First bike rs250?

[Neil]

I am getting my license in December and have been looking at possible first bikes. I like the look of sports bikes and have considered a ninja EX250R or Hyosung GT250R but would rather have the rs250. I know it's a powerful bike and not an ideal commuter (read links to reviews people have posted here). The reason I prefer it is I won't need to upgrade to another bike for a long time. I have thought about getting an fzr150 at first and getting practice riding but I don't really want to do that. Also the rs seems like it will hold its value longer than other newish sports bikes. I know in the USA some people start on ninja 650s and live.

Is this a stupid idea? Is it possible to learn on a rs250 without killing yourself?

[2much]

As long as you're mechanically minded, go for it. They are a great bike and will only go as fast as you twist your wrist. They're not as pratical as a 4 stroke but that's half the fun, and respect the brakes, they have some bite.

[CookMySock]

Depends what you want to do.

If you want to learn all the tricky stuff, the larger workload of coping with the RS will take all your concentration and you wont learn a thing. You will be better off with a nice smooth vtwin that doesn't take up all your attention.

If you want something breathtaking to belt in a straight line and forget about cornering, get it.

If you can cope with both, then do it. But you will have to be someone special to do that.

Steve

[SMOKEU]

Buy something cheap like a CG125 or AX100 for your first bike. You're less likely to fuck yourself up on one of these and there are no fairings to replace when you drop it.

[jaymzw]

I'll be the first to suggest a Busa...
Wont need to upgrade for a long time with one of those either:woohoo:

[sil3nt]

Like 2much said your only ever going to go as fast as your wrist takes you. If you understand that 2 strokes have higher maintenance costs and are ok with it then go for it!

[bogan]

also, think youre sposed to warm up two stroke before you ride (mx anyways), to get the oil in all the right places, cyd be different fo roadbikes. But thatd prolly be inconvinient on a commuter

[Insanity_rules]

Get a Ducati and be done with it. Go on you know you want to. Seriously though have you ridden much yet ie MX bikes or something? If your a stone cold learner then the RS 250 isn't really a good idea.

To give you a real picture, I used to own an RG250 (Classic Suzi two smoke similar to the RS)and I swear that it would have given my current Ducati 900 a fairly good run for its money

[Edbear]

They're a race bike that happens to be road legal with more power than my old Suzuki T500.

You rebuild the motor every 18,000km. Very fast, awesome brakes and handling. A very quick way to kill yourself.

If I had the spare cash to run one I'd love one, but then I've been riding bikes since 1970... I'd still be wary of it until I was very familiar with it.

Get a VTR250 Honda or Hyosung. The little Honda is a great bike that won't scare you but has enough performance to be fun even for an old codger like me. The RS is twice as powerful...

[Neil]

Thanks for the advice guys.

[FzerozeroT]

Do it, I upgraded from an SV1000 to an NSR250, heaps more fun racing the IL4 1000's on this

[Neil]

If you want something breathtaking to belt in a straight line and forget about cornering, get it.

Yes that is what I want. I probably wouldn't try any tricky stuff no matter which bike I bought. Mainly because I would rather not come off on the road with oncoming cars and I know people who have had serious crashes. My theory is as long as I don't drive crazy the rs's
awesome breaks and handlings make it less likely that I'll crash.

[Insanity_rules]

If your a new rider but want a good throwable bike to learn on I'd go a VTR or a Hornet. Good for developing confidence, great handling and still quite satisfying when your a bit more skilled. Plus they hold their value like almost nothing else.

[Edbear]

Another option if you want a sporty 250 is the little Kawasaki Ninja. Looks the biz, and goes quite well...

http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/Edbearnz/Kawasaki-Ninja-250r.jpg

[marty]

I had an RS250. Had been riding a CX500 on a 6L for a year, then needed to get a 250 to finish my licence, so settled on the RS. I did 20000kms on it in 18 months.

Day 1, nearly went over the bars on the front brakes.

For the rest of the time I had it, I rode it like I stole it. Had more than few moments on it. Stepped the back out multiple times when coming on the pipe around a roundabout.

There's no way it wants to cruise around at 70k. Engine is too highly strung. Too much weight on the bars.

