Thoughts on Suzuki RGV 250

Hi all, just want to get ppls thoughts on the rgv 250.
The reason I'm asking about this bike is because when i was living in Vietnam, I was riding a RGV 120. over in VN, they considered the rgv 120 to be a criminals bike, similar to our WRX's of old. I had heaps of fun riding this bike and love the 2 stroke exhaust note.
I learned to ride a motorcycle over in Asia and have no experience of riding on Australian roads, even though I have a full bike license.
What do ppl think, would the RGV 250 be suitable for me to familiarize myself with Australian roads???
Or can ppl give their oppinion on a good bike thats similar. I heard I would get sick of a 250 really quickly and should go for a 400, but the rgv is a 2 stroke, so it should have extra punch.....

http://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/s...mma_SP_450.jpg

i do know they are not LAMS legal... and are a bit of a weapon... come on powerband pretty hard... but none of this should be a major issue if you've ridden a stroker before, and are careful on the road

what is LAMS?

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Originally Posted by Bludger

what is LAMS?

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LOL - Dont know much about riding bikes in Oz ey?

Look up your local road authority and get some more information.

In most states if you are a learner you will not be able to ride one. The power band is a little crazy anyway and I wouldnt recommend one for a learner.

Why dont you have a look in the very long post about good learners bikes?

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Originally Posted by Bludger

what is LAMS?

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http://www.lamsinfo.com/

but it shouldn't apply to you if you have unrestricted license

I'm a full bike license holder, just not familiar with riding on Bikes on Australian roads.

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Originally Posted by Zdster

LOL - Dont know much about riding bikes in Oz ey?

Look up your local road authority and get some more information.

In most states if you are a learner you will not be able to ride one. The power band is a little crazy anyway and I wouldnt recommend one for a learner.

Why dont you have a look in the very long post about good learners bikes?

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I'm a full license holder.




common, any thoughts about the bike in question???

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Originally Posted by Bludger

I'm a full bike license holder, just not familiar with riding on Bikes on Australian roads.

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Do you drive a car? How much experience riding have you had?

I would just go and get some private lessons and then look for a bike. If you are reasonably experienced, I would be looking for something other than the RGV. Firstly I am not generally a fan of two strokes (maintenance, power band etc) plus the RGV is a pretty old bike now as I remember it.

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Originally Posted by Zdster

Do you drive a car? How much experience riding have you had?

I would just go and get some private lessons and then look for a bike. If you are reasonably experienced, I would be looking for something other than the RGV.

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lol, I explained in my OP.

full car and bike license, just that i learned to ride in another country and even though i hold a full bike license, have no exp. on AU roads.

in my situation, what would you recommend?


edit: umm, I would say I'm fairly competent with a motorcycle. I haven't ridden one in more than 2 years though, would be quite shaky in the 1st half an hour but i think i would get it back after that.

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Originally Posted by Bludger

lol, I explained in my OP.

full car and bike license, just that i learned to ride in another country and even though i hold a full bike license, have no exp. on AU roads.

in my situation, what would you recommend?

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How long have you ridden for? I wouldnt have thought you would have to much trouble riding on Australian roads - just understand the road rules as they apply to bikes.

As I said earlier, maybe get a couple of lessons if you are worried.

Are you specifically looking for a sports bike or do you want a sports cruser etc?

say..... about 1 year regular riding exp. on a bike.

I'm after a cross between the 2, as i don't like full race bike neither do i like a full cruiser.

but 1st bike would just to familiarize myself with the roads for say 6 months to a year.

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Originally Posted by Bludger

say..... about 1 year regular riding exp. on a bike.

I'm after a cross between the 2, as i don't like full race bike neither do i like a full cruiser.

but 1st bike would just to familiarize myself with the roads for say 6 months to a year.

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If you are going to do that get yourself a cheap, non-faired (or semi faired) bike like a gpx, vtr etc etc. They are all 250's, but you will gain good experience and when you are comfortable you can look at upgrading. That being said, you could also look at a bit more powerful bike (that is a bit heavier) - check out the LAMS list which is on the NSW/VIC road authorities website.

Also think if you havent ridden for a while and/or you want to just settle yourself in go for a lesson or two (will only cost $100 or so) as there are some really good places to help you get on your feet - check out HART for example of courses (http://www.hondampe.com.au/wps/wcm/c...T)/About+HART/).

U can't ride this on your Ps or Ls.... you will get fked by cops...sounds ilke a lawn mower.. but FARK ME the top end is awsome..

