Best 250cc

[Flatcap]

You lot seem to know a bit about motorcycles.....

If I was to add a sprotsbike to my stable of scooters, what 250cc machine would you recommend? Remember I do enjoy the smell of 2-stroke in the morning.

(on restricted license so limited to 250)

What say you?

[Sniper]

RS250, cant go wrong man. And then you can store it at mine.....

[Ixion]

RS250 if you can afford it. RGV250 if you don't mind mechanicallying. NSR250 if reliability counts (eg it's your daily transport).

Bear in mind that these are not sensible bikes. For anything.

Wouldn't normally recommend 250cc two smokers (well, those ones , anyway) for a non-full, but if you've avoided being squashed on a scooter you'll probably survive (probably. Well, maybe).

If you like older stuff TZR250 is nice. Or the RD/RZ250 , a classic. Or if you can find one, an X7 GT250. All those are old now, lots of fun, but not for the fainthearted. They are more sensible and safer, but.

[justsomeguy]

RS250, cant go wrong man. ....

Eh what?? :blah:

Get a CBR250RR, gear driven cams, honda reliability. 190kmph top end, 14.16 1/4 mile at 146.8kmph and ability to lap Puke in 1:20 (rider dependant) and Taupo full track in 2:15 or less (also rider dependant).

[Sniper]

Eh what?? :blah:

I mean in terms of style and bling factor:nya:

[Flatcap]

Wouldn't normally recommend 250cc two smokers (well, those ones , anyway) for a non-full, but if you've avoided being squashed on a scooter you'll probably survive (probably. Well, maybe).
.

Yes - my brother had an RZ250 back in the 80's and as I recall it turned round and bit him a number of times.

Don't forget the Bella RV150 is a 150 reed valve 2 stroke so is reasonably quick in scooter terms.....perhaps not in sprotsbike terms...

[bladez]

only one choice in the 250s suzuki rgv go good and sound great nsr i found when they blo they are very dare to rebuild :yes:

[Ixion]

Eh what?? :blah:

Get a CBR250RR, gear driven cams, honda reliability. 190kmph top end, 14.16 1/4 mile at 146.8kmph and ability to lap Puke in 1:20 (rider dependant) and Taupo full track in 2:15 or less (also rider dependant).

Doesn't make the smoke. Once you're hooked on the smoke you can't go back.

[Flatcap]

Doesn't make the smoke. Once you're hooked on the smoke you can't go back.


You've hit the nail on the head there ixion. For me it all started with the DS80 dirtbike I had as a kid - have loved 2 strokes since.......

[mynameis]

RS 250 mate end of the story.

[R6_kid]

four stroke in line fours: CBR250RR, ZXR250C, FZR250RR (93 model)

four stroke v-twins: VT250 Spada (old school), VTR250 (new model), Hyosung GT250(R)

Two strokers: RS250, NSR250, RGV250, TZR250

Basically, four stroke for reliability - (inline = higher top speed, v-twin = better torque so possibly better in corners)

Two strokes are good for top end speed and 400cc like performance, downside is reliability especially with the later 3 listed.

When it comes down to it, try them, find the one you like the best and buy it if you can afford. There are far too many opinions as to what makes good bikes. At the end of the day the rider makes the difference, i've seen an FXR150 keep up with 250 inline fours in the corners. So yeh, if it looks good, and you like the way it rides, then buy it.

[Jamezo]

RS250s are so wank. They cost an arm and a leg more than an RGV or NSR, and are not really any faster.

Find an RGV that has had it's powervalves done before (ie. replaced with strengthened ones), and go for it!

[marty]

one of these. i wish i still had mine.

[Sniper]

RS250s are so wank. They cost an arm and a leg more than an RGV or NSR, and are not really any faster.

Aren't you a winey little bugger as of late? That time of the month?

[ldnz]

I'd have to recommend a KR-150, sure its only 150cc's but its a hell of a lot more comfortable and safer than most 250 2 smokes. Still plenty fast enough - i've clocked mine at 175km/h without wind, they accelerate pretty well, cruise all day at 120km/h and have stuff all maintanence to do.

You'd be amazed how fast you can put em round a corner... Oh and they are often cheaper and newer than rgv/nsr etc.

[bladez]

yes i would say them little 150 buggers are quick lol had my arse kicked over a hill :bye: but then i do ride like a pussy:yawn:

[TygerTung]

I have a 1985 Kawasaki KR250S (powervalve model) which is great, quick, handles awsome, stops great, uses a lot of petrol, get about 200 odd k's outa a tank of 98 costs about $30.

