Not From Japan: AlphaSports' GV250 Comes Out Swinging
AlphaSports may be a relative newcomer to the cruiser market, but its GV250 Classic reveals a build quality on par with that of major OEMs. The bike has been manufactured by Hyosung Motors and Machinery Inc. in South Korea for the European and Asian market for several years--and now Hyosung builds the GV250 to AlphaSports' specifications for the U.S. market, too.
In classic cruiser fashion, the GV250 displays its 249cc engine with V-twin cylinders splayed 75 degrees apart. The technology's not all retro, though--each cylinder is fed by four valves operated by dual overhead cams, with two Mikuni carbs performing mixing duties. The entire valanced, low-slung package is held together by a tubular double-cradle chassis with an oil cooler hung just above the forward cylinder. Beefy, stacked shotgun exhausts allow spent gases to exit on the right.
The front fork is shrouded in chrome, and two preload-adjustable springs support a broad, well-padded saddle a mere 25 inches from the ground. The reach to the low, wide bar and a near upright seating position allows long in-saddle moments; good thing, too, since the 3.7-gallon fuel tank will have you on the road for close to 200 miles. A beefy (for this crew) 16-inch front wheel dons a 110/90-16 tire under what is arguably the largest front fender in the class. Not surprisingly, the rear fender is also the longest in the group. The bike rolls on tubeless, 150-series rear rubber that covers an aluminum-cast wheel--the widest here. A five-speed transmission smoothly engages a chain final drive.
Eight valves plus dual overhead...
Eight valves plus dual overhead cams is pretty impressive for a 250 mill.
The GV250 incorporates the fat-fendered style currently in vogue with cruisers, and the level of the Alpha's fit, finish and styling gets high marks. The wide handlebar and forward-placed footpegs put you in almost the same ergonomic position as, say, a Road Star. It looks brawny for a 250, but first-timers needn't be intimidated--the Alpha weighs in under 385 pounds.
Though cold-blooded at first crank, the mill elicits a pleasant twin-cylinder thrum once warmed. Normal throttle application with timely gear changes produces 60 mph without much effort, and on the road, all testers agreed that the unflappable Hyosung engine encouraged throttle-wringing. Riding this bike emphasized how roomy the cockpit was compared to the Japanese bikes--even our 6-footers felt at home with the Alpha's spread-out ergos, and long-time veterans were pleasantly surprised by its easy manners.
The Alpha's instrument cluster...
The Alpha's instrument cluster is the most sophisticated of all the bikes here.
The same setup can create trouble in traffic, though. Two of the smaller testers needed time to get used to the weight of the handlebar, with its fat tire, at walking speeds. The single 10.4-inch front disc brake delivered good stopping power, but didn't provide much feedback--rookies felt its double-piston caliper was adequate in town, but larger and more experienced riders felt there was room for improvement.
On straightaways, the Alpha delivered its power without fuss through the gears, even at higher speeds, where three testers said they approached the 80 mph mark with very little complaint. A few riders commented that the fully equipped instrument cluster (speedo, tach, fuel gauge and idiot lights) was a welcome sight compared to the Japanese bikes' uniformly underwhelming instrumentation.
The Alpha may have a larger profile than the others, but save for a complaint about heavy steering, there was nothing but praise for the plump machine. Everyone agreed it was the only one that seemed like an "honest-to-goodness cruiser." Even as the second most expensive bike of the quintet at $3599, three out of five testers chose the Alpha as their pick for best all-around lightweight. Japan Inc. should take heed. There's a new kid in town....
AlphaSports GV250Suggested base price: $3599
Wheelbase: 68.7 in.
Wet weight: 383.2 lbs.
GVWR: 775 lbs.
Seat height: 25 in.
Fuel capacity: 3.7 gal.
Average range: 180 miles
Engine type: air/oil-cooled four-stroke V-twin
Final drive: chain
Front suspension: 35mm stanchions
Rear suspension: 2 dampers, adjustable for preload
Wheels: cast aluminum, 16 in. front, 15 in. rear
Handlebar width: 31.5 in.
