Faults:

The only mechanical problem so far was a cracked oil pan, though that was due to idiocy on the part of a person doing an oil change (i.e., me).

The bike doesn't look very good (I paid $600 for it, so I can't expect to much), but most of the problems are cosmetic.

The bike runs great, and has never failed to start. The bike looks like it has been abused (wrecked, dropped, and not maintained) by previous owners, yet still runs great. This is definitely a testament to the high quality of engineering and manufacturing that goes into Honda motorcycles.

General Comments:

Overal, it is a good motorcycle. It runs really well, and handles great. This makes it a great first bike. It is somewhat slow (which is a positive for a new rider, since accidently applying too much throttle won't lead to a loss of control), but it has no problem keeping up with traffic, as long as you are liberal with the throttle. It will maintain 60 relatively easily (I have never gone faster than that, but I am sure it could).

Riding position is a bit cramped. I could use a little more room on the bike, but it is not a problem on short rides. Since this is a 250, it's not likely it will be riddin long distances anyway, so this is not a big problem.

One problem, though. Used parts can be difficult to find. You can buy just about anything you need from a dealer or various websites, but these can be expensive. Also, many parts from the '88 and '89 model years do not fit the 1990s, which is annoying.

Faults:

When I purchased the bike, I had to replace the chain, as well as the sprockets. These are wearable parts and they were cheap to replace (under $60USD)

Nothing has gone wrong with the bike otherwise.

General Comments:

The bike is very light, which helps with new riders as well as short ones. The bike's weight also helps it corner very quickly when needed.

This motorcycle is great to learn on, but it will keep you entertained once you have become proficient.

There are organizations that have specific races for this type of bike.

It handles very well. The tires may be small, but it's limitations in cornering are the foot-pegs and not the tires.

Don't let the displacement scare you, it's no rocket, but it will go just fine.

It's very forgiving.

The tires sizes are rare, and only three different tire companies make matching sets for it, although you can mix and match with other manufacturers.

Faults:

A spider built a web in the carburetor. Took years to find out why it wouldn't start if you left it more than a week. That was the only problem.

General Comments:

Everyone told me I would regret buying a 250cc and that I could never take it on the highway. Completely false. I got a great deal on it because the woman won it on Price is Right and wanted it out of her garage. It was brand new.

Over the course of 11 years, I rode it from Boston to NYC about 100 times, and back and forth between 5 states countless other times. It had no problem at all on the highway for long periods at 75-80mph.

At highway speeds, it didn't feel like it was screaming or straining to stay at speed. It maxed out at 112mph, but felt a bit unstable over 100mph. Because it was light, it took off quickly and stopped quickly. It is no 900cc, but I hardly ever thought that it was "too small". It only looked small next to bigger bikes.

The only reason I traded it in was because I always wanted a particular bike, and I had a chance to buy it.