The RS250

**Rych** · 4th December 2008, 08:39

Hey all, well I am looking into these Aprilla RS250's. I would like something with a bita power but because of learners can only get a 250.

Would just like to know how these bikes run and how reliable they are? Are they a decent bike for the street or are they more of a racing bike? I don't really know anything about them except for the fact they are double the HP of mose other 250's..

Cheers.

**Jantar** · 4th December 2008, 08:50

Good on you for looking before buying.

The Aprilla is not suitable as a learner's bike for a number of reasons. It is race bread, and being a two stroke it requires a lot more maintenance than a 4 stroke. While the handling is magnificent for someone experienced, a learner may find that things happen too quickly and will soon find himself in trouble.

It is fully faired, and that means $$$$$$ when it falls over. Believe me, that at some stage you will drop this bike even if it just while manouvering it out of your garage.

I would strongly suggest a naked bike (GN or Scorpio) while on your learners, and then progress to something a bit faster about 3 - 6 months after you get your restricted.

**Rych** · 4th December 2008, 09:00

The maintenance was the only reason which was putting me off a 2-stroke. I have done quite a bit of riding before but mostly off road.

My other options were a CBR, GSXR or ZXR something along those lines.. They just don't look so nice and the new 250's don't go so quickly.. :P

**fatzx10r** · 4th December 2008, 09:06

get your self a zx10r, that will solve your power problem's

**wbks** · 4th December 2008, 09:06

Been looking at two strokes like the RS myself, I'm on my R licence. Just adding on to what Jantar said, they are a little hardcore for a learner. Riding one myself it seems to take a lot more effort to actually make go fast even though they are more powerfull. Regular rebuilds every 10-11, 000 km's which from what I've heard on here can cost anything between 400-700 bucks. I wan't an aprillia or one of the other two strokes myself but they're too expensive aye. I guess they are more of a race bike but if you like a thrash on the street (don't admit it here) then it could be cool assuming you've done a bit of mx racing or some other form of motorcycle competition as experience. But maybe you should look at zxr/cbr/fzr/gsxr 250's. Reliable, cost not much to run and are quite fast if you want. I think the stock new zxr250 gets 0-100 in about 5 seconds which will smoke most cars haha. Ofcourse they aren't naked like Jantar suggested, but just take off the fairings for a couple weeks if you are scared of wrecking the plastics.

**nodrog:Me** · 4th December 2008, 09:07

if you are one of these complete learners that thinks "a motorcycle will be neat" and you are keen on one, i suggest you get insurance, both motorcycle and life.

if you have experience with 250 2-stroke motorcross machines, or similar (and not just "i rode my mates one up his driveway once") you should be fine.

and dont worry about the whole "get a naked bike, it will be cheaper to fix", and "you will drop it". get whatever turns you on.

**wbks** · 4th December 2008, 09:08

Originally Posted by Rych

The maintenance was the only reason which was putting me off a 2-stroke. I have done quite a bit of riding before but mostly off road.

My other options were a CBR, GSXR or ZXR something along those lines.. They just don't look so nice and the new 250's don't go so quickly.. :P

Actually, if you haven't done anything short of the 125gp thing I would say zxr250/cbr250's would seem pretty fast to you if you know how to ride one.

**wbks** · 4th December 2008, 09:11

Originally Posted by nodrog

if you are one of these complete learners that thinks "a motorcycle will be neat" and you are keen on one, i suggest you get insurance, both motorcycle and life.

if you have experience with 250 2-stroke motorcross machines, or similar (and not just "i rode my mates one up his driveway once") you should be fine.

and dont worry about the whole "get a naked bike, it will be cheaper to fix", and "you will drop it". get whatever turns you on.

I don't really agree with the 250 motocross thing. For a start the powerbands are nothing alike being a different engine config aprt from the fact that they both peak right up the tacho. Second-two stroke mx bikes are actually the most reliable mx bikes you can get (complete oposite for roadbikes lol). New piston and rings every 40 hour riding, and never break down or sieze like the road bike two strokes where as mx fourstrokes are always dropping valves and shiet like that. I think the difference in reliability between road and dirt two strokes is that dirt bikes always get the snot revved out of them (on the limit) all the time. No oil or carbon build up. And someone once told me the long stroke of the road bike v twin is why they always suffer from seizures

**imdying** · 4th December 2008, 09:12

The maintenance needs to be regular yes, but it's also very very simple. The motors themselves are incredibly simple, and a lot easier to work on than the four cylinder four strokes... for the amount of room to work on if nothing else!

Changing plugs, gearbox oil, and cleaning powervalves... they're all easy to do, and require little more than a 3/8" drive socket set.

It's the frequency that matters the most.... every 4000kms odd you want to clean and adjust the power valves... take you about an hour by the time you've done it twice already.

**wbks** · 4th December 2008, 09:16

Hey Imdying, tell me if I was anywhere near the mark when I said the long stroke of the two stroke v-twins is partly responsible for poor reliability compared to dirt bike 125's/250's

**nodrog:Me** · 4th December 2008, 09:24

Originally Posted by wbks

I don't really agree with the 250 motocross thing. For a start the powerbands are nothing alike being a different engine config aprt from the fact that they both peak right up the tacho. Second-two stroke mx bikes are actually the most reliable mx bikes you can get (complete oposite for roadbikes lol). New piston and rings every 40 hour riding, and never break down or sieze like the road bike two strokes where as mx fourstrokes are always dropping valves and shiet like that. I think the difference in reliability between road and dirt two strokes is that dirt bikes always get the snot revved out of them (on the limit) all the time. No oil or carbon build up. And someone once told me the long stroke of the road bike v twin is why they always suffer from seizures

im not talking about reliabilty, im talking about the experience of being able to manage the sometime unexpected kick of a powerband, wether it be on a 2-stroke MXer, or a 2-stroke road bike. for a complete learner having the powerband kick in mid corner (or anywhere for that matter) unexpectedly can be a pants shitting experience.

**imdying** · 4th December 2008, 09:25

Originally Posted by wbks

Hey Imdying, tell me if I was anywhere near the mark when I said the long stroke of the two stroke v-twins is partly responsible for poor reliability compared to dirt bike 125's/250's

They don't have poor reliability, so no, you're off the mark.

**firefighter** · 4th December 2008, 09:27

Originally Posted by Jantar

It is fully faired, and that means $$$$$$ when it falls over. Believe me, that at some stage you will drop this bike even if it just while manouvering it out of your garage.

I think the whole dropping it thing is bullshit and reserved only for muppits, i'm yet to meet someone on their learners/ restricted who dropped their bike just moving it around.........