2 Smoke or SV?

[H-man]

Just to bring a little more like to things here (plus I ahve been considering these bikes)...

Which of the following bikes: (a) are lots of fun to ride; (b) are consistently in classes with girds > 7; (c) are simple to maintain (both at the track and between tack events); (d) are a good dollar value; (e) have readily available spare parts and tire sizes; (f) other comments are welcome

Suzuki SV650
Honda RS250
Aprilia RS250
Yamaha TZ250

[spyderchick]

H., your avatar sucks, and doesn't match your "Go Navy!" enthusiasm.

Here's a link to a proper avatar!

Oh yeah, get the SV.  ;)

[H-man]

Whadda ya mean?!

A penguin with a rocket launcher.  A regular hunter/shooter ready to rain down hate and discontent on all who oppose him.  Or, to be more real world like, all who he's directed toward.

Check it out http://www.xptheme.info/resources_view.cfm/hurl/restype_id=999/viewnum=10/search=linux/

 8) 8)

[H-man]

But hey, you're idea is way cool too.

How's about this one http://www.navysealteams.com/contents_files/image019.gif

Not bad if you're willing to be a "sugar cookie" ;D

[damico]

Unless your as anal and maticulous(sp) as Brian Mclaughlin with notes, scheduled and preventative maintanence and good bike hygene you have just ruled out everybike on your list except for the SV. Barely any maintanence needed and fun as he11 to ride.

[Zac]

You can't get any more fun than a real GP 250.  An 80 hp, 240 lb (race weight) bike with a superb chassis.  The feeling as it comes on the pipe is crazy.  The real deal, purpose built racebike.  Unfortunately maintainance comes along with it - top end replacements every 300 miles, bottom ends every 1200 miles and constant attention to jetting.  But all of this work is very easy, I can have both cylinders off my bike in about 30 minutes.  Tires are getting harder to come by (pretty much Dunlop and 'stones, though I'm going to try a Michelin supermoto tire which is supposibly the same construction as the old 16/63 250 tire).  Good value, in TZs the '92-'99 bikes are all pretty similar and are very competitive with the newer bikes.  Unfortunately, not legal for many CCS classes (LWGP, MWGP, GTU, GTO, ULGP) and only REALLY competitive in LWGP.  BUt you can also race USGPRU.

The Aprillia RS250 is really a European street bike.  Much less maintainance when stock (a friend does his top ends at 3000 miles), but there is more of a push to hop them up to keep up with SVs, They are legal for ultra-light superbike and all the other superbike classes.  Heavier and slower than a TZ or Honda RS, but the powerband is easier to use.  Tires are the same as the SVs.  Not as much support/parts in the US as there is for the GP bikes, but still not a problem.

SVs are obviously good bikes, but to me - boring.  They feel very sterile.  And they need some work to hang with a TZ.  And I can't dead lift one like I can my TZ.

-z.

[spyderchick]

Whadda ya mean?!

A penguin with a rocket launcher.  A regular hunter/shooter ready to rain down hate and discontent on all who oppose him.  Or, to be more real world like, all who he's directed toward.

Check it out http://www.xptheme.info/resources_view.cfm/hurl/restype_id=999/viewnum=10/search=linux/

 8) 8)

See? Out of sync again, you are not the hatin' type. Bada$$ maybe, not not a hater.  ;) ;D

Since it's seals you want:

[H-man]

Is that a baby harp seal?  Where's my club?

Oops. did I just infer something not PC?  :-X :-X

[spyderchick]

Is that a baby harp seal?  Where's my club?

Oops. did I just infer something not PC?  :-X :-X

Killing Seals is not badda$$.


And get an SV. ;D

[H-man]

Hey Zac,

Since I'm around 190 lbs (plus another 35 lbs w/ gear), do you think it'd still be as much fun or I could be somewhat competitive (think mid pack not leading the train) on a 250?

[Monkey_Star]

I'm the laziest 250 rider in the world. I change my jets maybe 2 times a year or 3 if I get inspired. I spend more time mixing fuel than working on my bike at the track. Get a good baseline and you too can be a lazy mofo like me.

190lbs? you're a friggin lightweight! I was at 233lbs last year and I got down to 1:15's at BHF and I don't even know how to ride it properly. The bike is more than competitive even with my fatass on it. Get a 250. It's so much cooler than an SV.

One more thing... don't get the Aprilia RS250 as it is very gay.

[tzracer]

The TZ or RS will be by far the most fun to ride.

2 strokes the maintenance is done in small pieces throughout the year. With a few tools you can do all the work yourself except rebuilding cranks. The work MUST be done, you cannot put it off. Things like rods have a limited life and will break if not replaced on time.

4 strokes the maintenance tends to be done in one or two chunks.

A 125 costs bout the same to run as an SV. A 250 (TZ or RS, not the Aprillia) costs about 3 times as much to run. This does not include crashing, some GP parts are very expensive (compared to street bikes).

Hence, if you are cheap and lazy, race an SV.

If you want the ultimate racing experience, get a 125 or a 250 GP bike.