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pjmancktelow
Joined: 07 Oct 2007
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 6:13 am Post subject: WTB - Comet 650 |
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hi, i want to buy a hyosung comet 650. it doesnt matter if it is the 650r 650s or 650. i live in incheon but can travel.
many thanks |
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earthbound14
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 8:05 am Post subject: |
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| this bike is junk. Real durability issues. Get a Suzuki SV650. |
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pjmancktelow
Joined: 07 Oct 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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| i agree, i'd prefer to have the sv. or a fazer (before they changed it to the FZ). i had a fazer 6 back home and racked up 40,000k on one. great bike. the comet is about price. for the max of 4 million i have. i will only get a old jap bike. which will need expensive parts. the comet is a compromise for me. i want a 400+ cc bike. new is maybe 5 years old max and i have 4 million to spend. |
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earthbound14
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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| pjmancktelow wrote: |
| i agree, i'd prefer to have the sv. or a fazer (before they changed it to the FZ). i had a fazer 6 back home and racked up 40,000k on one. great bike. the comet is about price. for the max of 4 million i have. i will only get a old jap bike. which will need expensive parts. the comet is a compromise for me. i want a 400+ cc bike. new is maybe 5 years old max and i have 4 million to spend. |
you're right, 4 mil for a Japanese bike will get you something oldish. 4 mil isn't horrible though. At 4 mil you might find your self with a 7 year old bike. The trick is finding one in good shape....this takes time and patience. If you spend 5 mil you will get a good bike Japanese bike that is only 4 years old.
The CB400sf is a pretty good bike to buy. I have ridden one for 3 and a half years. It's been pretty good. better quality than many Korean bikes that are only 4 or 5 years old (My bike is now 12). The problem is that when something goes wrong (and unfortunately they do because my bike is old) it costs a bit. My friend who owns a newer CBR600 hasn't had any trouble to speak of though and loves it.
Despite the age of my bike I find it hard to ride Korean bikes (I've tried). They are really just complete shite (The Korean 125s are wicked fun though and cheap as)
I suggest you spend the extra mil and get a Honda. Be careful though with any bike in Korea, they roll the odometers back. Study the bike carefully and look for signs of wear and tear take it for a good hard test drive and check to see if has been recently painted (many bikes get a simple paint job to spruce them up and cover up an aging worn bike).
If you go for the Hyo...hope she's good. It just might convince me to buy one. |
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pjmancktelow
Joined: 07 Oct 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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| im at the top of my budget. gotta borrow 1.5 mil to make it up to 4. you may remember advising me before about which bike to buy, at the time i was thinking a 250 was a good idea but i think that for good road trips, a 250 is too small. even if its brand new. unless you know of any good jap bikes in my price range i think its gotta be a 650 comet. |
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talltony4
Joined: 09 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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Earthbound, how many korean bikes have you actually owned?
Sure Japanese bikes are better quality, but I think the difference is a lot smaller than you are making it out to be.
Like you say, servicing on Japanese bikes in Korea is a lot more expensive. The odd thing goes wrong with Hyosungs, but the cheap servicing compensates for that. As does the cheaper purchase price.
And I don't think Korean 125s are "wicked fun" either. They have enough power to get you into trouble, but not enough to get you out, and the brakes are beyond useless (that's on the older ones, I haven't ridden the newer daelims). They are death-traps IMHO.
Sure, those CB400s are nice bikes, but they lack torque, and lots of them have been used as courier bikes in Japan and here, meaning they may have been thrashed.
I think the OP is making a good choice |
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earthbound14
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 12:29 am Post subject: |
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| pjmancktelow wrote: |
| im at the top of my budget. gotta borrow 1.5 mil to make it up to 4. you may remember advising me before about which bike to buy, at the time i was thinking a 250 was a good idea but i think that for good road trips, a 250 is too small. even if its brand new. unless you know of any good jap bikes in my price range i think its gotta be a 650 comet. |
ya, the 250 market here is pretty bad, but I'm more in favour of Japanese bikes above 400cc just because of the rotten reputation the 650 has gotten in the US. But that being said, many initial reviews of the 650 are good. It handles well, looks great, has OK stopping for a big bike, and is quick. It's really just a durability issue. A few people have complained that they shift like shit after a few years and there have been some serious issues with engine durability when it was initially introduced into the US.
Unfortunately most 400cc bikes stopped being imported into Korea after 2000. The CB 400 is really the only one you'll see. You might see a Kawasaki Er-5. Other than that 600s are all out of your price range.
If that is the case....go for it. I would love to here some more reviews of the bike, especially reviews on its durability. I'm not saying the bike is the worst thing on the planet (Chinese bikes have that market cornered), I'm just saying if I had the money I'd be after a CB400SF (which is the only other bike in the country close to your price range).
Best of luck...and you won't hear me dissin your bike if we ever ride together.... |
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earthbound14
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:07 am Post subject: |
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| talltony4 wrote: |
Earthbound, how many korean bikes have you actually owned?
Sure Japanese bikes are better quality, but I think the difference is a lot smaller than you are making it out to be.
