Late 80’s Early 90’s Two Stroke
Discussion
As a Teenager 2 Stroke Race Replica’s were all the rage. Unfortunately I never got to own anything other than a non learner one. I’ve been considering buying one for a while. It would get occasional use and add to the stable (of one other bike
).
Reliability (I appreciate they are not inherently reliable) and parts availability are very important factors. My preference would be a Kawasaki KR1S or Honda NS400R. However I’m not convinced on either regarding parts availability.
The only other bikes I would consider are:
Suzuki RGV 250
Suzuki RG250
Yamaha TZR 250 (Parallel Twin)
Yamaha RD350 YPVS
I also want a UK bike (in original paint colours) and nothing that requires restoring.
Any advice would be most welcome.
). Reliability (I appreciate they are not inherently reliable) and parts availability are very important factors. My preference would be a Kawasaki KR1S or Honda NS400R. However I’m not convinced on either regarding parts availability.
The only other bikes I would consider are:
Suzuki RGV 250
Suzuki RG250
Yamaha TZR 250 (Parallel Twin)
Yamaha RD350 YPVS
I also want a UK bike (in original paint colours) and nothing that requires restoring.
Any advice would be most welcome.
The 250 Hondas were like a Swiss watch. Expensive these days too.
How tall are you OP. The kr1 was tiny.
The 80s 2 strokes were generational different in terms handling to the rgv and kr1 etc bikes.
Nostalgia factor higher with an RD, but night and day difference in handling with later 250s.
How tall are you OP. The kr1 was tiny.
The 80s 2 strokes were generational different in terms handling to the rgv and kr1 etc bikes.
Nostalgia factor higher with an RD, but night and day difference in handling with later 250s.
are you feeling flush had one back in the day wish id kept it looking at that price
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384187831636?hash=item5...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384187831636?hash=item5...
Edited by MT10-SP on Sunday 30th May 08:13
A reliable two-stroke you say?
Actually, as long as you expect them to need more maintenance than the fours, they’re fine.
As I read your post, i was thinking “budget of 8 to 10k”.
I was also thinking Aprilia RS250. Clearly not the 80’s nostalgia, but a Suzuki Rgv250 engine and likely as easy or easier to live with than the older stuff.
Best of luck with your search. Find a good bike, and a better tuner.
Worth the effort for the smell alone
Actually, as long as you expect them to need more maintenance than the fours, they’re fine.
As I read your post, i was thinking “budget of 8 to 10k”.
I was also thinking Aprilia RS250. Clearly not the 80’s nostalgia, but a Suzuki Rgv250 engine and likely as easy or easier to live with than the older stuff.
Best of luck with your search. Find a good bike, and a better tuner.
Worth the effort for the smell alone
take-good-care-of-the-forest-dewey said:
The 250 Hondas were like a Swiss watch. Expensive these days too.
How tall are you OP. The kr1 was tiny.
The 80s 2 strokes were generational different in terms handling to the rgv and kr1 etc bikes.
Nostalgia factor higher with an RD, but night and day difference in handling with later 250s.
Agree with everything bar the size of the KR-1. I'm 6 foot 2 and fitted just fine. How tall are you OP. The kr1 was tiny.
The 80s 2 strokes were generational different in terms handling to the rgv and kr1 etc bikes.
Nostalgia factor higher with an RD, but night and day difference in handling with later 250s.
I always felt the RGV was smaller and I had one of those too.
Sweetest handling bikes I ever had, I wish I'd kept hold of both.
Sharp handling is not really important as I don’t plan to ride it hard.
I’m not keen on the Aprilia RS250. The RD350 would be the 86 to 90 model variant. For the right bike I would pay £8-10k. More for an NS400.
As my original post parts availability and reliability are key considerations.
I’m not keen on the Aprilia RS250. The RD350 would be the 86 to 90 model variant. For the right bike I would pay £8-10k. More for an NS400.
