Getting My Hands on the Aquila
Right, let’s talk about my time with the Aquila Hyosung. It feels like ages ago now, but I remember wanting a cruiser-style bike that didn’t break the bank. Saw a few pictures, read a bit here and there, and the Hyosung Aquila, I think it was the GV250 back then, caught my eye. Looked the part, you know? Proper cruiser look but smaller, less intimidating maybe.
So, I decided to pull the trigger. Found one used, not too many miles on it. The previous owner seemed decent enough. Went over, checked the basics – tires looked okay, started up alright, no obvious leaks. Handed over the cash and rode it home. That first ride was… interesting. Definitely different from what I was used to. Felt heavier than it looked, especially at low speeds.
Riding and Tinkering
Putting miles on it was the next step. Used it for commuting mostly, few weekend rides here and there. It wasn’t a powerhouse, obviously, but it got me around. The seating position was pretty comfy for shorter trips. Longer rides, though? My back would start complaining a bit.
Now, the ownership part wasn’t all smooth sailing. Had a few quirks pop up. Finding parts wasn’t always straightforward. It wasn’t like walking into any shop and grabbing what you needed off the shelf. Sometimes involved a bit of searching online, waiting for shipping. Annoying when you just want to get back on the road.
- The electrics seemed a bit temperamental sometimes. Had an issue with the indicators acting up once. Turned out to be a loose connection, easy fix, but still, a hassle.
- Vibrations were definitely a thing, especially at higher speeds. You kinda just learned to live with it.
- Keeping the chrome bits shiny took effort. Showed its age if you didn’t stay on top of polishing.
I did some basic maintenance myself. Oil changes, chain adjustments, that sort of stuff. It wasn’t too complicated, thankfully. The engine itself seemed pretty solid, reliable enough for daily use. Never left me stranded, which is the main thing, right?
Looking Back
Eventually, I moved on to a different bike. Needed something a bit more suited for longer distances. But looking back, the Aquila Hyosung was a decent starter cruiser. It gave me that cruiser experience without the massive price tag or the intimidating size of bigger bikes. It taught me a lot about basic maintenance too, mostly because I had to figure things out myself sometimes.
It wasn’t perfect, had its share of issues, mainly around parts availability and some minor electrical things. But for what it was, and what I paid for it, it served its purpose. It got me into riding cruisers, and it was a reliable enough daily ride for a good while. If you’re thinking about one, just be prepared to maybe do a bit more searching for parts and get your hands dirty now and then. Wasn’t a bad experience overall, just part of the journey.