Like you say, servicing on Japanese bikes in Korea is a lot more expensive. The odd thing goes wrong with Hyosungs, but the cheap servicing compensates for that. As does the cheaper purchase price.
And I don't think Korean 125s are "wicked fun" either. They have enough power to get you into trouble, but not enough to get you out, and the brakes are beyond useless (that's on the older ones, I haven't ridden the newer daelims). They are death-traps IMHO.
Sure, those CB400s are nice bikes, but they lack torque, and lots of them have been used as courier bikes in Japan and here, meaning they may have been thrashed.
I think the OP is making a good choice |
I've owned 4 Korean bikes. They were all cheap to run and wicked fun. But prone to little problems and in need of more general maintenance. They were all of much lower quality as well. Braking, handling, durability, general fit an finish. The best thing about smaller Korean bikes has been that while the details have mostly been crap the engines have usually been pretty solid. I had an old Daelim that had been thrashed and just would not stop running. I just like the 125s and 250s cause they are so damned cheap to run....which adds to the wicked fun. But you're right the 125 can't get you out of trouble and is dangerous on the highway
Korean bikes are proving that they are getting better. Both the newer Daelims and Hyosungs have shown lots of improvement. Yet still they miss little things like fit and finish. A friend had a new 650 that had rusty bolts weeks after it was purchased. This has happened to countless riders. Look up some reviews on youtube. I generally feel that a company that can't get these little details right is not paying much attention to their product and they are not worth buying when Japanese bikes of relatively equal pricing are available. So even though many Korean bikes are pretty damned good, you never know which model is really going to stand the test of time or even if your bike will. They do not have to quality standards to ensure that any given bike coming out of there factories is up to their own standards. Basically it's a crap shoot when you buy one, mabey its good, mabey it's crap.
As far as many CB400 being courier bikes, that's true, and it is hard to buy a good older Japanese bike, especially the CB400. But generally speaking there are not many newer model CB400 being used as courier bikes and they are no longer being imported from Japan. They are now made for the local market. So a newer CB400 is a pretty good bet.
As for old CB400s being punched out...I've heard lots of silly talk that a 250 comet can beat a CB400.....not even if the CB is on its death bed. A 3 year old comet is far more punched out than a 7 year old CB400. I still take 600s off the line if they are a little slow on the uptake. The biggest problem with many Cb400 is their suspension gets crapped out after a shitload of kms, the engine is bomber...legendary infact. A trip to the mechanic to have carbs cleaned will set most CB400s right...suspension on the other hand is bloody pricey and something any potential buyer should be very careful with when buying an older CB. But they should also be really careful when buying older Comets, they also have sucky suspension after a few years (I've noticed that it seems to be a few less than the Japanese bikes, but that is just my impression). I'd avoid a 2004 Comet. But I'd be happy with a 2004 Honda.
Repair cost is much cheaper for the Hyosung bikes though and so is the initial purchase price. Despite poor quality this could easily be the best reason to buy a Hyosung. I loved the cheap repair costs of my Korean bikes and still think about going back...I'd just miss riding a real bike. It's hard to explain, but every time I test drive one I might buy...it just lets me down.
2007 Comet 650R - 4mil Vs 2003 Honda CB400 - 4 mil
The Honda - vastly better bike, the Comet.....newer, cheaper, faster....your call
Huge difference, especially when the Comet out powers the CB400....damn, at these prices though, you might see me on one soon rsuty bolts or not.... |
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pjmancktelow
Joined: 07 Oct 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:25 am Post subject: |
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thats the dilema. power. i know in korea that it cant be used. ive heard it a hundred times. but i just like big bikes. my smallest bike ive ever owned was a Suzuki GS500 (notexactly a power horse i know but a good learner bike when i was 19) but still it would murder the comet 250. my current bike in the uk is BMW F650 Dakar, but before that I had a 99 Blade. awesome bike. dream bike kinda for me growing up. the last carbed one.
im still considering the honda. its just that there's not so many about. although im heading up to chungmoro on the weekend to have a look. what you say about the 650 looking great, totatlly agree. and im a little vain. ive alwasy believed that if you dont like its looks, then you wont enjoy the ride. is there much of a riding scene out here in korea? i have friends who own bikes, but im reluctant to call them bikers. it'd be good to get back out on the twisty's again if possible. |
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Durtee
Joined: 18 Sep 2006
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:48 am Post subject: |
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Mank, I be a biker! I'm going to be picking up the 2009 Comet gt250r this weekend. I'm taking a gamble going for the 250 instead of the 650. But I think i'd have to take out life insurance for the wife if i get the 650  About 75% of my driving is battling through city traffic as a daily driver(i log about 50-60km a day going back and forth to work and running around). The 250 being smaller and lighter would be more beneficial for me to squeeze through lanes and maneuvering.