As my original post parts availability and reliability are key considerations.
toasty said:
Agree with everything bar the size of the KR-1. I'm 6 foot 2 and fitted just fine.
I always felt the RGV was smaller and I had one of those too.
Sweetest handling bikes I ever had, I wish I'd kept hold of both.
Interesting - I only ever sat on a kr but it felt more cramped than the rgv. I'm 6' 5" so everything felt cramped though I always felt the RGV was smaller and I had one of those too.
Sweetest handling bikes I ever had, I wish I'd kept hold of both.
... Except bizarrely the mito which I felt way more comfortable on than any of the 250s.I keep looking at them. Something quite appealing about ringing its neck at same speeds.
Rob 131 Sport said:
Sharp handling is not really important as I don’t plan to ride it hard.
I’m not keen on the Aprilia RS250. The RD350 would be the 86 to 90 model variant. For the right bike I would pay £8-10k. More for an NS400.
As my original post parts availability and reliability are key considerations.
Don’t plan to ride it hard and want reliability?I’m not keen on the Aprilia RS250. The RD350 would be the 86 to 90 model variant. For the right bike I would pay £8-10k. More for an NS400.
As my original post parts availability and reliability are key considerations.
Are you sure you want a race rep stroker at all? Doesn’t sound the right bike for you.
The RGV/RS250 are very well supported although some parts are becoming increasingly difficult to get. For example, the Tuning Works (specialists in the Suzuki and Aprilia) are starting manufacturering of barrels as they're NLA.
Hondas are getting harder to find parts for.
The best of the bunch was the Aprilia as it benefited from the Improved Suzuki engine in a superb chassis which was a full size bike, not 8/10ths scale like many of the others.
If the race reps don't appeal then look at the Kawasaki KH's or air-cooled RD's although the riding experience is certainly dated compared to the later skinkwheels....
As for reliability, they're all reliable if built properly, run with good oil and regular maintenance is accepted.
Hondas are getting harder to find parts for.
The best of the bunch was the Aprilia as it benefited from the Improved Suzuki engine in a superb chassis which was a full size bike, not 8/10ths scale like many of the others.
If the race reps don't appeal then look at the Kawasaki KH's or air-cooled RD's although the riding experience is certainly dated compared to the later skinkwheels....
As for reliability, they're all reliable if built properly, run with good oil and regular maintenance is accepted.
Edited by Steve Bass on Sunday 30th May 13:56
I had an RGV250 and the KR1 and it's the Kawasaki I remember most fondly. I'd had tuned RD250/400E and 350LC previously and it's the 400 I miss most. It didn't handle anywhere near as well as the KR1 but I loved the styling (with flat bars, rear sets and black Allspeed with polished cans) and the sound of the thing.
I grew up with RD Yamahas in the late 70s/early 80s. Had an RD250D, RD400C and RD350A but then bought a Z650C2 because a mate had just bought a new Z650F1 and I wanted to be able to keep up! Should have just ridden bendy roads as the Z650 wasn't great on corners. 
Then a few years later I bought a 1983 RD250LC and it was a revelation - just so much better than the 70s air-cooled RDs. I only sold it because I needed the money to go towards my first house.
In the late 90s a mate offered me an 80s RG250 because he knew I liked 2-strokes but it had issues - but when it worked right it was just wonderful. Although I found it uncomfortable to ride after about half an hour! So I did a deal for another RD400 but that wasn't a great example either.
Then I bought a modified KH500 with twin discs on the front, aluminium box-section swinging arm, piggy-back Marzocchi rear shocks, Allspeeds, etc. That's the one bike I still miss 20 years on!
But if I could choose one 80s 2-stroke now it would have to be an RD350 - ideally a YPVS but no fairing thanks.
Although an RD500 or RG500 would have some appeal, as would any H1 or H2 even if they are 70s bikes.
Anyway good luck whatever you go for.
Then a few years later I bought a 1983 RD250LC and it was a revelation - just so much better than the 70s air-cooled RDs. I only sold it because I needed the money to go towards my first house.
