options for a low displacement retro styled new bike?

I

iblastoff

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so far all i can really find are the suzuki tu250x and the sym wolf classic 150.

my usage is purely for commuting in the city and just general pleasure riding. i have a car that will take me on the highway/trips etc.

obviously one has the name and support behind it, while the other is still trying to penetrate the north american market but SYM are generally well respected and are made in taiwan, NOT china. i think 3 years ago people were questioning sym's presence at dealers. now it seems they're a bit more common.

please no condescending posts about needing a minimum of ___ cc in order to enjoy 'real' riding.

just wondering what else is out there? of course i would like to spend the least possible on a good bike.

i wish the yamaha sr400 made it over to canadian borders but it would probably be way overpriced here. i'm not really interested in royal enfields either as they appear to be vastly overpriced and seem unreliable.

i have 0 interest in sports styled bikes.
 
I know this is a bit of a long shot because I think I know what style you want (slim pickins huh?) but have you considered something like a DR200? While not retro style in the traditional sense, they are unchanged over a long production run and have the old technology.
 
I was going to mention the Yamaha SR 400 and Royal Enfield as well but your post already covered that. I hear hit and miss on the Enfield. If you were tempted by that you might as well snag the Sym. Are there any used Sym Wolf's out there? At least then you would let the previous owner take the depreciation bath. I saw a Honda Grim out yesterday and I think that thing is a hoot. If you can get past the styling it would fit the bill in terms of lightness and size.
 
You've covered all the obvious bases. The availability of the bike you want is extremely limited in Canada.
 
If you're the least bit handy you could murder a Yamaha TW225. Utube for inspiration.
 
The latest small bike trend has concentrated on the racerboy SS style: Honda 125->250, Ninja 300, R3s. There is little for retro-looking low displacement new bikes.

As for cruiser style in low displacement, there's nothing more retro that an actual used bike. Honda Rebel 250, Suzuki Savage 650/S40 (single cylinder, really easy to ride, low power). Both are not too old, so you can get them in pretty good condition. Consider the Honda CBR125s, as they have very neutral riding position, and are not too old. Even in used bikes, there's not too much for used low displacement retro motorcycles. Maybe in the future?

For cruiser style new bikes, 500cc seems to be the lowest they go. Even Harley has a 500cc bike. Honda's CB500X. They are not low displacement. For a new bike you'll need to go up to 500ccs, or get a scooter.
 
hmm thanks everybody. i figured i covered all the bases but i'm not exactly a bike aficionado and thought i'd check with others.

between the two, i like the style of the sym wolf more but the tu250 will definitely have higher resale value in case i move on to another bike.
 
There's also Cleveland Cyclewerks but the bikes don't have the best reputation.

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Matt Rain said:
There's also Cleveland Cyclewerks but the bikes don't have the best reputation.

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yeah the whole stigma of chinese motors hasn't exactly sat well with people.

the sym wolf at least is taiwanese and used to make a ton of honda cb125s for honda back in the day. i'm just worried about the support the sym has in toronto in general for service/parts etc. i've read threads 2-3 years ago about people wondering the same thing. i assume its better now in 2015? i have no idea.

im hoping someone here actually owns the sym wolf for 1-2 years and can comment on how its been.

i've sifted through a lot of reviews online and they all seem to make the wolf shine in a positive light as long as you have no delusions of crazy acceleration and highway usage.
 
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There's retro looks and then retro mechanics.

Retro mechanics means the bike can be fixed without computer diagnostics and $20,000 worth of custom tools. Basically lie it on it's side and repair anything with a roll of duct tape and a monkey wrench. For that you give up modern safety and convenience stuff like ABS.

Retro styling is nice. 57 Chevy's, Early T-Birds, Triumph Bonnies are cool to look at but new bike buyers want their bike to look like a new vehicle. The manufacturers oblige by changing the styling. Retro doesn't seem to work. There are a few exceptions, the VW Beetle and Mini being two.

Kawasaki made a Bonneville clone but I didn't see too many on the road. Add to that the desire for a small displacement motor and the market is very limited.

Honda used to make a 250cc twin cruiser but I don't see it listed anymore.
 
i would go with the tu250...its a nice little bike from a manufacturer with a proven track record and solid parts supply...last thing you want is to be missing
out on part of the short riding season while your bike is being fixed or awaiting parts...
 
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I don't think you can go wrong with the Suzuki. It will run well and you can add or subtract parts to give it the appearance you want.
 
The S40 is a 650 single with cruiser looks, light handling, plenty of custom options. Pretty big following. It's not'a 250 cc but, you can shop around for insurance and I bet you can find a decent rate.
 
nakkers said:
The S40 is a 650 single with cruiser looks, light handling, plenty of custom options. Pretty big following. It's not'a 250 cc but, you can shop around for insurance and I bet you can find a decent rate.
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Good thinking.

That would be my vote, if you positively must have a new bike.
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