First racebike: 2-stroke 150ss, or 4 stroke 250?

[huff3r]

Hi, i'm keen to get out there and start racing. I have currently got a bmw race car, but the costs of racing a car are waaaay too high for a uni student so i am planning to sell this and take up bike racing.

I was thinking of starting out in something along the lines of streetstock, or minilights with the VMCC series. Just interested in some opinions as to what would be the best option both for a beginner, and to move on with. (If possible i'd rather have a bike which can do several classes).

So I've basically got a list including:
Kawasaki KR150 - Not much information on the net about these, anyone know the stats? (power, weight, dimensions etc)
RG150 - Not many local, and seem to cost $3-500 more than a KR
GSXR250 - More expensive again, but possibly more reliable?
CBR250 - A few cheap, fixable ones around so not too pricy
ZXR250 - Same story as CBR

I would also be using this bike on the road until i get my full licence (when i can be bothered going for it). Most likely wont race it until i've stopped using it on the road.

Another important thing for me is comfort, as i am 6'3" and 70kg, so quite tall and skinny.... i definitely do not want a tiny little bike.

Cheers in advance for your input

[woodyracer]

ok the kr150 {the spoked wheel one] is ok, you can still do well on them but personaly i think they are ugly....so i wouldnt buy one. The RG's are great from what i hear, ive got the KRR150 which is a new version of the kr150 but it has mag wheels, more modern styling but they are very rare.

The kr has about 28hp at the rear wheel [from what ive heard again}

But if i was you, id get a hyosung 250 for the new minilight class, as the hyosung has a big feel,nice motor,good handling. Ive ridden the hyosung NZ factory 250 bike and its bloody great, the engine has lots of power, it goes around corners nice and most of all its brakes do what they are suppose to do. And you can run with the 150ss with them.

Those 250 4 cyclinders are alright but the racing for them is limited as they are too slow for F3 and they cant run with 250 twins,ss150......

-Max

[avgas]

RG150 or KRR150

Anything else is a pile of shit
Avoid air cooled, or 4-strokes less than 99cc per cylinder.

Plus I would own a smoker now - they will be extinct soon. And we will all have horrible diesels.

[huff3r]

ok the kr150 {the spoked wheel one] is ok, you can still do well on them but personaly i think they are ugly....so i wouldnt buy one. The RG's are great from what i hear, ive got the KRR150 which is a new version of the kr150 but it has mag wheels, more modern styling but they are very rare.

The kr has about 28hp at the rear wheel [from what ive heard again}

But if i was you, id get a hyosung 250 for the new minilight class, as the hyosung has a big feel,nice motor,good handling. Ive ridden the hyosung NZ factory 250 bike and its bloody great, the engine has lots of power, it goes around corners nice and most of all its brakes do what they are suppose to do. And you can run with the 150ss with them.

Those 250 4 cyclinders are alright but the racing for them is limited as they are too slow for F3 and they cant run with 250 twins,ss150......

-Max

Hmm... ok, the Hyosung is a little out of my budget
If i could sell the race-car quickly i'd be all for it, but not much chance of that...

[huff3r]

RG150 or KRR150

Anything else is a pile of shit
Avoid air cooled, or 4-strokes less than 99cc per cylinder.

Plus I would own a smoker now - they will be extinct soon. And we will all have horrible diesels.

Cheers, again i think the KRR would also be outta my budget, havent actually seen many around for sale!
So is the standard wire wheel KR150 comparable to an RG? Or a bit behind? I realise there will always be people with slower bikes etc etc, but i dont want a massive disadvantage if i can avoid it

[puddytat]

250 twin I reckon, but I would say that wouldnt I
Fits right in a nationally recognised class .....

[huff3r]

250 twin I reckon, but I would say that wouldnt I
Fits right in a nationally recognised class .....

So i should be hunting down a spada? Or a gpx? The GPX might be do-able, every other twin costs too much...

I'm very tempted based on price alone to get the KR, but perhaps i should keep slaving away and saving my pennys...

[RDjase]

If possible i'd rather have a bike which can do several classes).

I have got a 89 RGV250 VJ21 that you can race in Post Classic and F3 (have all the road gear for it)

I'm going to rebuild my pre 82 and dont need 2 race bikes

[xr-rider]

get an rg150. they are cheap and reliable. i reckon they are faster than the kr. also a rebuild will be cheaper than a 250

[Billy]

So i should be hunting down a spada? Or a gpx? The GPX might be do-able, every other twin costs too much...

I'm very tempted based on price alone to get the KR, but perhaps i should keep slaving away and saving my pennys...

Be aware that not all 250 4 stroke twins are eligible for this class.Check with MNZ for the list of homologated models before you rush out and purchase anything

[puddytat]

So i should be hunting down a spada? Or a gpx? The GPX might be do-able, every other twin costs too much...

I'm very tempted based on price alone to get the KR, but perhaps i should keep slaving away and saving my pennys...

Its a tough life man....

And its 50/50 on either SS150 or 250 Prolight twin I reckon as pretty similar in performance I think.....

As Billy points out , check what models are eligible for 250 twins,Spada's aint.

[huff3r]

Its a tough life man....

And its 50/50 on either SS150 or 250 Prolight twin I reckon as pretty similar in performance I think.....

As Billy points out , check what models are eligible for 250 twins,Spada's aint.

Ok, sounds like time to do some investigating... any idea where i'd find that info on elgible models? I've just downloaded the "rule change" introducing the 250cc 4-stroke twins class, but it simply says "Twin cylinder four strokes up to 250cc standard engines". Helpful huh?

[quallman1234]

Just get an RG150 and be done with it. Parts are plently available if you know the right people.

There's still a reasonable crowd of RG150's racing. About 20 active in the north island. I recommend doing a bottom end and top end rebuild (add 500 if you do it yourself) to be safe and know what condition the engine is in.
I disagree with the 4 stroke IL4 250's being more reliable, in my experience they have been worse because there's 4 things to go wrong and have usually been thrashed by newbs and not looked after properly. A good one for the right price, is far and few between.

I started when i was 17, with the VMCC scholarship. Too bad your a little bit too old for the scholarship, still nevertheless contact people like Billy and AJ (I can pm you there number if you would like), and have a chat with them. I'm sure they won't mind, you might be able to get subsided costs like entry fee's and so forth. There's is always mini-lites and streetstock 250. I would avoid mini-lites as this doesn't seem to be taking off.

Welcome to the racing world as a student. It sucks.
Too old for mummy and daddy to be paying, and too young to be making good enough money.

[huff3r]

Welcome to the racing world as a student. It sucks.
Too old for mummy and daddy to be paying, and too young to be making good enough money.

Thanks for all the great tips

Unfortunately i've always been too old for mummy and daddy to be paying, they'd much rather i enjoy a "cheap" sport like football...

Fortunately i can afford it, especially if i get a decent price for my car. bonus of doing stuff yourself, my car is now worth considerably more than i've paid for it

It's got to be better than sitting round home playing WSBK 08 on the playstation right?

[quallman1234]

Wellington also has a great bucket racing scene. It really is a great place to get started, as well. Although a competitive bucket these days will see you at about the same price as an RG150.

www.bucketracing.co.nz

There's one at kaitoke, this sunday come along and say hey (I might be on a drz400). I won't be racing (My bucket is forever being developed into something i can use).

-Kyle.