MPG Motors sells both 250 and 650cc bikes from Hyosung. When you survey the 600cc class new sportbike market, I believe these bikes offer the most “bang for the buck” in the sportbike world! Across the industry, you can’t find a new naked or sportbike for less than the Hyosungs. The Hyosung’s also have two year warranties, double the usual manufacturer’s warranties. For the price and what they deliver, they are terrific, honest bikes at a time when ” what you get for what you spend” is in everyone’s mind. The GT250 and the GT250R are the naked and fully-faired competition for the Ninja 250 and we find that they work much better than the Ninja for larger riders. Plus the GT250 offers a price point well below the Ninja 250.
Here’s a quick background again on Hyosung.
Hyosung has been in the powersports business for over thirty years. They make motorcycles, scooters and ATV’s. Suzuki and Hyosung established a “technical cooperation agreement” in 1978. Hyosung has been in the bike business for some time, but not in the US until around 2001 when their bikes were imported by a company called Alphasports. Hyosung Motors America was established late in 2005 and MPG Motors became a Hyosung dealer in early 2006. We have about 100+ of their bikes out on the road. Hyosung is imported in over 40 countries throughout the world. Finally, being from South Korea, they have seen the success of a longer warranty in calming a new buyer’s concerns. Hyosung sport bikes carry a 2 year 12,000 mile limited non-transferable Fender to Fender warranty. This warranty covers parts and labor for the first year and parts only for the second year. Like many South Korean products, Hyosung positions to have the best warranty in their class.
Hyosung makes naked and fully-faired sportbikes in 650cc and 250cc sizes. The fully faired bikes are available in two-tones for $300 more. The 250cc and 650cc bikes are the same size and geometry. The 250’s share frames and motors as do all the 650 sportbikes.
GT650R – 650cc 90 degree V-Twin, 6 speed, full-fairing
GT650 – 650cc 90 degree V-Twin, 6 speed, naked
GT250R – 250cc V-Twin, 5 speed, full-fairing
GT250 – 250cc V-Twin, 5 speed, naked
In the US, we get 250 and 650cc motors. The 650’s are 90 degree, liquid-cooled, DOHC, six-speed, v-twins. The 250cc motors are also V’s. The 650’s claim 79 horsepower with comparable-to-the-competition torque and the 250’s claim the high 20’s. They have real-life dyno’ed near 70 and 25 respectively. Inline-4’s make more horsepower and have higher top speeds but at a much higher cost. This year the 650’s get fuel-injection which adds more ponies and loses the choke. They are both four-valve cylinders with double-overhead cams. The 250 has dual carbs.
How are they to ride? On the 650s, they are comfortable and easy to get underway. The V-Twin gives you good usable torque across a broad powerband from down low and builds steadily up through about 9,000 rpm. The redline is 10,500 but your power peak is before that. Although the peak r’s are less than inline fours you are getting these revs with only half the cylinders. The pistons are moving in there. It’s a yin and yang thing. It will not sound like a 4-screamer but it’s not going to sound like a Harley either – not until Harley builds a 10K rpm motor.
The addition of fuel-injection on 2009’s 650’s means you just hit the button and go – no choke. The motors don’t sound like an inline-4, naturally. The frame is quite stiff and is very approachable. They cut well and have few surprises. They are very good and inexpensive track day bikes with enough of everything to keep it interesting and develop your skillset.
In daily use, they work out quite well in a short or long-daily commute role. They average 45-50 mpg with a 4.5 gallon tank with fuel gauge and clock on the digital dash.
The naked GT250 is a very, very presentable naked bike. It really doesn’t have any competition. It’s inexpensive, honest and cheap to keep. The GT250R has the same physical size of the GT650R. Like I mentioned earlier, if you have trouble fitting on a Ninja 250, the GT250R will probably work better for you. The GT250’s have a top speed around 100mph. You will concentrate on keeping momentum with these bikes at the track. Here is a GT250R on the Sepang, MY F-1 track. Looks like fun to me! Note the speedometer is in km/hr, not mph.
The Hyosung sport bikes are the least expensive 600cc class sportbikes with the best warranty in the industry. They represent a tremendous value and they are plenty of bike for most. We’re getting more and more accessories (Two Brothers, Puig, Leo Vince, EBC, lowering links…). We have sold a number of them and all of them are still out there working and playing hard for their owners.