In the late 90s a mate offered me an 80s RG250 because he knew I liked 2-strokes but it had issues - but when it worked right it was just wonderful. Although I found it uncomfortable to ride after about half an hour! So I did a deal for another RD400 but that wasn't a great example either.
Then I bought a modified KH500 with twin discs on the front, aluminium box-section swinging arm, piggy-back Marzocchi rear shocks, Allspeeds, etc. That's the one bike I still miss 20 years on!
But if I could choose one 80s 2-stroke now it would have to be an RD350 - ideally a YPVS but no fairing thanks.
Although an RD500 or RG500 would have some appeal, as would any H1 or H2 even if they are 70s bikes.
Anyway good luck whatever you go for.
Rob 131 Sport said:
All interesting replies.
Does anyone know what the parts availability is like for the KR1.
Generally Not good. Youll need to go aftermarket for items like pistons and air filters now, plastics thou shared with the “S” will all have to repaired/re painted as required,they didnt make them for very long and in huge numbers.Does anyone know what the parts availability is like for the KR1.
The NS400 parts avaialbility is even worse, I blew the gearbox on mine in 1987 and it took months to fix back then...both very exciting bikes thou.
As said above , the KR1 is tiny, my mrs YBR125 was considerably larger..
Either way, get the nicest , most complete example you can afford, itll be far easier in the long run.
Rob 131 Sport said:
Sharp handling is not really important as I don’t plan to ride it hard.
I’m not keen on the Aprilia RS250. The RD350 would be the 86 to 90 model variant. For the right bike I would pay £8-10k. More for an NS400.
As my original post parts availability and reliability are key considerations.
If you are looking at the NS, parts availability is a lot better than it was. I make a number of the rubber parts such as the inlet manifolds, chain sliders etc. Www.classicracereplicas.com are a key supplier and will do 500 kits if you fancy that. Alternatively DMR Japan also supply a lot of parts like std rings and a 500 kit based on RS porting.I’m not keen on the Aprilia RS250. The RD350 would be the 86 to 90 model variant. For the right bike I would pay £8-10k. More for an NS400.
As my original post parts availability and reliability are key considerations.
The NS is reliable. I've never had any issues in many years of ownership, but with any 2 stroke, you do need to rebuild it roughly every 10k.
They handle sweetly within the limitations of damper rod suspension and cross ply tyres.
As someone suggested above, the RD350 is a good call too, especially the YPVS. Wouldn't bother with the RD500 while the RG is just silly money now.
podman said:
The NS400 parts avaialbility is even worse, I blew the gearbox on mine in 1987 and it took months to fix back then...both very exciting bikes thou.
No longer true thankfully. Pretty much everything mechanical can be got now. Nova will sell you a gearbox. I sent them one to copy. podman said:
Rob 131 Sport said:
All interesting replies.
Does anyone know what the parts availability is like for the KR1.
Generally Not good. Youll need to go aftermarket for items like pistons and air filters now, plastics thou shared with the “S” will all have to repaired/re painted as required,they didnt make them for very long and in huge numbers.Does anyone know what the parts availability is like for the KR1.
The NS400 parts avaialbility is even worse, I blew the gearbox on mine in 1987 and it took months to fix back then...both very exciting bikes thou.
As said above , the KR1 is tiny, my mrs YBR125 was considerably larger..
Either way, get the nicest , most complete example you can afford, itll be far easier in the long run.
However, I really can’t be doing with poor / non existent parts availability.
I would never consider an RD or RG 500. Whilst I’m a great admirer of the RG500, they are simply too expensive.
When you talk to people about buying 80’s Two Stroke Race Replicas they often talk ‘investments’ and become like ‘pension fund managers’. Nothing could be further from my mind.
Whilst I wouldn’t one the price to bomb, couldn’t get parts or the thing to become a complete and never ending money pit, I’m in it for my love of such bikes, and will spend on maintenance and repairs what is required to keep it in top condition.
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