larger 2 strokes

[Chris750]

You have to excuse my lack of knowledge. I started riding offroad bikes when I was young, all through my child-
-hood (something I can thank my stepfather for).
I also got a moped at 16, but then strayed away from bikes until the last couple years (I'm 32).
Although I have always had a passion for bikes, I would be the first to admit, my knowledge of bikes is somewhat limited (although improving somewhat thanks to this board and the good folk of BCF).
I know the more common bikes, but often find myself googling several bikes that are discussed on this site.

I had two stroke scramblers as a kid from an early age but, I have never owned a two stroke road bike, so been on a four stroke diet for 16 years now.
I currently ride a GSXR-750 (although not for the next few months as I lost my license recently for speeding- I will post a thread if anyone cares to know the details).
Basically I quite like the idea of a two stroke as a second bike but, don't want a 125 to be honest, so am looking for a larger two stroke. Can anyone throw some suggestions to me for some bikes worth looking out for. My current preference is for a road type(non scrambler looking) bike, but I am open to suggestions. I am not to concerened about age of the bike and quite like the look of allot of old bikes.
I just want something differant, for a bit of fun which will be kept alongside the gixxer.
Any suggestions/advice will be greatly appreciated,

Thanks,

Chris

[Damon]

Something like a RS250 will be more than capable of keeping up with the "big" bikes round the twisties. It just wont quite match them in a straight line. They are still bloody rapid though. Defo worth considering

[ms51ves3]

Do you want to speed around or just bimble?

What's your budget?

When you say old bikes, what era? '70s, '80s, '90s?

[TQ]

I love the bigger two strokes but now a days they can be getting a bit pricey.

On the 250 front the RS is lovely as is the TZR and RGV, (Yamaha and Suzuki respectively).

If you fancy something a bit bigger the Yamaha RD350 is an absolutely mint bike but are getting rarer and rarer by the day. There's also RD 400 and RD 500 s (The 500 are going for about six grand mind!).
____________________
First Bike :Gilera DNA 50 | Second: Imported 1989 NSR125
Third: 1998 Yamaha XJ600N | Currently: 1999 Yamaha FZS600

[G]

[27cows]

H1, H2 or Kettle. H1 would cost you less than an LC500 and is about 50 times more exciting, particularly one of the very early models.

[G]

Or you could get an RGV250, add a load of weight bar-bell weights and mess up the suspension settings.
That way you can go back to a decent spec bike if you want too .

(I suspect the RGV etc will still have a fair bit more of it's claimed power than the H2 ).

[Chris750]

[Blau Zedong]

The only "modern" 250 strokers I've ridden that were any good were the TZR250RC (Batshit insane but complicated and unreliable) and the NSR250 MC21 (Unbelievable build quality). RGV's are shite so I assume the RS is too, just better looking. The 350 YPVS makes about as much power as any "nu skool" 250 bar a KR1S, but has a much better spread of power (which means lots of wheelies). Also have the advantage of being quite reliable and cheap to run (no Nikasil bores, no need for fully synth oil, cheap spares available anywhere). Old skool stuff (i.e. aircooled) is fucking awesome but some of it is very expensive, i.e. all Kawa triples (barring the KH250, which is crap anyway), GT Triples and the RD400E. The best value bikes of this genre are the T/GT500 Suzuki's (nice solid bikes but not exactly mental) and the RD250 / 350 (Can still be picked up cheap, backed by an entire spares industry, handle well for an old bike and are quite lively even in stock form). I've had an RD350B and now have a YR5 with RD barrels and carbs, Allspeed exhausts, K&N filter element and some mild port matching. The way it takes off in the lower gears makes my GSXR750 feel like sloppy custard.
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18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[benjami]

[27cows]

The GT500 is a lovely old bike, but they are extremely hard to come by now (I know, I've been after one for ages).

Other oldies worth a look are the PE Suzukis. Brilliant old school twin shocker trailies. Still a few of them knocking about. Great fun round town and away from the lights.

Husky WR360 is outstanding mental fun. It's technically a road bike but is only at home on the rough. Probably only any good for fun rather than transport...but a relatively cheap way to have immense excitement.

NS400 - makes the GSXR750 look tame

[Chris750]

Thanks,

A few suggestions I can search for and have a good look into.

thanks again.

After an initial look, I wouldn't be unhappy with most of the recomendations I have seen so far.
RS250's look very nice, the two I saw on ebay were both around 2.5k (one 1999 & one 1995), so over my initial budget if they are all around at that price.