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Originally Posted by grncvc

U can't ride this on your Ps or Ls.... you will get fked by cops...sounds ilke a lawn mower.. but FARK ME the top end is awsome..

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please read the OP's first post before posting something irrelevant:thumbsup:

bau my mate has one he wants to sell in the near future, he just rebuilt the motor. u know where to reach me if interested

they're a good fun bike, i'd recommend it. don't worry about the 2-stroke powerband scaremongers, most of em wouldn't have ridden one before

They're great bikes.

Don't worry about the powerband, I've had friends learn on RGV's without dying. It's a matter of common sense and experience. While it does have a kick when on pipes, it's like a Wankel kick, not a V8 torque rush.

The only issue with having one on the road is maintenance.

They don't like dawdling in traffic as you need revs, and lots of them, to get moving. You'll foul the plugs often if you don't ride it like it's meant to be ridden. Rebuilding (either merely rings or the whole shebang) will become a way of life if you ride frequently. They NEED a good warm up before being ridden hard. It's a kick start: -100 poser points and + 200 frustration points if you come back to your bike in your gear and fail to kick the bike after 15 minutes. You'll need to buy both fuel AND 2 stroke oil along with oil for the gearbox. You'll either have to do pre-mix or frequently check to make sure the auto lube is working properly. They also consume a lot of fuel if you ride them on pipe for extended periods (and if you had a stroker, why WOULDN'T you be riding it on pipe all day long).

On the plus side, they're light, nimble, quick for the size/weight, use smaller tyres (cheaper to buy), and are heaps fun in the right environment.

There's more to the list but these should give you enough food for thought.

Don't get me wrong. I love my 2stroker track bike to bits, but I would not put myself through the torture of having it as a roadie.

whats riding on pipes?

Riding in powerband. You can tune a 2 stroke's powerband via the exhaust pipes, hence 'riding on pipe'.

Should be fine Bau.
I suppose the prices of them should go down now the new laws are in place.

Yeah they need regular rebuilds and aren't really suitable for quick short stop start trips but they are great fun either way.
Feel nice and nimble too.

I learnt on these bikes and still like them. :)

im with zdster

not a fan of 2 strokes

too many maintenance issues....

and not very good for heavy traffic from wat ive seen on the road with other pplz 2 strokes

but its supposed to be fkn fast

some 60bhp or so, which is quite a bit really

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Originally Posted by krogoth

im with zdster

not a fan of 2 strokes

too many maintenance issues....

and not very good for heavy traffic from wat ive seen on the road with other pplz 2 strokes

but its supposed to be fkn fast

some 60bhp or so, which is quite a bit really

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you shut up

Was up at yarra blvd on the weekend and saw one. the owner let me sit on it and had a lil chat with him about it.

I'm in love now and that is the bike I'll be aiming for now

perfect height, and feel

thanks all.

Will you be commuting much on the bike or is it a weekend toy?

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Originally Posted by Bludger

you shut up

Was up at yarra blvd on the weekend and saw one. the owner let me sit on it and had a lil chat with him about it.

I'm in love now and that is the bike I'll be aiming for now

perfect height, and feel

thanks all.

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lol, go and ahead and get one, i dont care at all, lol

i think its a 20 year old over priced piece of bike

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Originally Posted by Feverpitched

Will you be commuting much on the bike or is it a weekend toy?

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toy., I'm in love again.

any good forums that talk a lot about the rgv's?

I'd be getting a TYGA kit if I had a RGV250. Makes the bike modern 2008 style!
http://tyga-performance.com/site/ind...3d71a405020215

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Originally Posted by Bludger

any good forums that talk a lot about the rgv's?

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http://www.rgv250.co.uk/

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Originally Posted by Type R Positive

I'd be getting a TYGA kit if I had a RGV250. Makes the bike modern 2008 style!
http://tyga-performance.com/site/ind...3d71a405020215

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Spending $2000 on fairings is a bit rich for me.

actually, I like the stock look.

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Originally Posted by Zdster

Spending $2000 on fairings is a bit rich for me.

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so is $5k+ on a 15 year old bike for me.... :p

They are a bit of a collectors item though.

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Originally Posted by Bludger

any good forums that talk a lot about the rgv's?

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www.rgv250.co.uk

Whoops, beaten to the punch.

If i had the money I'd go for a VJ23 in Lucky Strike colours. Hmmmmmmm......

http://thumbs-ash.vehicle-web-servic...8227156631.jpg

you're making me dribble.

errr, has anyone ever taken a pinion passenger on this bike yet???

how is the comfort for the passenger?

