What do people think of an Aprilia RS250???

[CM2005]

Good onya getting a kwakka! If you'd got a 'prilla i'd be after your number so i could buy it when you binned it.
I don't like cars either, and yup Zealot i know how well a 205 GTi goes, and i'd love a rear engine homologation one!!
i dunno what i'd get for my first bike, my mate binned/got backed over on his GSX250, and i mioght score that and put some mx bars and acerbis lite on it.. i've never ridden a bike with clip-ons!

[MSTRS:Me]

it's when you're climbing thru 100mph/160kph in 3rd on the RS thnat you realise that it's probably a little much for a learner.

And still in 1st on a performance 750+
2SG - good on you for getting the more sensible GPX. They are still no slouches - just ask anyone who knows Speights_Bud

[Zealot]

CM2005:
Aren't we being a little presumptuous in that any new rider WILL have a woopsie and come off on an RS250?
Also, if you think a mid engined rwd one would be hot... how about a twin engined "Mi32". Mi16 in the front driving the front wheels, and one in the back for the rear wheels. Controlled off the same gearshift, etc.

It's a work in progress, by a czech guy from memory.


Anyway, if I did go for a less crazy bike first off - would it be better to go for a 150cc 2 stroke (rg150 etc) or a 4 pot 4 stroke aka cbr250 or similar? Assuming within 6 months I'd sell and upgrade to an rs250?

Is the 2stroke power band so vastly different that it'd be easier to learn on a 150cc 2 stroke so I'm use to it? Or go for the more powerful 4 stroke?
Random thoughts/comments/abuse appreciated.

[CM2005]

sounds dangerous to me!! i'd like a go on a KR150, to see if they're anything like the 2t dirt bikes i've ridden... yeah, it was a little presumtuous, but i'm sure some on here would agree that it would be likely? dunno. whats a CBR400RR like to ride? i'm thinking of buying one for F3

[limbimtimwim]

Anyway, if I did go for a less crazy bike first off - would it be better to go for a 150cc 2 stroke (rg150 etc) or a 4 pot 4 stroke aka cbr250 or similar?

Ride both and see what you are more comfortable with. Power to weight wise, a 4cyl 250 4 stroke and a 1cyl 150 2 stroke are probably quite similar. You might decide that a RG150 feels a bit dinky (They are very light) and a 4cyl feels a bit more solid and you like that more. Or vice versa.

Assuming within 6 months I'd sell and upgrade to an rs250?

Assume that you will only want to move on when you are comfortable, rather than setting time periods. I think it has taken me about 10,000km on each bike I have had before I felt very comfortable with it. You of course may be different.

[avgas]

You're best bet is the 150 two stroke. ride it until you get sick of doing 180+kph i did

[Zealot]

CM2005:
Yea it would. Each engine is worked - 180-190hp per engine... It'd be pretty quick. I'll find his photo album, it's VERY impressive. He's got the engines in, linked the gears, and I think started it up.

[Mole_C]

What makes you think I couldn't handle learning on an RS? Serious question, I'm not looking to get into an argument so keep it objective not personal, kk?

1. It is not a learners bike and very few people can handle it as a first bike.
2. You seem to have an attitude that you are going to be a great biker and be able to handle a bike that almost everyone has told you is not a learners bike. You seem very stubborn and not wanting to take advice and it is generally these type of people who will crash hard.
3. Many people crash their first bike (mostly minor) and i would rather you crash something i don't want to buy rather than make them harder to find and drive the price up.

Aren't we being a little presumptuous in that any new rider WILL have a woopsie and come off on an RS250?

No!

[Zealot]

It's called playing devil's advocate.

I think you're probably right however. I'd hate to kill a $7k bike...

[2strokegirl]

i honestly dont think youl get an aprilia for under 7k. i just got a gpx even though i have been riding mx bikes since i was 5. you can get one brand new for 7k. wouldnt you rather buy something for the same price that does the same job that you no the ass hasent been thrashed off it and that wont cost you a small fortune in the long run ie disk breaks aproxx $300 each, cabels, fork seals etc ??

seriously think about weatha or not you have the finantial backing to upkeep an rs its not cheap to rebuild the whole thing after 16000km. and if you buy one that is close to those kms i can alomst guarentee youl be rebuilding it within 2 weeks cos the previous owner noes that its gota be done so theyl sell it and land you with a bike thats going to cost you another couple of thousand to keep it going.

2strokegirl

[2strokegirl]

oh yeah all those people waiting to see if im fat or not ill put a picture up after school ok.

[aff-man]

2SG: good sensible choice... plus I used to go round the outside of people on my vt250f 1988 special edition... Which had less Hp than the GPX. It's not what ya got but how ya use it. Have fun on the roads.


Zealot: Not everybody WILL come off an RS..... BUT you've got a much higher chance. If I had ridden one when I was on my learners/restricted I think I probably would have come unstuck. The biggest thing is that because they are so small and "only a 250" people don't get that they are a production race 2 stroke and consiquently need to be ridden as such. i'd go for a IL4 250 zxr (only cause I'm biased) but they aer fairly quick and it was probably the best handeling bike i've owned.

[marty]

Also, if you think a mid engined rwd one would be hot... how about a twin engined "Mi32". Mi16 in the front driving the front wheels, and one in the back for the rear wheels. Controlled off the same gearshift, etc.

.

your lips are moving but all i can hear is 'blah, blah, blah'

[Zealot]

2strokegirl:
I'm not the sort of person to pay for someone else to rebuild it...

I also have a vastly different opinion from you on used pieces of machinery. They're easily as reliable as a new one.

And there have been multiple rs250s on trademe for $7kish.

affman:
I think I'll take your (and others) advice - a zxr might be a cheaper first option, hopefully I'll have one within a month or two. Just gotta look around for a decent one.

marty:

Take one 205 gti.
Take one 405 Mi16 D6C motor.
Put a 160hp torquey 1.9L NA into said 800kg car.
This is a standard engine conversion

A czech guy took two motors, put one in the back, the second in the rear. He's powering the front wheels off the front engine, as per usual in a FWD car, but is driving a rear axle off the rear engine, connecting the two gearboxes together off the one gearshift.

Pics here
http://projects.205gtidrivers.com/205mi32

Info here
http://forum.205gtidrivers.com/index...howtopic=66870

Make some more sense?

[aff-man]

affman:
I think I'll take your (and others) advice - a zxr might be a cheaper first option, hopefully I'll have one within a month or two. Just gotta look around for a decent one.

I had an 89 and they go really well I just loved it and besides the looks they changed nothing so you can save some coin by getting an older one. One of the main things to check for on a zxr (don't know how mechanically minded ya are) but have a listen for cam chain rattle. They need to be adjusted every 30 -40000km, not an expensive thing about $300 (if you replace all parts) but can cause major damage if one comes off.