Or there is the TZR250, late model ones are good, my friend has a '93 RGV's are probably the best choice as they're common so easy to get parts for.

Go 2 stroke if you want performance, 4 stroke if you want a fancy looking commuter bike.

[Mr. Peanut]

You guys are all spliff-smoking monkeys (bar Ixion, Jamezo etc). The NSR250MC21 is the best two stroke 250 ever made.

FAR more reliable than an RS250 or RGV250 which have the same POS engine. And a better design altogether.

RGV250 is in black. NSR is the white graph. Look how linear the NSR is in comparison. With a little modification an MC21 NSR will easily put out 60 rear wheel hp.

Lets not forget the Powervalves in RGVs an rs250s that cause the engine to eat themselves without fastidious maintenance.

Im sick of all this noob RGV RS BS. :D

[imdying]

I think Snipers RS250 suggestion was pretty on the money considering the man likes two strokes (and lets face it, if we're being honest, who doesn't :lol:). Besides, the RS250 will rape a CBR250RR :D

[SlowHand]

Blah blah blah, nsr this and that blah blah peanus.




All i can say is, I envy your position of being able to afford a two stoke beauty.

Ouga Chaka ouga! Chaka!

I can't stop this feeling
Deep inside of me.
Girl, you just don't realize
What you do to me.
When you hold me
In your arms so tight,
You let me know,
Everythings alright, ahahah

I'm hooked on the 2stroke,
I'm high on the fumes~

:doobey:

[SwanTiger]

What do you mean by "Best 250cc"?

Do you mean the "fastest" (which has already been debated in an earlier thread) or "best" as in build quality, maintance, ridability and so forth?

By far anything with the Honda logo will give you considerable power and absoloute reliability.

[SimJen]

RGV's/RS are the same motor wise, frame/chassis they are different. RS is better handling (newer frame design). Engines can be prone to massive failure due to powervalve issues, if they fail they fall into the motor wrecking lots of stuff. 60+hp (most HP claims are BS).

NSR's are awesome but you'll be lucky to find a good one.....mine was mint and it went for more than $6k late last year. Very reliable but if you rebuild it you must do it right = $$$$ 60+hp

TZR's are fastest if you can get an SP, easily get 70+hp out of one, but parts can be expensive.....especially big carbs. Easily rebuilt though as Yamaha make all the individual components available off the shelf (unlike Honda which makes you buy a whole crank for $1500+ instead of just a bearing for $40).

CBR250RR's are cool. Drop it at a decent speed and you'll screw the crankshaft as the motor sticks out a fair bit. (I did)
Revvy as hell and sound sweet, but performance is pretty poor compared to a stroker of the same capacity. Easy to ride though and no seizing worries.

My NSR would do under 13 secs 1/4 mile and top out at 200+ on stock gearing. But it would get there a lot quicker than a 4 stroke 250. And you could wheelie :)

All 250's are massively overpriced in my opinion. A 400 makes more sense as a learner bike....but the LTSA know better.

[hXc]

All 250's are massively overpriced in my opinion. A 400 makes more sense as a learner bike....but the LTSA know better.
Have you ever thought why 250cc and under bikes are overpriced?

It's because there is demand for them. If you decide to be a legal motorcyclist then at one stage in life you will need a 250 or under. If the cc limit was raised to 400cc, then the 400cc bikes would go up in price.

The reason 400's are so cheap is because they have very little difference to a 250, apart from how fast it gets to its top speed. Most people don't buy 400's because it makes more sense to buy a 600/750 etc.

[Edbear]

You lot seem to know a bit about motorcycles.....




:killingme :killingme :killingme


Oh, okay! RS250 is the best bang for your buck you can get in a 250! Goes like snot and can embarrass much bigger bikes! BE careful, though, it'll get you in trouble PDQ!:yes:

[SimJen]

Have you ever thought why 250cc and under bikes are overpriced?

It's because there is demand for them. If you decide to be a legal motorcyclist then at one stage in life you will need a 250 or under. If the cc limit was raised to 400cc, then the 400cc bikes would go up in price.

The reason 400's are so cheap is because they have very little difference to a 250, apart from how fast it gets to its top speed. Most people don't buy 400's because it makes more sense to buy a 600/750 etc.

I know very well why they are overpriced, but its ridiculous that a '91 250cc Fourstroke can go for anywhere from $4000-6000. A '99 600 supersports can be had for the same sort of money.
Its not really the demand that drives them its the dealers that know they can bump the prices as they are sure newbs will pay the price they ask .....so yeah it really is the demand i spose.