I'd imagine they, like you, wouldn't like it very much. The extra weight will make the thing a b*tch of a thing to ride.

Having said that, the VJ21/22 should have one of them olden day pillion seats, that fit more than half a bumcheek at a time, so they'd probably feel a little better than a late model hypersport pillion.

mate ive owned one, and i can give you the goods and bad points. the only bad is, its a two stroke/ and it will get hot if you siting in traffic/ which sucks b##ls. good points nice light bike to ride, you ll smoke any one on a 250/400 four stroke. they dont kick hard like the new bikes. they have a 2 stage power band so the power band comes on smooth. it doesnt kick like a dirt bike. and for speed specs they top out at around 200 and will get there no quicker than a 2006 ss commodore. good for a high 14/low 15 sec quater.

i owned one and put a custom rear end and custom corona race replica paint job with a few mods. exhaust ect/ect and i sold it for 2800 2 yrs ago so dont pay to much for them. shop around and get it checked out even if it looks great and has a safety cert.

^but hez after a newer model

around 98

no more than 5k right?

You get way too little bang for your buck on 250s. Just go buy a 600, noone sticks with a 250 for a long period of time. They're so over priced for what they are equivalent 600's go for less and are so much more bike.

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Originally Posted by gumbs

You get way too little bang for your buck on 250s. Just go buy a 600, noone sticks with a 250 for a long period of time. They're so over priced for what they are equivalent 600's go for less and are so much more bike.

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Just the fact that I'm a skinny asian and very n00b.

I don't think that going for a 600 right off the bat is going to be a good idea.

lol bludger souunds like his taking the piss out of yous hahaa

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Originally Posted by gumbs

You get way too little bang for your buck on 250s. Just go buy a 600, noone sticks with a 250 for a long period of time. They're so over priced for what they are equivalent 600's go for less and are so much more bike.

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do u know anything about 2 stroke 250s????

the rgv250 is like the 2nd fastest 250 in the world

it makes like almost twice as much power in SOME cases to 4 stroke 250s

does around 60bhp sound like a little?

the rgv is also illegal for learners......

and besides, i still think going for a 600 to begin with is crazy, u cant just go to something that powerful with no experience

would u give an 18 year old an sti for a first car???

thats still half as bad as a 600cc for a learner, at least the sti is awd and has 4 wheels

the 600cc bike is just as fast, and weighs 1/8 or so, and only has 2 wheels, its completley retarded decision in evry possible way

agreed. turbo is a walk in the park compared to riding a 600

i think also, it depends on the rider, if they are conservative and repsonsible ( i know, which young full blooded testostrone filled male is) but you can handle it. you can eve take on a 1000 if you wanted to it just depends... is all in the wrist lol

agreed. depends how responsible you are. hence the 30 year old rule :)

no fkn way i can handle a 600 yet, let alone a 1000

I hopped onto my old mans "Honda Rebel", its only a 250 and god damn i was shaky.

I'm going to get my jacket, helmet & gloves. Then start riding the Rebel for a lil while.

then I'll get the RGV, RGV's have a special place in my heart remember.....

I owned one overseas, even though it was an RGV120 and was a scooter.....

like ive ridden a few of the 600s, imo if your responsible enough for your own actions and know the price of life and a broken bike you will take it easy =) but when you get cocky, thats when the danger comes in. likewise with the litre bikes

you guys are right 600 or 1000s there all the same really the only difference between them is 1000 is heavier and has more touque. my matee had a suzki gsxr 2003 600 that did a 10.9 and in the broucher they said they do 11.3 lol guys on r1's where like what the f#$k. the r1s where doing 10.5 - 11s.

if you have the coin go an aprillia 250 2stroke same as the rgv motor but the next development. 3 stage power band, tops out around 230 and gets there quicker then an rgv. the guys are right if you are diciplined enough get a four stroke 600 and spend a bit more and get more bang for ya buck. but hey if you love the rgv get it. i loved them 5 yrs ago so i got one :).

any more questions ask away ive owned one and a mate owned one with a 50 shot of nitros, great bike and no matter what 2 stroke ya on for the displacment they will allways produce 2 times the power of the four strokes ( just look at the dirt bikes)

yeh .... the 125 dirtbiek my mate has has got so much low end and its so light that its scary

torque = winnner

heavy= worried abt doing u turn without putting feet down lol

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Originally Posted by honda_b_blastn

you guys are right 600 or 1000s there all the same really the only difference between them is 1000 is heavier and has more touque. my matee had a suzki gsxr 2003 600 that did a 10.9 and in the broucher they said they do 11.3 lol guys on r1's where like what the f#$k. the r1s where doing 10.5 - 11s.

