Calling RG150 owners

[Bussaman]

I am looking for a good learner bike to start the MRS on and have just been offered a 1998 RG 150es with 40000 on the clock.
I am a little bit freaked out by the KMs but the bike is for sale for only a $1000 and has never been dropped.

Does anyone own one with this many KMs on it and how does it go?
What does filling up a 2 stroke involve?? (dumb ass question, but i have had nothing to do with 2 strokes ever).

Any info appreciated.

[McJim]

I just bought the missus an RG150 - don't know much about them myself but the bike seems really sound - I rode it around and thrashed it a bit to see if anything would fell off but itjust ended up sounding smoother and going faster.

Hope someone knowledgable contributes soon...Jeaves?

[Magua]

Does anyone own one with this many KMs on it and how does it go?
What does filling up a 2 stroke involve?? (dumb ass question, but i have had nothing to do with 2 strokes ever).
Any info appreciated.

The rg has two seperate tanks, one for oil and one for petrol. It mixes them together itself.

With 40,000kms I'd definately be asking for a record of what work has been done. Mine only made it 15,000kms before it needed work. But, you never know.

[Theatre]

If it is in good nick for 1000 thats an absolute steal. Suspect itll be needing engine work, but the good thing about a 2 stroke is that engine work is simple! Agreed with the look at the work thats been done comments, might pay to get it looked over by someone. Great first bike.

[Bussaman]

The rg has two seperate tanks, one for oil and one for petrol. It mixes them together itself.


Cheers, I thought it was something like that.

[Bussaman]

If it is in good nick for 1000 thats an absolute steal. Suspect itll be needing engine work, but the good thing about a 2 stroke is that engine work is simple! Agreed with the look at the work thats been done comments, might pay to get it looked over by someone. Great first bike.


Thanks for comment, I just had a look on tarde me and 1000 bucks is a good price.
I will be taking it in to holeshot for a once over before i purchase.

[JeremyW]

Yea $1000 is an absolute steal! If its in good condition...

But Im pretty sure at that kinda kms its gonna need a bit of engine work. Do be a little careful though because if it needs a top end rebuild, bottom end check (or god forbid a rebuild) and new power valves you are looking at about $2k worth of work. I mean the power valves are $500 a pop for the two alone. And you probably wont get anything close to that on resale.

Take it for a spin and once it is warm (they take an age to warm up because they are made for Thailand!) give it a good dose of the right hand from about 6000rpm. It should accelerate smoothly through till around 8000, if you feel a slight hesitation in the power it probably means the power valves are not functioning properly, but that could be that they are gummed up with crappy slude (mainly from using shite oil) or the rotating activator could not be working properly, not nessarily that they are entirely rooted.

From 9000 on it should smoothly hit the powerband and rev right through until redline, making good power the whole way. It should also not be terribly slow at low rpms, this usually means thay need a top end rebuild.

If all the standard things like chain, sprokets, brake discs, tyres, body etc are all in good condition I dont think the kms would be a worry. These frames are quite similar to the FXR150's and I know a few of those that have done 50000kms+ without any major worries.

This is just what I have gained from my experience, if I have said anything untrue it would be good to hear from people more knowledgable than myself (and maybe can spell better).

Good luck with the purchase! I am just waiting for insurance to sort its shit out so I can get my next RG150 :)

[McJim]

I paid $2000 at the weekend for ours and I don't feel ripped off as it had recently had:

Engine rebuilt
New Sprockets & Chain
New Exhaust
Loadsa meat left on tyres
Plenty of wear left on Brake pads

Sailed through it's WOF yesterday too.

And there's no visible signs of a drop or bent frame. For $1000 I'd expect to have to throw a few bucks at it.

[90s]

Did you end up taking the plunge?
$1000 certainly seems to be a great price even factoring in $200-300 for a thorough service and various work. As for powervalves etc. they come up on trademe new fairly often (was a set last week), as do project RGs so you can get cheaper parts than shop prices too.
As for oil also they need very little (self mixing as magua said). I've been using the castrol 2T oil I was given with the bike - I've used less than 3l over 1000k. I've bought some full synth repsol for when that runs out and was told it will use even less then, and that the bike will 'clean up' smoother. Everyone on here recommends full synth only.
Don't forget the workshop manual (well most of it) is online here thanks to bigtex.
I must say mines a fab commuter - comfortable riding position, at 100k on the motorway it sits at 8000rpm in sixth, start of its big power surge so it is both fairly relaxed but still poised to fly should you need to (unlike GN250x/ Volty etc which are thrashed by 100k), flys through the twisties at high revs and cruises easily through the traffic with only 4000 on the clock.
Good luck!