Today I almost had my 'almost' 1st real accident where i ended up having to pin between to cars going around a corner at 100km/h. If i had been riding a bigger, heavier bike I'm pretty sure I would of been a roadkill sandwich. I'm taking a risk getting the 250r, but hopefully with the Comet's new EFI and having 6 gears it'll be a good little ripper. I will be taking road trips around Korea soon, so i hope to god i've made the right decision. If not, I told the wife I'm flogging the 250 and get the 650 if i'm not happy with it. |
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earthbound14
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:57 am Post subject: |
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| pjmancktelow wrote: |
thats the dilema. power. i know in korea that it cant be used. ive heard it a hundred times.
is there much of a riding scene out here in korea? i have friends who own bikes, but im reluctant to call them bikers. it'd be good to get back out on the twisty's again if possible. |
Ah, I love the 400, enough power for me. Gets going very fast in traffic and slices through twisties. Not as gutsy as a 600, but really I don't hit the 50HP range all too often. Honestly I shift well below at around 6-8,000 RPM, and that is plenty quick. The bike doesn't have enough jam to pull the front up either (not enough torque as mentioned by another poster). But if revved up to 10,000 the front comes up just fine (if you pop the clutch).The biggest thing is you have to change gears like a mutha if you want to go fast. Trying to beat a 600 in a straight line race can be a very tricky proposition. She corners really well though and I never have a problem keeping up with or beating much bigger bikes.
I'd love the extra horses for a little extra fun, but they aren't needed.
Give the bike a wirl. She might not let you down.
As for a riding scene, not the same as home but there are some really nice roads in and around the moutains in Gangwon, near Chungju and along the west coast (for starters). There is a road just off highway 6 (highway 31 I think) west of Seoul that is a common meeting and riding place for sport riders in Korea. Cool little spot.
Let me know what you think of the 650s after you get a chance to test em. I've liked them but just never taken the chance to buy one. I've always sat on the fence when it comes to buying one. Thought about it many times. Their bad rep for the first few years after they introduced the 650s and the lack of......well any sort of info claiming the bikes have gotten better since then (even though they did do a noticeble job of revamping them in 2007) has kept me away. If you do buy one, avoid anything prior to 2007 if you can. I hope the 2007 models are better. |
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earthbound14
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:02 am Post subject: |
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Contact
www.comatosed.ca/blog/blog.html
This guy rides a newer 650 Comet in Korea. He might be able to give you the low down on the bike. |
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pjmancktelow
Joined: 07 Oct 2007
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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| cheers mate, 'll let you know my verdict in a couple of weeks once i have the bike. the 400 does tempt me though. i had a look on passo, just still sitting out of my range really. cheers for the info |
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earthbound14
Joined: 23 Jan 2007
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Durtee
I think the 250 only has 5 gears while the 650 has 6.
And as for EFI, that is new so make sure you know you are getting EFI and that they aren't passing an older model off without it. EFI only adds about 3 HPs to the bike, but it should make it perfomr better and give you some better gas mileage.
Awesome little bike for cheap commuting and still handles the highway well. You should be able to have fun on this on twisty roads.
As big as you need for city riding and still cheap on gas. The 650 will start to suck fuel. A 125 is really all the power you need in dense Seoul traffic. I test rode a 125, a 250, and a 400 hundred in and around Seoul to various places. The 125 was just as fast as the bigger bikes and only a little slower on destinations outside of Seoul ( I lost 15 or 20 minutes, 120 minutes for the 125 but 100 minutes for the other bikes on my longest trip to Gangwha Island). But it cost peanuts to run. The 250 was able to get every where in and around Seoul (on highways) in the same time as my 400 but with a huge savings in fuel (well actually my time was about a minute less once on the 400....cause I was able to hit 180 on a short stretch of highway in one test on the 400). |
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Johnny Conqueroo
Joined: 02 Feb 2009
Location: Seoul, Korea
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| Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject: More Cowbell! |
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| earthbound14 wrote: |
"Hey Durtee
I think the 250 only has 5 gears while the 650 has 6." |
Damn! my Honda Shadow VLX only has 4 speeds! I'd just about kill for 5!
Of course it's got mad torque - and practically leaps over busses when I crank it in 1st. 2nd will just about leap frog over taxis.
And you're abso-rightly about gas guzzlin. The Honda drinks like no tomorrow, and with a smallish tank, cruising range is way too short.
I had a '97 Daelim Magma for years and years, and it was a great bike, all things considered. Sweet on petrol, but with a duty cycle of only 500km between...oil changes were frequent. But I didn't mind because they were relatively cheap, and kept the bike purring.Of course I kept the bike in great shape.
2 summers ago I had a chance to pick up a well-kept, 2002 Honda Shadow 600 from a GI for a VERY reasonable price, and did so.
I sold the Magma for more than I actually paid (1998 (IMF era) KRW1.1M converted from U$ @ KRW1850 = U$1. Well, you do the math!)
Of course, it had a considerable amount of very desirable upgrades and customization (like tuned exhaust, wire spoke wheels, upgraded seats and many, many more!), so with the cost of all that factored in, I about broke even, but even so, it was a great deal and both the Magma buyer and I got great bikes in the bargain.
My only complaint with the Honda is the lack of a real cruising gear. Other than that, I LOVE the power - and the handling is smooth and tight.
Good luck on the purchase of your Comet! I'll wave if I see you on the road some time! |
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