if you have the coin go an aprillia 250 2stroke same as the rgv motor but the next development. 3 stage power band, tops out around 230 and gets there quicker then an rgv. the guys are right if you are diciplined enough get a four stroke 600 and spend a bit more and get more bang for ya buck. but hey if you love the rgv get it. i loved them 5 yrs ago so i got one :).

any more questions ask away ive owned one and a mate owned one with a 50 shot of nitros, great bike and no matter what 2 stroke ya on for the displacment they will allways produce 2 times the power of the four strokes ( just look at the dirt bikes)

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well, yeh, half the strokes, twice the power......

lol, man, poor 4 strokes, but 2 strokes are a messy engine....i respect but not love them

and the aprilia rs250 is a monster that one

MONSTEr, lol

the faster 250cc ever i think

the newer 125 2 strokers sound better for example the 98 aprilia 125, but i hate the nsr150, most annoying thing ever

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Originally Posted by nvmee

yeh .... the 125 dirtbike my mate has has got so much low end and its so light that its scary

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:confused: 125 2T dirtbikes have got no bottom end at all....

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Originally Posted by nvmee

like ive ridden a few of the 600s, imo if your responsible enough for your own actions and know the price of life and a broken bike you will take it easy =) but when you get cocky, thats when the danger comes in. likewise with the litre bikes

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very very true if you resepct the bike it will respect you, do something stupid and it will bite. With the liter bikes and some 600s you have alot of things helping you, bigger road tyres, much better brakes, steering damper, computer, abs the list goes on. Compare this to a smaller older bike, in some aspects its safer.

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Originally Posted by nvmee

the newer 125 2 strokers sound better for example the 98 aprilia 125, but i hate the nsr150, most annoying thing ever

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LOL! WHATS WRONG WITH AN NSR150SP!? that was my first bike! it was hella funny awesome thing to ride. I like the look better then a cbr250!

http://www.mcnews.com.au/NewBikeCata...R150_Front.JPG

now thats what you call a crotch rocket =)

YEHHHHHH thats a mad line. respect the bike and it will respect you. omgggg i wuld give an arm to get a mesh jacket. i just came home, thankgod i use the freeway cos the wind, if not id have my undies stick up my ass

rs250 uses Suzuki 249cc block castings, with Aprillia stamps.

technicaly speaking 2 strokes are a very simple neat engine compared to a four stroke but we know what you mean ...

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Originally Posted by krogoth

well, yeh, half the strokes, twice the power......

lol, man, poor 4 strokes, but 2 strokes are a messy engine....i respect but not love them

and the aprilia rs250 is a monster that one

MONSTEr, lol

the faster 250cc ever i think

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I had a 91 model RGV 250 as my first road bike and loved it to bits. You can scare a lot bigger bikes on the right stretch of road. Only problems with it were no bottom end, got going by about 7,000rpm, then was all over by 11,000rpm. If you had the money and had your heart set on a 250 two stroke, I would go the Aprillia because of the better suspension.

I went from the RGV to a ZX6R and loved it just as much. Quite a bit heavier, but the power delivery was a lot smoother. I have ridden a 2006 model R6, and that thing felt like a two stroke as the bottom end up to about 6,000 rpm was very 'fluffy', similar to a badly set up carby (Yes I know the R6 is fuel injected.)

All in all, the RGV is a fantastic bike on the right piece of road, but the lack of bottom end can get a bit frustrating around town.

I owned one and learned on it as my 1st bike, lovely bike, just a bit old now(I think the latest you can is 93-94 VJ21/22 if I'm correct). after that, I got myself a NSR pgm-IV(MC28) which I loved over the RGV, power band not as hard, but easy, fun to ride, better mid when compared to RGVs, still not without the thrills and excitements around the curves up the mountains~~
I've got a mate who had a 96 RGV or 98 I can't remember now, the latest and last model of RGV which you can't import in(in Macau), he told me that is the only bike which can compete with the MC28, handle better than the RGV which are in Oz.

thanks for all the input guys, keep it coming.

lmao

an rgv hooned past me today

sounded like a very old lawn mower, but fk it was fast

put sum pipes on them. cost nearly more than the bike, but sounds fully sick mate. big bore lawn mower ahahh

met up with a mate today who just got himself one of these - $2500 lol what a bargain

the thing has nothing up to about 5000rpm, does alright from there to about 9000rpm and then just CAINS it from there to redline... the powercurve is not the most user-friendly if u ask me but the thing definitely goes.

good fun for cheap imo