Can anyone tell me why 250cc bikes have to be either old or gutless?

[Ocean1]

"There aint no substitute for cubic inches."

Smokey Unik iirc, a more qualified opinion would be hard to find.

Is there anything in the rules about engine modifications?

[Maki]

Modifying a 250 so it will make as much power as a 600 may be possible but it's hard, expensive and pointless. If you want 600 power, just get a 600.

[jade]

I want a gsxr 750 for my next bike
But I 100% believe a 2 stroke 250 is enough power for the road
I wont ever sell mine

[Maki]

I once rode a 500cc 2 stroke on the road. Scared the shit out of me, I can tell you.

[Japtwin]

Agree with most of the above, and I know this is not 'breaking news' but ye gods the price of old 250s is insane. been trying to find a 250 for an 'older' learner friend and am shocked at the prices for 15 year old tired bikes. Its a strange market. Maybe the new ninja will shake it up abit. Lots of dealers are selling 6 to 10 year old hornets for more than the price of the new ninja.
Maybe the Koreans should start making an imitation RGV, NSR, TZR.

[Maki]

Agree with most of the above, and I know this is not 'breaking news' but ye gods the price of old 250s is insane. been trying to find a 250 for an 'older' learner friend and am shocked at the prices for 15 year old tired bikes. Its a strange market. Maybe the new ninja will shake it up abit. Lots of dealers are selling 6 to 10 year old hornets for more than the price of the new ninja.
Maybe the Koreans should start making an imitation RGV, NSR, TZR.

That is so true. I walked into Wellington Motorcycles a while ago and was seriously urged to buy this bike http://www.motorcycle.co.nz/other/?id=35114
$9000 for a used 250! I was shocked speachless. I mumbled that I would think about it and ran out the door as fast as I could, yikes...

[jcupit69]

The Japanese market limited the bikes to 45hp, something to do with their taxation iirc. Anyway, they found they could produce that without resorting to an IL4, so that essentially killed them off. Tree huggers eassentially killed the 2 strokes off. The Japanese have their own interesting styling concepts and trends, and that's what killed the small race reps off (they have heaps of cool models we never see here, even as imports, as they'd never sell well enough).

Basically, on a 250, get yourself an RGV or RS250, if you want fast. They demand attention big time, to ride, and to maintain. They demand quality oil, and religiously topping it up or else. But in return, they give you maximum engine performance, and the lightest weight.

Where a CBR/ZXR250 is a fairly uninspiring sack of shit that feels like it has been well neutered (and of course, it has), a 2 stroke 250 delivers on all the promises.

You've got to be prepared to pay the price though, only you can decide if you're a 'real' biker, or 'just someone who rides bikes'. Of course, if you're not working full time, and you want to ride everywhere, then they may not suit your situation.... the IL4 250s are ok, neat handling, not too slow, but they just feel so boring... you could go to sleep on a ZXR250, a 2 stroke on the other hand will always let itself be known.

I've got 15 years on bikes now, and I've recently brought myself a 2 stroke 250... they're that addictive, that much better than an IL4 250 (in other words, no way in hell I'd bother buying a 250 other than a 2 stroke).

My 2cents... you're welcome to come to the CWNR tomorrow at 6, and have a yarn in person... I'll be on the Lucky Strike RGV250

Cant agree with this guy more!!
The zxr c models are good and dont need that much attention, and its the same with the other 4 strokes, but when it comes down to it you cant beat the 2strokes for the power and the passion.
If you can get your hands on the rgv vj23a which was the rgv sp that ran from 97-98 if memory serves is a beautiful thing and has an electric start!!! trouble is only 2500 were ever produced however there is one somewhere in NZ, it was on trademe a while back.
Other than that i have to recomend the post 1998 rs 250 (they got upgraded suspension, bigger wheels, bigger bodywork and a better tuned engine than the pre 98 models), got amazing suspension all round, the brembos are rediculous, and the power is top of the 250s, meaning in the twistys you can keep up with just about anything. Its know wonder they were banned from production, their outragous for a 250!!!
The oil and maintinace are a bit annoying and you gotta let them warm up, but 5 minuits on a twisty road and you wont care. The italians make amazing bikes (even with jap motors), you just gota look at the 250 gp racing and see aprilia at the top for the past 10 odd years, n that should tell you enough bout the rs250. They are simply awsome!!!