Oh, okay! RS250 is the best bang for your buck you can get in a 250! Goes like snot and can embarrass much bigger bikes! BE careful, though, it'll get you in trouble PDQ!

RS250 is not the best bang for buck.....a cheap RGV or NSR would beat it hands down. $2-3k and say $500-1000 for a quick freshen up and you could have a nice bike at least capable of matching a RS250. Most RS250's are going for silly money $6k+

[T.W.R]

Finding one these days that hasn't been thrashed is the hardest thing, but the KR-1S is the best allround package of all of the 2smokers :yes:

The reality is though to actually find the limits of any of these bike you'll be hard pressed to get anywhere near the limits of what these bikes are capable of, it isn't speed its handling :first: all of them are like a laser.

Well n truely capable of scaring much larger machines and more than enough jandel to see off any 4stroke 250s

[Mr. Peanut]

I thought the KR-1S would be the worst. It's rare and fragile :innocent:

[SimJen]

Yep the KR-1S is fragile all right.......Fast yes, reliable no!

[Edbear]

RS250 is not the best bang for buck.....




Okay, maybe "bang for buck" is arguable, but there's a reason for the "silly money", it's because they are such a delightful chassis and the motor is a "revised" version and has been often been conceded to be better than the Suzuki original. Just look at the swingarm and the overall style and quality of the bike! I love them while conceding that any 2-stroker is going to be a higher maintenance option compared to a 4-stroke. :rockon:

[Mr. Peanut]

Yeah but the NSR is better. :rockon:

[MidnightMike]

Yep the KR-1S is fragile all right.......Fast yes, reliable no!

Want reliability? Then go the voltinator. :innocent:

[Edbear]

Yeah but the NSR is better. :rockon:



'Tis not!:nya:

[Flatcap]

A lot of great info thanks guys...

I think I would go for reliability and noise over actual performance, so the final answer would be.......

[Jamezo]

PERSSONALY I THINK TEH MASTAR CHEF COULD BEET UP YOSHIMITSU

Really, any of the four stroke 250s are a safe bet (except for old skool ie. '88 GSXR250s, shit bike), as are RGVs and NSRs if you find a nice one.

I wouldn't recommend searching out a particular model, just consider any of the above bikes and get the one that you can get the sweetest deal on.

[Sniper]

I think Snipers RS250 suggestion was pretty on the money considering the man likes two strokes (and lets face it, if we're being honest, who doesn't :lol:). Besides, the RS250 will rape a CBR250RR :D

Wellllll, I wouldnt buy a two stroke, but if someone gave me one I wouldnt say no

[Speedracer]

By far anything with the Honda logo will give you considerable power and absoloute reliability.

With one notable exception. The NS250R. (dammit I own one!)
Renowned for blowing the bottom piston. Parts are hard to get these days.
I'll only recommend it if you buy it off me :devil2:

[Mr. Peanut]

With one notable exception. The NS250R. (dammit I own one!)
Renowned for blowing the bottom piston. Parts are hard to get these days.
I'll only recommend it if you buy it off me :devil2:

I love the look of those bikes :D esp. the pipes.


Jamezo hit the nail right on the head, Go for the sweetest deal. I'd still steer away from RGV250's. RG150's are hard enough.

[imdying]

A lot of great info thanks guys...

I think I would go for reliability and noise over actual performance, so the final answer would be.......Gull arm CBR250, later the better.

[nsrpaul]

'Tis not!:nya:
ah , tis so

[Mr. Peanut]

If Boy-Racers rode bikes, they'd be on IL4 4-stroke 250's. :shutup:

[Ixion]

They are .

[Timber020]

The RS250 is a beautiful bike, I would say its the most desireable 250 on the market as its the best overall package and damn fast. I would go for a late RGV myself, the 2 strokes make the cbr250rr seem like wannabes

[Edbear]

The RS250 is a beautiful bike, I would say its the most desireable 250 on the market as its the best overall package and damn fast.


Ah! Another Gentleman of fine taste and discernment!:yes:

[Mr. Peanut]

The RS250 is a beautiful bike, I would say its the most desireable 250 on the market as its the best overall package and damn fast. I would go for a late RGV myself, the 2 strokes make the cbr250rr seem like wannabes

Best overall package? It's a peaky, over-priced, Uber-focused track weapon :wait: Tell me how desirable it is when you're pulling mangled bits of powervalve off your cylinder wall. :yes: