250cc

[trick stroker]

I'm soon to be going for my big bike test and am looking to be buying a bigger bike as i am getting bored with my current bike.

Which is a 1980 MZ ETZ125. After i gave it a complete nuts and bolts rebuild replacing bearings and seals all over, it can now bearly push the national speed limit, which is good considering it couldnt break 55mph when i got it, i was thinking japanese piston/conrod and some removal of heavy parts and i could be able to make go faster but its only a 125 and its not really worth it.

I'm thinking of getting a 250cc bike of less than or near to 33bhp as insurance premiums will be lower than if i get a big bike restricted.
I'm not really into plastic projectiles (or race reps as some people call them) and was wondering if anybody had any ideas of cheap reliable preferably 2 stroke bikes, as i dont like rebuilding things with cams and valves, too many things to go wrong. I was thinking of a late 70's suzuki gs250. Any other ideas?

[madcyril]

Kawasaki EL 250 , my cousin had one and she really liked it . Its not the fastest machine ever but it did well and looked quite cool for a chop .

[trick stroker]

yes kawasaki el250 nice looking for a small cruiser, but a bit out of my price range though.
Hadn't thought of looking at cruisers before, thanks for the help.

If anything else springs to mind, please let me know.

[NickD]

While it's true that there is more to go wrong with 4 strokes, it's much less likely that anything will go wrong when compared to a 2 stroke. But if you're looking at late 70's 2 strokes, the RD 250 is well worth a look (it will have been thrashed, but find an old 2 stroke that hasn't been). Loads of fun, and a hell of a powerband particularly for it's age. Look for the 'E' model (1978 onwards) 'cos they had electronic ignition, and go for as close to standard as possible 'cos lots of them were tuned and raced.
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I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[NickD]

Also, it may be worth trying to find out what the official power figure was for the RD 400 E. It's a long time since I had mine, but I seem to remember it being around the 32/33 bhp mark. It's pretty much the same bike as the 250, and about the same top speed but the extra capacity gives it more grunt, and it will take more abuse.
____________________
I was only doing what it said on my licence officer....
Tear along the dotted line!

[TheShaggyDA]

Could always go for an ETZ251, since you already know the 125.
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[badlydamaged]

[yambabe]

The EL250 is a 4-stroke!

Nice bike though, specially if you're short like me.

Claimed bhp is 27, I have had mine to (indicated) 90 without running out of puff so far.......

And price depends where you are looking for them. Mine is an L-reg, and I paid about half of what I have since seen them averaging for it.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[trick stroker]

"The Shaggy DA" i had thought of just getting the 251etz like you suggested but i hear they have a very common problem, for them anyway, of 3rd gear choosing to stop working.

"NKd666" i have looked at 400's before and i'm afraid that with my puny student income, insurance would leave me in poverty.

Thanks for the input.

[iCraig]

Consider the Honda Rebel 250 too, I owned one for just under a year and it was a great bike.
Lovely and reliable, easy to ride and only 22BHP. Was getting 90MPG with it too.

I also have owned an MZ ETZ251 Saxon, it broke down more than I care, but it got 70MPG and handled amazingly well for what it was!