Revved up for the commute

The smart-looking Daelim VJF 250 is nimble and lightweight, packed with a full-throttle riding experience. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

With Korean cars making great inroads into our sales charts it was only a matter of time before that nation's motorcycles put a tyre in the water.

Daelim has had a minor presence for a few years now, but finally there's a real bike - albeit a learner-friendly 250 - topping its short scooter line-up.

This Daelim VJF 250 is the two-wheeled equivalent of Kia's Koup - with a smart, sporty-looking skin covering sensible, daily-driver underpinnings.

In this case that means a 250cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, fuel-injected engine, which initially felt almost comically laid back, though it sounded gruff enough. Then I noticed the 11,000rpm redline and realised the little beastie likes to rev. Wind the throttle to the max and by 10,000rpm she's all on - every kilowatt delivered with a vigour that almost belies the modest total.

But once I got over the initial surprise that, despite its looks, this isn't a sports bike, I began to enjoy it. For a start, the sporty lines hide a sensible riding position that's commuter-speed friendly. She's light, too, and though the conventional fork and monoshock rear suspension set-up is pretty basic it's more than up to the job. Ride is compliant enough and the steering is accurate and sharp, without being twitchy.

That means you can make the most of the limited urge, pinning the throttle wide through all but the tightest bend, flicking through the five gears to keep her revving as you fling her down the road. Ride her hard and she feels vigorous enough to keep you concentrating, without being sufficiently quick to get to silly speeds. It helps that she'll lean a long way. There's little need to back off.

There's a bit of a buzz at high revs, but you're too busy to be bothered - at a more relaxed pace, they disappear.

You can appreciate the fact there's a digital clock as well as a trip, and that the bike feels solid and comfy. Though I suspect someone much taller than my 1.6m might find it cramped.

Mind you, the VJF isn't designed for long hours in the saddle. It's a smart-looking commuter that's capable of the odd fang, using its nimbleness and light weight to make up for the power deficit, and its throaty note to help you forget she ain't as hot as she looks.

Daelim VJF250

We like
Sweet handling, tractable, low seat suits shorties

We don't like
Taller riders needn't apply; lacks power

Powertrain
247cc fuel-injected, water-cooled single, five-speed transmission, chain drive; 15.7kW

Performance
0-100km/h not available

Price
$5995

Vital stats
2030mm long, 780mm seat height, 173kg wet weight, 15-litre fuel tank