Couple of TZR 250's around that fall within budget - although in spring when I was planning to buy, these would be more expensive.

Seems you can pick up RD350's also reasonably cheap (mostly way, way, under 1K from what I seen so far).

The RGV250's and NSR250's seem a bit too pricey so far, although again- nice looking bikes so we'll see what comes up.

27 cows, the h1, h2 kettles you mentioned, seem very rare. I didn't find any so far after a brief search.

Do two strokes seem to be more costly to insure compared to a similar displacement 4 stroke?

Thanks,

Chris

[27cows]

H1s, H2s and Kettles are pretty thin on the ground now. The original late 60s H1 is regarded by many as the wildest road bike ever made. Having owned one (admittedly not best example in existence ), I can say they are a bit of a hand full, to say the least. But they are awesome. The racket they make is sublime, if you're a fan of air cooled strokers (which I am).

The H1 and 2 are among the very few bikes that attract interest from every spectrum of rider. You have hairy Harley riders, sports bike guys, trailie riders, everyone over for a look wherever you go. It's a bike with a legendary reputation and I bitterly regret letting mine go, though it would have cost a fortune to make it nice (as the person I sold it to did).

The H2 is possibly the scariest handling bike in existence The real mentalists ride them without a steering damper, with ball and race head bearings and original rubber (or as close to it as you can get now). The big Kawa triples are bikes you always get off with trembling limbs but a massive smile on your face. They are just completely unlike modern sporty bikes.

Kettles are said to be quite dignified bikes, but sadly I've never ridden one, far lest got my grubby mitts on one. If I saw one at anything approaching a sane price, I'd buy it. They also have a legendary rep, but I have a feeling they'd be tame compared to the Kwackers.

[evoboy]

Depends what kinda smoker your after...

An RGV isnt in the same class as a GT250, theres a good 10 years worth of development there.

I like the aircooled 2strokes just for the sheer simplicity and sound.

Things like the TZR's, NSR's and RGV's are all sportbikes in effect, thats what they were made to be.

Things like the GT250, RD250/350 AC and all the KH's mr.cowman raves on about, imo, werent really built to be sportbikes, they were just made to work on road....meaning they are simple, cheap(well?!) and easy to work on...

I adore my GT250 x7. Just the sound, smell and handling put a smile on my face everytime
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[27cows]

Yep, the X7 is another superb fun bike. A perfect example of how to cane round making a lot of noise and having a great laugh, without the need for complexity or license destroying speeds.

The X5 is also a nice bike - one of my all time faves. A perfect balance between practical commuter and 2 stroke hooligan tool. Very sweet handling and physically small - cracking

Surprised no one has mentioned the Jawa 350 yet

[Dr. DaveJPS]

i be interested in what you think of these Mr.27cows


https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1976-SUZUKI-GT550-GT-550-streetfighter-street-fighter_W0QQitemZ110477326681QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycles?hash=item19b8f63959


https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suzuki-X7-Special-Streetfighter_W0QQitemZ220536149600QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Motorcycles?hash=item3358fa9660
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"intelligent inattention is preferable to unintelligent tinkering"
www.davejps.com

[ms51ves3]

[Chris750]

I wouldn't dismiss anything before I have had a good look into it.
I am looking for a fun bike that makes me smile, so not all about power.

[27cows]

[Blau Zedong]

Both those projects fucking suck. The non running GT will probably just be a massive cash cow (bet the crank seals are fubar). The X7 will just be worse than standard. People don't seem to appreciate that sticking bigger brakes and rubber on an old bike isn't always a good idea, especially when it's not been thought about properly. A mate of mine bought an LC with 'Priller running gear and then spent 8 weeks in traction after it threw him over the bars during an 80mph tankslapper. Whoever built it cared not a jot about rake, trail or wheelbase, suspension settings, never mind the fact that radial tyres might give the frame more work to do.
____________________
18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[Welshd1k]

[Blau Zedong]

The 31K ignition system might be better, but on a standard bike it's the pipes and porting that call time on the revs, not the ignition. Remember the 350F2 is still the fastest YPVS (124mph - I can tell you the magazine and test date), despite having "crap" pipes and "crap" ignition.

31K's are actually quite slow in standard form......113 - ish springs to mind (about the same as a good LC).
____________________
18:54:48 Rob Fzs: jews don't give away stuff for free

18:54:59 Rob Fzs: unless its their clothes/ hair/ golden teeth

[Welshd1k]