2 STROKE ENGINES!!!

phindileg · L Plate Warrior Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Karma :

I'm contemplating buying my first bike, and so far one bike has really caught my attention. it's a black and red SUZUKI RGV 250, but the biggest turn off is the fact that it's a 2 stroke engine.
what experiences have you had with 2 stroke engines?? Question

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Why is it is a turn off?

The RGV is in a very high state of tune and not the most reliable engine around, but no way you would get a 250 4 stroke to produce anything like that amount of power and stay in one piece.

That said, I wouldn't say that an RGV is a good first bike. Maybe something good to move to when you find your 600 sports bike too much of a touring bike Wink

.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

phindileg · L Plate Warrior Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Karma :

Thanks Keith

Cigaro · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Karma :

RGV's are absolutely mental.

phindileg · L Plate Warrior Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Karma :

I'm interested in the kind of problems you're likely to experience with a 2 stroke engine. all the bikers i spoke with about my intentions to buy a 2 stroke engine, responded with a demonic grin as if they smell poo or something like that

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Depends what you mean.

The RGV engine produces 55~60hp from 250cc. To put that in perspective if a 'busa was in the same state of tune it would be putting out about 290hp (rather than not much more than half that).

As such plenty of things are fairly short lived. Pistons, rings and the like become service items (although changing them on a 2 stroke is FAR easier than changing them on a 4 stroke).

The RGV engine does have issues with the power valves failing (basically faulty design). There are aftermarket improved replacements available.

However, being a pretty highly tuned bike, with sharp steering and brakes, power concentrated in a narrow rev range and little weight they are far from being beginners bikes.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

phindileg · L Plate Warrior Joined: 13 Feb 2009 Karma :

Thanks for the advice.We can't help the part about RGV being far from beginner's ride, i had a huge crush on this bike the first time i saw it. I'm more than willing to lose my biker virginity on this one....

How often do you have to service the pistons, rings and stuff?

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

0ddball · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Karma :

Out of interest, have you taken your cbt or test yet?

Wafer_Thin_Ham · Super Spammer Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Karma :

I wouldn't buy an RGV250 as a first bike.

They don't do town work at all. They are only truely at home when you are hammering it, otherwise it is just plain hard work. Definately only one for the more experienced rider.
____________________
My Flickr

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

They don't like the wet either, and all year round commuting in heavy traffic at low speeds and low revs, just makes them run like shit after a while. They will then need all the top end, powervalves and exhausts de-coking regulary too. I have heard of them dropping onto one cylinder in the wet, as the ignition and electrics water proofing is not up to much. The power valves do wear fast on a bike that is ridden around gently, than they do on a bike that is hammered around a race track staying in the power band.

They are a frustrating bike to use for general A-B riding, as they are hard to get relaxed smooth progress from, unless there is little traffic, and even then it helps if you know the roads, as there are times when if you lose concentration, you loose nearly all your momentum and don't have the roll on ability to drive it back up to speed again. They are worse for commuting than a 2 stroke full power 125 sportsbike, as there are fewer chances in normal traffic conditions to ride it hard enough to keep the engine clean and working at its best, and when you can open it up it's suddenly going to be going much quicker than you might want.

The worst thing IMO is that one day it will blow up! Most very high performance 2strokes will fail catastrophically if they are not serviced and re-built on time. leave it too long and the damage caused can mean rediculous money needed to re-build the engine, some arn't saveable. The RGV250 has one of the worst reputations ever for engine fragility, and if the power valves break and fall into the cylinders, then it will cause expensive damage every time, and not to mention the thought of a sudden 90mph engine seizure on a busy main road etc. The RGV engine is worse for self destructing than the KR1S engine IMO, which was never a very long lived unit either with it's own problems. Alot of these engine's also don't seem to be very well built from new in terms of tolerances, so they are sometimes well down on power compared to an otherwise identical machine. The difference between a good and bad one could be nearly 10bhp.

The RGV250. Nice looking and very sharp handling little awesome bike, but with big sports bike running costs and much more! Sure you could use it as a first sports bike, and an everyday machine, but it's potential would be wasted, and it would frustrate you stupid almost certainely. It's going to need several weekends of your time in the garage a year to keep it in decent and reliable condition, and you'd need a back up option or some saved cash ready for that time when it does decide to spit the dummy.