i would go for the carby GV125 (up to 2019) and it’s GV250 siblings (up to 2019 EFi model)

However the newer GV125-S  and GV300S  (GV300SA) , i’ve seen people do modifications already to make the seat taller a bit , messed bars to make them higher etc,  not the end of the world!

MPG wise i would say the 125 will have a slighly better MPG than a carby 250 does due fact less piston size , and lesser jetting but still lives high rpm life>
ie. 10k revs in 3rd gear for 40mph in 125cc, the 250 would achieve that in less reves, just an example  (not accurate, just a guess)

Fortunately it’s easier to change gearng of the 125 in to cruise mode to use less revs and a bit less fuel  , by upgrading to a 520 chain and sprocket set.   The slim 428 chains aren’t worth wasting too much money on a heavy bike that will stretch and vtwins by nature start their power at lower revs than a big cc inline 4 bike.

Go get the 125 🙂 , and ofcourse ignore whatever the previous owner did to , always assume its 0 miles (no matter how old it is) and be ready to give if a fresh overhaul of servicing from the get go , usual like tyres brakes filters , fuel lines, suspension checks and all that stuff.   if you dare , stripe it down to bare frame while leaving engine inside and just clean up the parts with a nice drag and wipe down the frame from any mud, road traffic film and or oil spills from oil changes or chain grease gunked up inside sprocket cover with a good de-greaser

If its a barn find,  it will mean straight away an ultrasonic clean of the carb and do check the tank doesnt have rust inside , and as safety measure , replace the fuel tap too.