This Rebel Doesn't Yell: The Honda 250 You Remember from School
If the Rebel looks familiar to you, it should. Honda's venerable 250 has been around since 1985 and has put thousands of new riders through their paces. The Rebel's bulletproof engine and spare, retro styling make a user-friendly package that's proven to be easy on the eyes and even easier on wallets.
With the Rebel, what you see is what you get--its air-cooled, parallel-twin engine has a perfectly square bore and stroke of 53 x 53mm, and each cylinder is fed by two valves. A single overhead cam powered by an automatically adjusted cam chain operates the valves. Compression is a low 9.2:1, and carburetion comes courtesy of a single 26mm Keihin unit. Exhausts are expelled via a 2-into-2 unit, with mufflers appearing on either side of the bike. A five-speed transmission gets power out to a chain final drive. The 2.6-gallon tank sips fuel at approximately 60 mpg for a hefty 170-mile cruising range.
A double-cradle frame supports the engine. The 33mm fork attached to an 18-inch front wheel is directed by a wide, slightly pullback bar with a single gauge for instrumentation. Amidships, you straddle a two-piece seat just 26.6 inches above the pavement, supported by two dampers adjustable for preload (with no adjustability available in the fork). The rear end rolls on a 15-inch spoked wheel shod with a 139/90 tire. A 9.4-inch brake disc is stopped by a single, two-piston caliper up front, and there's a drum setup in the back.
While the Rebel is no showstopper, three of our testers found it attractive--the '03 pearl-blue color scheme was especially eye-catching. And build quality is typically solid--the fenders are metal and the badging details are particularly well finished. Alas, all 250s are built to a price, and sometimes it shows on the Rebel. Little details like a missing oil light, no tach, nonmatching budget tires and a weak non-halogen headlight stick out.
The Rebel's vertical twin...
The Rebel's vertical twin is simple, solid and a reliable choice.
Riding the Rebel is just as you remember it from your MSF course--even vertically challenged beginners are able to plant both feet on terra firma, and its light weight and nimble handling instills instant confidence. Good thing, because this bike is made for short people--our shortest tester, at 5-foot-2, was still cramped on the Rebel, and others maintained it'd be more comfortable if the bar, pegs and seat were an inch further apart. The only normal-sized feature of the Rebel is its wide handlebar, which allowed testers to push the front end around with ease.
This flickability made the Rebel entertaining, and our more experienced riders appreciated its ample ground clearance. Several testers complained that a long pull was required on the front brake lever to engage the 9.4-inch disc, but total rookies felt instantly comfortable with the Rebel and remarked favorably about its cornering ability and quickness off the line. When push came to shove, however, the Rebel petered out on power with larger sized riders.
The lack of power was a problem--a smaller tester even remarked, "I felt more like I was riding a rabbit than a Rebel." Most riders could only cajole the little Honda to a top speed of 70 mph with any degree of comfort, and hill climbing was a shift-y affair. Of course, Honda hasn't aimed this bike at experienced riders, and novices should find the power output acceptable--if they stay off the highway.
The Honda's low seat height...
The Honda's low seat height is a big plus.
When we sifted through the post-ride comments, testers ranked the Rebel third or fourth, but its cramped quarters and sluggish mill very nearly negated its attractive price. All in all, we'd say the Rebel is still a good value for the money, if you're under 5-foot-3 inches tall.
Honda Rebel 250
Suggested base price: $2999
Wheelbase: 57.1 in.
Wet weight: 329 lbs.
GVWR: 675 lbs.
Seat height: 26.6 in.
Fuel capacity: 2.6 gal.
Average range: 172 miles
Engine type: air-cooled, four-stroke vertical twin
Final drive: chain
Front suspension: 33mm stanchions
Rear suspension: 2 dampers, adjustable for preload
Wheels: wire-spoke, 18 in. front, 15 in. rear
Handlebar width: 32.0 in.