RGV250 ... and their prices!

[Just_James]

Was recently thinking about what my dream bike was when I was a kid. Now this may not have been my 'ultimate dream bike' but I remember being really keen on the RGV250 when I was in my teens (some years ago now ) and always thought it was going to be one of my first bikes on the road. I can still picture the article on them in a bike magazine I had at high school!

https://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/Gallery%20%20A/Suzuki%20RGV250%2093%20%201.jpg

As it happened, when I left school I got into cars (actually bought a car off my woodwork teacher at 15) and didn't get a road bike until later in life and then it was more a case of what I could afford at the time rather than looking for anything in particular.

So was just thinking recently of trying to pick up an old RGV250 - thought I might even be able to pick one up for a few hundred quid as a bit of a project.... but I can't believe the prices they are commanding!!
Seems they have become something of a collectors item now. Not only is that upsetting as it makes me feel old but it looks like it might just have to remain a bit of a dream bike now!

Has anyone owned one or had any experience of them?

[G]

As I've gone on about before, I'd try for a 250cc 2 stroke supermoto, which should offer similar enough performance - a smidge less power, but a chunk less weight too for similar fun factor and a lot less money.

Glad I had RS250s when they were cheap - maybe not that I sold when cheap too!
(Paid a bit under £1k for the first, a bit over £1k for the second.)

[stevo as b4]

I feel your pain, as even rough part incomplete project RGV's are four figure bikes in many cases. Thank yourself lucky your not trying to find an engine for an RG500 though!

I have always wanted one of the road going GP500 replica's, and I kick myself now for walking away from sub £2000 RG500's and NS400R's. I've still got an eye for an NS400R, but at todays prices for a bike I would not want to keep in stock form or have as a std spec show bike, it's not economic.

The project guys are paying ££££'s for these bikes to get one at all, so that they can spend ££££'s more making the special/custom bike that they want from the base machine. I believe there's nothing wrong with throwing ££££'s into something as a project to make an individual or unique machine, but the base vehicle needs to be basement cheap to make it viable IMO.

In the early 90's when GP500 replicas were old hat and everyone wanted a fireblade, people were chucking away old seized RG500's etc or crashed bikes to breakers, as no-one wanted a 20mpg outdated stroker.

The RGV250 and all the 250's have long gone into collector/fantasy pricing too, as demand has outstripped supply hugely. I've noticed that people are even paying £1200+ for a non running or incomplete RD350YPVS project, so the chances of any 2stroke project bargains are getting very slim these days.

I think the only affordable 2stroke project bikes around now are either:

1, Off road trail/enduro, trials bikes
2, 125cc learner legals from the era of the 12bhp restricted learner 125's.

RD125LC's excepted you can pick up many 125cc sports or off road style strokers for £££'s not thousands still, and the parts are still available for now for many of them.

Some people say that the 125cc 2stroke era bikes will be the next category of bikes to explode in value, or end up over sought after by nostalgia seeking middle age men with prices being pushed up the FS1E levels in time.

I think there's a lot of 125's about and less demand for them than rare 250's and overvalued sixteener specials, so bargains and project could be around for a few years yet?

[Just_James]

I just genuinely got that horrible sinking feeling... you know like when you don't immediately see your car / bike where you thought you left it? Or when you reach for your wallet and it's not in the pocket it should be?

[MCN.]

[N cee thirty]

They will come down in price eventually, like marjay said, all the people wanting one will either be too fucked and old to ride/ have one in their retirement home or just dead.

I'm on the look out for a 350 ypvs, been the odd one under a grand over the months on ebay needing work, but the right one will rear its head eventually, just like my X5 did.
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'00 Aprilia RS50 > '92 Honda CG > '99 Yamaha Fazer > '91 Yamaha RXS > '79 Suzuki X5 > 01' Honda Cg > 07' Honda Cg > 82' Kawasaki Z200 > suzuki gsxr 400 gk73a > honda vfr 400 NC30 Mod 2 Passed 09/06/2011

Jewlio Iglesias wrote: I actually did vote BNP once

[Diggs]

There are still bargains to be had if you are lucky. A mate of mine recently bought a running (but dog-rough) RGV250 plus two 125LC's in bits from a bloke he works with for £800.

You have to bear in mind that the value of these bikes depends to a large extent on how much work needs doing. Most are either complete sheds or immaculate.
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Now - Speed Triple, old ratty GS550, GSXR750M
Gone (in order of ownership) - Raleigh Runabout, AP50, KH125, GP125, KH250, CBX550, Z400, CB750FII, 250LC, GS550, ZXR750H1, Guzzi Targa, GSX750F, KH250 x2, Bimota SB6R and counting...

[SkinBobUk]

I wish the prices of RG 125's would sky rocket, been trying to shift mine now for months with nothing but tyre kickers and no shows.
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Suzuki RG 125 Fun.

[Itchy]

Haven't most of the RGVs exploded due to the pin on the grenade falling out
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[stevo as b4]

I can't remember which legendary engine tuner/builder once described the RGV engine as 'a hand grenade looking for a war'

As for the RG125F tidy ones will go up in value as quickly as Mito's and other fast 125's, as they were a genuine 30bhp bike in proper full power form and have been road tested at 104mph.