I rode multiple 250s. The naked VTR with a nice zorst was by far the very best all-round machine out there. If I needed a bike now for commuting, I would have one in a flash.

If I wanted a bike to cane around around on and misbehave leaving blue smoke everywhere and worrying that it was going to biff me at any time, or sieze up on me at 200km/h, or worrying about dropping it and scratching that lovely fairing and swingarm, then I'd get another RS.

I'm glad I didn't get one, nor do I or recommend one, as a first bike.

[ital916]

get a perm

[Markw336]

yeah not a good idea if you have never riden a bike before and yes they need to be well maintained dont recomend if you want a reliable bike to ride

[tigertim20]

I am getting my license in December and have been looking at possible first bikes. I like the look of sports bikes and have considered a ninja EX250R or Hyosung GT250R but would rather have the rs250. I know it's a powerful bike and not an ideal commuter (read links to reviews people have posted here). The reason I prefer it is I won't need to upgrade to another bike for a long time. I have thought about getting an fzr150 at first and getting practice riding but I don't really want to do that. Also the rs seems like it will hold its value longer than other newish sports bikes. I know in the USA some people start on ninja 650s and live.

Is this a stupid idea? Is it possible to learn on a rs250 without killing yourself?

Hi Neil How are you?
heres my 2C worth.
I certainly wouldnt suggest getting an RS if a big part of it is not having to upsize for ages, for one, resale on those are great, provided you dont bin it, that and the fact that sooner or later you will want to take a mrs, gf or potential shag on the back, or go to rallies,or you will become absolutely addicted and want more of everything, here are much beter bikes out there as a rgular use bike, do not get me wrong though, smokers are fuking fun.

I bought my mrs a TZR250 for her first bike earlier this year, she is a 54kg petite wee thing, and when people hear thats her forst bike they go what the fuck!?!?!? and ask her if she is mad. Honestly, I bought it for me to play on as well as to teach her, and through watching her learn, I have seen that learning to handle the smoker has made her (have to) tune in to exactly what the bike is doing, and be in touch with what it needs, both in terms of riding and maintenance, This has resulted in her being a better more knowledgable and confident rider, and one who had (had to) develop good maintenance habbits to keep it running good. People say dont get one. I say fuckin get one! they are awsome fun and can teach you lots, but you will want to upgrade in a year, maybe more, then go get yourself a 400 or 600 4 stroke and enjoy it!.

[tigertim20]

oh should also point out, all you have really asked for here is opinions, so absorb the useful information and dicard the rest, none of us can say what ike would be best for YOU. Go ride one and see how it feels. Then go test ride a good 5 or ten others of varying styles etc, that way you have a comparison and can make an informed decidion instead of buying the 'fuckin fast hot looking smoker' just cos its fast and sexy

[gammaguy]

Depends what you want to do.

If you want to learn all the tricky stuff, the larger workload of coping with the RS will take all your concentration and you wont learn a thing. You will be better off with a nice smooth vtwin that doesn't take up all your attention.

If you want something breathtaking to belt in a straight line and forget about cornering, get it.

If you can cope with both, then do it. But you will have to be someone special to do that.

Steve

1)the RS 250 IS a smooth V-Twin

2)it corners better than most bikes out there

3)it is actually less of a straight line machine than a cornering one

4)THEY ROCK!:rockon:

[Neil]

Appreciate the opinions guys. I just look at people buying ninja 250s etc new for 7-8k and having to sell them a year later undamaged for around 5k and think why not just get an rs250? If I fell off a ninja to fix the fairings is 3-5k (from another thread not 100% sure that's correct) so it's just as costly as falling off the rs. + the rs is a way better bike. I dunno got awhile to think about what I'll get (and a lot of saving).

[Latte]

2 Stroke will bite if you don't respect it. But as long as you take some time to learn it's characteristics you'll be fine. They don't need to be wrung out unless they are in need of maintenance. And yes you will be doing a lot more maintenance than a 4 stroke. But it's not hard, can do it yourself (if you're not willing to do it yourself it can get expensive).

It might pay to look at other 2 Strokes (like the NSR hint hint). They are restricted to 40-45 hp standard, but are easily converted to ~60hp when you feel the need for more power.