[scottyolsen]

I've had a 250cc GSXR previously, and am now looking to buy another higher performance 250cc bike to keep with the licence rules, and finding it damn frustrating. It seems that the newest GSXR, CBR, and ZXR 250s on the market are 1995, and even getting that age is a stretch. I can understand that when you are on your learners or restricted licence it does make sense for the power of your bike to be restricted to the 250cc class, but why is it that there are no newer high performance bikes available? Does anyone know how something manufactured around 2000 is impossible to get (unless a 2-stroke is wanted?)
Can someone please give me the reason for this strange situation where the only bikes that can go fast in the 250cc class are at the age now where they have ancient technology, and old, old parts???????

they stop making 250cc bikes like the honda cbrr 250 and the yamaha fzrr 250 ones that achly go fast. they just brought out a ninja 250 its a peice of crap looks cool thats about it you need to get a 89 yamaha fzrr 250 like myn 21000 km and rvs out to 19000 beats all my mates 250s. nt slow at all

[BladeBoy]

hi. i own a cbr250rr its a `90. i brought it bout a year ago and it was just imported. it only had 15000 on the clock, whether or not that is the correct ks im not sure but its given me no problems. yea its old but as far as any 250s out there id say it would be one of the best round. up to `93 models have 45hp and after `93 all jap manufactures restricted the hp to 40 to conform to some starndard. as far as handling and accleration and top speed go its mint. the only way youd better it as on a 2stroke like the rgv or nsr.
comparing it to modern 250s like the hoyosung i wouldnt even bother ive seen 05 hoyosungs on trade me for as low as 4g id still get over 5 for mine.
but that just my opinion. good luck.

[cowboyz]

YES!!!
It seems like a silly rule...especially given these Race 2-strokes putting out 60+ HP.

actually, according to that posted website.. 110HP and 101kg. That thing woud certainly get up and go.

they stop making 250cc bikes like the honda cbrr 250 and the yamaha fzrr 250 ones that achly go fast. they just brought out a ninja 250 its a peice of crap looks cool thats about it you need to get a 89 yamaha fzrr 250 like myn 21000 km and rvs out to 19000 beats all my mates 250s. nt slow at all

Your name is not Mark by any chance is it? Sounds very familar.

[dave_a]

they stop making 250cc bikes like the honda cbrr 250 and the yamaha fzrr 250 ones that achly go fast. they just brought out a ninja 250 its a peice of crap looks cool thats about it you need to get a 89 yamaha fzrr 250 like myn 21000 km and rvs out to 19000 beats all my mates 250s. nt slow at all

yeah sure you sound like you know exactly what your talking bout,and you beat your mates oh cher bro good one a bro cuzzy g!.

good on you,but any single 600 on the road would smoke you so get over it your pissing in the wind

[Maki]

Why are some people obsessed with "powerful" 250 bikes? Sorry, but no 250 bike is particularly powerful. If you want a powerful bike, get one with a bigger engine.

[onearmedbandit]

I want a gsxr 750 for my next bike
But I 100% believe a 2 stroke 250 is enough power for the road
I wont ever sell mine

Just out of curiosity have you ridden (and by ridden I mean done some decent k's) on a larger bike? Not shit-stirring, just asking.

[Ixion]

I have. I'd agree with him, provided the journies be not too long (and don't require luggage or pillions)

[Ixion]

That's hardly practical . I'd settle for a 1000cc V twin two stroke, that weighed no more than a 250.