Best <250cc Sports? ZXR? CBR? FZR? GSXR?

[3lemental]

Have i missed any?

What do people think is the best of the bunch?

Are there any specific release differences on models to be aware of?

How much should i look at paying?

I'm wanting to upgrade to a really good 250cc - my FXR has gotten me into biking and it's been great, but i want something with more grunt and more flash - as i say the fxr is fine, and it'll get up to ~140 but it takes ages, i want a bike which still feels the acceleration up until ~150

I don't really want a Kawasaki vs. Honda vs. Yamaha vs. Suzuki debate - just info on the merits of each bike.

Thanks for all the help up until now!

[NZsarge]

Have i missed any?

Aprillia RS250 (two stroke), goes like the clappers!

[madbikeboy]

Aprilia RS250. Goes like Sarge when he's pissed off.

There is another alternative - Honda RS250. It is a GP race bike, and it's not road legal, and you have to rebuild it on a weekly basis, but - oh - my - god!

[3lemental]

Aprillia RS250 (two stroke), goes like the clappers!

I've always liked the look of them but have a few questions;

1. Whats the (approx.) top speed?
2. As a two stroke, they're going to need more maintainance right? How much more?
3. How cheap can you pick up a second hand one? All the other bikes i was looking at can be found in VGC for ~$5000 - less if you're willing to wait.

Anyone own one and want to answer?

[Nagash]

Whats the (approx.) top speed?

Faster than 150. Alot faster.

As a two stroke, they're going to need more maintainance right? How much more?

Alot more.


How cheap can you pick up a second hand one? All the other bikes i was looking at can be found in VGC for ~$5000 - less if you're willing to wait.

6-10K.

[madbikeboy]

As above.

Two strokes are like a beautiful bitch mistress, they're really exciting to ride, but they'll cause you heartache and cost you truckloads.

But it's so worth it.

The step up from a 150 to a RS250 is big - and to be honest, unless your name is Casey or Valentino, it'll take you a fair while to master it.

BTW, asking top speeds given you're a learner is a bit academic.

If you're a pauper, get an RGV250 instead - but I'd go for an RS250 (more reliable, and achingly pretty.

[MsKABC]

I guess they're more of a sports-tourer (but isn't that an oxymoron when talking 250s anyway?), but don't forget the gpx. Great little bike, and if you put an after-market pipe on them, they sound way-cool My ole gpz sounded much, much more impressive than most 250s, if you like the twin sound

[Oakie]

There is no 'best'.
They are all different. Some will do some things better than others while at the same time doing other things not so well. You must decide exactly what it is you want from your bike then find the bike that fits.
If you ask other people which bike is best then all you are getting is the bike that suits those other people best.

Did you mean 'best' or just 'fastest'?

[3lemental]

Did you mean 'best' or just 'fastest'?

Most exciting - i.e. combination of top speed, acceleration and cornering performance combined with price.

I'd love a two-stroke but as a student i get the feeling that it'd be too much work/too expensive to keep up with

[Mikkel]

I'd have to agree with the other guys - the RS250 seems to be the bee's knees as far as 250 ccm bikes goes. However, and this is not unimportant, it is by no means a learners bike! Also, getting a good one is neither easy nor cheap - let's face it 250 ccm sportsbikes are generally speaking not the best maintained segment of bikes.

4 stroke 250 ccm sportsbikes are very easy to ride - but still have decent performance. They are plenty fast for the road and still good fun if you go to the track. As far as brands go I can only relate my own experiences and what I have heard from trusted sources:

Honda CBR250RR - the most reliable (not to say the others aren't reliable, but this is generally speaking the weak point of the Kawasaki zxr250s) due to gear-driven cams, pretty light and powerful. Rather popular and as a consequence slightly more expensive.

Kawasaki ZXR250A/C - has the best suspension/handling of the lot, A version is slightly larger and heavier (about 10-15 kgs) than the C and the Hondas but more comfortable for larger riders, good power - the weak point of the ZXR is the cam-chain tensioner system, ignore it at your peril. IMHO the best looking machine of the lot.

Dunno anything about the Suzukis and Yamaha 250s. Not so many of them around and thus sourcing parts could be harder.

One thing to bear in mind regarding the 4-stroke 250 ccm sportsbikes is the fact that Japan changed their emissions requirements in 1993, and as a result power dropped from 45 hps to ~37 hps at the crank. Some bikes, sold new in Australia, may have another type of restriction on them as well. So if you want the best performance go for a 1989-1992 model Japanese import. Good luck finding one which is in good nick, hasn't been trashed and that has been regularly serviced

I hope this helps.

[EJK]

After seeing this vid, the RS250 seems very powerful for a 250. It does it like a 600cc bike.

[Insanity_rules]

CBR's seem to be the most plentiful used 250 sporties and pretty reliable too. GSXRs aren't too far behind. I found the CBR the best to ride out of the pack but thats just me. Theres no such thing as a real lemon these days but if your looking for reliability then a 2 stroke isn't for you. I had an RG Walter Wolf and it was freaken awesome to ride but broke down on a very regular basis.

Just remember that its going to be a huge step up from your old bike, only 100cc but huge power gains. Ride em all then decide.

[Brett]

Having ridden them all, I can safely say a good condition ZXR250 (C Model - ie after 1992 pr sp - single headlight)

[ducatilover]

depends on how you ride.
the mc22 and zxr are very nice screamers with good brakes [in comparison]
i'd buy an mc22 because of the brakes and reliability. an mc19 and zxr will be just as quick basically but, the 22 stops better than a 19.
if you want to go faster buy an nsr/rgv/tzr/rs
but there is the factor of service costs. but who gives a flyinf fruit bowl when you have an rs250

get the one you like best, chances are you will be faster on the bike you feel more comfortable with. ride some, then buy

[Mikkel]

Having ridden them all, I can safely say a good condition ZXR250 (C Model - ie after 1992 pr sp - single headlight)

You'd want the ZXR250C - 1991 or 1992. If you go after 1992 there will be a significant power drop - irregardless of make and model.
For comparison my 1989 zxr250a put out 37.5 hps at the wheel while a 1993 (newly reconditioned) put out around 27-29 hps on the same dyno... That's a very significant performance drop.