[Dave Lobster]

........... instead of buying the 'fuckin fast hot looking smoker' just cos its fast and sexy

I can't think of a BETTER reason to buy a bike!!!!

[TygerTung]

I probably wouldn't recomend an RS250 for a first bike, not only because it probably won't teach you good riding skills because it has lots of power and other things like that, but because it will get smashed really badly if you crash. Most learner riders will drop their first bike and with an RS250 there will be plastic everywhere.

Two guys at my work decided to get a motorbike. They got flash ones. Both dropped them fairly soon after starting riding. Both bikes were written off. Both never got another motorbike.

I got myself a CG125 for my first bike. It taught me good riding skills as I didn't have a lot of power, so I had to develop riding skills to compensate. I dropped it a couple of times. It wasn't badly damaged, well not too badly damaged. The thing with a cheap bike is that you can't really write it off.

I would recommend that you get a CG125 or AX100 or something as the other guys said. Once you have upgraded to a bigger model you can use it for bucket racing. Thats what I did.

I wouldn't agree that 2 strokes are higher maintenance. You don't have to change the oil, you don't have to change the filter. You don't have to set the tappet clearance, and rebuilds are a lot simpler. I recently pulled down a friends RGV250 which had about 40k on the clock. It didn't appear to have been apart before. We pulled the barrels off, everything seemed to be within specification, we put it back together again.

When you do a rebuild on a 2 stroke, all you have to do is pull the barrels off, maybe rebore or hone, replace the piston and rings maybe, maybe change bearings. You don't have to worry about lapping in valve seats, doing the valve timing, valve clearance, timing chains, blah blah blah. They are much easier.

Of course with a CG125 it is pushrod, so you don't have to worry about timing chains, they are pretty simple. I would recomend a CG as they are easy to work on and will teach you heaps about engines.

Good luck.

[Dropped]

I probably wouldn't recomend an RS250 for a first bike, not only because it probably won't teach you good riding skills because it has lots of power and other things like that, but because it will get smashed really badly if you crash. Most learner riders will drop their first bike and with an RS250 there will be plastic everywhere.

Two guys at my work decided to get a motorbike. They got flash ones. Both dropped them fairly soon after starting riding. Both bikes were written off. Both never got another motorbike.

I got myself a CG125 for my first bike. It taught me good riding skills as I didn't have a lot of power, so I had to develop riding skills to compensate. I dropped it a couple of times. It wasn't badly damaged, well not too badly damaged. The thing with a cheap bike is that you can't really write it off.

I would recommend that you get a CG125 or AX100 or something as the other guys said. Once you have upgraded to a bigger model you can use it for bucket racing. Thats what I did.

I wouldn't agree that 2 strokes are higher maintenance. You don't have to change the oil, you don't have to change the filter. You don't have to set the tappet clearance, and rebuilds are a lot simpler. I recently pulled down a friends RGV250 which had about 40k on the clock. It didn't appear to have been apart before. We pulled the barrels off, everything seemed to be within specification, we put it back together again.

When you do a rebuild on a 2 stroke, all you have to do is pull the barrels off, maybe rebore or hone, replace the piston and rings maybe, maybe change bearings. You don't have to worry about lapping in valve seats, doing the valve timing, valve clearance, timing chains, blah blah blah. They are much easier.

Of course with a CG125 it is pushrod, so you don't have to worry about timing chains, they are pretty simple. I would recomend a CG as they are easy to work on and will teach you heaps about engines.

Good luck.



Ok a couple of things. Its DAM rare to find an rgv or rs250 that hasn't been pulled apart or dropped for that matter. also NEVER hone or re bore an rs or rgv's barrels they are plated and will need to be replated. But yes a rebuild doesn't take long and is very easy.



Also rgvs are normally 45 hp which is about the same as your CBR, ZXR unless its a unrestricted model and then it will be about 58 (When the rings and pistons are good)


I started on an rgv for my first bike i didnt have any problems it was the 45 hp model tho.

[Jonno.]

awesome breaks and handlingsmake it less likely that I'll crash.
Good theory you have there.

Why don't you get a second hand new ninja for 5k, put the rest on gear and not have to sell your kidneys to maintain/fuel the rs.